It was now early morning. The warm sunlight slowly peeked out from the eastern horizon, awakening the slumbering land of Narukami Island. The once gray earth was now painted with a golden hue, as if the light had washed away all traces of dust and silence. In the tranquil Konda Village, the villagers began their day—fetching water, tending to chores—filling the morning air with life.
Under the soft rays of dawn, two women walked hand in hand along a narrow path. The one leading stopped beside a small bench by the roadside and gently pulled the other to sit.
The Shogun smoothed her dress as she sat down, then gave a light tug to the hand she was still holding.
"…"
Hanachirusato nodded slightly and quietly sat beside her.
Seeing Hanachirusato seated, the Shogun finally released her hand, folding her arms and crossing her long legs with casual grace—an easy poise that felt more like that between friends than ruler and subject.
"…It seems I've troubled you, Shogun-sama."
The young woman beside her spoke softly, her tone polite yet gentle.
"There's no need for concern. Caring for Inazuma's people is my duty—like a mother tending to her children," the Shogun replied, her voice calm and warm.
"Hehe… with such a beautiful and gentle 'mother,' we're truly blessed," Hanachirusato said with a faint, playful laugh behind her hand.
"…Mock me as you like, but it's still the truth, isn't it?" the Shogun responded serenely, unbothered.
"Yes… that's true," Hanachirusato admitted softly, then fell silent.
The two sat quietly side by side, watching the rising sun bathe the sky in gold.
"Shogun-sama…"
Suddenly, Hanachirusato's voice brushed softly against her ear, as gentle as the morning breeze.
"…What is it?"
"At the Chinju Forest… did you meet that 'old friend'?"
The Shogun thought for a moment, then gave a quiet nod.
"I did… it was a stone statue."
"Mm… and what did you say to it?"
Hearing the question, the Shogun sighed lightly and recounted the entire encounter in Chinju Forest.
A few minutes later—
"I see… still the same as always, like a mischievous child."
Hanachirusato spoke in a familiar tone, one that suggested she knew the being well. Of course—after all, they were indeed old friends. The Shogun didn't find it strange.
"Ordinarily, a bake-danuki's mischief wouldn't warrant punishment. But stealing the sacred ward of the Great Cleansing… that deserves retribution. Being sealed into a statue is punishment enough."
At this, the Shogun turned toward her. "It was the one who stole it?" she asked in mild surprise.
"Yes… it was."
"Hmph… what a nuisance. If I'd known sooner, I wouldn't have wasted so much time with it."
If she'd realized earlier, she wouldn't have played along with its games—or worse, helped it find its three little cubs. She would've simply put her naginata to its neck and demanded the truth.
"Ah… please don't misunderstand, Shogun-sama. It wasn't evil—just a naive child at heart," Hanachirusato said quickly, placing her hand gently over the Shogun's to soothe her slight irritation.
Feeling that soft touch on the back of her hand, the Shogun lifted her gaze to meet the masked shrine maiden's eyes—or rather, where her eyes should have been beneath the mask. Strangely, despite the barrier, it felt as if she could see the expression hidden behind it.
"When it mentioned the 'smelly fox'… did it mean you?" the Shogun asked out of simple curiosity. Though the term was crude, she didn't mean offense.
"Pfft… you flatter me too much, Shogun-sama. It was referring to 'Kitsune Saiguu.'"
Hanachirusato laughed softly, withdrawing her hand and tilting her head to gaze at the distant Sacred Sakura tree crowning Mount Yougou.
So it was as she'd suspected. Kitsune Saiguu—daughter of the Hakushin lineage, a divine fox worshiped as Inazuma's great shrine maiden—once held a position much like that of today's Guuji.
"…Since the one it spoke of was Kitsune Saiguu, the words it entrusted to me can no longer be delivered," the Shogun murmured.
Because Kitsune Saiguu had long since passed away—several years ago.
"It left you a message? Then… could you please tell me what it said?" Hanachirusato asked, sitting a little closer, posture neat and expectant—an endearing sight.
