The So-Called Monster

Speaking of which, there are many things in the ninja world that could be called yokai, though most of them utilize chakra.

For instance, the Byakugan yokai, or the Nine-Tailed Fox. The Uzumaki clan, for their part, excelled at using sealing techniques to contain certain massive yokai—even those that ninjas themselves referred to as yokai.

Generally, any powerful existence that exceeds human understanding and cognition, or defies common logic, can be termed a yokai, such as the Tailed Beasts.

However, things are a bit different in Inuyasha. Although their lifespans are long, some yokai can age and die; their essence is still a form of biological life, just one whose birth and reproduction differ from the creatures of the natural world.

By this definition, Tailed Beasts can naturally be classified as yokai, and very powerful Great Yokai at that.

Yet, even among Great Yokai, there are differences. If one were to summarize their combat power, it would look roughly like this.

T4 Tier: Humans.

The lowest level of ordinary humans possesses neither spiritual power nor great martial prowess, serving only as food for various yokai—the "leeks" of the Warring States period.

However, there are three types of humans capable of resisting yokai, or even contending with Great Yokai.

Those with powerful physical attacks, the "extraordinary humans," are typified by the Band of Seven. Their leader, Bankotsu, possessed innate divine strength; even without the Shikon Jewel, he could slay over a thousand humans and a thousand yokai.

Then there are professional exorcists. Their spiritual power might not be immense, but they can eliminate yokai through sheer physical output.

Finally, there are shrine maidens and monks who possess vast spiritual power. Such individuals can neutralize demonic energy through spiritual attacks, and those of a higher order can even purify it directly.

To Yura, ninjas are essentially equivalent to these extraordinary humans and exorcists. While the best among them are terrifyingly strong, they pose little threat to Yura; the only attacks capable of neutralizing or purifying her demonic energy would likely be the power of the Sage of Six Paths.

T3 Tier: Half-demons.

Most half-demons are actually small fry—either mindless yokai driven by desire or simpletons. Inuyasha, the MVP among half-demons, was born with two stars of demonic energy, and his full-yokai state reaches four stars, placing him at the threshold of a Great Yokai.

T2 Tier: Spirits.

Spirits are entities without physical bodies. One type consists of ghosts of deceased humans, divided into ordinary spirits and evil spirits. Evil spirits can attack through resentment. The ninja world does not have "evil spirits" in the strict sense, but it does have ghosts, and even Shinigami. There are many existences similar to spirits, such as those involved in the Impure World Reincarnation or the Spirit Transformation Technique.

Their mechanics make them quite difficult opponents for ordinary ninjas, but to Yura, they are not particularly powerful existences, merely something to be slightly wary of.

T1 Tier: Yokai.

These are divided into three types. The first are individuals who have fallen after being controlled by evil thoughts. The second are natural-born yokai; their exact origins are unknown, but through long ages of reproduction and inheritance, they have formed tribal societies, possessing the strength and influence to rule over territories, such as the Dog Demon clan, the Wolf Demon clan, the Thunder Beast clan, and so on.

In the ninja world, these would be the Mount Myōboku clan, the Ryūchi Cave clan, and the Katsuyu Sage.

They are all animal-type yokai capable of speech.

The third type is the Ghost clan. The Ghost clan are also considered yokai, but most originate from hell and possess higher demonic energy values than ordinary yokai. The most unique aspect of the Ghost clan is that, due to their inherent connection to the special properties of hell, most possess the ability to manipulate souls. Not only can they attack an opponent's soul directly, but they can also transfer their own soul elsewhere, rendering their physical body an immortal vessel.

But this advantage is also a weakness: they cannot undergo the cycle of reincarnation like living beings of this world. Although they are ageless and immortal, once their soul is destroyed, their true body dissipates entirely, equivalent to a complete data deletion.

Strictly speaking, Yura belongs to the Ghost clan, which is why she can see souls directly.

And she is T0, a Great Yokai in a class of her own.

Everything below a Great Yokai can be collectively referred to as a small yokai.

A Great Yokai is not a special race, but a term for a tier of combat power.

A Great Yokai isn't defined by size; most small-fry yokai are unusually large, not at all inferior to the likes of Gamabunta, but their combat power is merely that of a punching bag.

To earn the title of Great Yokai, one must possess overwhelming demonic energy—absolute energy capable of crushing all magical tools, talismans, and even divine artifacts.

This is the fundamental reason Yura craves the Shikon Jewel. The substitute in the ninja world would be the Tailed Beasts. Although the process is troublesome and requires time to convert, it can at least tangibly increase Yura's demonic energy.

Rating demonic energy by stars, the standard strength of a Great Yokai according to the guidebook is four stars. Yura is currently within this standard. If Kagome hadn't been a shrine maiden of the highest tier, Inuyasha truly could not have defeated Yura; there would have been no hope at all. It was far too easy a victory to hand over.

