"So Akari, I looked at your report over your time in the Youkai Forrest. Did you actually even kill any Youkai while you were in there?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
To which I shrugged and answered honestly. "I mean maybe. I dealt with a couple chakra enhanced animals that might have been lesser youkai. I mostly just camped out in a lovely wood cabin I made."
Jiraiya nodded with him grinning as he said. "Yes! I heard you also made friends with and got that contract with that greater Spider Youkai woman as well... And I have to say, she is a great beauty!"
I raised an eyebrow before I shrugged as should Jiraiya find her half spider form beautiful. More power to him I say. I couldn't tap that frankly.
"So I assume you have a youkai you want to me slay?" I asked bluntly and then adding on. "Wait how much of my time with you, will be me just killing things?" I demanded.
Jiraiya gave me a more serious look to the side as we moved through the more quiet noble side of the capital city and after a moment he spoke quietly. "I am sorry for making it seem like that Akari. My goal isn't to make you a butcherer or something to the like."
He took a deep breath and then continued. "But to say nothing of your Mokuton, but your status as someone so blatantly blessed by Amaterasu, and to those who know how to look... Also being blessed by Izanami will put a massive target on you. So right now my goal is to get you to a point where you are combat capable."
I sighed and then muttered quietly. "I literally only spent a month at the academy basically, this just feels so rushed."
I shook as Jiraiya patted my shoulder and as we kept walking he said with some sorrow. "Akari, I am sorry to say this to you. But war waits for no one to be ready... If we had half a year, or heaven forbid an entire year more before this war instead of a couple weeks at most."
I looked over to see him shake his large mane of white hair before he said with a wry smile. "You would still be back in the village. And probably busy between the legs of that lovely chunin anbu that you managed to seduce." He finished with a bit of teasing towards me.
Shaking my head I just kept going following behind Jiraiya as we made our way through the particular district we were in until we reached a noble bathhouse that was closed with him taking a breath and saying.
"Alright Akari, I am going in to speak with the owner of this onsen. You have to find and deal with the youkai in the baths, without causing any major property damage you hear!" Jiraiya explained my mission and then he just put his fingers together and dissapeared with a shunshin.
'Some more detail would have been nice.' I grunted in annoyance before sighing and taking a deep breath before I pushed open the gate of the large onsen and headed into the building.
The front/greeting area was well decorated with the there being a couple gravel gardens in the large room that drew the eye and with a hum of thought I slipped the Black Knife into my hands before I made my way towards the men's side of the onsen first of all.
Within the large baths which was seemingly connected to the large river's outside of the city by filtered either through a volcanic vent or some jutsu fuckery. The room was filled with steam that clung to my form and I grimaced as I could feel my tail's pristine hairs sticking to one another with the extreme damp steamy air.
The room was rather open, with the men's side having rough stone floors that led to the large hot spring pool and a side of showers that could handle literally handle a couple hundred people at once.
"Now where is the yokai... It's not in the water is it?" I mused to myself as I considered where to find it.
Then I twitched as the Celestial Grimoire reached into the star's within itself and pulled another powerful perk down into my soul with my mind filling with it's content.
[Water Master- Unlike Mermaids, which depend on song for their powers, your control over water is more innate, and does not require song or magical reserves to be activated. You can summon typhoons by spinning in place, manifest water dragons that spout like geysers, or shoot ice from your hands, among other possibilities. You start with a specific specialty of your choice and can only extend to other types of water magic in time. With enough power, you can even call forth tsunami-level tidal waves, or split the ocean in half to create waterfalls.]
Not only did my mind swell with knowledge of the ways to bend water into all its natural forms. But more importantly, with my immortal essence, I could feel how my 'specialty' lied not in huge water constructs but in water-based healing. Which seemingly combined with several of my perks to give me stupidly powerful healing I could use on myself and others.
'Did the system try to give me another perk to heal myself basically? I literally cannot fucking die already!' I mentally screamed with frustration before grunting as having a cheat to help with manipulating water jutsu's would only help.
Hell, it actually didn't even cost magic/chakra for me to do that now either way. It was just mentally taxing as it seems I drew power from the very world and the concept of water itself.
I shook my head clear of my thoughts and I 'looked' into the men's bath with my new control over water and quickly found that there wasn't anything in there at least to my newly enhanced senses with the water.
So I headed out of the men's bathroom after I checked the closets and even the unlocked lockers for some mystery Youkai that was supposed to be hiding here.
Then with nothing to show for the men's room I went into the lady's bath after making sure to call out to see if anyone was in there... I wasn't going to get sucked into some stupid trope of walking into some woman bathing after all!
