Konoha: I, Ninja War Sakura, rely entirely on skills!

Chapter 343 Side Story: The Holy Grail War (5)

twilight
Night is about to fall
Kirei Kotomine, a priest, stood at a distance, silently gazing at the Matou family mansion standing in the twilight.

His dark eyes were filled with a stillness like stagnant water.

gods...

Is it that you don't want to see me?
God is omnipotent.

The other person should know that they want divine guidance at this moment.

Kirei Kotomine knew about the otherworldly god's duel with Gilgamesh that night, but the other party still hadn't appeared. Perhaps he didn't want to see him.

It turned out to be the case.

As a clergy member, to have such a confused heart, I probably won't have the opportunity to meet the gods.

Kirei Kotomine silently turned to leave, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned around and saw a pink-clad girl sitting on a park bench not far away, looking at him.

That is……

gods.

Kirei Kotomine's Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously.

The girl, with her back to the last rays of the sky and the last light of day, calmly watched the man walking towards her.

Kirei Kotomine walked step by step to the girl, lowered his head, slowly bent his knees, and knelt down on one knee in front of her.

"Praise be to the great god of another world."

"I am nothing but a lost lamb."

"Getting lost on life's long and difficult journey, unable to find the right direction in your heart."

"I hope you can help me, this insignificant lamb, find my direction."

Kirei Kotomine knelt on one knee and spoke with the same devout reverence he used to show during prayer.

Sakura calmly looked at the man in front of her.

She had already noticed that the man in front of her had been outside for quite some time.

Kotomine Kirei.

A fair hand reached out and gently stroked the man's head, causing Kirei Kotomine to lower his head even further.

However, he understood the other party's desires and wants in an instant.

Just as he himself said.

This is a man who has lost his way in life. Even when his wife dies, he cannot shed a single tear. His lost heart feels no pain or tremor.

If such a person does not receive the right guidance, and goes astray, he will become an absolute executioner, a demon in the world.

However, if the other party can get on the right track.

That should be...

A partner in justice?
"Kirei Kotomine".

Sakura spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, Kirei Kotomine lowered his head even further.

He never revealed his name.

“Stand up. You have your own dignity and should not kneel before anything.”

"Even if it's me."

"I will follow your teachings."

Kirei Kotomine spoke calmly, slowly rising to look at the small, otherworldly god before him.

The sun was about to set, and its last rays fell upon the girl before them.

The blend of pink and gold slightly distracted Kirei Kotomine.

This is the glory of God.

"In my eyes, everything has its own value."

"So, Kirei Kotomine, what do you think is the value of being a human being?"

Listening to the other person's words, Kirei Kotomine pondered for a moment.

He was just confused, not stupid.

"Procreation".

The other party gave such a simple and unadorned answer, yet it directly points to the core of the existence of any life.

"Correct."

"The purpose of any living thing is to reproduce."

"In order to prevent the extinction of the tribe, we do our best to reproduce."

"This is an instinct etched into the genes of all living things."

"But... people are different."

"People can control this instinct."

"Compared to other species in nature, humans will always be special."

"Humans possess beliefs, pursuits, and desires that other species do not have."

The girl in pink stood up and extended her finger.

A butterfly flew in from somewhere and quietly landed on Sakura's finger.

"Look, this thing."

"It only acts based on instincts ingrained in its genes."

But where are the people?

The butterfly in Sakura's hand flew away, and then she pointed to the bustling street in the distance, which was crowded with cars due to the rush hour.

"And what are they doing this for?"

Kirei Kotomine opened his mouth, but could not answer.

If it were merely for survival and reproduction, there would be no need for such a strenuous commute.

So what were their motives?

"desire."

"The desire to support a family, the desire to get promoted, and the desire to consume."

"Of course, all of these can be collectively referred to as the desire for money."

"Billions of people, countless people have spent their entire lives working on this."

"Of course, some of them are pursuing their own ideals."

"You came to me hoping I could guide you on your confused journey."

"Isn't this another kind of desire for existence?"

Kirei Kotomine was slightly moved.

Indeed, seeking the gods was the right thing to do.

"You have to give something in order to get something."

"Those people earn their pay by working hard."

"And you..."

