Chapter 39 – Infinite Tsukuyomi in the Inuyasha World?
[Youkai Renji]: "The improvement doesn't seem as great as I imagined. Maybe it's because it's just the first gate."
Once it became passive, the ability was basically a permanent boost.
In this world, his youki had also increased quite a bit, just not as much as he had imagined.
[Mundane Renji]: "It's definitely a huge boost in the early stages. I just punched through an iron plate effortlessly! I no longer have to be afraid of getting killed by citizens of Beika City!"
Do you know how he survived all these years?!
Beika Grand Stage—come if you dare.
He originally thought it was just a slice-of-life world, but this happened!
[Zombie Renji]: "To be fair, this is quite a big improvement for me too. I wasn't even a physical type to begin with, and now my physique has improved a lot. I feel like I'll be punching out zombie kings and kicking down fierce ghosts in no time!"
The first gate of the Hachimon Tonkō allows a person to exert 100% of their strength.
Actually, everyone has their own limit. It's like when an old lady suddenly lifts a car to save her grandson—an explosive burst of strength in a moment of crisis.
This might be a sort of gene lock too, though it can't compare to the actual gene lock later on.
[Youkai Renji]: "How long would it take to reach the later stages? Wait... why do I feel like the progress for the Hachimon Tonkō is accumulating?"
[Kaizoku Renji]: "I've been training. I found out that if we train together, the Hachimon Tonkō improves really fast. So if we want to level up quickly, we should all train together. Let's aim to open the seventh gate within a year?"
[Mundane Renji]: "What? That insane? But actually... that works!"
Thinking about it that way—if the progress is cumulative, and everyone's training feeds into it, then group training could lead to rapid improvement.
[Kaizoku Renji]: "I'll train more. I feel like the Hachimon Tonkō trains faster in this world!"
[Naruto Renji]: "Alright, I'll train too, try to help boost everyone."
Train whenever there's time. Since the progress accumulates rather than each person training individually for their own passive, everyone training together would let them power up the Hachimon Tonkō quickly. Aim to open seven gates this year, and full eight gates the year after.
Too bad they didn't have a Renji from the Dragon Ball world. If they did, the training would probably be completed in no time.
[Mundane Renji]: "I think I've figured something out—if we get more of these general-use ability tickets later, we could make all enhancement-type actives into passives shared by everyone!"
Like the Hachimon Tonkō—it could give an ordinary person tremendous strength without side effects.
This gave him clearer insight and greater confidence for what he planned to do next.
Having a gun versus not having a gun—those are two completely different things.
[Youkai Renji]: "Perfect. I've got more time recently too. Let's train quickly."
The damage-free version of the Hachimon Tonkō was a true physical enhancement. It worked across all worlds. Plus, this time he had obtained the taijutsu-oriented body of Hōsenki, giving him the ability to freely control kongōseki.
Which meant there was no need to seek out Hōsenki—he could make kongōseki himself.
Hōrai-jima.
He stored the corpses of Kyōra, Gōra, and Ryūra, and took one of Ryūra's Kazekiba and Raikiba.
Now, he felt he had pretty much all the materials he needed.
"Shall we go?"
Renji turned his head to look at Suiko. The matters on Hōrai-jima were settled, and it was about time to leave. As for the barrier, there was no need to worry—since Kanade was still alive, she could open Hōrai-jima's kekkai.
"We're just leaving?"
Suiko looked at Renji in surprise. Just now, during Renji's discussion in the chat group, Suiko had already formed a friendship with Kanade.
The way women form friendships is strange—sometimes one sentence is enough for them to become close friends.
For Suiko and Kanade, both lacked true, sincere, equal friendships.
They both wanted to become friends, so they hit it off immediately.
"Or do you want to stay here as a guest?"
Renji still had to forge his katana. After that, he'd be heading to the battlefield.
Inu no Taishō had probably been injured during the war with the panther clan, then rushed off to duel Ryūkotsusei and got seriously hurt, then went off again to fight Setsuna no Takemaru who had obtained Sō'unga.
