Ushiwakamaru

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Corridors.

Ushiwakamaru practically bounced around the Chaldea corner, nearly running straight into her Master. "Wah! Aruji-dono!" She hopped slightly—black side ponytail swinging wildly. "Ahaha! Found you! Yosh! Just seeing you makes my whole day bright! Like… like sunshine after slicing off a whole bunch of enemy heads! Ahahaha~!" She puffed her chest out, her bare breasts glimpsed beneath white capelet.

"Master, Master! Your Ushiwakamaru was just thinking!" She leaned forward, unwittingly teasing the eye with her mostly naked slender body. "We should train! Right now! How about I practice leaping down from the ceiling vents onto training dummies? For amazing speed!" With a brief sway of her detached sleeves, she shifted her weight. "Would that be impressive, Aruji-dono? Would that earn… ehehe~… perhaps… a headpat? Just a tiny one?"

"Anything for you! Anything at all!" The pat against the Usumidori made her white kusazuri billow, revealing her round ass in blue panties. "Just give the command! Need something fetched? Need a pile of heads collected? Your loyal dog Ushiwaka is right here, ready to go!" She tilted her head—black kanmuri hat twitching. "Really! Though… maybe fetch is more fun? Fetch is GREAT! Unless… you'd prefer the heads? Ara? Which makes a better 'thank you' gift? Hm? Decisions, decisions!"

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Master's Room.

Ushiwakamaru stood hesitantly just inside the Master's room. "A-ano... Aruji-dono?" She took a small step, the black side ponytail fluttering behind her. "I just... wanted to say... you're always so very kind. And… strong! Like a true leader! Not like… some people. A-and you look… quite sharp today! Ehehe~..." She fiddled with the blue pom-pom on her short white capelet—shy despite her widespread nudity.

"E-eto…" She looked down, then quickly back up, the purple sode on her shoulder clicking softly. "Does… does your Ushiwakamaru look… presentable? This outfit… it shows a lot, doesn't it?" She arches her back, stretching slowly while accidentally flashing sideboob. "I sometimes catch you looking… and, well… my heart does a funny little flip! Wah! Our bond feels so strong, Aruji-dono! Like… like tightly woven ropes! I… I really like being around you." Her black kanmuri hat twitched as she ducked her head.

"So! I was thinking!" Suddenly, she strikes a cheerful pose—red tassels on her white kusazuri rustling wildly. "Maybe we could do something? Together? Lunch? Or a nice walk through a peaceful Singularity? We could look for rare flowers! Or interesting heads! Ahaha!" A bounce on the balls of her feet sends her round ass jiggling in blue panties. "Or we could just stay here! And chat! Your Ushiwakamaru loves to listen to you talk, Master!"

"Or! Or!" She leaned in, spreading her arms wide with a swish of detached sleeves. "We could practice commands? Like 'stay'? Or… 'roll over'? Ahaha! Silly! Or… perhaps you could give me a really good scratch behind the ears? Dogs love that!" She grinned widely, then froze, slapping her purple-gloved right hand over her mouth. "W-wait! Ara? Did I… did I just suggest…? Ah! Forget I said that! Please forget! Wah!"

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Ushiwakamaru's Room.

"Ah, Aruji-dono! Welcome, welcome!" Ushiwakamaru beamed, backflipping from where she’d been perched on a beam near the ceiling. She landed lightly—black side ponytail whipping around. "My room isn’t much, but it’s sturdy! Built for… dynamic movement! Ahaha!" She posed mid-stride. White capelet gaped-a flash of bare breasts. "See? Perfect for practicing surprise decapitations from above!"

"Your Ushiwakamaru is always training, you know!" Her red-lined blue eyes sparkled beneath thick, bun-like eyebrows. "My body… it’s quite something, isn’t it? Fast! Flexible!" She did a flawless high kick—her bare left leg a blur—the white kusazuri flaring, drawing the gaze to her round ass and plump thighs. "Could probably tie myself in a knot if I tried! Useful for dodging, maybe? Or… squeezing into tight spaces. For ambushes!"

"I notice you watch me move sometimes, Aruji-dono. During training, or even just walking." A slow stretch, then a sudden, perfect split to show off flexibility—though her exposed blue panties stole the scene. "Hehe~… At first I thought, 'Ara? Is Master perhaps just… admiring?' But no! How foolish! You’re clearly appreciating my body… as the instrument of war!" Rising easily, she adjusted her black kanmuri hat. "It’s smart! A wise commander always knows the capabilities of their tools!" She patted the Usumidori at her hip.

"So! Since you appreciate… efficiency…" Offering the suggestion, she held out her left hand, the purple sleeve fluttering. "How about we go somewhere fun? I know a place in one Singularity where the bandits have excellent spinal columns! Very satisfying 'snap' when you break them just right! Ahaha!"

"Or—OR! We could test my endurance!" Her right hand, inside the white sleeve, joined the left. "I could carry you through a battlefield while slaughtering anyone who dares glance at you wrong! Doesn’t that sound romantic? Ahahaha~! Come on, Aruji-dono! It’ll be great fun!"

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Stargazing Room.

Ushiwakamaru gazed at the star-dusted viewport. "Aruji-dono…" She turned to Master—her black side ponytail swaying gently. "Looking out here… sometimes it reminds me of planning night raids. But… it also makes me think. About you, and… about my brother." Adjusting the hawk feathers on her knotted bun, her purple-gloved right hand came to rest on the cool glass.

"Yoritomo-sama was… truly brilliant. A real leader. He always seemed to understand people, what they needed." She leaned against the viewport, arching her back slightly, her blue panties clinging to her round ass. "Just like you do, Master. You always listen so well, even when someone’s… well, babbling nonsense. Ahaha~…" She pushed off sharply—a glimpse of bare breasts.

"Though… ehehe~… you have even more patience than he did! Wah!" She fiddled with the blue pom-pom on her white capelet. "Brother… sometimes he’d get that tight look around his eyes when I bounced too much, or offered… enthusiastic ideas. He’d sigh." She tapped her fingers together. "My fault, naturally! I know I can be… a distraction. Hard to manage." She looked down, adjusting the white kusazuri over her hips and running fingers over their red tassels.

"And you’re much… gentler when I make mistakes." Her red-lined blue eyes met his gaze, earnest and wide beneath thick bun-brows. "Bringing back heads you didn’t ask for, charging when maybe I shouldn’t… you don’t shout. Brother… he demanded excellence. Always. Perhaps I… just wasn’t excellent enough for him?" She shrugged, arms dropping to her sides, detached sleeves hanging loosely.

"But you… you keep this unruly Servant by your side anyway." She stepped closer, placing a left bare hand over her heart. "Even when I’m loud, or clumsy, or bring you… questionable trophies. It’s… nice. Being allowed to just be your Ushiwakamaru, failures and all." A soft sigh escaped her. "Thank you, Aruji-dono. Really. It’s… lighter here. With you."

2nd Ascension. Babylonia. Night on the Walls of Uruk.

