A Shadow of Doubt and Disdain

Tension fills the air as the head of the Kamisato Clan, Akihiko Kamisato, is confronted with a troubling predicament. Kyosuke Sanjourno, the fox noble who stands before the clan's front gate, was accompanied by two dubious individuals and a counterfeit version of the goddess they hold with the highest reverence.

Considering how the miscreants have refused to leave the estate, it is clear that the situation is getting out of hand. Though Ayato and Shinobu are by his side, it's up to Akihiko to resolve the challenging predicament before him.

With firm resolve, he confronted the unwelcome group, posing a direct question to them.

"What is it that you want from us? We already told you to leave, yet you refuse."

"Kukuku..."

Kyosuke chuckled, seemingly amused by Akihiko's persistent queries. His gaze sharpens on his adversary, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

"Oh, dear Kamisato, you fail to understand. We're all gathered here for a common objective—to witness the downfall of the Kamisato clan."

With a subtle gesture, Kyosuke signals to his companion, Kunikuzushi, who deftly flexes his fingers with malicious motion, causing the counterfeit Raiden to brandish her naginata like a puppet on strings.

Upon seeing this, Akihiko and his son, Ayato, were filled with terror. However, Shinobu, their valiant guardian, unsheathes her katana to protect them.

"Master Kamisato, take Sir Ayato and flee. I will handle this from here."

"Of course, be careful, Shinobu."

Acknowledging her resolve, Akihiko and Ayato retreated, urgency lending momentum to their steps. However, before they could reach safety, an unseeable force stopped their progress, sending them stumbling backward in shock and dismay.

"What the heck? An invisible wall?" Ayato exclaimed.

Akihiko's frustration boiled over, demanding answers from their tormentor. "Lord Sanjourno, explain yourself!"

As the Kamisato's cries echoed through the estate, Kyosuke's laughter echoed in response, a chilling prelude to the storm that loomed on the horizon.

"Oh, what fools. Can't you see, or rather, can't you feel? It's an invisible barrier erected by the Doctor. No one can enter or leave unless he permits it."

"Thank you for the lovely comments, Lord Sanjourno," the Doctor acknowledged. "However, I believe it is time for me to attend to someone else."

The masked man then walks forward, casually approaching the estate. Shinobu noticed this and charged toward the intruder, trying to strike him down quickly.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going!"

However, before she could swing her blade at him, Kunikuzushi saw her intention and flexed a finger, commanding the fake Raiden to intercept.

Clang!

Weapons clashed as the counterfeit Raiden managed to move quickly and fend off Shinobu's attack, protecting the Doctor from immediate danger.

"Oh my, that was a close call. I know you want to stop me, but I have important business to attend to. So, toodles~"

As the Doctor casually leaves the scene, he effortlessly phases through the invisible barrier upon walking into the distance. This angers Shinobu so much that she can't help but scream.

"Hey! Get back here! Hey!"

Her cries echoed as she struggled with the counterfeit Raiden, her frustration mounting as their adversary slipped away from her sight.

-------------------------------------------

After the Doctor left the scene, Shinobu continued her fierce duel against the counterfeit Raiden, her determination unwavering despite the odds stacked against her.

"It's useless, you fool. This Raiden possesses the same power as the genuine one. You stand no chance against her."

Kunikuzushi's taunt reverberated through the air as he continued to flex his stringed fingers to control the fake goddess, orchestrating her movements like a puppeteer.

With a swift thrust of her naginata, the counterfeit Raiden surged forward, intent on quashing Shinobu. Yet, the green-haired girl met the assault head-on, parrying the blow with her blade and responding with a swift counterattack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their weapons clashed continuously with resounding force, each combatant striving to gain the upper hand.

"Tch, it's not enough. Then I have no choice but to do this," Shinobu muttered to herself as she reached for her sleeve.

Drawing a segmented dagger, she reluctantly sliced her palm, causing her blood to transform into a ring of purple lightning that enveloped her entire body. As the counterfeit Raiden tried another strike, she was met with a shock upon contact, recoiling from the electrifying surge.

"What the hell did you just do?" Kunikuzushi demanded, his tone betraying a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

With a dismissive huff, Shinobu responded, "It's a skill I hesitate to employ willingly. It's called [Sanctifying Ring]."

As the crackling energy enveloped her, Shinobu's resolve hardened. Decisiveness gleamed in her eyes as she prepared to take on her adversaries with newfound strength.

Meanwhile, Akihiko watched anxiously as the situation unfolded, his concern for his wife and daughter mounting with each passing moment. He turned to his son, Ayato, equally on edge, and assigned him a crucial task.

