Generally speaking, kagura is a form of song and dance art, consisting of two parts: music and dance. The dance part has two shrine maidens, Sakura and Ran, and a group of shrine maidens including Suzuko, which is not a problem. The problem is that Zerunias made a requirement for the music, insisting that spirits must be used, to signify the harmonious order between humans, nature, and spirits. This is a major hurdle.
While cooperating with spirits is not difficult, having spirits perform the music for kagura is different from battling them. What's more, what kind of spirits can even play music?
Sakura and Natsu-Huanao are currently discussing this very issue. Natsu-Huanao takes out a piece of paper: "If spirits themselves can become musical instruments, we could choose Bellsprout, Chimecho, Chingling, and perhaps Bronzor? But can these spirits alone perform a complete kagura?"
"Almost. Kagura music is actually quite simple, and these spirits should be enough. For drums, we can have Krabby play. But what about Bronzor?"
Natsu-Huanao pauses, then realizes: "When I thought of musical instruments, I thought of a chime. But I don't think they use instruments like that much in Man'yo, do they?"
Hearing Natsu-Huanao mention chimes, Muto Shizumi is taken aback: "Chimes? Marquis Yi? That set of sixty-five pieces, are you sure you want to use it for kagura?"
Natsu-Huanao shakes his head: "Yes, it's precisely because the set of chimes is so numerous that I'm hesitant. It's hard to say."
With the "musicians" for the kagura music simply decided, the next step is to find them. Although the shrine maidens generally have spirits, unfortunately, they don't have the type of spirits needed for musical performance.
Since the Miyazaki sisters are going to practice kagura with the shrine maidens, Miyazaki Sakura asks Natsu-Huanao to help them find the relevant musical spirits. Natsu-Huanao readily agrees and sets off. Muto Shizumi, wanting to witness the shrine maidens' practice up close, stays behind at the shrine.
Before Natsu-Huanao leaves the shrine, Muto Shizumi asks: "Are you sure you can find them all by yourself?"
"Don't worry, where there's a will, there's a way."
Natsu-Huanao ponders that spirits like Chimecho would likely be found in ruins, while Bellsprout might be easier to find in the summer. However, Natsu-Huanao's inability to find them is not a problem as long as the system can help.
Normally, if this were within the Minglong Kingdom, Natsu-Huanao could solve the problem by visiting a few secret realms. But he is currently in Man'yo and cannot openly enter secret realms, so he needs to think of other methods.
Natsu-Huanao seeks the system's help, and the system easily leads him to the musical spirits near Sakuradistrict.
The first spirit found is Chimecho, and right beside it, Natsu-Huanao also finds a Chingling. The two little creatures are staring at a shimenawa bell in a musical instrument shop.
Natsu-Huanao scratches his head: "So Man'yo musical instrument shops have things like shimenawa bells?"
However, Natsu-Huanao soon gives up on the shimenawa bell and goes behind Chimecho, shaking a bell he acquired from who knows where. The clear ringing quickly attracts Chimecho and Chingling. The two spirits turn around and see Natsu-Huanao jumping backward with a sort of ritualistic dance.
Natsu-Huanao's swaying movements amuse Chingling and the others, so they start swaying along with him. Seeing their strong curiosity, Natsu-Huanao pulls out a second bell and starts shaking it along. The double ringing further captivates Chingling and Chimecho. As Natsu-Huanao retreats, Chingling and Chimecho follow, quickly drawing the two bells towards the shrine's vicinity.
Upon returning to the shrine with his targets, Natsu-Huanao's first action is to unleash his Pokémon. But as soon as he closes the gate, before he can unleash them, the two spirits surrender. This is because Chingling and Chimecho see Sakura and Ran, dressed in shrine maiden attire, holding shimenawa bells and practicing the kagura for the Festival of Life's Cherry Blossoms.
Upon seeing the shimenawa bells, the two spirits abandon the small bells Natsu-Huanao is holding. After all, a shimenawa bell with its numerous bells is far more enticing than two small bells. And, those shaking the bells over there are two girls!
Seeing that the shimenawa bells have secured the two bells, Natsu-Huanao goes out again to search for Bellsprout.
The system's guidance leads him to the mountains near Sakuradistrict. Natsu-Huanao walks along, grumbling: "It's already September, almost October. Even if a spirit's physical abilities are different from ordinary crickets, you can't just find them anywhere in the mountains."
To his surprise, after walking into the mountains for less than five minutes, Natsu-Huanao spots a Bellsprout looking at the fruit on a tree.
Bellsprout reaches out, seemingly trying to knock down a low-hanging fruit, but it's not tall enough. Despite its best efforts, it's still a little short of the fruit.