Ushiwakamaru danced atop the moonlit battlements, leaping between crenellations before Master, her black side ponytail catching the wind. "He strikes with great fury, the monk roars his might!♪" An effortless moonsault into a perfect landing. Her white capelet rode up, briefly baring perky breasts. "…But the youth flips and evades, swift as swallows in flight!♪ Ehehe~! Trying out the tune, Aruji-dono!"

"Is it… truly real? That song… about little Shana-oh? About me?" She tilted her head, the black kanmuri hat catching the moonlight. "It's hard to grasp. N-Not that I doubt you, Master! Never! But… that people know me? Yoshitsune… she was ambitious. Driven. Not always… liked." She fiddled with red tassels on her white kusazuri while her round ass wiggled in blue panties.

"But! But!" She surged forward, grabbing Master's hand with both of hers—her purple-gloved right hand covering his knuckles. "It's more! You said… people remember! Even after a thousand years! They know why I fought!" Her red-lined blue eyes shone intensely. "To stop the tears! To cut down anything that made people cry like I did! That… that makes my heart feel full! Wah!" She squeezed his hand, her slender body radiating joy.

With startling swiftness, she released his hand and dropped to one knee with a swish of her detached sleeves. "Lord Gilgamesh commands me now. But hear my vow, Master of Chaldea!" Head bowed, then lifted resolutely. "I will protect the future you must return to! The world where children sing of Ushiwakamaru! Though our battlefields may differ, know that our hearts will always be together!"

2nd Ascension. Babylonia. Ushiwakamaru's Last Stand.

The world was grey stone, cracked earth stretching towards a colossal shadow – Gorgon, her lamia tail coiled, dozens of purple snakes hissing where hair should be. "Pathetic familiar," the monstrous goddess sneered with utter disdain. "A fleck of mana clinging to a borrowed legend. Barely even a Servant, just a discarded tool bound to a fool king. How dare a lost dog of that arrogant, gilded failure challenge me, the avatar of vengeance?"

Ushiwakamaru, bruised and bleeding, dragged herself upright, fingers finding the hilt of Usumidori. She wobbled, then laughed. "Atop the bridge of Gojyo in the Capital!♪…" She coughed, spitting blood. "…The great man named Benkei!♪… Hah…" Her black side ponytail was matted, white capelet torn.

"Driven mad by despair, little fool?" Gorgon chuckled darkly. "Babbling ridiculous nursery rhymes at death's door. How fitting. Only a naive, self-important child would throw away her existence so pointlessly for these worthless humans. Your sacrifice means nothing."

"Ahahaha! Naive? Yes! Foolish? Probably!" Ushi’s laugh grew stronger. Her red-lined blue eyes blazed. "But a child? No! You call this meaningless?" She planted her okobo-clad feet firmly, gripping Usumidori tight. "Your power is immense, snake. But your words prove you know nothing of real warfare! To call a calculated risk, a necessary sacrifice for a greater goal, 'pointless'? That is the talk of someone who has never truly bled on a battlefield! That is immaturity!"

She raised Usumidori, the battered blade catching faint light. "We are Heroic Spirits! Shadows of humans who once existed... engraved into human history. Our reward for the restoration of humanity will be our continued history."

Her tattered white kusazuri billowed briefly as she drop into battle stance with sharp sigh. "That's right... A child who admired Ushiwakamaru... existed a thousand years in the future. That fact alone allows me to fight! It makes it all the worth risking this temporary life for!"

With an earth-shattering sweep of Usumidori, the petrified ground exploded outwards like paper confetti. "The Wandering Tales of Shana-oh, Act four... Dan-no-ura - Hassō Tobi!!" Seven spectral copies erupted beside her. Reality screamed as eightfold death blossomed.

Gorgon’s serpentine locks became a storm of fangs—only to meet the swallow’s dance perfected across countless battlefields. Usumidori’s edge carved emerald afterimages through the grey world, each stroke bisecting snake heads mid-strike.

The copies moved like wind through grass—running vertically along twitching serpent bodies, using every still-falling decapitated heads as 'boat' for impossible leap higher, higher towards the goddess.

As the illusions were blasted apart, returning to motes of light and fading echoes of laughter, the true blade had already reached the apex – arcing impossibly high above the titan. What remained was the inevitable descent: a fleeting image of a grinning girl plummeting like a verdant star, green flame engulfing Usumidori, aimed true between widened golden irises.

"Osaraba desu, waga Aruji-dono!" And then, blinding emerald fire consumed everything in a world-shattering roar.

2nd Ascension. Babylonia. Chaos Tide Ushiwakamaru.

Ushiwakamaru Alter landed silently before the Master amidst the Uruk ruins, the clack of her okobo platforms sharp in the chaos. "Fufufu~ Found you, Master." Her greyish-black skin seemed to drink the firelight, marked with stark red streaks. "Mother Tiamat is quite generous. She guided me right to her favourite little pest." A cruel smile touched her lips, her solid red eyes devoid of warmth.

"Still clinging to that pathetic hope? Still trying to 'save' these insects?" She tilted her head, a lock of black hair falling across her face. The short black capelet shifted, revealing the underside of her breasts. "Mother showed me the truth. This… feeling… this delicious hatred… it’s what I truly am! It was always there, squirming under all that pathetic 'heroism'!"

"Ahahaha! You should hear the sounds they make, Master. When they realize their precious 'hero' is the one tearing them apart." She drew Usumidori, its polished surface reflecting the flames. Her black kusazuri panels swayed—red panties squeezing into her round ass. "Tell me, does your 'Shana-oh' nursery rhyme have a verse about ripping out spines? It should! It's my favourite part now!"

"Humanity… such a disappointment. Always whining, always betraying." She took a step closer, wide purple pants swishing, revealing glimpses of her inner thighs. "My true purpose is clear now: cleanse this world for Mother! Pile the corpses high until the stench of their failure reaches the heavens!"

"But don't look so scared." She pointed the tip of her blade towards him, her white sode gleaming. "I won't kill you… quickly. It’s been so long since we played, Master." A predatory glint entered her red eyes. "Your head will make such a lovely, screaming tribute to Mother when I'm done."

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Jing Ke

Ushiwakamaru cornered Jing Ke in a quiet Chaldea lounge, her energy practically vibrating the air. "Jing Ke-dono! I need your wise counsel!" She bounced on her heels, white kusazuri flaring to show blue panties on her round ass. "It’s vital! Life or death! How do I… convince Master to let me organize a ‘Severed Head Decorating Contest’ for the next party? I’ve got so many ideas for funny faces!"

Jing Ke, lounging with a flask in hand, barely looked up, her messy black hair falling over one eye. "Eh? That’s your big crisis?" She smirked, adjusting the loose white fabric of her robes over her chest. "Easy fix, pup. Just sneak the heads into his room at night. Paint ‘em with glitter first. Call it a ‘surprise art installation.’ He’ll have to say yes once they’re staring at him from his bed!"

"Ara? Glittery night heads? That’s… utter nonsense!" Ushiwakamaru crossed her arms, black kanmuri hat tilting as she frowned. Her white capelet shifted, flashing bare breasts. "Not because it’s sneaky or weird—no, no! It’s just… glitter washes off in blood too easy! Wah! Everyone knows red paint is better for lasting comedy faces!"

