And at this height, standing at the edge of the shrine, one could take in the entire landscape of Demon Country.
After all, the Priestess of Demon Country held a status no lower than a daimyo's—perhaps even higher. It was only natural that her residence would be such a majestic palace.
However, by the time they reached the shrine at the top, it had grown somewhat quiet and deserted.
In front of the spacious shrine, aside from a few Maids responsible for cleaning and taking care of Miroku and her daughter's daily needs, there was no one else. Even the guards had vanished from sight.
Miroku was different from the later Shion. Most of Shion's power had been sealed away by Miroku, making her little different from an ordinary person most of the time, which was why she needed a large number of guards.
But Miroku's own strength was already terrifying in its own right. She had no need for protection from guards at all.
Besides, this kind of quiet, pure environment felt even more like a shrine.
And in this atmosphere, Uchiha Izumi and Karin, who had originally been chattering away and looking all around, both fell silent.
They obediently followed behind Naruto as they walked.
Still, within this clean, clear air, there was a trace of biting chill.
Perhaps it was because the higher one stood, the colder it became.
Naruto and the others walked toward the shrine's main doors, where two Maids had already opened them.
"Looks like she's been waiting for us for a while."
Naruto smiled with interest, stepping across the bluestone tiles beneath his feet as he walked toward the enormous wooden shrine.
Led by the Maids, the group entered the shrine.
As they walked, Naruto suddenly sensed a strange power soothing his heart.