* * * * *
[It was on that day that Nurarihyon's reign of terror began, he took all sinners under his wing and transformed them into demons to better control them, expanding his territory from Mount Oe, ironically, by doing this, he helped humans because without sinners, they could live better lives].
[Many historians say that this legend about Nurarihyon is stranger than the others, because although it has a lot of fantasy content, it also has many easily confirmed real facts, such as the creation of a new police force, as well as new villages that slowly expanded. This is why many have wondered... Is it really a myth, did Nurarihyon exist, or is it all just a coincidence?]
[Fantasy vs. Reality, Narurihyon Volume, Chapter 2]
* * * * *
After solving Tsunade's problem and spending some quality time inside the seal, oh, right, also punishing Tayuya for his stupidities, the Kitsune Daiyokai advanced through the forest, recruiting all the Yokai and eliminating everyone past a certain limit on their morality scale.
Slowly, news of the appearance of a demonic army began to spread through the area around Mount Oe, something that worried many innocent villagers, although this was also an opportunity for the Yokai, they did not hesitate to attack the humans because they felt that with such a large amount of brothers in the area, there was nothing their prey could do to stop them, a grave mistake that ended with their deaths.
Hyakki Yakō (the night parade of a hundred demons), started to become hugely popular by the locals, although this was a slight misconception that Kurama let pass because he had over 100 demons under his command, although the amount of different species were going for 80, which meant that at the end of his march the title wouldn't be so wrong.
"My lord, we are arriving at the place where Sojobo-sama dwells" - said a Nekomata.
Kurama nodded calmly as he took a step and opened a space in the barrier for his subordinates to enter the "sacred mountain".
* * * * *
[There are many legends about the Hyakki Yakō, but one of the most important is the time when Nurarihyon used his enormous power to break the barrier that covered the sacred mountain, Mount Kurama, turning it into a paradise for monsters].
[Sojobo, the great Tengu tried to stop the demons, but the difference was too great, so the two Yokai came to an agreement, Sojobo would become a subordinate of Nurarihyon and the demonic general would not hurt any innocent humans].
[Nurarihyon did not need to accept this deal, but his appreciation for Sojobo was too great, so after some thought, he accepted the deal, and it was at that moment that the great demon general managed to get one of his most famous captains].
[Japanese folklore, chapter 7: Nurarihyon the demon conqueror]
* * * * *
"This is a much more interesting place than I thought" - said Kurama as he let out a laugh. He was sitting, relaxed, drinking some alcohol that a cute Nekomata was serving him - "Thank you very much."
"You don't have to thank me, Nurarihyon-sama, nya ~" - said the Nekomata with a slight blush before retreating because she could feel the hostility in the Tengu Daiyokai's gaze.
"Tsunade informed me what your mission was, and I see you're having fun" - Mikoto snorted as she folded her arms.
"Almost as much if not more than you" - replied Kurama sarcastically - "I am doing what I must, cleaning this country of the monsters, both human and Yokai."
"I didn't think I would hear that you would become a judge" - Mikoto said as she took a sip of her tea. Oh, don't get her wrong, she also enjoyed a good bottle of sake from time to time, but now she didn't have the urge to get drunk, after all, she hadn't seen her beloved in quite a while because she was busy with the problems of Mount Kurama.
"I know, I'm not too happy about this either" - sighed Kurama as he looked at his beloved Tengu - "It's just that the dimensional consciousness sent me this mission, and I can't do anything about it"
"I understand" - muttered Mikoto as she looked regretfully at her husband. She understood the reason for this quick acceptance, and that's because this was the price her husband had to pay so that she and the other women of the clan could change their race.
"Relax, this is an equivalent exchange" - said Kurama with a small smile - "Not being able to interfere in the "story" of this dimension, is more than enough price to cover the favor I owe to the dimensional consciousness, which means that after fulfilling this job, I will be free to do whatever I want, as long as I do not intervene in the interaction of the "protagonists", that means, Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Kagome."
"That's good to hear" - smiled Mikoto as she gave her husband a flirtatious look - "By the way, Izumi wants a little brother ~"
Kurama gave her a slight smile before activating the time seal.
* * * * *
[No one was sure of the motive, but Nurarihyon decided to go directly against the most powerful monsters, perhaps to prove his dominance, or at least that was the thought of all the mythologists when being asked this question].
[Narurihyon, the great demonic general, many called him a megalomaniac, others called him a perverted monster, and a few called him a hero, yet there was one thing that everyone we asked, answered.... "Nurarihyon was a smart Yokai, there is no myth or legend that doesn't talk about his cunning, so it is possible that the motive is much more interesting than we think]."
[That's why I'd like to ask our readers the same question.... What do you think of this Yokai that has been around for so long in our history?]
[Reportage: The General's Journey]
* * * * *
After "talking" to his wife, Kurama continued onward through the forest until they came to a castle - "Does anyone know who lives here?"
"Oh, that would be me" - said a female voice.
Kurama raised an eyebrow because he recognized her immediately - "Irasue-san? What are you doing here?"
"I came back to my castle, so I could check some things, I didn't think I would see you so soon" - Irasue replied while raising an eyebrow - "Now the question is, what are you doing here?"
"Expanding my name" - replied Kurama as he explained the situation.
"I see" - nodded Irasue as he started to think - "Do you require my help?"
"No need" - replied Kurama as he shook his head.
"I insist, I have experienced the expansion of territory when my husband was alive, not to mention that I would like to use this opportunity to eliminate certain dangers to my clan" - said Irasue, who seemed unwilling to take no for an answer.
"And what's in it for me if I help you?" - Kurama asked as he narrowed his eyes.
"What do you wish to gain?" - Irasue asked with a huge grin.
Kurama got close enough to feel the woman's breathing before looking into her eyes and noticing how she wasn't backing down - "What happened?"
"I'm going to get straight to the point, I want to reunite all of my late husband's subordinates under my banner again" - Irasue answered seriously - "The problem is that I don't have enough power to fight the enemies that torment us, that's where you come in."
"I understand, but I don't think you have enough price to pay for this... favor..." - Kurama said while seeing how the Inu Daiyokai smiled slightly - "Did I say something funny?"
"No, it's just that you remind me a lot of my husband, it's just that he was much more loyal" - said Irasue as she shook her head.
"Was that a compliment?" - Kurama asked while raising an eyebrow.
"You're not upset because I called you a traitor?" - Irasue asked in surprise.
"Why would I be upset when what you say is technically true?" - Kurama replied while shaking his head - "If I were a loyal man, I wouldn't have so many wives."
Irasue nodded at these words.
"Anyway, you still won't tell me what you are offering me" - said Kurama calmly.
"It's simple, I'm offering myself" - Irasue replied calmly while looking at the Kitsune Daiyokai - "In fact, this was something I've been talking to your wives about, such it seems that they accepted me into their circle"
"I thought you were saying I was a "traitor"..." - Kurama said as he shook his head.
"But I never said that was bad, at least now I know I can earn a place in your heart" - replied Irasue calmly.
"Heart? I didn't think your feelings for me were that big" - Kurama said as he raised an eyebrow.
"They aren't, although it's possible that they might be" - replied Irasue with a small smile on her lips - "Anyway, tell me, do you accept?"
"Sure, I have nothing to lose in this business" - said Kurama as the two Daiyokai shook hands.