Chapter 33: A Clear Conscience

"What do you want in return, Shishou?" Miroku asked, her tone calm yet inquisitive.

Shishou, maintaining his composure, made his request clear. "I want the sealing techniques of the priestess lineage."

"The sealing techniques of the priestess lineage?" Miroku repeated, her brows furrowing in thought. She carefully considered her words before speaking. "Shishou, it's not that I don't want to agree, but the sealing techniques can only be used by those of the priestess bloodline. Even if I teach you everything, you won't be able to use them."

Shishou was taken aback, a realization dawning on him. "Is it a kekkei genkai?"

Miroku nodded, confirming his suspicion. "Yes, it is."

A wave of disappointment washed over Shishou. Seeing the deep frown on his face, Miroku feared he might leave and quickly asked, "Is there anything else you want?"

Shishou was momentarily at a loss. He didn't need money, and without the sealing techniques, he couldn't think of anything else he needed. He thought, Forget it, I'll just do a good deed. After all, he had grown up with a sense of justice and couldn't ignore people in need.

As he pondered, Shishou turned to Miroku, and an idea struck him. If I can't learn the sealing techniques, perhaps having the priestess herself would be just as good.

"If the priestess could join me, it would be like having the sealing techniques at my disposal," he thought. With her help, he could gain significant leverage and indirectly control the Land of Demons. Besides, Miroku was beautiful, and her priestess attire only added to her allure.

"Shishou, what do you mean by that?" Miroku asked, sensing his intense gaze.

Shishou decided to explain his plan more clearly. "If I can't learn the sealing techniques, then I have another request. In the future, I would like the priestess to help me with three tasks. How does that sound?"

This was a strategic move, setting the stage for future cooperation. It was something Shishou had read about in online guides about building connections.

"Alright, I agree," Miroku said after a moment of thought. "But the tasks must not harm innocent people."

"You can rest assured, priestess. While I may not be a saint, I won't harm the innocent. When I have the ability to save people, I won't hesitate to do so," Shishou replied, starting to walk towards the temple.

Miroku was momentarily stunned, recalling how Shishou had saved the villagers earlier. She quickly caught up with him. "If I hadn't agreed to your request, would you still have helped?"

"Of course," Shishou replied without hesitation.

"Then why did you ask me for these things? Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word?" Miroku asked, more confused than ever.

Shishou chuckled softly, glancing at her. "What if you did? While I do seek some benefits, these are things I want to do. I wouldn't haggle over them. All I ask is to have a clear conscience."

To have a clear conscience... Miroku paused, watching Shishou's back, feeling deeply moved.

At the door to the side hall, Uchiha Izumi had heard the entire conversation. She quickly followed Shishou, her admiration growing. No wonder he saved members of the Uchiha clan, she thought. No wonder he went to the Land of Grass to save Karin and her mother. Her heart pounded as she followed him.

Inside the temple, Miroku, Shishou, and the others quickly devised their plan. Shishou would summon his giant centipede to transport Miroku and a few selected ninja, including Pakura, to the Land of Marshes. Upon arrival, Pakura and the others would set up an ambush outside to fend off any attackers, while Shishou would assist Miroku in sealing Moryo within the cave.

"From here on, it all depends on your arrangements, Shishou," Miroku said respectfully.

Pakura, Kakashi, and the others were curious about what had transpired in the side room to earn Miroku's respect for Shishou. Realizing how crucial Shishou was to their plan, they couldn't help but sigh. They felt like mere bystanders in the grand scheme of things.

Izumi, meanwhile, eyed Miroku with suspicion. Could she have feelings for Shishou?

"Don't worry, priestess. I'll protect you," Shishou assured Miroku before heading outside. Miroku quickly followed.

Uchiha Izumi trailed closely, glaring briefly at Miroku. "Let's go," she said to the group.

Kakashi, feeling somewhat redundant, shrugged and led the others in following Shishou. "I feel like I'm just here to make up the numbers," he muttered.

"This doesn't feel youthful at all," Might Guy added. "I should've known it would be like this. I was so excited about finally getting an S-rank mission."

Anko, walking alongside Guy, nodded in agreement. "I feel the same way. I was so pumped, thinking we'd be doing something grand."

Pakura and the others shared the sentiment but knew they had no choice.

Outside, Shishou performed the summoning technique, and with a puff of smoke, his giant centipede appeared. He climbed onto its head, helping Miroku up, and with a wave, the centipede started moving, crushing any remaining puppet soldiers in its path.

Along the way, Miroku guided Shishou, using her unique abilities to track Moryo's movements. The demon, intent on merging with the priestess, followed them closely. The centipede moved faster than Moryo, so they had to stop periodically to let it catch up.

"This doesn't feel youthful at all," Guy complained, watching Kakashi. "Let's race to the Land of Marshes, Kakashi. What do you say?"

Kakashi rolled his eyes, showing his lack of interest. He continued reading his book, ignoring Guy's challenge.