The moment they entered the palace, guards gathered around them.
After Kakashi handed over the Third's letter, the group entered the inner hall and met the priestess seated on a cushion.
After paying his respects, Zou Hyuga looked at the priestess before him. Worry filled her face, and a girl of four or five stood beside her, apparently her daughter.
The Land of Demons was a highly unusual country, with no Daimyō.
Or rather, the priestess herself was the Daimyō, and the entire country had been built around her.
At the four-person team's arrival, the priestess rose from her cushion. Once she had regained some composure, she addressed them. "Thank you for coming to our aid on Lord Hokage's behalf. Thank you all for your efforts."
Oto Uchiha stepped forward. "What about the teams from the other shinobi villages? Surely Konoha isn't the only one sending help?"
The priestess shook her head. "Sunagakure and Iwagakure both sent reinforcements, but they seem to have been injured by members of the Yomi Cult. They're recuperating at the moment."
Hearing the unfamiliar name, Kakashi asked in confusion, "What is the Yomi Cult?"
The priestess explained, "The Yomi Cult is a religious organization in our country. It was the Yomi Cult Master who broke Moryo's Sealing, causing so many terracotta soldiers to appear..."
After a moment's thought, Kakashi asked, "Lady Priestess, does that mean we must deal with the Yomi Cult Master before we can kill Moryo?"
"That won't be necessary." Miroku shook her head gently. "I can seal Moryo directly, but it must be done at Mount Shūfū in the Land of Swamps."
"How should we lure Moryo there?" Oto Uchiha asked.
"Wherever I go, Moryo will follow. There's no need to worry about that," the priestess replied.
After considering briefly, Kakashi asked,