It seemed almost certain.
"..."
Hakushi felt helpless about the way this woman's mind worked.
Seeing Hakushi's puzzled expression, Miyako giggled as if she found pleasure in it.
Just as Ruri said, a woman with a nasty personality.
"Please don't make fun of me. May I ask why you wanted to see me? There's still a lot to handle over there."
Hakushi shook his head, forcing a wry smile, and ended this frivolous conversation. Her elegant and noble appearance was in sharp contrast with her troublesome personality.
"Don't worry, we agreed to your marriage. After all, it was Ruri's own choice. If we were to oppose it, that child would surely rush here and punch each of us."
Miyako tapped her head with a paper fan, looking rather resigned.
Is that really why you're not opposing it? It seems so casual. Hakushi sighed inwardly.
"Alright, let's end the previous topic here and discuss serious matters now."
Hearing Miyako say this, Hakushi sat up straight and listened attentively.
Miyako took out a medical glass bottle from her clothes, containing a pair of scarlet eyes inside.
The black patterns on the eyes were complex designs Hakushi had never seen before.
"Is this the Sharingan?"
Hakushi asked uncertainly.
"To be precise, it's called the Mangekyo Sharingan, a higher form beyond the ordinary Sharingan."
Miyako spoke in a light tone, observing Hakushi's reaction, with an amused smile forming on her face.
"!?"
Mangekyo Sharingan?
Surprise appeared in Hakushi's eyes.
"Is it incredible? This type of eye does exist, but it's not as magical as you think. Forbidden power often comes with many risks."
Miyako said this, pushing the glass bottle towards Hakushi.
"What's this for?"
Unsure of Miyako's intentions.
"Someone entrusted me to give you this, hoping it can assist your research. I'll also send over more information on these eyes later."
"May I ask who these eyes belonged to?"
From what he knew, there's no one within the Uchiha Race who had awakened these eyes.
"I've made a promise to someone not to reveal that. But you could ask someone else. If the witch doesn't mind, she might tell you something."
Miyako opened the paper fan halfway over her face, her eyes smiling, yet she gave an ambiguous answer.
"The witch?"
"I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I've heard that the previous witch of the Land of Demons supposedly held a 'purification' ceremony for the owner of these eyes. However, whether it's true or not, it's just hearsay. You shouldn't take it completely seriously."
After finishing, Miyako elegantly picked up the teacup in front of her, savoring the scent of the tea without saying another word.
It seemed impossible to glean any more answers from here.
Hakushi picked up the glass bottle, staring at the pair of scarlet eyes inside.
Even though he wasn't an Uchiha Ninja, he could sense the dangerous and mesmerizing power contained within these eyes.
Hakushi thought about how Ruri's parents had started merchant ventures within the Land of Demons when Ruri was very young, establishing a stable foundation and even influencing the official decisions in the Land of Demons, something that ordinary merchants couldn't do.
Perhaps, the relationship between the Land of Demons' witch and the Uchiha is more complicated than he imagined.
◎
The witches of the Land of Demons inherit extraordinarily mysterious powers through the generations.
One to seal demons.
The other to foresee the future, deciding the life and death of mortals.
Sealing demons sounds too strange, but the power to foresee the future and determine death is widely known not only in the Land of Demons but also in the surrounding countries.
When asked, the nobles and commoners of the Land of Demons would always say that the witch's prophecy about the future is 100% accurate.
Up to now, there hasn't been a single mistake.
Holy, mysterious, divine messenger — that is the impression all the people of the Land of Demons have of the witch.
In a country without a Daimyo leader, with a witch as the leader, it's considered quite unusual within the Ninja Realm.
Passing through the red Tori, walking up the mountain path, at the top is the shrine where the current witch Mire of the Land of Demons resides.
This shrine is built just outside the capital of the Land of Demons, and from this height, one can take in the entire view of the capital.
The sky was darkening, and the setting sun painted the western horizon a beautiful red in the twilight.
Under the guidance of a maid, Hakushi walked up the staircase along the mountain path.
After a long step up the stairs, he finally reached the shrine.
Facing the shrine was a series of red Tori, standing in front, with birds perched on top.
The massive structure was built on a huge platform — calling it a shrine wouldn't do justice; it was more like a palace.
If one described it so, Hakushi wouldn't be surprised.
After all, it is the residence of the highest witch in the Land of Demons, so such a majestic palace is only reasonable.
However, the place was indeed lacking in population, with guard presence pitifully low.
For someone of the witch's status, she should have more guards for protection here.
Or is there some hidden story inside...?
Hakushi didn't dwell on it much, following the maid dressed in the witch's attire as they stepped into the palace, walking through the long corridor. The trees in the courtyard with the setting sun complemented each other beautifully.
The atmosphere inside the palace was extremely quiet, a kind of silence that brought comfortable tranquility.
The influence of the witch, Hakushi thought inwardly.
Such an unusual change in mindset was definitely due to some mysterious power at work.
Living here brings one's heart a primitive calm and a connection to nature.
"Father..."
The voice of the Shadow Dancer reached his ears.
She also felt something was off.
"Don't worry, there's no malice from them."
Hakushi responded to the Shadow Dancer.
Although unsure why he felt this way, Hakushi intuitively judged as such.
The witch Mire of the Land of Demons posed no danger to him.
Following the maid to the main hall, the doors were wide open and ventilated from all sides.
The floor was laid with smooth wooden planks, with screens on both sides, and the palace's supporting pillars were finely crafted and sturdy, with clear and beautiful patterns.
Just from the decor, it was evident that Witch Mire was exceptionally wealthy.
In comparison, the Security Team Building, Hokage Building, and other iconic places in Konoha Village seemed incredibly shabby.
On the spacious platform at the front of the main hall, there was a single young woman in lavish witch attire kneeling, her bright and gentle gaze giving an unfathomable impression, as though it could penetrate one's heart.
— The current witch Mire of the Land of Demons.
After the maid withdrew, silence enveloped the great hall.
Not arranging even a single guard for herself, demonstrating the witch's absolute confidence in her abilities.
When the opposite gaze fell on him, Hakushi naturally lifted his head, meeting the witch Mire's eyes.
For some reason, facing this witch, Hakushi felt like he wasn't looking at a human.