"Young master, are you really buying this plot of land? I have a bad feeling about this place."
Natsumi's smile stiffened as she looked at the map in Fuyuki's hands. She didn't know what to say.
The Uchiha Clan had only been wiped out a few days ago, and now you wanted to buy three acres next door and build a vacation resort? The Uchiha's seventh-day memorial hadn't even passed yet. This really didn't seem appropriate.
"What can I do? There are only a few plots in Konoha that aren't already earmarked for development. It's either the land next to the Uchiha Clan Compound, the hills behind the Hyuga Clan, or a wasteland at the eastern edge, two miles through the woods. What am I supposed to do?!" Fuyuki looked just as exasperated.
If he built a hot spring hotel in the hills behind the Hyuga Clan, he might as well not open it at all. Anyone who knew about the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai probably wouldn't go there.
And what could he do with a wasteland another two miles into the eastern woods? Train for a hot spring hotel there?
After weighing his options, Fuyuki decided the best choice was the few acres beside the Uchiha Clan Compound. An old Commercial Street lay just ahead, and it had potential for renovation.
The only problem was that the entire Uchiha Clan had ascended to immortality just a few days ago. Buying this land seemed like bad luck no matter how he looked at it.
But that didn't matter. He could use the land's haunted-house reputation to buy it up, and maybe even drive the price down.
"This is the plot. Go pay for it, then put out a mission for Earth Release shinobi to level the ground. We don't need to hire too many builders, either. Our main business will be hot springs for beauty treatments and injury recovery, with a focus on safety and privacy." Fuyuki made the final call and left everything else to Natsumi.
"Young master..." Natsumi looked completely lost. She was a shinobi, not a builder. She had no idea how Young Master Fuyuki planned to put up a building. Staring at the Silver Notes and map in her hands, she fell into despair.
Back in his room, Fuyuki took out his Goose Down Pillow and tossed it onto the Tatami. He folded his hands over his chest and fell peacefully asleep.
In the next instant, his consciousness shifted to the Land of Demons. Unlike the peaceful, bustling Konoha, a layer of dark clouds hung over the sky here, and the air reeked of burning. Through the body of the High-ranking Dark Spirit, Fuyuki could even hear shouts and cries of pain coming from nearby.
"What an unpleasant atmosphere." Fuyuki paid little attention to his surroundings. Once he killed Moryo and its followers, the Land of Demons would return to peace.
The Yomi Sect, a few Special Jonin, and its leader—a Jonin skilled in medical ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu—wouldn't take long to crush if Fuyuki wanted to.
But the most important thing was to find the Shrine Maiden and have her lead him to Moryo.
"Itachi, how do I get to Shrine Maiden Miroku's home? I've never been to the Land of Demons before, so I don't know where she lives." Fuyuki looked at Uchiha Itachi, who was dressed as an Anbu Ninja in a black hooded robe and resting on a tree branch.
"Fifty kilometers northwest." Itachi had no intention of moving. He hadn't rested in nearly five days. He'd fought Anbu Ninja in succession, then traveled for three days and three nights straight to reach the Land of Demons. If he didn't rest soon, he was going to bite the dust.
"Mm."
Once he had the directions, Fuyuki said no more. He controlled the High-ranking Dark Spirit's body and floated away. The High-ranking Yang Spirit was just as energetic, showing no sign of fatigue after traveling for three days and three nights.
As long as they had a supply of chakra, Elemental Spirits' bodies were like perpetual-motion machines. They only felt mental fatigue.
Fifty kilometers was nothing for a High-ranking Elemental Spirit with plenty of chakra. Thanks to Uchiha Itachi replenishing the Yin-Yang Spirit's chakra, the two spirits were now as giddy as if they'd downed a few bottles of soda.
Fuyuki soon spotted a building that looked like both a castle and a shrine. Quite a few ordinary samurai stood around the wooden castle.
Fuyuki sank into the shadows, his body turning into black mist as he slipped inside, avoiding all the samurai. The High-ranking Yang Spirit looked utterly bewildered. It was a mass of Yang-Style Chakra and specialized in healing and close combat—
What a useless Summoner! He'd left it hanging off a cliff!