"Plus, if I sneak in, Master might think I’m there for… ehehe~… bedtime headpats instead! Can’t risk that mix-up! Ahaha!" She waved her purple-gloved hand dismissively. "Your plan’s trash, Jing Ke-dono! I’ll just ask him straight-up during dinner. Maybe toss a head on the table mid-meal for emphasis! Yosh! That’ll win him over for sure! You’ll see!"

2nd Ascension. Chaldea. Saint Martha.

Ushiwakamaru found Saint Martha polishing her armored gauntlets near the training grounds. "Martha-dono! A moment?" Ushi tilted her head, black kanmuri hat feathers quivering slightly. "I have a question only a wise elder sister type could answer!" She bounced slightly, her detached sleeves swaying. "Why do people… complain so much? About little things? Like rain, or… getting their sock wet? It’s baffling! Wah!"

Martha sighed heavily, setting down a gauntlet. Her violet hair caught the light as she looked up, adjusting the deep neckline of her white leotard. "Ah, Ushiwakamaru. Patience, child. Sometimes people need to vent." She tried for a gentle, saintly tone. "We must endure small discomforts with faith, like… uh… enduring a long sermon?" Her fist clenched instinctively before she forced it open.

"Or," Martha continued, her voice gaining a bit of an edge, "Perhaps they just need a… stronger approach? Pray for guidance, yes! Definitely pray!" She tapped her polished gauntlet. "But also, sometimes you just gotta face the problem head-on! Like when Tarasque acted up, I prayed… and then I delivered some divine intervention! Right in the snout!" Her purple eyes glinted before she caught herself. "A-Ahem! Metaphorically speaking, of course! Faith requires… firm action!"

"Ooooh! I see!" Ushiwakamaru’s red-lined blue eyes lit up with understanding. She struck a thinking pose, one bare leg forward, white kusazuri showing off her blue panties. "So when the rain is annoying, I should PUNCH THE CLOUDS? Yosh! And if my sock gets wet, I PUNCH THE PUDDLE?" She beamed, grabbing Usumidori's hilt. "Such directness! Much more efficient than just whining! Ahaha! Thank you, Martha-dono! Your saintly wisdom is truly terrifying… I mean, terrific! Wah!"

Martha just pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about needing stronger prayers.

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Prologue.

"Wah! Aruji-dono, look! An island of Oni!" Ushiwakamaru practically vibrated with excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet. The clack of her okobo platforms echoed faintly. "This is perfect! Hunting demons is practically in my Genji blood! Ahaha! It’s like… second nature! Like breathing! Or decapitating things!" Her white capelet fluttered, revealing bare skin beneath.

"And since this place feels like a fairy tale…" She struck a dramatic pose, one hand on the hilt of Usumidori, her white kusazuri shifting to expose blue panties. "Clearly you are Momotaro, the great hero! It only makes sense!" Her red-lined blue eyes shone brightly. "Which means…! Which means…!" She dropped the pose and bounded closer, nearly tripping over her own feet.

"Your Ushiwakamaru gets to be the Dog! Yosh! The loyal companion!" She grinned, puffing her chest out. "Don't worry, Master, I earned it fair and square! Fou put up quite the fight, you know?" She tapped her chin with a purple-gloved finger. "He tried that weird 'teleport kick' thing, but I dodged! Then we had a 'Best Growl' contest! Mine was much scarier, obviously!"

"The tie-breaker was 'Most Enthusiastic Tail Wagging'!" She proceeded to wiggle her hips vigorously, making the red tassels on her armor dance and her round ass jiggle. "See? Superior technique! Fou just sort of… vibrated angrily. No contest! Ahaha! So rest assured, Aruji-dono, you have the best dog for this adventure!" She beamed, utterly convinced of her victory's legitimacy.

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Fairytale Teamwork!

"Yosh! Operation: Fairytale Team Assemble!" Ushiwakamaru bounced excitedly, the clack of her okobo platforms muffled by the grassy path. Her black side ponytail swung like a metronome keeping time with her boundless energy. She darted towards Fuuma Kotarou, who jumped slightly at her sudden appearance. "Kotarou-dono! Perfect timing! We need animal roles for Master Momotaro!"

"A-ah, Ushiwakamaru-dono," Kotarou adjusted the scarf covering his mouth, his nervous red eyes darting around. "Roles? Like… code names?"

"Better! Fairy tale roles!" Ushi grinned, leaning in close. "And you, Kotarou-dono, with your amazing jumping skills and… pointy hair… you're obviously the Pheasant! Wah! So quick and agile, swooping in for surprise attacks! Like a bird! A cool, ninja bird!" She did a quick, bird-like hop herself, white kusazuri flaring to show blue panties.

Kotarou blinked. "The Pheasant…? Hmm." He touched his spiky red hair. "I suppose the aerial reconnaissance applications are sound… Okay, Ushiwakamaru-dono. If it aids the mission, I shall be… the Pheasant." He straightened slightly, a glint of pride in his eyes despite his usual anxiety.

"Excellent! One down!" Ushi spun around, spotting Sakata Kintoki leaning against a tree, looking effortlessly cool in his biker gear. "Kintoki-dono! Next up is—"

"Whoa there, hold your horses, Ushiwaka!" Kintoki held up a hand, cutting her off mid-bounce. His golden hair practically gleamed. "Before we get into whatever wild plan you cooked up, let’s get one thing straight. It's GOLDEN! Sakata Kintoki, the GOLDEN Rider! We're gonna be smashin' Oni skulls together, right? That makes us buddies! So drop the 'dono' and just call me GOLDEN!" He flashed a blindingly white grin.

"Ah, yes! Golden! Ahem," Kotarou interjected, stepping forward nervously. "Ushiwakamaru-dono, with all due respect… I overheard the potential role allocation. Assigning Kintoki-dono the role of the Monkey… it's strategically unsound."

Kintoki blinked. "Monkey? Who said anything about a monkey?"

Kotarou ignored him, getting increasingly agitated. "Think about the sheer KINETIC FORCE! If a primate possessed Kintoki-dono's raw power, the ecosystem of Japan would collapse! The collateral damage! Imagine a monkey capable of a GOLDEN DRIVE! Entire mountain ranges flattened! And worse," his voice trembled, "All those wonderful Ninja Theme Parks… the gift shops… the interactive shuriken-throwing exhibits… they'd never be built! Reduced to dust before conception! Utterly unacceptable!" He pointed dramatically at Kintoki. "He's clearly Momotaro material! A second Momotaro!"

"Ara? Two Momotaros?" Ushiwakamaru tilted her head, tapping her chin with a purple-gloved finger. Her white capelet shifted, showing the sides of her bare breasts. "A Double Momotaro strategy… Hmm… Master could handle command, and Golden-Momotaro could handle… MAXIMUM GOLDEN PUNCHING! We could call it the 'Twin Peach Demon Obliteration Formation'! Wah! That sounds incredibly effective!"