"I would give you everything."

Before Sakura could continue speaking, Kirei Kotomine spoke somewhat hastily.

Everything about you is insignificant to me.

"Everyone is the same to me."

Sakura spoke calmly and coldly.

Perhaps at this moment, Sakura briefly reveals her true divine nature.

After all, the Heavenly Emperor, who was all alone, had long since merged with that universe.

Calmly indifferent to the life and death of countless living beings.

Only when something violates the rules, drains the pond to catch all the fish, and is born solely for destruction, will the rule called 'Sakura' step in to kill it.

In the past, Sakura seemed lively and active, but that was just the Heavenly Emperor casting her onto him because of his youthful personality.

But the humans before her made Sakura...

wrong……

This piqued the Heavenly Emperor's rare interest.

Therefore, the person standing in front of Kirei Kotomine at this moment is not Sakura, but the will of the Heavenly Emperor who has descended here at some unknown time.

In the nearly 100,000-year lifespan of the Heavenly Emperor, people as pure yet confused as Kirei Kotomine were extremely rare.

Everything that exists has the same meaning for me.

Hearing the other party's words, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but feel even more respect for the person before him.

Treat everything equally, without bias based on the strength or weakness, quantity or complexity of any entity.

This is the true god.

"Kirei, you are very interesting and pure."

"Even I rarely see someone like you."

"If I actively point you in a direction, you will follow my path."

"That would contradict your original purpose."

"You should keep going."

"Think about everything about you."

The pink-haired Heavenly Emperor's eyes revealed no human emotion whatsoever.

Suddenly, a pink fluorescent light appeared in mid-air.

Kirei Kotomine instinctively extended his palm.

The pink fluorescence fell into his hand and gathered into a strand of hair. In Kirei Kotomine's eyes, that strand of hair formed a petal-like mark on Kirei Kotomine's wrist.

"Whenever you encounter anything, in any situation."

"I will choose whether to appear based on your current situation. If I do appear, I will answer your questions about the choices you had at that time, and the possible consequences of those choices."

"I won't guide you; you have to choose for yourself."

"When you feel you've done the right thing."

That is the path that belongs to you.

The Heavenly Emperor continued speaking, causing Kirei Kotomine to look at him reverently. "Kirei."

"I want to tell you that every existence carries various responsibilities."

"Even I am no exception."

"When your choices conflict with my responsibilities."

"She will take your life."

Kirei Kotomine looked up at the Heavenly Emperor before him.

"So great and benevolent God, what is your responsibility?"

However, the Heavenly Emperor revealed a rare smile befitting a god.

It was as if they were mocking and indifferent to the ants in front of them trying to peek into the truth of God.

"If I were to tell you about my responsibilities..."

"Will your choice be swayed by my responsibility?"

Kirei Kotomine nodded thoughtfully.

"Thank you for your guidance."

"To guide the lost sheep in the right direction."

Kirei Kotomine knelt down once again in a devout manner.

"There's no need for that. No one needs to kneel before me."

The Emperor of Heaven spoke.

"This insignificant body is now the Master of the Assassins, and Tokiomi Tohsaka is his master and disciple."

"like……"

"Do what you believe is right; this body is but an avatar."

"You also possess my will, so why fear her?"

"understand?"

The Heavenly Emperor seemed to sense Kirei Kotomine's concerns and spoke calmly.

"Your glory will spread throughout the world."

Kirei Kotomine spoke earnestly.

"They actually returned this to you."

The Heavenly Emperor suddenly changed his tone, looking at the pink mark on the man's wrist with some surprise.

Clearly, the rule called 'Sakura' has been abandoned.

"Thanks you."

Kirei Kotomine bowed to the girl before him.

He knew that the supreme god had departed.

The girl before them might be the child form of a god.

"let's go."

"I'm getting ready to leave too."

Sakura turned around, looked at the darkening sky, and waved her hand.

The man left in silence.

Sakura's modern attire instantly transformed into a white robe that resembled burning flames, and she floated in the air, flying away into the distance.

Meanwhile, the Fuyuki City coastline had already been cordoned off by police after receiving reports of a potential gas cylinder explosion, prohibiting Fuyuki City residents from entering.