It could be said that any one of those battles wouldn't have killed him, but the three all stacked up.
"If possible, please have a meal here before leaving."
Kanade looked at Renji seriously. If it weren't for him, Hōrai-jima might have become a living hell.
So to express her gratitude, Kanade hoped Renji could stay for a meal before leaving.
"Why don't we eat before we go?"
Suiko looked at Renji with hopeful eyes. That expression... was she being coquettish?
Renji rubbed his forehead. It felt unreal for a straightforward, blunt girl like Suiko to act like this.
"By the way, have you ever considered that the youkai and hanyō you've been protecting might actually yearn for the outside world more?"
From the original work, Kanade's intention was good, but after the Shitōshin appeared and shattered the illusion, she realized the harshness of reality.
Hanyō and youkai might actually be capable of adapting to the outside world. If they're always protected on Hōrai-jima and one day face invasion, they might not even have the chance to resist.
"Huh?!"
Kanade looked at Renji in confusion, not understanding why he said that.
Was her protection a bad thing?
But here they were safe. Why should they go out into the world?
"I'm just saying—if there are those willing to go out, let them leave. Not everyone needs protection."
Renji wasn't radical enough to tell her to release everyone.
That would only get most of them killed out there.
But if some wanted to leave and see the outside world, they should be allowed to.
"Forget it. This is your Hōrai-jima's matter. Living here is actually pretty good."
Maybe this was another kind of Mugen Tsukuyomi.
Actually, it wasn't bad—living without worries. Perhaps now that the Shitōshin were gone, Hōrai-jima really wouldn't be invaded by other youkai anymore.
"But if they go out, most of them will die, right?"
Kanade asked.
She had always been worried that the hanyō couldn't get along with humans, yet were also rejected by other youkai.
That's why she had always protected them on Hōrai-jima.
"They probably would. So maybe Hōrai-jima is good for them… or maybe it's not."
"Then why are hanyō rejected by both humans and youkai? Those children have no place to live."
Kanade turned her head to look at Renji.
Suiko also instinctively looked at Renji, lost in thought.
"Because of bloodlines. Half-youkai with one human and one youkai parent—in the youkai world, purity of bloodline is valued. Humans and youkai also have deep-seated hatred. Naturally, hanyō are rejected. Their birth is a tragedy. But if their parents can protect them, these problems wouldn't exist."
In Renji's view, the birth of a hanyō was inherently tragic. If an ordinary youkai and an ordinary human fell in love and had a child, but couldn't protect themselves or the child, then tragedy was inevitable.
But if the parents—or at least one of them—had strong enough power, then protecting their child would be simple. For example, if Inu no Taishō hadn't died, Inuyasha's fate wouldn't have been so miserable.
And honestly, Inuyasha's life wasn't that tragic after he grew up. Early on, he was acknowledged by Sesshōmaru, but because Sesshōmaru was fighting on the front lines while Inuyasha was in the rear falling in love with a human—and then even got sealed by a miko—Sesshōmaru ended up extremely disappointed in him.
"So if it were you, what would you do?"
"Respect others' fates. Let go of the savior complex. You can't save everyone—this is a tragedy born of its era."
Renji's words were harsh, but also grounded in reality.
It was a tragedy created by the times. Humans and youkai were never meant to be together. But love... is always a strange thing.
"Of course, if you think you can protect them forever, then go ahead and guard your little utopia here."
"That's true. The longer you live, the more darkness you see in this world. But… isn't there another way?"
Suiko felt a deep sigh stir in her heart. She had killed too many youkai and seen far too much evil.
This era really did feel diseased.
"There is—unless there exists a power that can purify the world and suppress an entire era to establish its rules!!!"
Just like the era of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara in the world of Naruto. Just like Naruto and Sasuke. Just like the time of the Rikudō Sennin.
Why did everyone love peace in that era?
Because if you didn't love peace, there were people strong enough to make you love peace!
