Chapter 241 : The Power Of Miko
Riku hadn’t expected that two women as proud as Yugito would ask him such a question.
In truth, Riku had always been confident. If the shrine maiden couldn’t do it, then he would take care of it himself. Over this period of time, his mastery of Yin–Yang Release had reached an extremely advanced level—close, even, to that of the Sage of Six Paths.
More importantly, Riku’s chakra reserves alone already surpassed the Sage of Six Paths.
To reach the level of the Six Paths, one typically needed to become the Ten Tails’ jinchūriki, or possess a body like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s that had fused with the Ten Tails. This was because such power relied on the vast chakra of the Ten Tails to augment its wielder’s strength.
But Riku didn’t need any of that. His chakra reserves had already neared their natural peak.
The chakra of the Ten Tails was formed by absorbing the natural energy of the Earth.
Riku’s chakra, however, originated purely from the fusion of physical and spiritual energy. In the entire ninja world, the only being whose chakra surpassed his was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Not even the Sage of Six Paths could match him in sheer volume.
That said, his control over Yin–Yang Release still hadn’t surpassed the Sage of Six Paths—but it was certainly far superior to Six Paths Madara.
In terms of chakra quantity, he outclassed Madara without question.
Kaguya had more chakra than Riku only because she had fused with the Ten Tails. Though Riku’s chakra couldn’t yet match that of the Ten Tails, the difference was no longer vast.
Riku’s body not only absorbed the natural energy of the Earth—it absorbed the energy of the entire universe.
Thus, his chakra was not limited to just the Earth’s natural energy, but included universal forces as well.
If Riku’s chakra reserves had come solely from absorbing Earth’s natural energy like the Ten Tails, the planet would have been drained long ago.
It’s important to remember—during Naruto and Sasuke’s final battle, Naruto alone had consumed nearly half of the Earth’s natural energy.
If Riku’s chakra were sourced in the same way, the Earth would already be a dead husk.
But Riku’s body had never relied on Earth’s chakra or the Ten Tails’ power. From the very beginning, it had functioned like a divine tree, constantly drawing energy from beyond this world, refining it, and converting it into his own chakra.
Therefore, his potential chakra reserves far surpassed even those of the Ten Tails.
His body evolved continuously—with no limits, only stages of growth.
Now, while his Yin–Yang Release still hadn’t fully reached the level of the Sage of Six Paths, it had become strong enough to seal a creature like the Spirit.
Riku turned to glance at the two kunoichi led by Yugito. Bathed in the moonlight, the woman was indeed striking—her proud demeanor and formidable strength made her all the more captivating.
It was no surprise that Yugito held such sway in the Cloud Village. Her allure, both in power and appearance, was undeniable.
She was the same age as Samui, but Samui’s strength couldn’t compare to hers. Yugito was a true Kage-level shinobi. Had Hidan not known her abilities in advance, even he and Kakuzu might not have been able to bring her down.
Riku admired strong women like Yugito—but he rarely made the first move.
He had a similar admiration for Samui, but it had never gone beyond appreciation.
If Riku had ever seriously tried to pursue Samui, he had absolute confidence in his success.
But he was more intrigued by Yugito’s strength than by her appearance or personality.
"Honestly," Riku began, "I never expected everything would depend on the priestess alone to seal the demon. The Spirit’s power is far from ordinary. Judging from the current strength of the priestess, I doubt she can handle it."
"I imagine you’ve sensed it too," he added, "otherwise you wouldn’t be asking me this now."
Yugito frowned, her eyes turning toward the distant capital of the Land of Demons. After a long silence, she finally said, "You’re right. I felt it from the beginning. The shrine maiden doesn’t have the strength to seal the demon. I kept hoping she might still hold some kind of hidden power—but I really don’t know what could possibly defeat such a terrifying creature."
"And yet... that power would have to reside in someone with almost no combat ability."
Compared to her predecessor, Shion’s strength was indeed lacking. One could even say she had no power at all.
...
In truth, Riku understood the reason behind it. Shion’s abilities hadn’t disappeared—they had been sealed away by her mother.
Because that power was too overwhelming.
Had Shion awakened her abilities as a child, she would have become a target for assassins from rival factions within the country.
She had been too young then—unable to control such strength.
That power, in fact, surpassed even her mother Miroku’s.
Leaning casually against the railing, Riku smiled faintly. "Your instincts were right. There’s an enormous power sealed within her. It surpasses Kage-level strength. But it’s been locked away. My guess is that the previous priestess realized her daughter couldn’t control it yet."
Yugito and her companion blinked in surprise and turned to face Riku. "Are you serious?"
Riku nodded. "I’m good at sensing chakra. I can feel it—there’s something incredible sealed inside her."
"Did you notice the bell hanging on her chest?" he asked.
The two kunoichi exchanged glances. "Yeah... we saw it."
Then Yugito raised an eyebrow. "Why were you staring at her chest?"
Her expression shifted slightly, clearly suspicious. Shion had been wearing a low-cut outfit, after all.
For a moment, the two of them looked at Riku with bemused, slightly judgmental eyes.
Riku, seeing their expressions, immediately raised his hands in mock surrender. "What are you thinking? I said I have excellent chakra perception and some skill with sealing jutsu. That bell on her chest—it holds a powerful sealing technique. That seal is what’s keeping her true power contained."
"There’s a chakra force inside her far stronger than yours," he added frankly. "But whether that power is enough to seal the Spirit... I’m not certain. If she can’t do it, I’ll have to try."
Yugito and her companion looked at him, then finally spoke after a pause. "I don’t believe it. If even the priestess can’t seal the Spirit, how could you possibly succeed? If you could, why would we even need her?"
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