Chapter 352: The Shrine Maiden of the Land of Demons; Mōryō Swept Away! [HN]

The Land of Demons was a land protected by towering mountains and ancient barriers.

Unlike the prosperity of the Land of Fire, this place was filled with an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere.

Chiya’s figure appeared like a ghost on a cliff at the border of the Land of Demons, overlooking the forest below that was shrouded in a faint black mist.

Even the midday sunlight could not completely penetrate that ominous darkness.

The air was filled with a faint smell of decay and resentment, making people uneasy.

“Is this the aura leaking from Mōryō? As expected, it is completely different from chakra.”

Chiya’s Rinnegan flickered slightly.

In his vision, the black mist in the distance was formed from countless twisted and painful negative spiritual energies. They constantly eroded the vitality of the real world and attempted to assimilate everything.

This level of power was definitely not something an ordinary ninja could deal with.

He did not stop and his figure disappeared again.

He rapidly headed toward the capital of the Land of Demons, where the shrine maiden’s palace was located.

The closer he got to the capital, the more obvious the suffocating pressure became.

The villages along the way looked desolate and terrified. The villagers kept their doors and windows tightly shut, while some of the bolder ones occasionally looked outside through the cracks, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

In some places, purification barriers reinforced by the shrine maiden’s power had been established. They emitted a gentle white light and barely resisted the erosion of the black mist, but the light of the barriers had already grown somewhat dim.

Chiya’s speed was extremely fast. Before half a day had passed, the ancient and magnificent shrine maiden’s palace built against the mountain had already appeared in his sight.

A powerful protective barrier surrounded the palace.

However, subtle fluctuations had already appeared across it, clearly indicating that the shrine maiden maintaining the barrier was in poor condition.

Chiya did not force his way in and instead revealed himself outside the barrier.

He restrained most of his aura, but the unique presence belonging to a powerful expert still immediately alerted the palace guards.

“Who are you?!”

A group of guards dressed in the traditional clothing of the Land of Demons and carrying spears quickly surrounded him, their expressions tense and wary.

The captain of the squad sensed the unfathomable aura coming from Chiya.

Although the other party showed no hostility, he still felt tremendous pressure.

“Uchiha Chiya. I request to see your shrine maiden, Miroku.”

Chiya spoke calmly, his voice clearly reaching the ears of every guard.

“The Hokage of Konoha?!”

The guards had clearly heard of Chiya’s name, and expressions of shock appeared on their faces.

The name Uchiha Chiya now resounded throughout the shinobi world, and everyone knew of his strength and status.

The captain looked at Chiya with a trace of awe in his eyes.

He knew that in this world, there was probably no one who would dare impersonate…

The squad captain did not dare to delay and quickly bowed.

“So it is Lord Chiya! Please wait a moment. I will report this immediately!”

With that, he hurried away.

A moment later, the palace gates slowly opened.

An elderly man dressed in priestly robes quickly walked out with a respectful expression and bowed deeply to Chiya.

“Lord Chiya, please forgive us for failing to welcome you properly! Lady Miroku is already waiting for you in the shrine. Please follow me.”

Chiya nodded slightly and followed the old man into the palace.

The interior of the palace was solemn and dignified. Ancient runes and murals could be seen everywhere, depicting the history of generations of shrine maidens fighting demons.

The air was filled with the faint scent of incense and medicinal herbs.

However, they could not completely conceal the faint smell of blood and weakness coming from deep within the palace.

After passing through several corridors, the two arrived before the grandest shrine.

The old man stopped and bowed.

“Lady Miroku is inside the shrine. Lord Chiya, please enter.”

Chiya pushed open the heavy shrine doors and stepped inside.

The interior of the shrine was spacious, with a high vaulted ceiling and countless white candles burning along the surrounding walls.

The flickering flames illuminated the slender figure kneeling before the altar, making her appear somewhat lonely.

She was a young woman dressed in white shrine maiden robes with an elegant and dignified bearing.