So, to bring peace, you needed someone powerful enough to suppress the entire era and force both humans and youkai to obey a unified set of rules!
Turning to the miko with a face that resembled Kikyō, Renji shook his head. It was impossible. Even someone as strong as Inu no Taishō had died—she stood no chance.
"So Renji, let's fight together for this era!"
"Oi oi oi!! Why are you dragging me into this!?"
Seeing Suiko's spirited face, Renji immediately sensed that something was off.
He had only suggested a possible path—he never said he wanted to change the era with her!
"You don't think changing an entire era would be cool?"
Suiko was full of energy, clearly inspired by Renji's words. She had found her new goal.
At first, Suiko only wanted to slay evil youkai and bring a bit of peace to the world. But after hearing Renji's words, she suddenly realized… maybe her goal could be much bigger.
She wanted to create an era where humans, youkai, and hanyō could all live together in harmony!
"If it's possible to create such a world, that really would be amazing. Thank you! You've cleared my mind again!"
Oi!
What exactly did I say!?
Kanade's grateful gaze made Renji rub his forehead. He felt like he'd just completely reshaped the worldviews of two mikos.
And that wasn't even what he meant!
Maybe he should bring over his Naruto-world self someday, have him use Mugen Tsukuyomi and just cast it on everyone to get it over with.
"Renji, say something!"
"Ahem… well, I guess changing the rules of the world isn't impossible, but… it's still way too early for us. There are a lot of issues we haven't solved yet."
"It's fine. Even if we don't solve them ourselves, if we have children in the future, we can teach them and let them carry on our will!"
"Children?"
This woman… was she already thinking that far ahead?
What is this? Yugong moving mountains?
Seeing Renji's bewildered expression, Suiko muttered inwardly—she'd been so obvious with her hints, how could this guy not get it?
"We'll talk about that later. After this meal, I'm going to forge my yōtō."
Yōtō, yōtō!
Just go spend your life with your precious yōtō, then!
Suiko sulked inwardly. It was like he hadn't heard a single word she'd just said.
During the meal, Suiko was gloomy, Kanade deep in thought, and Renji was busy thinking about what kind of strange abilities his next yōtō would have.
"Let's go. We need to hurry. If Kirara runs out of energy, I'll just carry you."
"No need! I can go on my own! And if you're in a rush, go ahead and go first!"
What's going on?
Why is this woman suddenly so irritable?
Renji was puzzled. He thought it over but couldn't figure it out, so he just nodded and agreed with Suiko.
"Alright, we'll see how it goes then."
As soon as Renji finished speaking, Kanade quietly covered her mouth and laughed.
What a clueless youkai… can't even read a girl's thoughts?
After saying goodbye to Kanade, the entire journey back, Suiko barely said a word, like a tightly sealed gourd.
Finally, they arrived at Tōtōsai's residence, and Renji felt like he was finally free.
"Tōtōsai, I brought all the materials!"
He laid out the corpses of Ryūra, Kyōra, and Gōra, the Goshinboku, kongōseki, Ryūra's two blades, and all the reiki, corpse energy, and corpse venom in front of Tōtōsai.
"Renji-sama, just what kind of crazy stuff have you been up to lately?"
Wait, what!?
Three daiyōkai corpses, two powerful yōtō, kongōseki from Hōsenki, even the Goshinboku still retaining its power… and some other weird stuff he'd never seen before.
Wait, seriously!?
Tōtōsai originally thought Renji was just going out to casually gather some materials. He didn't expect much—he was even considering using some of his rare reserves to help forge a decent sword for Renji.
But now Renji had come back with all this!?
"Oh right, I also have the flames from the Myōdō no Yōgama. They enhance forging. Use them too. How long will it take to make me a sword?"
Renji brought out the preserved flames that Kanade had extracted from the Myōdō no Yōgama. They would make for even better forging results.
"It might take a while. Also, Renji-sama, your fangs—plus these two completely different powers… have you considered forging two separate weapons?"
(End of Chapter)
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