But while the lady's bathroom was decorated in a more nature/life filled atmosphere I found flower petals and lotus's growing in the women's pool and I pushed my consciousness into the pool only to realize... There was a giant fucking turtle-like humanoid in the water!
"Wait... That's a Kappa." I muttered as I flexed my will over the water and a loud rushing noise rang out as the water rushed out of the bath onto the floor as the Kappa was heaved out of the bath and thrown out of the bath with a screech of surprise while my mind filled with the information on the Youkai race of Kappa.
Kappa's were famous for living in rivers and thrived in warm waters with the warmer the better as they were completely cold-blooded. Kappa's were noted for also being human-level intelligent with them easily picking up the human language to speak with us and they were very physically strong and noted for teaching many human's martial arts.
But they were still youkai, and specifically, they were youkai that had a taste for human flesh even if they didn't need it to survive... Worse, they only ate human entrails and would drown people and eat them ass first as they used their super strength to literally suck the human entrails out of their asses.
The Kappa slapped onto the ground hard with his head landing on the ground first and a loud splash rang out as a massive splurt of water shot out as it's head cup was emptied and the Kappa lost all of it's strength with how I had surprised it so.
"Why the hell were you hiding in the bath? You know humans would catch you?" I demanded in exasperation.
The kappa cackled weakly before saying in a hiss of a voice. "I will just reform in a few years little kitsune... The taste of thousands of beautiful women's asses will be seared into my soul and I will find them in my new life!"
I was silent as I just stared at the Kappa and just sighed as my Black Knife bloomed with the black fire of Destined Death which made the Kappa's black aquatic eye's widen in horror with him squirming weakly to get away.
But with his head cup emptied of all water, he was incapable of moving much, let alone actually fighting. So I just strode over and with a meaty crunching noise. I slammed the large dagger into the Kappa's skull with his form burning with the flames of Destined Death.
"Yeah... No fucking reincarnation for you." I grunted with an exhale before I whirled to the side as I felt movement through the waters... In the restroom?
I headed over into the restroom and using my water senses I found a large hand was floating invisibly in the water of one of the 'toilets' that was just a large pipe you squatted over.
The hand itself... Was just a feminine hand and wrist of a sort, but I also recognized this as one of the 'toilet' Youkai of which there sadly... Was a number of.
"A Kurote... At least you make sense as to why you are here." I muttered with a sigh as I stabbed the hand with the Black Knife that was flaring with the flames of the Destined Death with the hand quickly retreating into the void to return to the main body.
And hopefully the flames of Destined Death would deal with it truly though sadly I had zero way to figure out where the main body was.
Thankfully though, the Kurote wasn't too dangerous of a Youkai... Regardless of the gender of the youkai itself, it derived spiritual fulfillment from stealing the excrement from humans and eating what it stole. While also impregnating women who squat over their appendages to make more of its own kind.
"There can't be more can there be?" I muttered as I looked at the corpse of the Kappa making a mess of the stone floor and I wondered who or what was going to deal with that.
So I left the bath's as I was getting kinda irritated with how my tails were getting damp along with my kitsune ears. After leaving the bath's I went towards the large mansion built behind the bathhouse.
And as I reached the large Asian-style mansion I saw Jiraiya leaning against one of the patio posts with him wearing a rather serious expression. "So, you found the two youkai in the baths. You ready to deal with the last one?" He asked quietly.
I raised an eyebrow before nodding and asking quietly. "Any clues as to what it is?"
He shrugged and said with some pity. "It's an Ao Andon, a manifestation of fear... The woman here used to host ghost-telling stories and lived for the fear she would make her fellow noble ladies fear with her stories. And now she has become a walking manifestation of fear."
I paused hearing that and I shook my head before I asked bluntly. "Could some priests or miko's remove this curse from her? Save her from this curse and transformation?"
There was a sad smile on Jiraiya's face as he shook his head and said softly. "Could they? Yes but that requires us to capture her with seals, and then take her out into the city and then to the Sun Temple where Amaterasu's personal temple is."
Jiraiya took a deep breath and then continued. "Once we get there, we will need to spend a good deal of time there being purified before we are even allowed to bring it into the temple's ground as the initiates cannot control the youkai."
I exhaled and said a bit too coldly than I wanted. "So it's just better to put her out of her misery?"
And Jiraiya nodded and replied as comfortingly as he could. "Yes Akari, in putting her down. She will reincarnate quickly and be able to live a more virtuous life. As she needs to be dealt with as she has already killed all her family and her servants."