"Hold on, hold ON!" Kintoki finally processed the conversation. "You wanted me to be the MONKEY?! Why didn't you just say so?" He suddenly grinned, flexing a bicep. "Alright, alright! I can dig it! A GOLDEN Monkey! Hell yeah!" He slammed his fist into his palm. "Reminds me of this one time, back on the mountain! Ran into this HUGE ape, built like a freakin' temple gate! Arms like tree trunks, muscles on his muscles! But his eyes…" Kintoki looked wistful. "So deep, y'know? Like he understood… everything. We didn't need words. Just locked eyes, nodded, and went straight into SUMO! For three days and nights! Just pure muscle and spirit! He taught me the true meaning of mountain grit!" He sighed happily. "Good times."

Kotarou stared, completely serious. "Incredible… Such powerful simians exist in the mountains? My training regimen has been neglecting cryptozoological combat scenarios! I must rectify this immediately!" He started muttering about anti-ape ninjutsu techniques.

Ushiwakamaru just beamed, oblivious to the sheer weirdness of it all. "See? Perfect! The GOLDEN Monkey! Yosh! Master Momotaro has his Dog, his Pheasant, and his GOLDEN Monkey! Let's go find some Oni heads! Ahahaha!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Birth of the Kojirou Terminator.

Standing before a pair of comically oversized Oni gates was a lone swordsman in simple purple robes. He held a ridiculously long nodachi. "Halt, intruders!" he called out politely. "I am the Great Oni, Kazakoemaru! Hired guardian of this gate!" He sheathed his sword with practiced ease. "My duty is to prevent your passage. However," he bowed slightly, "Before we clash, might I impose upon you for a moment? There seems to be a… misunderstanding regarding my employment."

Kintoki blinked. "Great Oni? Dude, you look like some kinda samurai."

Kazakoemaru sighed softly. "Precisely. It's rather awkward. You see, I answered a 'Help Wanted' advertisement. Standard stuff – 'Guardian Needed, Competitive Salary, Oni Benefits Package'. During the interview, a rather excitable lady with fox ears explained the primary threat was… a pheasant." He paused, looking earnest. "She assured me, quite emphatically, that 'pheasants are functionally identical to swallows'. Thus, my official contract designates me as '1-star pheasant-terminator'." His brow furrowed. "My objective is to eliminate a dangerous avian menace known for firing destructive lasers from its beak. Yet… none of you resemble such a fearsome creature?"

"Ah! That's him!" Ushiwakamaru bounded forward, pointing enthusiastically at Kotarou with her purple-gloved hand. Her black side ponytail bounced. "This is Kotarou-dono! He's our Pheasant! Isn't he great? Super fast, jumps really high, throws pointy things! Top-tier pheasant material! Wah!"

Kazakoemaru studied Kotarou critically, stroking his chin. "Hmm. This… is the pheasant?" He looked disappointed. "Forgive my bluntness, Pheasant-dono, but where is your beak? The laser apparatus? And your feathers… they seem rather… fabric-based. Frankly, you lack a certain… je ne sais quoi." He shook his head sadly. "Not at all like the swallow I once faced. Now that was a bird! Wings like razors, sonic screeches that could shatter stone, talons that could cleave bamboo… It took my ultimate technique just to repel it!" he reminisced fondly, completely unaware he sounded insane.

Kotarou flushed beet-red behind his scarf. He bowed deeply, voice trembling slightly. "M-my deepest apologies, Kazakoemaru-dono. I fear I am… a subpar pheasant. I lack the requisite beak lasers." He straightened up, pulling down his scarf momentarily. "I am Fuuma Kotarou, acting Fifth Head of the Fuuma Ninja Clan!"

Kazakoemaru's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "Fuuma?! Truly? The legendary Fuuma clan!" He beamed. "Ah, this changes everything! An unexpected honour! While perhaps not quite reaching the pinnacle of Koga or Iga ninjutsu, the Fuuma are undeniably renowned! A worthy rival appears!" He bowed again. "Let us have a splendid duel, Fuuma-dono! And afterwards, perhaps we could share some tea? Regardless of outcome, I hope our newfound rivalry remains amicable!"

Kotarou's entire demeanor shifted in an instant. The nervousness vanished, replaced by icy calm. "No."

Kazakoemaru faltered. "...No?"

"Our relationship will never be amicable," Kotarou stated flatly, his red eyes narrowed into slits. "From this moment forth, I am no longer the Pheasant. I am the Kojirou Terminator. My sole purpose is your destruction."

Kazakoemaru looked utterly bewildered, his polite smile dropping. "B-but… why? Was it the beak comment? I assure you, it wasn't meant personally! Just an objective assessment based on my mission parameters—"

"You could call me the most pathetic, beakless, laser-deficient pheasant in all creation, and I would merely strive to improve," Kotarou interrupted, his voice dangerously low. "But to imply, even politely, that the Fuuma Clan is inferior to Koga or Iga…? That, Kazakoemaru… is unforgivable." He drew his own blades, stance shifting into lethal readiness. "Prepare yourself."

Ushiwakamaru just clapped excitedly. "Wah! A rivalry born from perceived slights against ninja honour! How dramatic! Go get 'em, Kojirou Terminator! Ahahaha!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Benkei. BUDDHA IS MUSCLES!

Suddenly, a figure built like a brick outhouse and gleaming unnaturally under the Onigashima sun stomped into view, carrying a massive stone barbell over his shoulders. "OOOOOOHHHH! If it isn’t my beloved LORD USHIWAKAMARU!" he bellowed, striking a ludicrous flexing pose that made his oiled, bare torso muscles ripple obscenely. "It is I, your ever-loyal retainer, Benkei! Fear not! Your Benkei has arrived to PULVERIZE these Oni with the power of PURE, UNADULTERATED MUSCLE! As the TRUE BENKEI would!"

Ushiwakamaru stared, blinking her red-lined blue eyes. She tilted her head, black kanmuri hat wobbling. "…Benkei? Is that… you?" She circled him cautiously, her white kusazuri panels fluttering around her hips, blue panties clearly visible. "Why are you… half-naked? And carrying… that heavy rock thing? Did you get… bigger? And… shinier? Ara? This doesn't look like the Benkei I tolerate." Her detached sleeves rustled as she crossed her arms.

"Aha! My Lord, you perceive the truth!" Benkei roared, dropping the barbell with a ground-shaking THUD. "I visited the quaint Tea House yonder! Drank their most… enlightening brew! And then it struck me! The TRUE teaching of the Buddha!" He puffed out his chest proudly. "It is not compassion, not detachment! It is MUSCLES! The Eightfold Path? NAY! Eight reps of heavy lifting! Nirvana? Obviously achieved through PEAK PHYSICAL CONDITIONING! As the TRUE Benkei, embodiment of brawn, I am merely manifesting my authentic, MUSCULAR self! You must have simply forgotten, my Lord!"

Ushiwakamaru sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Right. 'Muscle Buddha Benkei'. Whatever." She waved a dismissive purple-gloved hand. "Fine. You can tag along. We could use another meat shield, I suppose." Her tone shifted, dropping into a dangerously sweet register. "However, all the important animal roles are already taken. Mine, the Pheasant's, the Golden Monkey's." A flicker of arrogance flashed in her eyes. "So don't get any foolish ideas about trying to be, say, a 'Muscle Bear' or something equally stupid. Know your place, Benkei."