She had long dark green hair, a tall figure, and delicate features.

There was also a trace of holiness on one side of her face.

However, her face was pale as paper, her lips had lost their color, and her brows were filled with deep exhaustion and worry.

She was Miroku, the current shrine maiden of the Land of Demons.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Miroku slowly opened her eyes. Her purple eyes were like a deep starry sky.

They contained wisdom and compassion, but also an unmistakable weakness.

She looked at Chiya, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes before it turned into calmness.

“Honored Hokage of Konoha, Lord Uchiha Chiya, I did not expect you to personally visit my remote little country.”

Miroku’s voice was soft and pleasant, but it lacked strength.

She tried to stand and bow, but her body swayed slightly.

Chiya’s figure moved, appearing beside her as if he had teleported, and he reached out to support her.

“You’re unwell. There is no need for formalities.”

Miroku felt the steady and powerful strength coming from Chiya’s arm.

A faint blush appeared on her pale face.

“Thank you, Lord Chiya.”

After sitting down again, she looked at Chiya with a probing gaze.

“The Hokage is a busy man. You came all the way to the Land of Demons. Is it because of Mōryō?”

“That’s right.”

Chiya sat down on the cushion opposite Miroku and calmly met her gaze.

“We detected abnormal energy fluctuations in the Land of Demons. This power is filled with death and resentment. If it gets out of control, it could affect the entire shinobi world. As Hokage, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing.”

A bitter expression flashed through Miroku’s eyes.

“It is Mōryō… the demon. It has no physical form. It is an immortal existence formed from countless negative emotions and dark wills in this world. If its emergence is not restrained, it will inevitably bring eternal death and silence.”

She paused, her tone becoming heavier.

“For some reason, the power of the seal has been weakening continuously in recent years, and Mōryō’s will has begun to seep out. I have repeatedly tried to reinforce the seal, but… the results have been minimal. Instead, I have exhausted myself in the process. I’m afraid… I am the weakest shrine maiden among all the generations.”

Her voice was filled with deep self-blame and helplessness.

Chiya could clearly sense that Miroku was injured as well.

It was the backlash caused by excessively using the shrine maiden’s power to resist Mōryō’s corruption.

“It’s not that you are weak.”

Chiya slowly spoke.

“It’s that you have carried this burden alone for too long. Protecting the world is not the sole responsibility of the shrine maiden lineage.”

Miroku was slightly stunned and looked at Chiya.

There was no fear or greed in his deep eyes upon hearing about the demon. Instead, there was only a calmness that saw through its essence and… powerful confidence.

“Mōryō’s power originates from negative spiritual energy. It is almost immortal, so ordinary methods are indeed difficult to use against it completely. But everything in this world has something that can restrain it. Since it can be sealed, that means it is not invincible.”

Chiya continued, his tone steady and powerful.

“The shrine maiden’s power originates from light and purification, making it its natural enemy. What you lack is not the nature of your power, but the foundation capable of supporting you in completely suppressing or even purifying it.”

“Foundation…?”

Miroku murmured, captivated by Chiya’s words.

“That’s right.”

Chiya nodded.

“An individual’s strength always has its limits, especially when facing a collective evil that has accumulated for thousands of years. The Land of Demons has remained isolated and preserved its traditions. Although this has kept its power pure, it has also limited its possibilities for development.”

His tone suddenly changed, carrying an imposing force that allowed no doubt.

“Miroku, join the Shinobi World Federation led by Konoha. This is not annexation. It is an alliance. Konoha can provide the finest sealing techniques, technological support, and even powerful combat assistance. By gathering the wisdom and strength of everyone, we can not only reseal Mōryō, but perhaps even find a way to completely purify it once and for all!”

Chiya’s gaze burned with intensity, as though it could ignite the hope within people’s hearts.

“Remaining isolated and struggling alone will most likely end with you exhausting your life and leaving this heavy responsibility to your successor, allowing the tragedy to repeat itself. Why not try another possibility? Trust your allies and rely on greater strength. For this world, and for yourself, fight for a different future!”

