Kagetsu followed the sound and saw a yōkai in a black haori cautiously step out of the cave.
The moment it noticed him, it hurried forward and dropped flat to the ground with a heavy thud, forehead pressed into the dirt.
"I do not know what brings you here, my lord. Please,have mercy. Do not exterminate our tribe!"
Only then did Kagetsu get a proper look at the tribe's appearance.
They stood upright like beasts forced onto two legs, with no trace of human features. Short gray fur covered their bodies, and dark rings circled their eyes. They resembled an odd mix between a dog and a raccoon.
Mujina… tanuki, perhaps, he thought.
Yet something about them stood out.
Just as he had noticed earlier, the yōkai prostrated before him had a swollen bundle-like mass strapped across its back.
"What kind of yōkai are you?" Kagetsu asked calmly.
"My lord, we are the Dōri Oni tribe. We have dwelled in this valley for generations and have never sought conflict with humans."
The yōkai's voice trembled with fear.
"Dōri Oni…"
The name stirred something in Kagetsu's memory. Information from the yōkai compendium flashed through his mind.
His expression stiffened.
He quietly took two measured steps backward, instinctively widening the distance between himself and the kneeling creature.
The description in that book had left a… lasting impression.
The Dōri Oni were not particularly large,only slightly bigger than an average dog. But they possessed one utterly bizarre anatomical trait.
A single body part that could expand to the size of eight tatami mats.
It could be used to intimidate enemies, to bludgeon them as a weapon, and,most absurd of all,it could transform into the illusion of a fully furnished room, luring unsuspecting victims inside before trapping them.
When he first read about it, Kagetsu had thought the entry was some kind of joke.
Now, seeing that suspicious "bundle" in its compact state strapped to the creature's back, he understood with grim clarity.
If that thing so much as twitched in his direction, he would not hesitate.
One Fire Release.
He would reduce this entire valley to ash.
Let them learn what true despair looks like.
Suppressing the faint sense of revulsion in his chest, he nodded slightly, though his gaze never left that bundle.
"What is your name?"
"This humble one is called Kōzō," the yōkai replied, still kneeling. "I serve as the chief of this tribe."
"I have a question," Kagetsu said bluntly, his tone cool but alert. "The human village outside this valley hired me to investigate a thief stealing their food. Has your tribe been taking grain from them?"
Kōzō hesitated.
"…Yes."
"The younger members of the tribe have indeed taken grain from the human settlement recently."
"Why?" Kagetsu's eyes narrowed. "You've lived here for generations. You should be familiar with the land. Surely you're not so desperate that you must steal from humans."
At that, Kōzō slowly lifted his head.
His expression was heavy with bitterness.
"My lord may not know… but not long ago, a powerful cat yōkai invaded our territory."
His voice shook.
"We were no match for her. She seized all the food we had stored for the year… and she took the strongest warriors of our tribe."
"A cat yōkai?" Kagetsu's interest sharpened. "She took your food and your people? For what purpose? Livestock?"
"No!" Kōzō shook his head quickly. "She said she required them to help search for something called… the Shikon Jewel."
The Shikon Jewel.
Of course.
In this era, there were countless yōkai fighting, scheming, and slaughtering for even the faintest rumor of its shards.
"And where is this cat yōkai now?" Kagetsu asked.
"We do not know. When she left with our tribesmen, she also took the grain she had stolen. She said she would return after some time."
Kōzō lowered his gaze again.
"She ordered us to continue gathering food in her absence and to hand it over when she comes back. We have no provisions left… and we dare not disobey her. So we were forced to take grain from the humans."
He hurriedly added, "But we only took grain! We have never harmed a single villager!"
"She's coming back?" A faint smile curved Kagetsu's lips. "Good."
Very good.
Most likely, the cat yōkai was using the Dōri Oni as expendable labor,sending them out to gather intelligence on the Shikon Jewel shards. The stolen grain would serve as rations for the captives.
Convenient.
"Listen carefully," Kagetsu said.
"Return all the stolen grain to the human village immediately. And from this moment forward, stop obeying that cat yōkai."
He turned slightly, eyes cold and resolute.
"I will wait outside the valley. When she returns, I'll deal with her."
Kōzō hesitated.
He clearly feared retaliation. If this powerful shinobi left midway and the cat yōkai came back…
But when he met Kagetsu's gaze, his body trembled.
"…Understood."
He pressed his forehead to the ground once more.
"Thank you for your mercy, my lord!"
"I will inform the tribe at once and return the grain."
"Go," Kagetsu said, already turning away.
"My lord!" Kōzō called anxiously. "Shall we prepare a cave for you to rest? We have clean chambers,and can offer wild fruits and fresh water."
"No need."
Kagetsu didn't even slow his steps.
"I'll remain nearby. You need not concern yourselves."
He understood the chief's anxiety.
But he truly was interested in this cat yōkai. There was no reason for him to deceive such a minor tribe.
Leaving the valley, Kagetsu quickly found a broad, open clearing.
He surveyed the terrain and gave a satisfied nod.
"This will do."
His hands formed seals with practiced precision.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique."
Chakra surged.
Thick wooden pillars burst from the earth with a thunderous crack. Branches twisted and wove together, trunks bending and locking into place as if guided by invisible hands.
Within minutes, a refined two-story wooden house stood firmly upon the clearing.
"Not bad."
He dusted off his hands and pushed the door open.
The first floor was a spacious living area,minimalist but functional. A sturdy wooden table stood at its center. A staircase in the corner led to the upper level.
He ascended without hesitation.
The second floor opened into a broad bedroom. A solid wooden bed sat in the center, accompanied by a table, chairs, and a storage cabinet. Simple, practical, complete.
He crossed the room and pushed open the balcony doors.
Leaning against the railing, he gazed at the distant mountains and forest stretching under the fading light.
"I suppose I'll stay here for a while."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Let's hope that cat doesn't keep me waiting too long."
He reclined in a wooden lounge chair, reached into his Kamui space, and withdrew the yōkai compendium.
With the valley quiet beneath him and the forest wind brushing past the balcony, Kagetsu began to read,calmly awaiting the arrival of his next opponent.