"But of course, my Lord!" Benkei slammed a fist over his heart, nearly staggering from the drunken force of the gesture. "I require NO role! I am Benkei! A mere DISPOSABLE WEAPON for you to wield as you see fit! Point me at the enemy and I shall be your muscular shield and spear!"

Ushiwakamaru smirked, a cruel little smile playing on her lips as she adjusted her short white capelet, flashing bare skin. "A disposable weapon, you say? Fufufu~ How fitting." She stepped closer, looking him up and down with contempt. "Then naturally, I shall dispose of you once your usefulness expires. Do try to make it entertaining before then. Honestly, your shouting is already making me consider testing Usumidori's edge on your neck. Don't bore me."

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Benkei. The Seductress Strategy.

Benkei was prostrated on the ground before Ushiwakamaru and the Master, forehead pressed firmly into the dirt in a perfect dogeza. "MY LOOOORD USHIWAKAMARU! PLEASE FORGIVE YOUR UNWORTHY RETAINER!" he wailed, his massive, still weirdly shiny muscles trembling. "MY ACTIONS, THOUGH SEEMINGLY TREASONOUS, WERE A NECESSARY, IF CRUDE, TACTICAL MANEUVER! I SWEAR IT ON MY HONOR AS BENKEI!"

Ushiwakamaru tapped her foot, the clack of her okobo platform sharp. Her black side ponytail swayed as she looked down at him with utter dispassion. "Let me recount, shall I?" Her voice was dangerously level. "We split up. Disguises. You and I were 'prisoners'. Then that Oni guard started complaining." She adjusted her white kusazuri, briefly flashing blue panties. "First, I was 'too small for labor'. Fine. Annoying, but whatever. Then, he calls my battle attire..." she gestured vaguely at her nearly naked form, "...'indecent'. The nerve."

"And then you spoke up, 'fellow prisoner'." She leaned forward slightly, her detached sleeves hanging loose. "You told him, didn't you? That I wasn't weak, oh no. I was a seductress. Using my body to 'ensnare poor, innocent Oni'. A 'fallen woman weaving spells of temptation'." Her red-lined blue eyes were cold. "And then, to 'prove' how you heroically 'broke the spell'…" She paused for effect. "...You punched your lord unconscious."

She crouched down slightly, bringing her face closer to the groveling monk. "So, Benkei. Simple question." Her voice was soft, almost gentle. "Are you prepared to die now? There's a lovely, secluded spot behind that temple over there. Perfect for a quick stabbing and shallow grave. No headstone, naturally." She smiled sweetly, adjusting her black kanmuri hat.

"N-NO, MY LORD! YOU MISUNDERSTAND!" Benkei lifted his head frantically, eyes wide with panic (and still slightly dilated from the 'tea'). "It wasn't an insult! It was... PRAISE! Yes! PRAISE! That Oni DARED imply your attire was mere immodesty! I corrected him! I explained it was a weapon! Proof of your strategic genius, using unparalleled beauty to disarm foes! And... and knocking you out?" He scrambled for logic. "THAT cemented my cover! By 'resisting' your powerful allure, I gained the Oni's trust! They see me as strong-willed! Incorruptible! Making me a MORE EFFECTIVE SPY... to serve YOU! It was all for YOU, My Lord!"

Ushiwakamaru stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. "Your stupidity is almost... impressive." She straightened up. "Fine. You get to live. For now." With a swift movement, she snatched the flask hanging from Benkei's belt. "But I'm confiscating this 'enlightening tea'. Clearly, it impairs even your already questionable judgment." She uncorked it and sniffed cautiously. "Wah! Smells like Oni feet and regret."

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Brother Jizo and the Cesspool Incident.

"Aruji-dono! Look! LOOK!" Ushiwakamaru staggered into view, somehow dragging a heavy stone Jizo statue with surprising ease despite being visibly plastered. "Isn't he magnificent? It's my brother! Yoritomo-sama! Ahaha! Finally, you get to meet him!" She beamed, patting the statue's mossy head affectionately. Her black kanmuri hat was askew.

"See his noble brow? So… stony! And his expression! So serene…ly judgmental!" She traced the statue's worn face with a purple-gloved finger. Her white capelet slipped, revealing a generous amount of sideboob. "And those eyes! So wonderfully cold and dead! Just like how he always peers at me! Wah! Isn't he handsome?" She hiccuped cheerfully. "Don't worry, Nii-sama! Your useless little sister will protect you! You can come with us!"

Just then, a patrol of clumsy-looking Oni rounded the corner.

"Oni! Perfect timing!" Ushi's red-lined blue eyes lit up with drunken inspiration.

"Now I can make a proper offering! Fresh heads! Right at Nii-sama's feet!" She giggled, drawing Usumidori with a flourish that nearly sent her sprawling. "Then maybe he'll give me that look and say, 'Tsk. Yoshitsune, again? Clean this mess up and get back to the front before Masako starts yelling!' Ehehe~ Classic Nii-sama!"

What followed was less a fight and more a drunken whirlwind of blades. Ushi sliced through the Oni like paper lanterns, giggling madly. "Yosh! Almost done! Now for the heads!"

But she'd missed one terrified Oni hiding behind a barrel. He swung his axe wildly in panic. Ushi easily dodged—CLANG!—but the axe blade struck the Jizo statue, sending its stone head flying off its shoulders.

"HOW DARE YOU HARM MY BROTHER?!" Ushi roared, instantly vaporizing the offending Oni in a furious flash of steel.

She watched in horror as the stone head bounced… rolled… and arced directly towards a nearby, bubbling cesspit.

"NII-SAMA!" She scrambled, dropping the statue's body and lunging for the head, her detached sleeves flapping.

Too late. PLOP. The stone head vanished into the murky depths.

Ushiwakamaru froze, staring blankly at the spot where the head disappeared. Silence. Then, with a decisive grunt, she picked up the Jizo statue's body and hurled it into the cesspit after the head. SPLOSH.

She dusted off her hands, her blue panties briefly visible as her white kusazuri swayed. Turning back to the Master, she chirped, "Right! Where were we, Aruji-dono? Important mission stuff? Ara? That statue? Oh, definitely not my brother. Yoritomo-sama would never go near a place where people… you know… poop. Far too princess-like for such things! Ahaha! Clearly an imposter! Serves him right, sinking in filth! Anyway! Let's go!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Wazahamimaru. The Honey Badger Incident.

The second gate was guarded by a single figure swaying unsteadily, flask clutched in one hand, pink fox ears twitching erratically. "Mikon~!☆ The beautiful woman waiting at the second gate is me—your dependable shrine maiden fox wife who has borrowed just a smidge of the divine wine," she hiccuped, slurring slightly, "the beautiful and tipsy Tamamo-no-Mae!☆ Prepare yourselves for… uh… gate stuff!" She waved the flask vaguely.

"Hey!?" Kintoki squinted, pushing his sunglasses down his nose. "You're that fox from way back when, huh!? Still causing trouble, I see!"