Miroku stared blankly at Chiya, waves of shock surging through her heart.

Struggling alone, exhausting her life, and leaving the responsibility to the next generation…

This was almost exactly the fate she had foreseen but could not change!

And Chiya’s words were like thunder tearing through the darkness, showing her a path she had never considered.

An alliance…

Relying on Konoha’s strength…

Completely purifying Mōryō…

Was this… possible?

She looked at the confident and powerful man before her. There was no falsehood or deception in his eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything. There was only absolute sincerity and…

A sense of strength that made her feel at ease.

In the memories passed down through her lineage, shrine maidens had always been lonely, facing the threat of demons alone. Most shinobi from the outside world could not understand them and sometimes even caused trouble.

But the Hokage before her was completely different.

He understood the nature of Mōryō and recognized the shrine maiden’s duty.

He was also willing to provide practical help and a hopeful future as an equal.

An emotion she had never experienced before, mixed with hope, gratitude, and an indescribable stirring, quietly began to grow within her heart.

“But… Mōryō’s power is too dangerous. If Konoha is dragged into this as well…”

Miroku was still hesitant. She did not want to involve others in the affairs of the Land of Demons.

“Dangerous?”

Hearing this, the corner of Chiya’s mouth curved upward with pride.

He slowly stood up. Although he did not completely release his aura, the absolute confidence belonging to a peak expert already filled the entire shrine.

“I am the danger.”

His voice was calm as he looked at Miroku, his eyes sharp as blades.

“The so-called demon, Mōryō, may be a catastrophe for others. But to me, Uchiha Chiya…”

“It is nothing more than a slightly stronger… ant.”

The moment his words fell, as if to prove what he had said or as if by coincidence of fate, a tremendous explosion came from outside the palace.

“Boom!!”

It was immediately followed by shrill alarms and the frightened cries of the guards.

A priest came rolling and crawling into the shrine, his face deathly pale and his voice trembling.

“Lady Miroku! Something is wrong! The barrier at the sealing site… the barrier at the sealing site has been breached! Mōryō is… reviving! A huge ghost army is surging out from underground and heading toward the palace!!”

Miroku’s expression changed drastically.

She suddenly stood up but staggered again because of her weakness.

Just as she was about to fall, a steady and powerful hand caught her shoulder.

It was Chiya.

He looked down at the pale-faced shrine maiden in his arms, his eyes calm and emotionless.

“Looks like it is eager to prove who the ant really is.”

“Come, Miroku. Let me solve the problem that has troubled you your entire life.”

Chiya’s tone was indifferent, as though he were merely going to deal with an insignificant matter.

He wrapped an arm around Miroku’s slender and soft waist.

His figure flashed, and the two instantly disappeared from inside the shrine.

Miroku only felt the wind roaring beside her ears as the scenery before her rapidly retreated, making it almost impossible to see anything clearly.

When she recovered, she discovered that Chiya had already brought her to the highest observation tower of the palace.

Looking into the distance, she saw the ground split open with enormous cracks, while countless ghost soldiers clad in black armor surged out from beneath the earth like a tide and rushed toward the palace.

The sky was covered by even denser black mist, while howling winds raged as if the end of the world had arrived.

At the very front of the ghost army, something huge and twisted, formed from countless dark energies, was slowly taking shape.

A crack opened in its center, revealing a huge eye filled with madness and malice.

It was Mōryō!

“Curse you, shrine maiden… and… that detestable aura of the living…”

Mōryō’s mental fluctuations, mixed with countless resentments, stabbed into everyone’s minds like needles.

“This time… no one can stop me again… Let everything return to silence!!”

The terrifying pressure became almost tangible, causing the palace’s protective barrier to shake violently.

Many guards could not withstand the mental impact and collapsed to their knees, clutching their heads and groaning in pain.