Had the Summoner drunk Forget-Me-Not milk? How could he forget a healer as important as it?
Of course, Fuyuki hadn't forgotten the High-ranking Yang Spirit. He just didn't need it right now. He was going in to strike a deal with Shrine Maiden Miroku, not start a fight. Why bring so many people along?
"Mr. Moon Worm, you're finally here!"
When Fuyuki entered the hall, he saw a mature, dignified woman sitting upright behind a Bamboo Curtain, with a girl who looked quite a bit like Hinata beside her.
Now that his presence had been exposed, Fuyuki stopped hiding and appeared openly before Miroku. "Good morning, Shrine Maiden."
"Wait!"
Fuyuki's expression suddenly changed. "I'm not Moon Worm! My title is 'Eclipse'!!!"
Damn it. He'd almost gotten used to being called that!
Fuyuki wasn't surprised that the Shrine Maiden knew he was coming or knew his title. The Shrine Maiden's line could see the future. She'd seen him in a vision, so it was no wonder she recognized him at once.
Miroku's expression stiffened, and she looked a little embarrassed. "Is that so? I'm very sorry. I may have gotten your name wrong."
"Forget it."
Fuyuki waved a hand weakly. "Since you know why I'm here, there's no need for small talk. Lead the way!"
Miroku nodded. "All right, Mr. Moon Worm."
"Hiss..." Fuyuki took a deep breath, letting out his pent-up frustration. There was something cursed about the title Moon Worm. It was easy to say, and he'd already gotten used to hearing it!
As he followed Shrine Maiden Miroku out of the palace, Fuyuki asked curiously, "In the future you saw, how did I defeat Moryo? Did I beat it senseless, or pin it down and beat it?"
Since the Shrine Maiden was willing to lead him there, it meant he hadn't lost his battle with Moryo. Otherwise, Miroku wouldn't be taking him to the Sealing Shrine. She'd be urging him to turn back.
"Um... I don't know, either."
A complicated look crossed Miroku's face. "I didn't go in with you. I only saw the end: you tied Moryo up with chains and dragged it out of the Sealing Shrine."
The Shrine Maiden and Moryo had originally been one. They were like the light and dark sides of the same coin.
As Shion's mother, Miroku wasn't some sheltered eighteen-year-old girl. Seeing Moon Worm drag Moryo away in such a forceful, violent manner had made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. It had been far too much to bear.
"Dragged it away in chains?"
Fuyuki froze, and roughly guessed what he'd used to defeat Moryo.
But was this thing really so weak? It was supposed to be a demon from another world, yet it wasn't even strong enough to make him call out his Ancestor. And it wanted to rule the continent and establish a thousand-year kingdom? What a worthless weakling. All it did was talk big!
After walking with Miroku for about half an hour, Fuyuki finally spotted the cave that housed the Sealing Shrine. He immediately asked, "Is it in there? There aren't any powerful Sealing Jutsu inside, are there?"
Miroku shook her head. "No. Moryo's followers have already destroyed the seal. They're using the people of the Land of Demons to threaten me, telling me not to interfere. Otherwise, they'll send out the Ghost Army and destroy the entire country."
"It's inside, recovering its strength. You'd better make thorough preparations before going in. Moryo is extremely treacherous."
"There's no need to prepare anything special." Fuyuki brought his palms together. "Elemental Fusion!"
Several arms extended from the High-ranking Dark Spirit's body and grabbed the High-ranking Yang Spirit, pulling it inside. Yin and Yang chakra fused, forming a new spirit.
The Yin-Yang Spirit had a rather unconventional appearance: a devilishly curvy figure, but with a black rabbit's head, red-and-black eyes, pale green skin, and waist-length dark green hair. It looked extremely, extremely unlucky!
That was why Fuyuki had chosen to inhabit the High-ranking Dark Spirit instead of the High-ranking Yang Spirit.
"Moryo..."
Fuyuki flicked his hand, gripping a black Chakra Rod as he entered the gloomy cave.
Before you continue