Tamamo instantly beamed, wobbling towards him. "Kintoki-chan~! My my, haven't you grown into a big, strong boy~♥ And look at that GOLDEN ride! Pew pew!" She mimicked shooting sounds before her expression instantly turned menacing. "But you haven’t gotten any SMARTER, have you, you oblivious shounen protag brick-head!?" she hissed, poking his chest hard. "Shut your GOLDEN mouth about 'way back when' before I shove your stupid spiky hair right up your stupid GOLDEN— Ah!"

She spun back to the Master, radiating pure, innocent charm again. "Ignore him, Master~♥ Never seen this golden retriever muscle-dummy before in my life~♥ Mikon!"

Kotarou adjusted his scarf nervously. "Forgive my impertinence, Kintoki-dono, Tamamo-dono… but historical records indicate Tamamo-no-Mae’s existence post-dates the Heian period where Lord Kintoki was active by several centuries. How could you possibly—?"

"Little ninja boy shouldn't ask questions WAY above his paygrade, mkay~?!" Tamamo snapped, her fox tail bristling. "Some things are need-to-know, and you DON'T need to know about my… youthful indiscretions!♥ Or my totally-not-ancient origins!"

Ushiwakamaru gasped softly, taking an involuntary step back. Her blue panties were visible as her white kusazuri shifted. "Wah! Master, her aura… it’s terrifying! Not like an Oni… more like… an Oni God! It feels just like when Mother Masako found out I'd 'borrowed' her favourite war fan to practice decapitation drills!" She shuddered, adjusting her black kanmuri hat.

Tamamo ignored them, launching into a full-blown drunken tirade. "And ANOTHER thing!" she wailed, stomping her foot. "WHY wasn't I, Tamamo-no-Mae, Caster numero uno, the face of this JAPAN-THEMED EVENT?! HUH?! Especially Momotaro!? Helloooo?"

She pointed furiously at her own fluffy ears. "Fox ears! Dog ears! Basically the SAME THING! I am clearly the superior candidate for the Dog role! But NOOOO! Did I get an invite? An offer? Even a participation trophy SR ticket?!"

"Tsk! At first I thought, 'Oh, they just forgot, silly devs~♥'. But then I see her," she glared daggers at Ushiwakamaru, "prancing around as the 'dog'! It's favouritism! It's canine-profiling! It's probably because my animation update is STILL stuck in development hell while some people get fancy new NPs! THIS IS BULLCRAP!"

She downed the rest of her flask in one gulp and threw it aside. "Fine! FINE! If I can't be the Dog everyone CLEARLY wants, then I'll be something else! Something FIERCE!" She struck a wobbly, vaguely menacing pose, adjusting the deep cleavage of her blue kimono. "From this moment on, I am Wazahamimaru, the HONEY BADGER OF THE SECOND GATE! Honey badger don't care! Honey badger takes what she wants! And right now? Honey badger wants to KICK YOUR ASSES! Mikon~!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Tamamo. Post-Honey Badger Blues.

Tamamo sat slumped against the now-open gate, looking thoroughly defeated and nursing a headache. Her fluffy pink tail drooped. "Okay, fine, fine! You win! Happy now?" She glared up at the Master, adjusting the collar of her blue kimono. "But this is your fault, you know! Forcing a refined Caster like me into such... primal tactics! If the gacha gods, I mean, fate, had just given me the recognition I DESERVE..." She trailed off into a gloomy mutter about drop rates and strengthening quests.

"Ara? Don't be sad, Tamamo-dono!" Ushiwakamaru crouched beside her, her expression genuinely concerned. Her white kusazuri flared, revealing her round ass in blue panties. "There will be other events! Maybe next time it'll be 'Tamamo's Super Happy Shrine Festival'! Or... 'Journey to the West, But It's All Foxes'! You'd be the star! Wah!" She patted Tamamo's shoulder awkwardly with her purple-gloved hand.

Tamamo looked at Ushi's earnest, red-lined blue eyes, then sighed dramatically. "Tsk... You know, for a rival dog-girl who stole my rightful spot, you're infuriatingly hard to stay mad at." She flicked an ear dismissively. "Honestly, I wasn't asking for much!" She started counting on her fingers. "Just, you know, top billing! An animation update that doesn't take three years! Maybe my own dedicated summer event with multiple costumes!"

"And perhaps," she continued, gaining momentum, "limitless QP! A guaranteed NP5 for Master on my next banner! A personal chef for Chaldea who only makes my favourite foods! And world peace, but like, the Tamamo-approved version where everyone worships me! See? Simple requests!♥"

Ushiwakamaru stared, head tilted, black kanmuri hat slipping slightly. "World... peace? Chef? QP...? Tamamo-dono, are those... different kinds of headpats?"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Tea House. Ibaraki Douji. Unexpected Oni Empathy?

Ushiwakamaru stormed into the noisy Oni Tea House, spotting Ibaraki Douji awkwardly trying to balance a tray while wearing a ridiculously frilly waitress apron over her yellow yukata. Ushi marched right up, slamming her purple-gloved fist on the counter. "You! Banana Oni!" Her black kanmuri hat nearly fell off. "That 'tea' you serve! It's poison! It made me... do things! Very unbecoming things involving statues and cesspools! You tricked me! Ahaha! But seriously, you owe me an apology!"

Ibaraki jumped, rattling the tray. "Gyahaha! Stupid human! What did you expect?!" Her pointy ears twitched, horns catching the dim light. "This is an Oni establishment, run by the magnificent Shuten! Of COURSE it's strong sake, not weakling human tea! Only an absolute moron would drink Shuten's brew thinking it was chamomile! Awawawa~ What an idiot!" She puffed out her chest, red hands on her hips.

"But... it wasn't labeled!" Ushi protested, her white kusazuri shifting to reveal blue panties. "And Benkei gave it to me! He said it was 'enlightening'! How was I supposed to know it would make me mistake a rock for my brother?!"

Ibaraki faltered, her bluster deflating slightly. She glanced nervously towards the back room where Shuten was likely lounging. "...Okay, fine," she mumbled, kicking at the floor with a red-taloned foot. "Shuten does make it ridiculously strong. Like, 'melt your teeth' strong. And she finds it FUNNY when people get wasted." She muttered "Awawawa... S-Still your fault for being dumb, though!"

She suddenly shoved a sticky dango skewer into Ushi's hand. "H-Here! Take this!" Ibaraki flushed bright red beneath her forehead tattoo. "N-Not because I feel sorry for you or anything! Baka! It... it fell! Yeah! Almost hit the floor! I just hate waste! Gyahaha! So eat it!" She crossed her arms, refusing to meet Ushi's gaze.

Ushiwakamaru's eyes lit up. "Wah! Dango! Thank you, Ibaraki-dono!" She bit into the sweet treat happily. "Sharing snacks means we're friends now, right? Yosh! My first Oni friend! Ahaha! Let's go find some heads to decorate together later!"

Ibaraki just sputtered incoherently, face still crimson. "F-Friends?! W-Who said anything about—?! Gyah! Just eat your dango and get out, idiot human!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Tea House. Shuten Douji. Meeting the Great Oni.