"Very well… shall I begin?"
"Please do…"
The Shogun thought for a moment, parted her lips slightly, and spoke the words she had been asked to convey…
"You wretched fox! I'm furious! Get back here and face me in a duel—we still haven't settled our score! And while you're at it, undo this seal for me! Not that I can't do it myself, of course, but you still owe me a few favors! Oh, and by the way, that Gyoubu Koban fellow said he looks like you!"
"—That's all of it."
She spoke the entire message fluently, every word crisp and precise, as if reading from a script.
"Pfft… hahaha~!"
Hanachirusato couldn't hold back her laughter at the way she repeated it.
"Is it that amusing? Those were not my words. Don't misunderstand," the Shogun said, half-lidded eyes showing mild exasperation.
"I know, I know… I was just thinking—Shogun-sama has an amazing memory, to remember his words so perfectly."
Perhaps even Ioroi himself wouldn't remember what he'd said, Hanachirusato thought to herself.
"Haa…"
Suppressing her laughter, she let out a soft sigh and continued, her tone turning more complex.
"Ioroi may be foolish and mischievous, but he's loyal and kind. Long ago, Lady Saiguu hoped he would find the right path."
Her gaze turned back toward the Shogun as she continued softly.
"In order to make him obey your command, Lady Saiguu had him appointed as the 'Hidden Protector of the Grove,' responsible for maintaining peace in the Chinju Forest."
Her gentle voice wove the truth together piece by piece. By now, the Shogun had already deduced where the story was heading. If this was indeed the case, Ioroi's talk of dueling and his remarks about the fox finally made sense.
"So… when darkness fell upon the land, Lady Saiguu feared that Ioroi would stand against an overwhelming enemy to protect the forest—and perish in the process. So she… challenged him to a game of hide-and-seek, something the bake-danuki excel at."
Hanachirusato's tone softened further, as if recalling a distant memory.
'Stupid fox! If it's hide-and-seek, there's no way I'll lose to you!'
'Oh? Is that so? Then go on—hide.'
'The Chinju Forest is my domain! You'll never find me!'
'I don't believe you~ Listen carefully… you must hide well. No matter what happens, you must not be found…'
"'Ioroi, no matter what happens—it's only an illusion I cast. Don't be deceived. Don't show yourself,' she said."
Hanachirusato spoke with such warmth and emotion that it was as though she herself were reliving the memory.
"And so… that never-ending game began," she finished softly.
"In other words… he's been waiting all this time for Lady Saiguu to return. To lure her back, he even stole the sacred ward?" The Shogun immediately pieced the facts together.
"Exactly… but he didn't know it was part of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing's wards. He only knew that the comb was important to Lady Saiguu. Later… haa… he was accused of offending the kitsune and sealed within stone."
The Shogun's eyes narrowed slightly. She knew how Lady Saiguu's story had ended. That made this tale all the more sorrowful. Even now, that Ioroi was still waiting—for someone who would never return.
"…"
Hanachirusato fell silent as well. The air between them grew quiet again.
"Then… who are you?"
The Shogun's voice broke the silence at last, turning toward the mysterious shrine maiden beside her.
"Then… who are you?"
"…Eh?"
Hanachirusato froze slightly, staring at her in confusion.
"Since the one it wanted to see wasn't you but Kitsune Saiguu, then… who exactly are you?"
From everything that had happened earlier, the Shogun could tell there was something unusual about the girl. Such knowledge wasn't something an ordinary shrine maiden could possess. To call Ioroi an 'old friend,' and recalling how she had faded away before—her curiosity deepened.
"Me? I'm… Hanachirusato, of course. Has Shogun-sama forgotten? I'm just a little shrine maiden who serves by your side," the girl said with a soft, uneasy laugh. Her hands, clasped before her, tightened unconsciously, and her voice carried a faint hint of guilt.
"Then, may I ask—how old are you?" the Shogun asked calmly.