Not relying on the power of the Shikon Jewel and fighting solely with her own demonic energy was a massive favor Yura granted Inuyasha, yet the gap in strength remained vast; she toyed with him throughout the entire battle.

Even among Great Yokai, as a member of the Ghost clan, Yura is an extremely troublesome type of opponent.

She is no third-rate small yokai.

This is the reason Yura has always been able to use her abilities with such ease; she simply possesses immense demonic energy.

In the rankings of yokai combat power, Yura can be placed in the top ten.

The top-tier Great Yokai are five-star Great Yokai, such as Ryūkotsusei. He belongs to the peak of the pure physical type; besides having an incredibly tough body, he can unleash massive waves of demonic energy capable of leveling a mountain range. Known as the strongest yokai in history, he is comparable to Inu no Taishō and is a yokai capable of firing Tailed Beast Bomb-like blasts from his mouth.

This level of Great Yokai is what is truly called a Great Yokai, because they look down on the Shikon Jewel, choosing instead to develop their own potential to the limit. To them, the Shikon Jewel is just a roadside trinket.

In the growth of a yokai, there is a very important condition: time—a very, very long time, starting at a minimum of a hundred years. Yura, however, is currently just a newly born Great Yokai; even counting generously, she has barely passed her first month. Over these days, Yura has gradually realized this. Without something like the Shikon Jewel for rapid growth, she can only rely on naturally grinding out time to grow and accumulate demonic energy. Even though she has the ability to absorb demonic energy, there is none available for her to absorb, so she is basically set in her current form.

Yura is completely ignorant of demon arts, ghost arts, immortal arts, divine arts, yin-yang arts, or barrier arts. Fortunately, the ninja world has ninjutsu, so it is not as if she has no way to become stronger.

So, if we compare yokai to ninjas, what level are Great Yokai at?

The answer is Kage. A true Great Yokai is comparable to a Super-Kage, just as Inu no Taishō is comparable to Senju Hashirama.

To what extent was Inu no Taishō strong? He mastered the three swords of Heaven, Earth, and Man. His fangs were forged into three blades: the Tenseiga of Heaven, which can save a hundred lives with a single swing; the Sōunga of Earth, which can summon a hundred dead souls with a single swing; and the Tessaiga of Man, the sword of protection, which can repel a hundred enemies with a single swing. His remains after death formed a mountain range and created their own different space, existing in the rift between life and death. He was the pinnacle among yokai.

In the ninja world, the only one capable of such a feat is the Sage of Six Paths, who dwells in the rift between life and death.

Moreover, as weapons condensed from demonic energy—the core of a yokai's power—Yura's hair, aside from being sharp, is truly lacking in comparison.

In Yura's eyes, a Jonin is equivalent to a small yokai. They are not weak, but she wouldn't spare them a second glance; it would only be a bit of a headache if there were too many of them.

As for Chunin and Genin, they are all small fry.

Regarding Great Yokai like the Tailed Beasts, such as the Nine-Tails, Yura is actually not afraid. Because even if Yura stood still and let a Tailed Beast fire a Tailed Beast Bomb at her—even if the ground were washed away by the blast—it could not completely kill her. At most, it would only cause her to lose the ability to act. Once her soul finished transferring, Yura could be reborn.

Sitting on the head of the long-horned statue that resembled the Sage of Six Paths at the shrine, Yura dangled her legs, opened her eyes, and looked at the waking Lucy.

"You're awake..." Yura said with a faint, lingering smile, "Little Monster~"

Eh? Uji Lucy blinked her eyes, looking at Yura.

Is she calling me? Little Monster?

"That's right, it's you. How did your discussion with that great beetle yokai go, Little Monster~" Yura laughed.

Lucy opened her mouth, wanting to retort slightly; Chomei was not a great yokai, but according to the traditional ninja worldview, Tailed Beasts were indeed yokai.

"Mm, we've discussed it. I'll go with you." After a moment of thought, Lucy said, "The great yokai... senior..."

"Since that's the case, let me properly explain the rules of survival for yokai to you." Yura said, "First, Little Monster~ you are not allowed to talk back to great yokai..."

The little monster's face fell.

"Second, in human society, do not refer to yourself as a yokai." Yura glanced at Lucy.

Lucy clenched her fists, screaming internally.

I am a human, a human! I am definitely not a yokai!

"Got it..."

"Let's go, Little Monster~ We'll talk more on the way..."

Pushing open the shrine gates, Yura left first. Watching Yura walk barefoot through the void, a pair of fairy-like wings fluttered behind Lucy, lifting her into the air to follow behind Yura. After hesitating for a long while, Lucy said, "Um, my name is Lucy, Uji Lucy."

Without even turning her head, Yura replied, "Mm, Little Monster~"

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Lucy's eyes were filled with despair; what a truly willful and wicked great yokai.

"I hate this..."