Natsuki spun toward Tanaka and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him with urgency.
"Wait—she can do what?! Did you test it?!"
Tanaka's head bobbed helplessly under the force.
"No! But I trust Ino's word!"
That was enough for Natsuki.
He turned on his heel and sprinted toward the ink eagle perched nearby.
"Bring Rumi here now!" he commanded.
The eagle squawked in reply and shot into the sky, heading back toward Shin-Kage Village.
Tanaka's voice chased after him.
"You're going to make her destroy the portal? Just like that? As a test?!"
Natsuki didn't even look back.
"Yeah."
The eagle soared through the sky, dipping toward the village's town hall.
Rumi sat by a window, swinging her legs idly, when she spotted the familiar black-feathered beast. Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Natsuki!"
She opened the window wide and leapt without hesitation—landing squarely on the eagle's back. It lifted her into the clouds without slowing.
Moments later, the eagle touched down near the ruined temple.
Before the dust even settled, Rumi had already jumped off, dashing toward Natsuki with her arms outstretched and a wide, beaming smile on her face.
"You came back already! I didn't have to wait long at all!"
Natsuki knelt in front of Rumi, placing both hands gently on her shoulders.
"Rumi, sweetheart, this is really important. Have you ever seen one of those before?"
He pointed to the rune-etched portal frame standing in the ruins of the temple.
Rumi tilted her head, then nodded cheerfully.
"Yup! Momma made me touch one once. It went boom! I kinda wished it didn't, though... it looked really pretty when it had those swirly colors in it."
Natsuki blinked, stunned.
It just... blew up? Just like that?
His jaw dropped slightly as realization set in. Without a second thought, he scooped Rumi into his arms. She giggled happily, thinking it was just a game.
He sprinted toward the portal with her in tow.
"Rumi, can you do it again? Just like with the one your mom showed you?"
"Okay!" she chirped, hopping out of his arms and stepping confidently toward the frame.
The moment her small palm touched the surface, a glowing crack formed beneath her hand. Golden runes flared to life around the portal like a ritual circle activating.
Then—without warning—a massive vine surged up from beneath the earth, wrapping around the entire structure.
CRUNCH.
The portal shattered under the vine's crushing grip.
Natsuki stared, eyes wide.
"Wait... These things are supposed to be indestructible. How did you...?"
His words were cut off by a massive pulse of energy that erupted from the shattered frame. The shockwave hurled both Natsuki and Tanaka off their feet, launching them backward through the rubble.
Rumi, still standing near the portal, remained untouched—surrounded by a faint golden aura.
When she saw them fly back, she gasped and ran over to check on them, concern written all over her face. But both men sat up with dazed groans—completely fine.
Then—suddenly—both Natsuki and Tanaka leapt up, their eyes wide with disbelief and joy.
"We actually destroyed one of them!" Natsuki yelled.
Tanaka burst into wild laughter, throwing his arms up. "Yes! YES! The letters were true! I never doubted you for a second, Ino!"
They jumped like lunatics, cheering and shouting like madmen. Even the usually stoic Tanaka wore a smile.
Rumi tilted her head, confused... but their joy was infectious.
She joined in—jumping alongside them with her biggest grin yet.
Tanaka suddenly stopped celebrating. He glanced down at a worn slip of parchment, the rest of Ino's letter still fresh in his memory. Then he looked at Natsuki with a sigh.
"Natsuki… I'm gonna be honest with you." He folded his arms tightly. "I don't like you. Not one damn bit. But Ino trusted you, so… good enough."
Natsuki's grin immediately dropped into a flat, unamused stare.
He really couldn't let me have this moment, could he?
Tanaka ignored the look and continued, arms crossed and tone serious. "We need to take Rumi to the Jade Isles. Her father's there—along with someone called the Mad Professor. They're both waiting for her."
Natsuki's eyes lit up like a lantern.
"Wait… Tanjiro's there?"
Tanaka's expression shifted, surprised at first—then neutral.
"…Yeah. Of course you'd know my brother." He exhaled slowly. "Tanjiro her father is there."
Natsuki nodded. "Then what's the problem? If her father's waiting, just take her to him."
Tanaka turned away slightly, his voice lower. "The problem… is that there are spies everywhere. In the villages. Even in this one. Right now, you're the only one I can trust."
That caught Natsuki off guard.
He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "You know, a simple compliment or even a please wouldn't kill you."
Tanaka scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Don't push it. I don't like you as far as I can throw you. So don't go fishing for warm fuzzies from me. I hate your clan, and I don't forgive what they did. But…"
He pointed toward Rumi, who was crouched nearby drawing a smiley face in the dust with her finger.
"…if you're gonna do this, do it for her."
Natsuki looked over at the little girl—Ino's daughter, full of joy and innocence despite everything.
He walked over, knelt beside her, and gently picked her up.
"Yeah…" he said softly, giving her a small smile. "I'll do it. If it's for this little one."
Rumi giggled, swinging her legs as she sat comfortably in his arms.
Tanaka grunted in acknowledgment and turned to walk away.
But Natsuki called out with a smirk.
"…Still. A simple please wouldn't have killed you, Tanaka."
Tanaka waved him off without turning back.
"Don't push your luck."
Natsuki scooped Rumi into his arms and leapt onto the inky eagle still fluttering nearby.
"Tanaka," he called over his shoulder, "you need anything from the village before we head to Tanjiro?"
Tanaka shook his head without hesitation. "No. And besides… I don't want to keep Rumi there any longer. If they find out she's here, the village becomes a target."
"Agreed." Natsuki gave a short nod. "Then hop on. I should be able to get us close to the Jade Isles before sundown. We'll rest in one of the coastal towns—then continue the journey at first light."
He waved a hand, signaling the eagle to prepare for flight.
Tanaka complied, climbing aboard the creature's back and gripping the loose folds of Natsuki's kimono tightly. Within seconds, the ink-born beast lifted into the sky, wings slicing through the clouds as they flew eastward—toward the shimmering coast.
Below them, the land gave way to blue ocean, and a port town slowly came into view—nestled along coral reefs and pearl-colored shores. Seagulls circled above it, and boats drifted lazily in the harbor.
Rumi's eyes widened with childlike wonder. She pointed excitedly at the vibrant seaside town.
"Mr. Natsuki! That place is beautiful! Can we stop there for a bit?" she asked, her face glowing with excitement.
Natsuki gently patted her head, smiling. "Yes, Rumi. Don't worry. We'll be landing there in a minute."
Just then, Tanaka leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the town's center. "Wait… what's that in the middle of the port?"
Natsuki followed his gaze. In the town square,
In the center of the town stood a massive flower bud—its petals glistening like polished crystal, a luminous blend of blue and white. It pulsed faintly, as if breathing.
Natsuki's eyes widened in horror. "No way… That's a Queen Lotus Spider egg."
Tanaka groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. You think you've got enough mana for a detour?"
Natsuki shook his head grimly. "Unfortunately… no."
Tanaka pointed toward a structure near the outer gates. "Then land us there. Far from that thing—we don't want to wake it up."
Without another word, Natsuki tapped the eagle's neck, and the creature banked left, gliding swiftly toward the edge of town.
The eagle pierced the barrier upon getting closer to the village " the repellent barrier is up so how did they get in"
The air grew heavy as they approached, the hum of the giant egg radiating an eerie stillness across Pearl Reef Port. Even the wind felt hesitant.
"Keep your guard up," Natsuki muttered, eyes fixed on the glowing menace below.
The eagle landed softly near the outer gates, wings folding in as the three passengers dismounted—quietly, carefully, and with every nerve on edge.