Ushiwakamaru bounced excitedly towards the lounging Shuten Douji, undeterred by the Great Oni's lazy, predatory aura. "Aha! Found you! Shuten Douji!" Ushi pointed with a purple-gloved finger. "So you're the mastermind behind the sake-disguised-as-tea plot! Very clever! Fooled me completely! Ahaha! Using potent drinks to cause hilarious chaos... truly the work of a legendary villain!" Her white capelet fluttered, revealing glimpses of her bare breasts.

Shuten slowly opened one crimson-tipped eye, a lazy, amused smirk playing on her lips. She shifted slightly, the open purple kimono revealing more of the black lingerie beneath. "Ara, ara? Such enthusiasm from the little Genji pup. Blaming me already for your... passionate encounter with that stone fellow? Mmm... You must have been quite thirsty, little swallow, to seek solace with such cold company."

"W-Wha—?! Thirsty?! Passionate?!" Ushiwakamaru flushed beet red, from her neck to the tips of her ears. "N-No! It wasn't like that! It was Benkei's fault! And the lighting! And—! And you!" She stammered, adjusting her black kanmuri hat frantically. "You're supposed to be a terrifying monster who eats people! Why are you saying such... such lewd things?!" Her white kusazuri shifted, highlighting her blue panties.

"Maa, maa~" Shuten chuckled, taking a delicate sip from her sake cup. "Perhaps terror just isn't as fun as teasing?" She let her eyes linger appreciatively on Ushi’s flustered state. "Uhn, uhn... Such strong reactions, little Genji. Almost makes one wonder what other secrets you're hiding beneath all that... energetic loyalty."

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Tea House Troubles.

"Alright, spill it, you two!" Kintoki slammed a GOLDEN fist on the Tea House table, rattling the sake cups. "I know you Oni are cookin' up somethin' nasty on this fairytale island! Don't think I forgot Mount Ooe!"

"Yosh! Demonic plots are afoot!" Ushiwakamaru added cheerfully, bouncing slightly. Her white capelet shifted, revealing bare skin. "Excellent! More heads for Master Momotaro's collection! Ahaha!"

"Gyahahaha! Stupid GOLDEN boy!" Ibaraki cackled, perched precariously on a stool, red hands on her hips. "Like we'd tell you anything, mortal enemy! Go cry to your bear friends, baka!" Her short yellow yukata rode up slightly.

"Maa, maa~ Calm down, Ibaraki." Shuten stretched languidly, her open purple kimono offering generous views of her black lingerie. "It's really quite simple, Kintoki-chan. I saw some third-rate Oni built this tacky palace in mere days. Frankly, it was insulting." She took a sip of sake. "So, I came here to tear it all down out of sheer spite. I was just pondering the most amusing way to do it when..."

"Weren't you just gonna wait for Kintoki to show up and smash everything for you, Shuten?" Ibaraki interrupted innocently, tilting her head, horns catching the light. "So we could just drink?"

"I KNEW IT!" Kintoki roared. "Lazy scheming! Forget it! I ain't workin' with you, Shuten! This whole thing stinks! I'd rather just try and take you down myself!"

Shuten's eyes glinted wickedly. "Mmm... 'Take me down,' Kintoki-chan?" She stretched languidly, making her kimono gape. "Planning to get on top of me right here on the floor, while Master and the puppy watch? Ara, ara~ You golden boys are always so eager to pin down an Oni. Go on then, show me how you plan to bring me low~ Fufufu~" She turned to Ibaraki. "See, Ibaraki? That's how you push someone's buttons."

"Buttons?" Ibaraki looked confused, poking at her own shimenawa belt. "I don't see any buttons. And I'm terrible at sewing anyway, Shuten!"

"Ara? Buttons?" Ushiwakamaru chimed in, adjusting her black kanmuri hat. "Is it like... pushing someone until they pop? Like a zit? Or maybe poking their funny bone until they admit defeat? Yosh! That sounds effective!"

Suddenly— CLANG! A massive tachi blade slammed down where Shuten had been lounging moments before. A tall, voluptuous woman with startlingly large assets clad in purple armor stood there, radiating cold fury. "Disgusting vermin," Minamoto-no-Raikou declared. "All insects on this island must be purged."

"Uhn, uhn... Knew I smelled cow somewhere," Shuten sighed, having dodged effortlessly. "Ibaraki, darling, would you mind?"

"Tsk! You dodged!" Raikou pouted, retrieving her blade. "My aim was perfect for a clean decapitation! And Kintoki! Stop associating with these delinquents and mind your manners!"

"AW AWAWA~?! ME?! DO WHAT?!" Ibaraki panicked, waving her red hands frantically. "She's got a HUGE sword! And she looks scary! Why me?!"

"You can't do it?" Shuten asked innocently, swirling her sake. "Then we'll just give up. I just thought maybe my dear Ibaraki would be able to do something about this little... situation..."

"GYAAAAAH! FINE!" Ibaraki shrieked, suddenly grabbing Shuten around the waist. With a flash of red light, both Oni vanished. Raikou immediately dashed after them, shouting about disciplinary action.

Kintoki, Ushiwakamaru, and Kotarou were left standing in the suddenly quiet, slightly damaged Tea House. "...Well," Kintoki finally said. "That was GOLDEN levels of weird."

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Gorikimaru. The Yandere Virus Transmission.

Kiyohime lay sprawled on the ground, her green hair dishevelled, the makeshift Oni costume torn. "Haaah... defeated... by someone other than Anchin-sama's true loyal dog..." She sighed, then a small, unsettling smile touched her lips. "Still... to be handled so roughly by Master... hehe... it wasn't entirely unpleasant..."

"Wah! That was incredible, Kiyohime-dono!" Ushiwakamaru bounded over, beaming. Her white kusazuri flared, showing blue panties clinging to her round ass. "Your fire breath! So hot! And the way you kept screaming 'Anchin-sama!' even while getting punched! Such dedication! Truly fearsome!" She adjusted her slightly singed black kanmuri hat.

Kiyohime glared up weakly. "You... Ushiwakamaru... that bitch who dares call herself Master's dog..." She coughed, then fixed Ushi with an intense stare. "If you insist on holding that title... then earn it! Don't accept headpats lightly! Stalk Master constantly! Burn anyone who looks at him wrong! Lie pathologically to keep him near! Make him utterly dependent on you!"

Her eyes burned with zealous conviction. "This is my will! Inherit it! Become the rabid dog Anchin-sama deserves!"

Ushiwakamaru's red-lined blue eyes widened. "Rabid dog! Wah! That sounds so... gallant! So fiercely loyal!" She slammed her purple-gloved fist into her palm. "Yes! I understand! To protect Master with unrestrained ferocity! To bare my fangs at any threat! To be utterly devoted, even if it seems... excessive! Yosh!" She dropped to one knee before the stunned Kiyohime. "I swear, Kiyohime-dono! I will uphold your noble will! From this day forward, I am Aruji-dono's loyal... no, his RABID DOG! Ahahaha!"