"Uu… Shogun-sama, please don't tease me," Hanachirusato replied with a small pout.
"You… know how to make rice balls using bake-danuki magic, you know the past and the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual in detail, and you still wear a fox mask no shrine maiden of this era uses. You are… rather suspicious, don't you think?"
Her tone wasn't harsh—only soft and measured, as she slowly listed each detail, her body leaning slightly against the back of the bench, as if coaxing the truth from her.
"Mm… I know," came the girl's weak, almost guilty reply.
"Haa… I don't mind if you keep some secrets from me," the Shogun said, her tone quiet but sincere, "but… if you're in trouble, and you refuse to tell me the truth, then I won't be able to help you."
She had spoken her heart plainly to the masked maiden who still seemed reluctant to reveal her true self.
"…Shogun-sama, may I ask you to walk with me again?" Hanachirusato stood and turned toward her, voice soft but resolute.
"Where to?" the Shogun asked, rising as well.
"To the Grand Narukami Shrine."
And so, the two departed once more—leaving Konda Village behind. They passed wide plains and the remnants of abandoned shrines, until before them rose Mount Yougou, its towering peak crowned by the magnificent Sacred Sakura visible even from afar.
Hanachirusato stopped and turned to face her.
"Shogun-sama, for now, all I can tell you is this—'I have inherited her memories.' Please forgive me… Once everything is over, I will explain everything. Could you… wait for me a little longer?"
Hearing the plea in her tone, the Shogun sighed inwardly. She was not the type to pry without reason. If the girl had her reservations, she wouldn't press further. Still… would keeping such secrets put her in danger?
She finally gave a silent nod of agreement.
"Thank you… The time I've spent with you may have been short, but these memories are precious to me—something I'll remember for a lifetime. If only…"
If only, back then… the Shogun had been by her side too—perhaps then—
"If only… what?" the Shogun asked, curiosity piqued by her sudden silence.
"No… it's nothing. I spoke too much. Let's keep going, Shogun-sama—this way, please."
Hanachirusato shook her head lightly, gesturing toward a narrow mountain path and stepping forward first.
"…Haa."
The Shogun watched her back for a moment before sighing softly and following after.
Honestly… they were all so stubborn. Perhaps she was no different herself.
The path leading to the Grand Narukami Shrine wound through the slopes of Mount Yougou, lined on both sides by countless torii gates—like a staircase ascending toward the heavens.
However, another narrow path branched off midway, leading into a quiet, forgotten part of the mountainside. It was along this secluded trail that Hanachirusato now led the Shogun.
"You brought me here… for what purpose?" the Shogun asked as the scenery around them grew increasingly unfamiliar.
"The Sacred Sakura Cleansing still has one final step," Hanachirusato replied as she ascended the stone steps ahead.
"As the land's protector, the Sacred Sakura absorbs filth and impurity. But as a result, that impurity accumulates within its roots and branches. Shogun-sama, you have already broken the barriers and defeated the monsters born of that corruption."
At this, she finally stopped and turned to face the Shogun.
"All Thunder Sakura are branches of the Sacred Sakura on Mount Yougou, and among them, there are five great roots."
By this point, the Shogun understood perfectly.
"So, the next step is to purify the roots of the Sacred Sakura itself. That is the true purpose of the Great Cleansing, isn't it?"
All the filth absorbed by the branches of the Sacred Sakura had now gathered at its roots. That was why the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual took its name—and why this final step existed.
"Correct… the most crucial step of the Great Cleansing is to dispel the final barrier—purging the corruption that has accumulated in the roots of the Sacred Sakura for countless years."
Hanachirusato naturally continued the explanation. Indeed, there could have been no one more fitting than the Shogun herself—wise, gentle, and strong. To toil tirelessly for Inazuma's sake… this was the very image of Inazuma's eternal god. What divinity could lack faithful followers such as this?
"And the roots of the Sacred Sakura rest here."
Hanachirusato stepped aside, leaving space for the Shogun. The Shogun moved forward to the cliff's edge and looked down.