There was a moment of silence before I exhaled and made my way into the large mansion that was filled with eerie silence and once I entered the large main room of the first floor. I found the Ao Andon.
Her form was clad in a white dress that was coated in gore and her skin was a dark blue that glowed with the large burning lantern filled with blue flames in front of her. Then as the youkai's flames filled my vision I felt a flare of supernatural fear filled my soul.
I shoved aside the fear with my chakra and then I flashed forward with all my speed and I broke the flame filled lantern with the Black Knife with the it sinking into the youkai's chest and her blue skin turning black instantly as the black flames burned her away.
The abrupt fear filling me likewise abruptly fled as the Ao Andon's corpse fell to the ground and then I turned around as I saw Jiraiya was standing at the doorway with his arms folded across his chest.
"You did a good job... Though that knife is overkill." Jiraiya spoke as he came over and then the tall fucker patted my shoulder and said. "So, you killed your first real youkai now. Want to lose your virginity at my brothel?"
I sighed and gave Jiraiya a strong punch to the stomach making him grunt and chuckle as he stepped away with him grinning as he said. "Alright alright Akari, come on lets get going. I already sent a runner to the local priests to come clean up."
"So long as it's not a whore house." I said with a weak smile with Jiraiya looking at me with a frown as he retorted.
"It's a brothel, filled with high quality courtesans who make more money entertaining others then most merchant families make!" He said with vehemence in his tone.
There was a tension between us before he took a deep breath and said. "You really need to lose your virginity... It's making you too angry."
I just stared at him before I reached behind me. And I pulled out the divine oni wine gourd that makes wine from whatever was poured into it. And I took a loud chug from the Oni wine that burned like acid into my gut.
As my vision took on a blue hint I saw Jiraiya swaying in place... No that was actually me swaying in place. "Alrighty let's get going, we leaving the capital now or what?"
Jiraiya gave me a. Weird look before he grinned and said. "Nope, you need to clean up. We are going to see the royal family. The Daimyo has called for you."
Then abruptly his hand glowed with a green light and he held my shoulder with the Oni wine buzz being burned away making me mentally groan as I just glared at Jiraiya. "Really... Isn't meeting the Daimyo a bad idea in general?"
And Jiraiya just grinned and said happily. "Nope! You are invited to meet with him. That mean's he cannot kill you without an extremely good reason!"
I just rolled my eyes before muttering. "That's so reassuring."
We left the manor and bath house with Jiraiya telling me how to speak with the Daimyo in particular. "He will be holding lesser court when we arrive. Dealing with more private affairs and internal situations. So courtly affairs won't be so expectant of you, so long as you do not insult the Daimyo in anyway."
I nodded slowly in understanding before I asked. "So do I need to bow or kneel?"
Jiraiya shrugged and said honestly. "I don't kneel or bow, but I am a Sage... You have Amaterasu, this lands god all but smothering you with her attention. So probably not."
"Not that helpful pervy sage." I just groaned as Jiraiya brought me to the massive castle that was where the Royal Family ruled from and standing at the large metal door was a monk with a bald head and ornate tattoo's across his forehead.
Jiraiya stepped forward to greet the monk after giving me a gesture to wait for him and then he said. "Master Chiriku, we were invited to meet with the Daiymo." And I recongized the monk who in canon where monk's weren't supposed to be that strong. Almost killed an Akatsuki duo.
Basically he killed Kakazu, and Hidan several times with only their bullshit forms of immortality allowing them to survive and kill the monk in front of myself.
If it was Sasori and Deidara, there was a decent chance he would have killed them both with his thousand-hands technique which was a condensed Susanoo on steroids.
The monk opened his eyes and took in Jiraiya. He smiled a small and then looked at me before looking back to Jiraiya. "Welcome Jiraiya, but Akari Sadra... You must dispense with your illusion. All who stand within the royal palace must be themselves both on the inside, and without."
I stilled before sighing and with a flicker of chakra, my fluffy tail and ears popped out with the monk giving me an understanding smile. "Your exterior, your body, and even your mind has changed with the goddess's blessing. But your soul is still your own."
I couldn't help a bit of relief from that, even if I had heard that before. So with my tail flicking outward the monk took a breath and then he clapped his hands together with the large metal studded door behind him opening with a loud rumble.
'Can't believe that a kage-level monk is just... Sitting and being a guard in front of the palace.' I thought in confusion before I realized it also made sense with how the newest world war was literally on our front doorstep.
"Come on Akari, his highness is hosting the court at this time of day." Jiraiya spoke as he led the way forward into the the castle.
