Hyuga Kagami let out a sigh, then stepped forward to help the priestess to her feet. She was still kneeling, lost in guilt. "Now isn't the time for repentance. Once we've sealed the Moryo, you'll have all the time in the world to atone."
The priestess gave a silent nod.
After exchanging a glance with Shisui, Hyuga Kagami said to her, "In the upcoming battle, we might use forbidden techniques. I hope you can keep that a secret for us. Please don't reveal our methods to anyone."
The priestess gave her solemn word. "Rest assured, I won't disclose anything about the two of you to anyone. You have my promise."
With that, the wall of formality between the three began to dissolve.
The priestess got to work setting up the sealing ritual while Hyuga Kagami and Shisui searched the cavern for a suitable place to fight.
The interior of Demon-Sealing Mountain was treacherous—boiling lava flowed all around them. A single misstep could send them plunging into the magma, leaving no trace behind.
Fighting here meant facing not only a dangerous enemy, but also a harsh and deadly environment.
It was clear the priestess had been here before. She moved deftly between the molten rivers, placing intricate and arcane sealing marks with practiced ease.
After scanning the surroundings with his Tenseigan, Hyuga Kagami warned Shisui, "The ground here doesn't look stable. Be careful once the fight begins."
Shisui nodded, his Sharingan active. The three tomoe in his eyes slowly rotated as he examined the cave's structure.
While they exchanged the occasional word, the priestess finished her sealing formation.
Looking at the complex symbols hidden within the mountain's belly, Hyuga Kagami couldn't help but praise her. "Your sealing arts are truly masterful, Your Highness."
Shisui added, "The sealing techniques of the priestesses from the Land of Demons rival those of the Uzumaki clan from the Land of Whirlpools. Now that the Uzumaki are gone, the priestesses are probably the most renowned in the art."
Something seemed to trouble Shisui, and he sighed, "Though being too famous isn't always a good thing."
He thought of his own clan—the Uchiha—whose fame had bred arrogance and estrangement from the village, trapping them in a difficult situation.
Hyuga Kagami, seeing the priestess's prowess, began thinking of his own artificial Tailed Beast project.
In Orochimaru's research notes, sealing techniques accounted for more than seventy percent of the entire process. Without strong sealing knowledge, the project simply wouldn't be possible.
And for Hyuga Kagami, sealing techniques were a weak point.
Now, the priestess of the Land of Demons appeared in his eyes like a hidden treasure.
However, given her high status and reputation across several nations, approaching her for training would require careful diplomacy. Any misstep could cause an international incident.
His thoughts deepened.
In the artificial Tailed Beast design, the village used Uzumaki seals. They were exceptional, yes, but if he could combine their strengths with the priestess's style, perhaps the fusion could yield remarkable results.
Just as his thoughts wandered, the ground beneath him trembled.
Rumble...
From above, bits of stone fell from the cave's ceiling.
Sitting at the center of the seal, the priestess shouted, "It's coming!"
Hyuga Kagami and Shisui exchanged a quick look and darted into hiding.
Moments later, with a deafening roar, Moryo's colossal body burst into the cavern like a flash flood, oozing menace.
"Miroku, you shouldn't have rejected me!"
Moryo's body filled the cave entrance. It reared up and let out a voice like a whisper from the underworld.
The priestess paused, then shook her head. "You're the one who's wrong."
Moryo slowly advanced, its voice turning seductive. "Merge with me. Your power combined with mine will make us invincible. The world will kneel before us."
"That path only brings disaster. In the end, we'd both be consumed."
Her voice hesitated—perhaps to stall for time.
Moryo didn't strike immediately. Instead, it barked, "What are you afraid of? You know as well as I do—together, no force on this earth could oppose us. Ninja, samurai... all insects!"
The priestess shook her head. "You're too arrogant."
"Arrogant!?" Moryo growled. "You're the fool! Have you forgotten our noble origin? That we were once—wait, what are you doing!?"
Mid-sentence, Moryo sensed something dangerous in the cave.
Realizing the ruse was up, the priestess could stall no longer.
Hyuga Kagami and Shisui sprang from the shadows.
Before Moryo could react, Hyuga Kagami shouted, "Now!"
At his command, Shisui opened his tightly shut eyes. The tomoe in his Sharingan swirled together, morphing into a mangekyō shape resembling a four-bladed shuriken.
"Susanoo!"
With a low chant, Shisui summoned a glowing green avatar that emerged from within, standing firm between Moryo and the priestess.
Both Moryo and the priestess froze in awe.
No one expected the small figure wearing a cat-faced mask to unleash such a majestic and powerful technique. The pressure radiating from the Susanoo made it clear—it wasn't to be underestimated.
But holding it came at a heavy cost. Shisui didn't waste a second. The Susanoo extended both arms, gripping Moryo from front and back, locking it in place.
"Wretched human, how dare you—!"
BOOM!
Before Moryo could finish, a massive iron spear dropped from the sky, piercing through its jaw and silencing its roar.
The priestess stared, dumbfounded, as Hyuga Kagami floated in the air above.
He stood on a sphere of iron sand, and beside him flew a strange ninja wrapped head to toe in bandages, bearing iron wings.
Glancing at the stunned priestess, Hyuga Kagami said coolly, "Your Highness, now's not the time to be daydreaming."