Far below lay what seemed to be a lake—but its waters were anything but normal. Dense with Electro particles, they shimmered with violent energy, steam rising from their surface and arcs of electricity dancing across them. At the center churned a spiraling vortex, as dangerous as it was mesmerizing.
"Beneath that whirlpool lie the roots of the Sacred Sakura. Shogun-sama… forgive my impertinence, but once I lift the seal—please jump down."
The Shogun gave a silent nod, granting permission for her to begin.
Jumping down posed no challenge. Such an environment couldn't threaten her, though any ordinary person would find it deadly. Perhaps Hanachirusato understood that—hence her lack of unnecessary warnings. She trusted her completely.
After a brief moment, Hanachirusato stepped forward and raised her hands gracefully before her.
"East to the ocean depths, west to the cinder sea, south to the blazing light, and north to the waning waters…"
Whoosh…
The sound of her sleeves brushed the air with each elegant movement.
Her pale hands traced intricate gestures in the air as she wove the spell, delicate white light blooming from her body—growing brighter, stronger, until it seemed to draw the very life from her.
"Thousands of branches… myriad veins… cleanse the calamity!"
At last, with the last of her strength, Hanachirusato thrust her palms forward.
Vmm—
A blinding light erupted from her body. Her short hair and shrine maiden garb were swept upward by a violent wind. The white light struck the seal below the cliff and followed the spiraling water into the depths.
Rumble… Rumble!!
The mountain shook. The vortex began to shrink, its violent current fading away until it stilled completely. In its place, a massive stone gate carved with floral patterns slowly opened, releasing a brilliant violet glow from within—like the rising steam of a freshly opened rice cooker.
"Haa… haa…"
Hanachirusato panted heavily, her hair damp with sweat. Her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed—had the Shogun not caught her in time.
"Shogun-sama… please… jump down now. There may be Electro radiation within. Be very careful. The purification procedure… haa… you still remember it, don't you? Shall I… cough… repeat it?"
The girl's voice trembled with exhaustion as she clutched her chest, coughing uncontrollably. She leaned weakly against the Shogun's chest, her body shaking, her slender fingers gripping the edge of the Shogun's kimono as she spoke with unwavering sincerity.
"There's no need to repeat it. You… are you all right?" the Shogun asked softly, her voice laced with concern.
"Cough… I'm fine… hehe… Forgive me for worrying you. To be held by Shogun-sama like this—it's the greatest honor of Hanachirusato's life. Please, Shogun-sama… fulfill Hanachirusato's… final wish. I entrust it to you."
Her trembling voice brushed against the Shogun's cheek as she spoke. Then, summoning what strength she had left, she gently released her hold and supported herself against a nearby branch, bowing once more.
"When I return, you had best not have exhausted yourself further. Should I not see you again… I might grow angry," the Shogun said as she stepped toward the cliff's edge. Her body radiated a fearsome yet divine Electro aura, violet hair lifting slightly in the charged air. Her sharp gaze turned back toward the weakened girl—her tone firm, almost threatening, yet her words carried a quiet warmth.
In those piercing violet eyes, Hanachirusato felt not pressure… but peace.
"Mm… since it's Shogun-sama's command… how could Hanachirusato ever disobey? Please, rest assured…" she murmured weakly, slumping against the branch, too faint even to lift her head.
"…"
The Shogun's eyes softened with unspoken sorrow as she looked upon the frail shrine maiden. Then, without hesitation—
Boom!
A deafening crack of thunder split the air as she vanished in a flash of lightning, descending like a thunder dragon into the hollow below.
Only the masked girl remained, her form trembling faintly in the wind.
"…"
Lowering her head, Hanachirusato slowly reached up and removed the mask from her face.
The breeze brushed through her hair, caressing her cheeks—half pure and beautiful, half marred by corruption. The filth had spread across one side of her face, the other still delicate and lovely, so strikingly similar to Lady Saiguu's visage.
"Shogun-sama… thank you."