It was already five in the evening, and Gokokuji Temple had closed its doors to visitors. The side hall was deserted, with only a Buddha statue seated on its lotus pedestal, gazing upon everything with neither sorrow nor joy.
A translucent spirit appeared inside the hall as though teleporting, then flew up to the rafters as if riding the wind.
Uchiha Naruto had hidden the coffin containing Yamanashi Inaba among the rafters of Gokokuji Temple's side hall.
Gokokuji Temple was a renowned old temple in Bunkyo Ward and had ample funds. Even its rafters were built from sturdy timber, and the coffin rested securely on them.
Overhead was everyone's blind spot. Over the past three days, none of the countless worshippers or the young novice monks greeting and seeing them off had noticed the extra object above their heads.
Seeing black smoke beginning to pour continuously from the coffin's sealed lid, Uchiha Naruto nodded. This meant Yamanashi Inaba was about to break out of the seal.
Uchiha Naruto supported the barrel-shaped coffin, took it down from the rafters, and set it inside the side hall.
His spirit naturally could not match the strength of his original body. Fortunately, Yamanashi Inaba was petite and very light.
Uchiha Naruto was still hesitating over how to get the coffin out when he heard a crow outside give a shrill cry:
"Caw!"
Uchiha Naruto had not hidden Yamanashi Inaba at Gokokuji Temple without making preparations. He had left several crows nearby, ready to relay information to him at the slightest disturbance.
In spirit form, Uchiha Naruto could use the Spirit Transformation Technique to sense nearby souls.
A soul was approaching from outside Gokokuji Temple's side hall. Its strength and evil were beyond anything Uchiha Naruto had ever encountered.
Who was coming?
The wooden coffin