Your tails flare with mystical energy as you focus your ancient kitsune powers. With a series of quick hand seals and a whispered incantation, eight glowing foxfire clones materialize around you in the treetop, each a perfect replica of your human form with faintly glowing amber eyes. As they disperse in all directions, your consciousness splits like a river dividing into streams, experiencing multiple viewpoints simultaneously.

The eastern clone approaches the Moon Shrine cautiously, its form flickering like candlelight. The shadow creatures are revealed to be corrupted kodama - tree spirits with blackened bark and hollow eyes, their usual peaceful chitters replaced by guttural growls as they patrol the shrine grounds. The great bell hangs silent, its surface covered in strange, pulsing veins of darkness.

To the north, your clone trails the procession of twisted figures. They carry a wounded kirin, its silver mane matted with blood, its pearlescent horn broken. The creatures wear tattered monk robes, their faces hidden behind wooden masks that weep black tears. They're chanting in a language that makes your clone's form waver with each syllable.

The southern clone approaches the torn barrier cautiously. The rift pulses like a wound, through which glimpses of a twisted mirror-world can be seen - trees with grasping branch-fingers, rivers flowing upward. Your clone's paw passes through the barrier's edge and immediately begins unraveling into sparks, forcing you to withdraw.

Westward, the cherry blossom trail leads your clone to a hidden clearing where a single ancient sakura tree stands in eternal bloom. Beneath it sits a figure in tattered red robes - another kitsune, though only three of their tails remain, the others appearing severed. They look up with mismatched eyes (one gold, one clouded white) and smile grimly. 'Took you long enough,' they rasp, plucking a glowing petal from the air. 'The dance begins at moonrise.'

As your clones' observations flood your mind, you nearly lose your grip on the cedar branch. The simultaneous visions are overwhelming - the shrine defiled, the kirin captured, the barrier failing, and now this mysterious wounded kitsune. Most alarming of all - when your clones dispersed, you'd created eight, but you have nine tails. The ninth tail's power remains coiled within you, pulsing with unfamiliar energy.