I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 325 Heian-kyo (Kyoto) of a Thousand Years

Kyoto City,
From the time the capital was moved to Heian-kyo (794) until Tokyo became the capital (1868), this place remained the capital of the island nation.

Over a thousand years, it has accumulated a wealth of historical buildings and gardens, including shrines and temples; as well as unique paintings, traditional activities, Kyoto cuisine, and more.

The vermilion-colored Shimizu City, built without a single nail; Fushimi Taisha Shrine with its ten thousand torii gates leading to Mount Inari; Kinkaku-ji Temple, where the shogun became a monk; and the beautiful and bustling Byodoin Phoenix Hall, which has stood from the Heian period to the present day; every building tells a story of grudges from thousands of years ago.

The city is still the same city, but there is no one to be seen: a girl with an oil-paper umbrella, a man with a stern face, old people and children.

Only the gray-furred rat silently crawled past the corner of the wall, its two dark eyes staring blankly ahead, seemingly unaware of the danger above.

puff,

A naginata fell from the sky and precisely impaled the rat on the ground.

"Tsk, the people of this era."

The next second, a masked boy with wings on his back descended from the sky.

He wore a bird mask, the robes of a 'Yamabushi' monk (a form of ascetic practice), with white pom-poms hanging down on either side, and wooden clogs. He was none other than a traditional Japanese yokai: a crow tengu.

Although it is also classified as a 'tengu', compared with the real 'great tengu', the crow tengu appears to be much inferior.

However, under that great Onmyoji, even low-level monsters can cultivate stronger power!

"You really don't learn from your mistakes."

Grasp the hilt and draw the naginata.

The gray-furred rat hanging on the tip of the knife was still 'scrambling' its limbs.

It wasn't a death throes, but rather because its 'program' was set up this way: yes, the 'internal organs' of the electronic devices could be seen through the damaged fur.

This is an 'electronic mouse', which in some ways is not much different from a toy.

It's just a toy worth a million yen!
The sophisticated instruments inside can not only autonomously overcome obstacles, but also transmit signals to the rear in real time, making them the main force used by the island nation's government to investigate changes in the city.

Unfortunately, these 'electronic mice' have met their natural enemy—

crackling and popping

"Finally quiet."

The electric current flowed through the naginata and into the 'electronic mouse', instantly turning the mechanical creation 'crispy on the outside and tender on the inside', which made the tengu nod in satisfaction.

After 'training' under Lord Seimei, he gained the demonic power of lightning; these human-made 'shikigami' constantly emitted 'lightning noise,' which was like a beacon in the darkness for these crow tengu.
Gaa gaa gaa!!

?

In the distance, shrouded in mist, the cawing of crows suddenly echoed through the streets.

There is an enemy!
With a flap of its wings, the 'Crow Tengu' soared into the sky and flew off in that direction.

Brush, brush, brush

Three figures were speeding across the rooftops.
These people were dressed in black, with black trousers and black masks covering their faces—the standard 'ninja' attire.

What they're doing now is standard 'ninja' work: gathering intelligence!

There's no way around it; with that fog outside, satellites and reconnaissance planes are completely useless. Small drones, electronic dogs, and even 'electronic mice' disguised as rats will be wiped out by the 'Crow Tengu' that descend from the sky shortly after entering this area.

In this situation, the only option is to send out scouts to investigate personally.

Given that those 'Crow Tengu' were extremely adept at using electronic devices, these 'ninjas' who had disappeared from history have begun to return to their old ways.

That's right, the island nation no longer has 'ninjas' if supernatural powers don't descend again.

Those old techniques are a joke in the face of modern firearms and infrared cameras.

But now, supernatural powers have given these ancient professions new vitality.

"careful!"

Three ninjas, who were flying over the building, quickly spotted the tengu flying low overhead; they alerted each other and raised their arms.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh

One after another, shuriken and kunai whistled as they hurtled towards the tengu, their power no less than that of heavy firearms.

"boring,"

The tengu didn't even bother to swing his sword.

With a flap of its wings, it deflected the incoming projectiles like a giant black iron shield.

Ding ding dang dang

Although the hidden weapons were easily deflected, the 'ninjas' achieved their goal.

"Ow—"

It emits eerie 'ape howls' to distract the enemy;

A ninja leaped high into the air, jumping more than ten meters; his ninja sword slashed at the tengu, completely attacking without any defense, showing no regard for his own life.

trouble,

Faced with such a fierce fighting style,
The tengu had no choice but to hold his naginata horizontally to block the opponent's attack.