Miroku endured the discomfort and formed hand seals, gathering the little purification power remaining within her body.

She had already decided to make a desperate final stand.

However, a warm hand gently pressed against the hand with which she was forming the seal.

Miroku turned her head in astonishment and looked at Chiya beside her.

Chiya merely shook his head slightly.

Then he stepped forward and stood in front of her.

He faced the overwhelming ghost army and the demon itself alone.

The strong wind lifted his black clothes, making them flutter loudly.

Behind his seemingly thin figure was the entire capital of the Land of Demons, which had fallen into panic, and…

the shrine maiden Miroku, whom he was protecting behind him.

Chiya’s calm gaze swept across the endless army below before finally settling on Mōryō.

“Annoying.”

He calmly uttered two words.

In the next moment, he raised both hands and brought his fingertips together as Sage Chakra surged into motion.

He aimed it at the dark flood rushing toward him.

“Sage Art: Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.”

An extremely small white cube appeared before his palm, radiating a light that made one’s soul tremble.

Then the cube instantly expanded into a huge white beam that pierced the heavens and earth.

It swept forward at a seemingly slow speed, yet its actual speed surpassed the concepts of time and space.

Everything the beam passed through, whether the ferocious ghost soldiers, the corrupted earth, or the spreading black mist, was completely broken down and annihilated at the atomic level the instant it came into contact with the beam, turning into the most primitive void.

There were no screams and no explosions, only an absolute and suffocating disappearance.

Tens of thousands of ghost soldiers melted away silently before the white light that purified everything, like snow beneath the sun.

The white light continued forward without slowing and struck directly into the body Mōryō had just formed.

“No!!! What is this power?! Impossible!!!”

Mōryō released a mental roar of unprecedented terror.

Its body, formed from dark energy, twisted and boiled violently within the light of Dust Release as it attempted to resist, but it was like an ant trying to stop a chariot.

Its body was rapidly broken down and stripped apart, while its enormous eye was filled with disbelief, terror, and despair.

In only a few breaths, the ghost army capable of destroying an entire country, together with Mōryō, was completely erased within the white beam that pierced the heavens and earth, as if they had never existed in this world.

The black mist in the sky slowly began to dissipate.

Long-awaited sunlight passed through the gaps in the clouds and fell upon the devastated yet reborn land.

The entire capital of the Land of Demons fell into complete silence.

Everyone stared in shock at the black-clad figure standing on the observation tower, who had withdrawn his hand as if he had merely completed an insignificant task.

Miroku stood behind Chiya.

She gently covered her slightly open red lips with her delicate hand. Her purple eyes were filled with endless shock and disbelief, as well as…

an attraction and stirring that was rapidly growing within her heart without her even realizing it.

The demon that generations of shrine maidens had fought against and that had cost countless shrine maidens their lives without ever being completely destroyed…

Had actually been purified with a single casual attack…?

What kind of miracle was this?

What kind of power was this?

Chiya slowly turned around. The sunlight behind him formed a dazzling halo as he looked at Miroku, who was still in shock.

“The energy that leaked from the seal has been destroyed, but its immortal core of resentment is still hidden in the cracks beneath the seal. Take me to the true sealing site.”

Miroku looked at the man before her, who was as powerful as a god, and at the unquestionable confidence and calmness in his eyes. The last trace of hesitation and doubt in her heart disappeared completely.

An unprecedented sense of security and trust filled her heart.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her turbulent emotions, walked to Chiya’s side, and nodded solemnly, her voice carrying a slight tremble that was difficult to notice.

“All right! I’ll take you there… No, please follow me!”

This time, she took the initiative to extend her hand and point toward the deep valley behind the capital, where the path to the true sealing site lay.

The sunlight fell upon the two of them, stretching their shadows across the ground.

Miroku secretly glanced sideways at Chiya’s perfect profile and felt the powerful aura around him that made her feel at ease.

A faint blush quietly spread across her pale yet still beautiful cheeks.