Where instantly, as soon as we passed through the large gate into a massive large clearing filled with gravel gardens and small bonsai tree's samurai guarding on the inside wall lead us towards the castle in the center of the large compound.
'I wonder how strong these samurai are? Jonin level? Chunin?' I mused internally as sadly I had no real way to gauge these people's strength besides they chakra stores being around low Jonin level with my strength boosting perk that came from Solo Leveling.
Jiraiya on the other hand was silent for a change as we were led across the grounds towards the massive castle in the dead center of the compound and as we reached the castle, the leader of the samurai said. "Guests please be patient. I will tell the guard captain of your presence presently. So that you may be properly announced to the Daimyo."
Jiraiya just nodded and said somewhat gruffly. "You are excused young samurai." With the samurai bowing in dismissal before heading off while I threw Jiraiya a glance and he just winked out of view of the other samurai who were watching us guardedly with their hands resting casually at their long katanna's.
And I was patiently silent for another five minutes until the samurai came back and bowed again before saying calmly but with respect. "Lord Jiraiya, Lord Sadra, please follow me. The Daimyo is entertaining the princesses with games of Shogi in the back gardens."
We followed the guard and I could feel other ninja's watching us along with other samurai much more blatantly following us as we were led behind the castle into a more lively garden filled with tree's blooming with life and filled with fruit.
And low and behold I saw the Daimyo who was sitting across from his daughters.
The Daiymo... In one word could be described as intense-looking. He looked like an immortal cultivator literally. With sharp eyebrows, and a tight form not rendered fat from excess and pleasure. He sat with perfect elegance with his eye's literally glowing with a pit of golden divine flames in his pupils.
"Lord Daimyo, your guests have arrived!" The guard announced while I took in the Fire Daimyo's daughters after bowing my head slightly in greeting to pay some service in meeting the Daimyo.
The first daughter, I instantly recognized as Azula as her hair as black as coal contrasted with manic blue flames that filled her own pupils and her older teenager if not young adult form was filled out well with curves that were covered in a tight-fitting martial arts-like outfit.
While the other woman was more feminine with silver hair that had red tinges at the ends of her hair and soft golden flames in her own eyes.
Even as I inspected them... They were likewise inspecting me, and especially the halo of sun flames above my head that was spinning slowly as per usual i.
"He truly does bear Amaterasu's blessing... Not only was he turned into some kind of kitsune hybrid which extends his life span who knows how long. But he bears her insigna over his head telling all that the heavens and the sun has claimed him." Azula spoke with a complicated expression as she gazed at me.
And I could see the madness in the girl as she accessed me for something. Something I very much doubted I wanted anything part of.
The Daimyo made a noise of thought with him raising a hand to stroke his beard before he spoke to a servant kneeling across the raised patio. "Get the champion of Amaterasu a chair... Lord Jiraiya, I wish to speak to your disciple with my daughters to take his measure. Will you allow this?"
And I paused as Jiraiya asked calmly. "Are you going to have him killed?"
There was a pause before the Daimyo blinked and said calmly. "No, I can feel my goddess's gaze upon this meeting even if she is hiding... If she wanted him dead she would have struck him down long before this day, and with his obvious blessings that means I and my family cannot touch him."
I looked to Jiraiya and he just nodded and he stepped back saying. "Very well, I know of a lovely koi pond I would like to go see again."
And he just strode off... Leaving me standing there for a moment until the servant came back with another ornate and rather uncomfortable-looking chair.
"Please Akari. Sit." The Daimyo spoke calmly as he leaned back slightly in his seat to show he was 'relaxing'
So I just took a seat and he spoke up. "Good. Now, these two are my prized daughters from two of my concubines. Azula and Feng Xue'er in order." He introduced me somewhat formally.
I greeted both of the princesses with a bow of the head slightly before I said. "My name is Akari Sadra."
The Daimyo then tapped on the table drawing my attention it before he spoke calmly. "Now Akari, are you experienced in playing Shogi?"
I shook my head and said honestly. "Not particularly, growing up in an orphanage didn't leave me so much time for strategy simulations."
I made sure to call them simulations... As I knew some people got really peeved when their 'games' got called such.
And the Daimyo just smiled enigmatically before he said with some humor. "Good, then no bad lessons need to be overridden. Now, we shall play four games which won't take long. In each two games. Each of my daughters will coach you through it and we shall see how you and her play."
'What the actual fuck is he planning?' I wondered as Azula and Feng Xue'er both gave silent nod's clearly knowing not to say anything out of turn in front of their father the Daimyo.