He didn't want to get injured while dealing with a mere 'genin'. With this delay, the other two ninjas sped off towards the outskirts of the city without stopping!
"Sacrifice yourself to hold me back?"

In this scene, beneath the tengu's bird mask, a boy's sneer could be heard.

"Where do you think you are?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

逃、

Run for your life!

While his companion held off the tengu, the other two ninjas ran for their lives, channeling their spiritual energy into their legs without reservation.

They were ninjas of the Koga clan, hired by the island nation's government to spy on Heian-kyo; they were discovered only on the outskirts, but conversely, they were not far from the outside world, and their victory lay in escaping the fog.

It's not that easy!

Of the two ninjas who had split up and were running, one of them had just leaped over the roof and landed in the courtyard when he froze.

"Caught by the 'Shadow Crocodile'!"

A childish voice sounded behind him.

From the shadows beneath their feet emerged a little imp wearing a crocodile hat.

The other person's hands pressed down on the ninja's 'shadow', rendering the trembling ninja unable to move.

"According to the rules, it's your turn to be 'the ghost' next."

Meanwhile, another ninja, as he sped along, was surprised to see a little girl sitting on a rooftop ahead. The little girl wore a fox mask behind her head, dressed in ancient short clothes, and had a pair of wooden clogs dangling from her fair toes, swinging them back and forth as if they might fall off at any moment.

"Uncle, would you like me to tell you a story?"

Before the ninja could answer, the little girl began to speak on her own.

Once upon a time, a ninja infiltrated Heian-kyo (Kyoto).

brush,

The Koga clan ninja had no time to listen to their idle chatter. With a swift turn, they sped off to the side.

The ninja ran and ran.

The buildings on both sides rushed past, and the ninja left the little girl behind in the blink of an eye.

"But then I found myself back where I started,"

?

The sound suddenly came from ahead.
On the rooftop ahead, there was that little girl again, wearing her wooden clogs haphazardly, telling a story.

Illusion?

I bit my tongue hard, and a sharp pain flooded my mind.

The ninja immediately threw two shuriken at his opponent, then charged off to the other side again: he had no time to linger and deal with this strange little girl. He had to hurry—

"The ninja threw out two kunai, but they had no effect whatsoever."
The sound came from ahead again, and the ninja, feeling a chill run down his spine, instinctively stopped in his tracks.

Not far in front of him, on a rooftop, a little girl sat on the eaves, her wooden clogs swaying.
"Stupid ninja, you don't even have the strength to run away."

"because--"

The little girl sitting on the rooftop stared blankly at the ninja below, whose drool dripped from his masked black cloth, and listlessly swung her wooden clogs.

"He was already engrossed in the story of 'under the courtyard'."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the outskirts of Kyoto City
In the center of a heavily guarded military camp,

The place heavily guarded was not the military command post, but a magic array.

Five young Onmyoji dressed in white robes and topped with black hats were chanting incantations and forming hand seals, seemingly performing some kind of magic.

Behind them stood five vertical bars covered with 'gohei' (official coins), connected by white shimenawa (sacred ropes) to form a pentagram barrier. In the center of the five Onmyoji were three paper figures that had fallen motionless in the center of the magic circle.

"All three Koga clan ninjas have lost vital signs."

Outside the magic circle, an extraordinary officer from the Osaka Army and a person dressed as a ninja looked at the three paper figures that had fallen in the center of the magic circle.

The paper doll is attached to a part of the holder's 'soul'. If the paper doll loses its movement, it means that the ninjas are all dead.

But it doesn't matter, there's no one here: including the three ninjas from the Koga clan, I believe they can escape.

Simply put, the three ninjas were 'disposable' reconnaissance tools.

The crucial part is coming next:
"Summoning Jutsu!" x5
As the five Onmyoji shouted in unison, a cloud of smoke suddenly burst forth from the center of the magic circle.

As the smoke dissipated, three human heads appeared within the magic circle!

Judging from their open-eyed deaths and their black-covered faces, they were indeed three ninja from the Koga clan.

head.

"Put it away!"

One of the five Onmyoji gave an urgent order.

The other Onmyoji quickly stepped forward and pasted various talismans onto these heads.

Don't get me wrong, they weren't trying to 'rescue' each other; they were trying to preserve as much information as possible from each other's minds.

"Send it to the head of the family; make sure it doesn't get cold on the way!"

"Hi Yi,"

Several Onmyoji (yin-yang masters) received the order and took away the head sealed with talisman paper.

Soon, Osprey transport planes took off and headed towards Osaka.