Gas cylinder explosion on the coast?

It's quite remarkable that Tokiomi Tohsaka, as the host, could come up with such a clumsy excuse.

And now, on the first night of the Holy Grail War.

Archer and Berserker agreed to a duel here.

This has captivated the hearts and minds of all Masters.

A large number of familiars are hiding nearby, secretly observing this battle.

"You are late."

"Chubby!"

Golden airships hovered in the sky.

An unknown golden king sat on Vimana's throne, arms crossed, gazing coldly at Sakura who floated in the air.

"Do you know that making the king wait is a grave offense!"

"Even ten thousand deaths wouldn't be enough to atone for my sins!"

The arrogant king spoke coldly.

Golden ripples, like waves on water, appeared in the void.

A golden spear had already emerged from it.

Sakura looked at the other person calmly.

In Sakura's eyes now, the other person is nothing more than a dead man.

Pink flames began to burn on his body.

"A wild dog barks, but that's all it is."

"what?!"

"Scum! Die!"

Archer flew into a rage, and his golden spear shot towards Sakura like a meteor.

however……

The golden energy wave transformed into an invisible ripple that spread outwards.

"Good skill!"

At that moment, a thunderous shout suddenly rang out.

Dark clouds rolled across the sky, accompanied by rumbling thunder. Rider, clad in armor and a bright red cloak, flew towards them in a chariot pulled by two bulls.

Divine Wheel.

Iskandar's important Noble Phantasm, which is used when he descends as a Rider.

Legend has it that it was the chariot of Zeus, the king of the gods.

Looking at the uninvited guest before him, pink flames surged in his hand, and the spear that Archer had thrown was instantly broken in two.

"Chubby!"

"How dare you destroy my treasure!"

"capital offense!"

Archer was furious, and dozens of ripples appeared behind the opponent.

Each ripple represents a genuine treasure.

Sakura watched this scene coldly, without the slightest fear.

On the contrary, Rider, who had suddenly barged into the battlefield, retreated to the edge of the battlefield and landed on the beach with some distress, looking at the pink figure in the sky that was swept up by dozens of streaks of light.

Gilgamesh exists as Archer, so his attacks are naturally swift and fierce.

But even so, it did nothing to harm the pink-clad girl.

He forcibly seized a longsword that had been shot out, but as the blade danced, dozens of Noble Phantasms shattered under the enhancement of pink flames!

His agility and strength amazed Rider.

"If the other party had not already declared that they were not a god of this world, I would have thought they were Athena, the goddess of Mount Olympus."

A cool, clear voice came from behind Rider, causing him to turn around.

Saber, dressed in a black suit, appeared on a motorcycle at some point.

"So it was King Arthur."

"I didn't expect you to join in the fun too."

Rider immediately smiled.

"How could I not come to such a duel?"

Saber remained unmoved by Rider's enthusiasm, instead staring intently at the sky.

Both Archer and Berserker can engage in aerial combat, and even Rider can fly.

And Saber...

It can't fly.

Saber would have a rather difficult time dealing with any of these three people.

Unless you unleash your Noble Phantasm, but if you miss, you'll be forced into a passive, defensive position.

"Chubby!"

"How dare you damage so many of my collections with your filthy, foul hands!"

"Lock of Heaven!"

Archer in the sky finally revealed his killing move against the gods.

Anti-God Noble Phantasm.

The higher the divinity, the stronger the binding force, and it can also seal the opponent's magic power.

Once a Servant with divine abilities is bound by the Chains of Heaven, they are almost certain to die.

Sakura possesses the highest-level EX-rank divinity, which is practically a special weapon against her.

Dozens of silver chains surged out from the golden ripples and rushed towards Sakura at high speed!
However, Sakura couldn't stop sneering at this scene.

He was still bound by the other party's countless chains.

"Oh dear, I was too overconfident."

Upon seeing this, Rider couldn't help but sigh and speak.

With the appearance of the Chains of Heaven, Archer's true name has been revealed.

Gilgamesh, the oldest king.

Those chains were the same chains that the opponent and his friend Enkidu used to bind the Bull of Heaven.

Even a god would find it incredibly troublesome to be entangled with.

(End of this chapter)