2nd Ascension. Onigashima. Minamoto-no-Raikou. Ancestral Awkwardness.

Minamoto-no-Raikou knelt amidst the wreckage atop Onigashima, head bowed low. "Master… Ushiwakamaru-dono… I… I cannot apologize enough." Her voice trembled. "Possessed or not, my actions… disgraceful. A stain upon the Minamoto name. What kind of mother… attacks her own children…?" Her pastel purple bodysuit gleaming dully and perfectly hugging her voluptous body.

"Wah! Raikou-sama, lift your head!" Ushiwakamaru rushed forward, planting her hands on her hips. Her black side ponytail swung emphatically. "You weren't yourself! That Ushi Gozen thing was controlling you!" She puffed out her chest, flashing bare skin beneath the white capelet. "And if you're a disgrace, then every other warrior in Japan should just commit seppuku right now! Compared to you, they're all just… slightly less impressive background characters! Ahaha!"

Raikou slowly looked up, her purple eyes focusing on Ushiwakamaru. "Wait… that boundless energy… that cheerful disregard for collateral damage… the casual mention of seppuku as a baseline comparison…" A thoughtful frown crossed her beautiful face. "And that outfit! So… unburdened by excess fabric! You… you must be Genji, aren't you?"

Ushiwakamaru flushed slightly, fidgeting with the red tassels on her white kusazuri. "E-eto… yes, Raikou-sama! Minamoto no Yoshitsune, at your service!" She bowed eagerly. "I've always looked up to you! The strongest Mystery Slayer! You're legendary! Please don't be sad!" Her blue panties peeked out as she straightened up.

Suddenly, Raikou's entire demeanor shifted. "Ara, ara! A little descendant!" She surged forward, enveloping the much smaller Ushiwakamaru in a powerful hug, nearly smothering her against her extraordinarily large breasts. "Oh, you poor dear! So small and barely dressed! Are you cold? Are you hungry? Don't worry, Mama Raikou will take care of everything! We must get you some proper clothes immediately! And some warm milk!"

Matsuri. Sky Flowers.

"Wah! Look, Aruji-dono! The sky is getting dark!" Ushiwakamaru pointed excitedly towards the horizon, her blue kimono sleeve slipping slightly. "Almost time for the 'sky flowers'! That's what people call them, right? Like… giant, colourful signal flares, but without the enemy charge afterwards! Ahaha!" She shifted her weight, the simple waraji sandals quiet on the grassy hill.

"So many people here just to watch." She scanned the crowd below, tilting her head. "It's strange, isn't it? Just… waiting for loud noises and bright flashes?" She smoothed the front of her kimono—blue fabric showed stars, clouds, flowers. "Back home, explosions usually meant trouble was starting! Or ending, if I did it right! Ehehe~" The wide red obi cinched her waist tightly.

"Still! It feels… exciting!" Her red-lined blue eyes sparkled brighter than the festival lanterns. "My heart is pounding a little! Like before a big charge!" She bounced slightly on her white tabi socks. "Watching the sky explode with you, Aruji-dono… that's the best part of this whole 'festival' thing! Yosh!"

Lifesaver. Beach Patrol Duty!

"Aruji-dono! Over here!" Ushiwakamaru waved enthusiastically from the lifeguard stand, the bright red whistle bouncing against her chest. She hopped down onto the hot sand, her white tie-front bikini gleaming in the tropical sun. "Reporting for safety patrol! Yosh! The beach is clear of immediate threats… unless you count that suspicious-looking crab! Ahaha!" The blue ocean sparkled behind her under a cloudless sky.

"Remember the rules, Master!" She struck a heroic pose, one hand on her hip, showing off her slender, tanned body. "No swimming right after eating! Makes you sluggish... easier targets for… uh… strong currents! Yes! Currents!" She tapped the white rescue buoy attached to her waist, white fundoshi clinging to her round ass. "And stay within the marked zones! Going too far out means… well, it means I have to swim further to bring back your head if something happens! Much less efficient! Ehehe~"

"Don't worry though!" Her red-lined blue eyes. "Your Ushiwakamaru takes this duty VERY seriously! Anyone causing trouble or endangering others…" She blew a sharp, piercing blast on her whistle. "...will face swift and decisive action! Protecting people is what heroes do, right? And maybe… protecting you extra well earns a headpat?" She grinned hopefully, sand dusting her plumpy thighs.

Lostroom. Chaldea Ball. A Different Battlefield.

"A-Aruji-dono..." Ushiwakamaru appeared at the edge of the ballroom crowd, looking slightly overwhelmed by the music and lights. She smoothed down the front of her sleeveless high-neck white leotard bodice nervously. "This... 'ball'... it's quite something, isn't it? So many people... not fighting." She adjusted the single voluminous red sleeve on her right arm. "E-eto... does this outfit... suit me?"

"It's... very different." She glanced down at the long, layered ballgown skirt, the white frills cascading over red fabric. "Not exactly practical for sudden decapitations, Ahaha..." She fiddled with the wide black fauld at her waist, tied with a red sash. "But... you look quite dashing, Master. E-everyone seems to be... pairing up? For that swaying thing?" She gestured vaguely towards the dance floor, her bare left arm feeling exposed.

"So... Aruji-dono..." She took a small step forward, the high slit in her skirt revealing her asymmetrical stockings—red on the right, white on the left. The black okobo platforms clicked softly on the polished floor. "W-would you... perhaps... indulge this clumsy retainer in... a sway? I mean... a dance?" Her red-lined blue eyes looked up hopefully, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "I promise not to step on your feet... too much! Wah!"

Under the Same Sky. Wanko Soba Echoes.

The energetic shouts and rhythmic clatter of bowls from the Wanko Soba challenge filled the Hanamaki air, a chaotic symphony under the bright Iwate sky.

Amidst the bustling crowd, you spot her leaning against a food stall, wiping her hands on a bright blue apron with white text praising the local noodles. She wore a dark purple shirt with white raglan sleeves, gray baggy pants, and plain black shoes – utterly mundane, yet something about her gaze caught yours instantly. It felt intensely familiar.

She noticed you looking and offered a small, almost shy smile before walking over. "Hey there," her voice sounds like a half-remembered song. "Big crowd today, huh? You look a bit overwhelmed. Or maybe just… thinking?" She tilted her head, her long black hair swaying slightly. "It’s easy to get lost in thought at places like this. So much happening all at once."

"Still," she continued, her blue eyes – startlingly clear, like you'd seen them before under harsher lights – holding yours. "Moments like these… they feel important, don't they? All this noise and laughter." She gestured with a hand still damp from wiping the counter. "Even knowing it's just for today. Maybe because it's just for today." A pause. "Some stories… they echo. Even when the battlefield changes." She looked down at her apron, tracing the kanji for Hanamaki. "Funny, isn't it? How a place can feel like… coming home, even if you've never been."

She looked back up. "Anyway! Don't let me keep you from the fun. Or from… wherever you're heading next." That knowing look flickered again. "Just… don't forget the path you've walked, okay? It matters." She gave a small wave, almost hesitant, before turning back towards the stall. "Maybe I'll see you again. Under this sky… or another."