With the cursed zone gone, the first thing that Amaterasu did was explore the newly rejuvenated Taka (たか) pass.
While exploring, she comes across a strange house that belongs to some people known as Mr. and Mrs.Cutter.
However, something about them seemed off, they didn't seem like your typical normal everyday people.
Amaterasu could feel some kind of demonic energy coming off of Mrs.Cutter.
Yet, Amaterasu had an idea to lure out the demons.
However, now wouldn't be a great time to do it, who knows what kind of demon could've possessed them.
While it did make Amaterasu feel bad to have to leave them behind, she continued exploring Taka pass.
Upon going through a gate, Amaterasu came across a strange place known as Sasa (ささ) Sanctuary.
However though, before she could go inside, she was interrogated by some sparrows who seemed rather infuriated that Amaterasu walked in.
However though, it seemed she was spared by the boss, Jamba.
However though, if Amaterasu were to get inside, she'd need to find Jamba's daughter.
From the sound of it though, Jamba's daughter was kidnapped, and Amaterasu soon realized where she might be.
She had to decide, did she go to save the daughter despite not being ready or does she prepare herself to save Jamba's daughter.
Amaterasu knew she wasn't anywhere near ready to take on whatever demon could be tormenting the elderly couple.
So she prepared herself, however, while doing so, she senses a demonic presence lurking over a place.
While there wasn't a cursed zone around the place, it certainly was an evil presence.
Amaterasu soon realized though that this evil presence was draining her of her powers, but it couldn't drain her of life due to it being weak.
As Amaterasu explored the cursed place, she eventually lost all her powers.
With no way to rely on her godlike powers, she knew she'd have to use brute force.
Amaterasu soon seemed to find someone, hanging onto the last big if strength that they had, as she went to check on them, she soon saw a monster holding the poor girl.
When the monster looks up though, he jumps away from the girl before getting on his kite, ready to attack Amaterasu.
The monster was a blue imp, on its mask was the katana 二 (Ni).
Amaterasu was at a clear disadvantage, she couldn't use any of her brush techniques, not even her divine instruments, but that wasn't going to stop her from protecting this poor defenseless girl.
While the blue imp and some green imps had an easier time fighting Amaterasu, she was still able to defeat with the last remaining bit of her godlike powers.
With the monsters defeated, the evil curse on the village was lifted.
"Hm, have I perhaps been freed from that evil curse?"
The girl was a bit confused, but even so, she was still thankful.
"You have saved me, yet I don't know how, hm, wait, are you perhaps familiar with my family, the Satomi (さとみ) house, no, you couldn't be, even so, you could be of great service to me, could you please listen to what I have to say?"
Amaterasu seemed like she was about to fall asleep from whatever story this might be, but Issun seemed rather interested in this girl and not the request or story.
"You just keep talking pretty lady, Issun's listening!"
"Oh thank you, I am Princess Fuse (ふせ), priestess of the Gale Shrine, you see, the Gale Shrine stands atop mount Kamiji (かみじ), Kazegami (かぜがみ), the almighty god of the wind is enshrined within there, the wind that blows down from the Gale Shrine keeps any and all monster away, the wind it self is known as the divine wind, a gift from Kazegami to us, this wind is seen as our protector, however, the divine wind stopped blowing one day, due to that, this has allowed the monsters to sneak into our beautiful home, Kusa (くさ) village, even I, the last remaining priestess that has been protecting Kusa village, was nearly slain, certainly that horrible monster must be behind all of this, if you would please, listen to the rest of my story, for there can only be one explanation as to why Kazegami's divine wind has stopped, the reason is because of that horrible monster, Crimson Helm, the beast itself has been dwelling with the Gale Shrine, the monsters in this area have all been under the Crimson Helm's control, ever since he's appeared in Taka pass 100 years ago, my people, the Satomi house, keepers of the Gale shrine, have been battling this vicious beast and his minions ever since, but last year, those fiends attacked and killed the head priest while he was weakened by sickness, ever since, the Gale shrine has been in their hands, if only I were strong enough to vanquish the Crimson Helm and free the Gale Shrine, however, I am no match for that evil barrier that bars the entry, I only have one hope now, only the warriors that have served the Satomi house can right this wrong, our las remaining hope at this point is the Satomi Canine Warriors, the Satomi Canine Warriors have been protecting this shrine and have served the Satomi house for ages, however, they have been scattered throughout Nippon, if we could just bring them back together again, they could break the barrier and retake the shrine, while the simple solution may be to summon them, I have tried, but I have yet to receive any word of their coming, while I do sense their presence nearby, I have yet to find them, what if they were possibly attacked, perhaps injured, or worse, please, I'm begging you, sniff out their whereabouts, you may find this lantern useful, the lantern is known as the Canine tracker, it'll help you track the Satomi Canine Warriors, now then, I sense that 5 of the Satomi Canine Warriors are somewhere here in this village, I must warn you though, they're a temperamental bunch, they don't exactly take too kindly to strangers, but they should return to me at once when they see Canine Tracker, trust in the Canine tracker, for it shall guide you in their direction, please, I'm begging you to use it along with your strength to find them."
Amaterasu soon followed the Canine tracker to the location of the first warrior, but once far away from Princess Fuse, Issun soon speaks up.
"I can't wait to see how she's gonna award us, Ammy."
Amaterasu knew that Issun was thinking of all the many services that the beautiful Princess Fuse might offer them, in fact it was enough to embarrass Amaterasu.
Even so, their task right now was to find the Canine Warriors, so they did as Princess Fuse asked them to and followed it.
After a bit of searching, Amaterasu and Issun found the first Canine Warrior, Ko (こ), upon finding him though, he refused to go see Princess Fuse until he had food.
Thankfully, Amaterasu had a meat feedbag on her, so she gave it to Ko who seemed to happily enjoy the meal.
With that, Ko went back to Princess Fuse, meaning that now there's only 4 Canine Warriors left to find in the village.
Amaterasu continued her search for the Canine Warriors, hopefully they all don't beg for food like the one they found did.
Upon finding another breakable wall, Amaterasu finds the next Canine Warrior, Rei (れい) who seems to also be begging for food.
With his stomach full, Rei soon returned to Princess Fuse and Amaterasu continued her search for the remaining 3 Canine Warriors.
Amaterasu soon found the next Canine Warrior, Chi (ち), sleeping in a bamboo shoot, upon cutting it down though, Chi wakes up and comes out of the Bamboo, requesting food, upon Chi, he soon returned to Princess Fuse, now leaving Amaterasu to need to find 2 more Canine Warriors.
Upon finding some dead grass, Amaterasu used her green sprout brush techniques to bring life back to it, in fact upon doing some, the next Canine Warrior, Shin (しん), appears, begging for food like the other Canine Warriors were.
Once he finishes eating and is now full, he goes back to Princess Fuse.
However, one Canine Warrior was missing, Princess Fuse said she sensed 5 in the village, but Amaterasu could only find 4, but upon making it back to Princess Fuse's place, there she sees the fifth Canine Warrior waiting for her, Tei (てい), ready to fight her.
While Tei may have almost managed to defeat Amaterasu, but Amaterasu still fought proudly and won, Tei clearly has been trained rather well.