Natsu-Huanao can't bear to watch and steps out from behind the tree. Hearing the sound, Bellsprout turns to run but ends up bumping into the tree and passing out.
Natsu-Huanao gets the Bellsprout without much effort and heads back to the shrine, carrying it. However, before leaving, Natsu-Huanao picks the fruit that Bellsprout was longing for and places it in its hand. Perhaps sensing the fruit, even in its unconscious state, Bellsprout shows a smile.
After bringing the unconscious Bellsprout to the shrine, Natsu-Huanao revives it. Bellsprout devours the fruit in its hand in no time and then chases Marill all over the courtyard. It's unavoidable, as Marill looks like a fruit.
Natsu-Huanao settles the third spirit and continues to look for Krabby and Bronzor. Following the system's instructions, Natsu-Huanao heads back to the mountains and finds a very energetic Krabby.
The reason for saying this is that the little Krabby was at that moment provoking a sleeping Rhydon. Natsu-Huanao's eyes almost pop out when he sees it. That's a bit too bold. Natsu-Huanao still doesn't dare to provoke a Rhydon, yet this Krabby dares to provoke a Rhydon.
Krabby gently pokes Rhydon's horn with its bone club. Rhydon ignores it. Krabby gets annoyed, spins the bone club in its hand a couple of times, and directly hits Rhydon on the head. Rhydon cannot tolerate such provocation and roars, starting to chase Krabby.
Natsu-Huanao originally planned to watch from the sidelines, but Krabby, for some reason, spots Natsu-Huanao and throws a bone club backward before running towards Natsu-Huanao. Seeing Rhydon chasing, Natsu-Huanao doesn't hesitate and takes to his heels. Rhydon, in its fury, chases from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain, and as it seems like it will chase Natsu-Huanao into the city, Natsu-Huanao grits his teeth and releases Froakie to battle Rhydon.
Krabby tries to escape in the chaos, but Natsu-Huanao doesn't give it a chance, directly engulfing it with Water Pulse and throwing it towards Rhydon.
Rhydon is hit on the head before it can react as Water Pulse, carrying Krabby, flies towards it. Rhydon shakes its head and then only sees the fainted Krabby in front of it. Natsu-Huanao and Froakie have disappeared.
Rhydon finishes its rampage and leaves. Natsu-Huanao waits for Rhydon to leave before returning to the shrine with Krabby. Upon returning to the shrine, Bellsprout is no longer chasing Marill; it's said to have been disciplined after being beaten by Happiny.
Natsu-Huanao places Krabby down and then goes to find Bronzor again. The system guides Natsu-Huanao to the side of a sewer. Looking at the smelly sewer manhole cover, Natsu-Huanao frowns: "Can Bronzor really be down there?"
"Are you stupid? You're looking for Bronzor, a level thirty-plus Magnemite. Bronzor weighs nearly 400 pounds, can you drag it? Even a pure Magnemite weighs over sixty kilograms."
Natsu-Huanao kicks the manhole cover: "Do you really need me to drag it? Can't I persuade one to come out?"
"I think that's difficult. If you don't believe me, look down." The system, watching where Natsu-Huanao kicked, says with schadenfreude.
Natsu-Huanao looks down and sees a Magnemite staring at him. Natsu-Huanao is startled by Magnemite's flickering eyes: "I didn't do that on purpose!"
Who would have thought that Magnemite, instead of being a regular Magnemite, would lie on top of the sewer and camouflage itself as a manhole cover? But you have to admit, with a physique of fifty centimeters, it really does look similar.
And so, after being chased all the way to the shrine by the two bells, Natsu-Huanao is once again pursued to the shrine by Magnemite. However, unlike the beginning, Chingling and the others came joyfully, playing all the way, while Magnemite rolled all the way, like a racing tire. Although Magnemite has six protrusions, it rolls quite fast.
Thus, Natsu-Huanao successfully leads several spirits into the shrine. Panting, Natsu-Huanao says to Sakura: "These spirits are yours now. I'm too tired, I need to rest for a while."
Miyazaki Sakura takes over the five spirits and begins training them. However, since Magnemite's level is insufficient, it will likely take some time.
Watching the Miyazaki sisters begin training the spirits for kagura, Natsu-Huanao and Muto Shizumi sit aside and watch obediently: "Shizumi, this is my first time seeing kagura training."
Muto Shizumi nods: "Yes, I've seen kagura before, but this is my first time seeing the training."
The two are full of confidence, but the outcome is not as smooth as Natsu-Huanao imagined. As soon as the practice begins, the spirit orchestra encounters various problems, leaving the shrine maidens flustered.