"Please wait patiently, both of you."

The young Onmyoji left behind gave instructions to the extraordinary officer and the Koga family's 'Jonin'; he took out a 'military ration pill' and swallowed it, then began to rest cross-legged on his own.

"Thank you for your trouble, everyone from the Ishigaya family,"

The army officer nodded to the young Onmyoji.

The three Koga ninjas sent out all had the 'Summoning Technique' inscription on their foreheads.

Once the infiltrated ninjas die, their heads are immediately summoned.

Then hand it over to the two members of the Isoya family, asking the 'one' behind them to search for information from these brains.

In other words, the ninjas were expendable pawns from the very beginning!

The cost of doing so:
"Mr. Koga Haruto, the Army will always remember the sacrifice of your family."

"Three bottles of 'Superior Grade Extraordinary Potions', send them over immediately."

"Thank you,"

The ninja known as 'Koga Haruto' replied curtly.

The reason their family is working so hard is not only for the sake of the island nation, but also because of the reward promised by the army: a top-grade extraordinary drug made with the blood of General Kafka!

Ordinary extraordinary medicines are derived from the blood of wolf-level extraordinary beings.

The main ingredient in the Army's top-grade super-powerful medicine comes from General Kafka.

As the 'Jinchūriki' of the great demon Ibaraki, his blood can directly create wolf-level superhumans, and after training to achieve 'demon transformation', he can even briefly unleash tiger-level power!

Of course, the price of power is the risk of losing control at any time.

If Kafka Lu Jiang were by his side, he could use his 'high-ranking' demonic power to directly suppress the rampaging demonic power of the out-of-control person.

However, if other forces use such extraordinary potions, they will create double-edged swords.

Powerful, yet capable of spiraling out of control at any moment.

But what can you do when the Koga family has already lost its head?
The Koga family now only has two pitiful newly promoted Wolf-level members. If they don't want to be swallowed up or killed, they must have the power to protect themselves.

The Koga family's goal is to obtain top-grade extraordinary medicine.

Therefore, sacrificing three 'strong dog-level' ninjas was worthwhile.

"It's all for the family."

Muttering to himself, the ninja lowered his eyes.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Qingming!"

In the mist-shrouded 'Heian-kyo', apart from the large number of demons and monsters, it is actually no different from before.

In an elegant courtyard in the 'Nakagyo Ward', the gate was suddenly pushed open, and a handsome man dressed in the attire of a court noble or samurai from the Heian period strode into the house.

"How did you manage to revive Minamoto no Yorimitsu as well?"

The newcomer entered the courtyard with a commotion and walked straight toward 'Abe no Seimei', who was reading a book there.

"That guy is forging the 'Ghost Soldier Department' again!"

"I know,"

The great Onmyoji put down his book and answered with a smile.

"Given Minamoto no Yorimitsu's personality, if he were to be resurrected, he would undoubtedly expand his military capabilities significantly."

"When the great battle comes, let this 'guardian of the Chao family' lead the charge."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu was the head of the Minamoto clan during the Heian period. He was brave and skilled in battle, yet also cunning and scheming, and commanded the Four Heavenly Kings—yes, the title of the Four Heavenly Kings existed as early as the Heian period.

He led his four Heavenly Kings to kill Shuten-dōji, one of the three great demon kings; he also defeated the famous great demon Tsuchigumo. In Japanese legends, he is a very powerful figure.

"I don't like him,"

The samurai who came in sat down opposite Seimei, still looking angry.

"Hiromasa, I don't like Minamoto no Yorimitsu either."

Abe no Seimei spoke to offer his advice, and the person before him was none other than his close friend from his previous life: Minamoto no Hiromasa.

As you can tell from his name, he is also a member of the Minamoto clan: he is the grandson of Emperor Daigo and the son of Prince Katsumi, a true prince of the imperial family.

He had a very good relationship with Seimei, so he felt it was only natural that he was 'resurrected' by the other party—but Minamoto no Yorimitsu's relationship with them was not so good; they could even be considered enemies at one point.

"We are, after all, dead men, yet we have been given this once-in-a-millennium opportunity to return to the world of the living."

"But they will face encirclement and suppression by humans and hostility from the gods, so they have to make plans early."
"But."

Before the samurai named Minamoto no Hiromasa could say anything more, Abe no Seimei casually added:
"Do you want Kagura to be dragged into the war as well?"

"I'll listen to you."

When his younger sister was mentioned, Minamoto no Hiromasa hesitated for a moment and then said nothing more.

(End of this chapter)