"Ayato, listen carefully. We must find a way to breach this barrier and rescue your mother and sister. I'm not sure how, but we cannot afford to stand idly by. We must have a solution."

In response, Ayato nodded, his focus shifting to the barrier itself.

"I understand, Father. There should be a weak point in the barrier's structural integrity. Lady Miko once taught me that with sufficient force applied, it can be shattered."

Akihiko, though somewhat puzzled by the technical details, nodded in agreement.

"I see... So, we need to strike where it's vulnerable, correct?"

"Precisely, Father."

With a shared resolve, the father and son began to examine the barrier, hoping to find the weak point they desperately needed to exploit in order to rescue their loved ones.

However, amidst their search, Kyosuke notices what they're doing, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He then turns to his associate, who is busy controlling the counterfeit Raiden.

"Hey, look. They're up to something suspicious over there."

"Not now."

"Shouldn't we intervene?"

"I don't care, let them be."

Kunikuzushi's dismissive response did little to soothe Kyosuke's growing unease. Frustration simmered within him as he regarded his colleague's indifferent demeanor.

"You know, for a companion, you seem unusually dismissive."

"Can't you see? I'm busy."

"I understand that, but you seem unconcerned about those two. At least, help me... Ark!"

Before Kyosuke could finish his sentence, something struck him hard in the face. Obtaining the mysterious object, he realized it was a sheathed knife. He glanced back at Kunikuzushi, expecting an explanation from him.

"Hey, what is this for?" 

"If you're concerned about those fools, deal with them yourself."

Kyosuke's irritation flared, but he suppressed his retort, realizing his companion's focus was elsewhere. Unsheathing the knife, he advanced toward the two Kamisatos, his contempt and resentment fueling his attempt to strike.

"Die, Kamisato Scum!!"

"Father, look out!"

------------------------------------------------

Leaving the chaos unfolding at the estate's entrance, the Doctor effortlessly made his way to where the rest of the clan was gathered. From a remote distance, he watched as the mother danced for her daughter, who seemed completely captivated by the spectacle.

"Hmm... Fascinating. It seems she still has the strength to indulge in such frivolity."

Advancing stealthily, he utilized the cover of shadows to obscure his approach. As the dance concluded, he concealed himself just in time.

cough... cough...

Just then, the mother coughed heavily, leaving the daughter deeply worried. However, the Doctor grinned widely as if he was anticipating for this to happen. 

"About time... Kukuku..."

Silently reveling in the mother's distress, he was caught off guard when she suddenly turned towards him, shielding her child behind her. Realizing his concealment was compromised, he emerged from hiding.

"Oh dear, am I interrupting your mother-daughter moment, Fubuki?"

The mother, who was addressed as Fubuki, seethed at the Doctor's presence, sickly uttering one of his names.

"Hanzo Takemura..."

Upon hearing this, the Doctor, now referred to as Hanzo, smirked confidently at the sight of the frail woman protecting her daughter, Ayaka.

"Mother, who is this person?" 

Ayaka's inquiry hung in the air, her voice tinged with uncertainty and apprehension. Before Fubuki could respond, Hanzo stepped forward, his demeanor oozing with calculated yet malevolent charisma.

"Why, my dear girl, your mother and I go way back. We have a long history—one that I'm sure she'd love to share with you."

Fubuki's expression darkened at Hanzo's insinuation. She opened her fan and waved it at the masked man with anger.

"Stay away from my daughter, you fiend!"

Suddenly, a frigid gust of snow materialized, surging toward Hanzo with the intent to freeze him in his tracks. However, the masked man countered Fubuki's attack by motioning his hand upward, causing the shadow beneath him to rise and form a protective barrier.

"Your attack seems feeble, Fubuki. Is that the best you can muster?"

"Shut up, you face-stealing bastard."

Disregarding his taunts, Fubuki focuses on fending off the threat while protecting Ayaka, who is bewildered by the current situation. With a flick of her fan, she summoned another surge of snow. But this time, it was infused with greater force, aiming to breach Hanzo's defenses.

crack

The protective barrier breaks at the impact of surging snow, but Hanzo swiftly weaves to the side to avoid the attack. Then, he snaps his fingers and points at Ayaka, turning the shadow into spiky projectiles.

"Take this, [Kagenoyari1]"

"!!"

Reacting swiftly, Fubuki grabbed her daughter and shielded her from harm. But in doing so, Hanzo's attacks pierced her stomach, causing her to cough up blood.

"Mother! Are you okay?! You're bleeding!"

Ayaka's distressed cries echoed loudly, eliciting a chuckle of satisfaction from Hanzo as he approached them, reveling in his fiendish accomplishment.