"Kikyo!"
Watching Kikyo disappear into the mountaintop cave in Kagetsu's arms, Inuyasha let out a furious roar.
"Let's go, Sango!" Kagome reacted immediately, her expression tense. "Whatever Kikyo and Kagetsu are planning,it's something big. We have to follow them!"
"Right! Kirara!" Sango called out sharply.
"Roar,!"
Kirara's body expanded in a burst of flame and smoke. Kagome leapt onto her back with Shippō in her arms, Sango following right behind.
"Take us up, Kirara!"
With a powerful beat of her flaming paws, Kirara shot into the air, racing toward the summit.
"Kagome! Wait!" Inuyasha hoisted the weakened Miroku onto his back. Ignoring the ache in his own battered body, he crouched and launched himself upward in a single explosive leap, keeping pace behind Kirara.
When Inuyasha burst out of the mountaintop cave moments later, Miroku still slung over his shoulder, the sight before him made him freeze.
Naraku stood in a clearing not far from the summit.
Countless torrents of miasma streamed into his body like raging rivers converging on the sea.
The demons Inuyasha had been fighting below were gone.
Devoured.
At this very moment, Naraku's body twisted grotesquely. Flesh split. Bones cracked and reshaped. Tendons writhed like serpents beneath the skin. The nauseating sounds of tearing and fusion echoed through the clearing.
It was as if something monstrous were being born.
Inuyasha's eyes immediately searched for Kikyo.
She stood calmly beside Kagetsu, watching Naraku's transformation as though observing a distant spectacle.
"The body Kagome shattered…" Inuyasha muttered darkly, teeth grinding. "That bastard's using Kodoku to forge himself a new one!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he drew Tessaiga and lunged forward, determined to interrupt the process before it could finish.
Whoosh,
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Thud.
An arrow glowing faintly with sacred power embedded itself directly in front of his feet, the shaft trembling violently.
Inuyasha skidded to a halt.
He looked up.
Kikyo slowly lowered her bow, her expression cold and unyielding.
"Inuyasha," her gaze seemed to say without words, "don't interfere."
"What are you doing?!" he demanded angrily. "Kikyo!"
She had destroyed the seal inside the cave.
Now she was stopping him from attacking.
And simply watching Naraku complete his rebirth.
Inuyasha couldn't understand it.
Kikyo gave him no answer.
Seeing he had stopped, she turned her attention back to Naraku as though he were no longer relevant.
Kirara landed nearby, and Kagome and Sango rushed to Inuyasha's side. Miroku slid down carefully from his back.
Kagome glanced at the arrow still quivering in the dirt.
"Inuyasha… maybe Kikyo has a plan?" she offered uncertainly.
Even she didn't sound convinced.
Everyone's brows were tightly drawn.
"This has to be that Kagetsu's doing!" Inuyasha snarled, glaring at Kagetsu. The image of Kikyo in that man's arms earKagetsur flashed through his mind, setting his teeth on edge.
"That's not fair," Kagome said quickly. "Kagetsu saved me before. He's not a bad person."
Her defense only made Inuyasha's scowl deepen.
Miroku coughed lightly.
"Inuyasha," he murmured dryly, "perhaps you now understand how Lady Kagome usually feels."
Kagome blinked,then her face brightened.
"Exactly!" she said, nodding vigorously.
"Oi! Kagome! What's with that look?!" Inuyasha barked, suddenly flustered.
Before the argument could escalate,
A massive wave of demonic power burst outward.
The air trembled.
Everyone stiffened and turned back toward Naraku.
The transformation was complete.
The swirling miasma slowly subsided, drawing back into his body. Naraku opened his eyes.
Greed.
Arrogance.
Satisfaction.
A sinister smile curled across his lips as he surveyed the gathered group.
"It seems the miasma lured you into my little sanctuary," he said lazily.
His voice carried renewed strength.
Instead of fleeing, he stood confidently,almost indulgently,like a predator savoring the moment.
His gaze settled first on Inuyasha.
"You could have become part of this body as well," Naraku said with mock regret. "What a pity."
Then his eyes shifted to Kikyo.
"Was it you who broke the seal?" A flicker of curiosity appeared. "You have my thanks. Your 'assistance' allowed me to complete this perfect form."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You had the power to destroy that demon and this incomplete body when you shattered the Kodoku ritual. Yet you did not. Why help me?"
His voice dropped, intrigued.
"What do you want, Kikyo?"
Kikyo met his gaze.
Then,
She smiled.
It was sudden. Radiant. Like a snow lotus blooming against a frozen wasteland.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Even Naraku faltered.
The smile vanished just as quickly.
"I require a small favor," she said softly.
"…Onigumo."
Naraku's eyes narrowed.
"What a nostalgic name."
His tone turned contemptuous.
"The dying bandit you once saved fifty years ago? That fool offered his body and soul to demons,and from that, I was born."
A twisted grin appeared.
"A holy priestess asking a demon for help? Very well. Speak."
Before she could answer,
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke burst beside her.
When it cleared, Kagetsu stood revealed in his true Edo Tensei form. Cracks traced across his resurrected body.
His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan spun slowly within his eyes, emanating a chilling aura.
He looked at Naraku and smiled faintly.
"It's simple," Kagetsu said coolly. "We just need you to serve as the sacrifice for our resurrection."
Before Naraku could react,
Kagetsu vanished.
In an instant, he reappeared directly before Naraku, guided by the Flying Thunder God mark he had secretly left earlier.
His palm slammed against Naraku's chest.
Black sealing script exploded outward like writhing chains.
"Self-Cursing Seal."
The dark incantations spread across Naraku's body, binding him in place.
Naraku's expression shifted from arrogance to shock.
"What,?!"
He tried to mobilize his demonic power, but the seal locked him tight.
"Heh," Kagetsu chuckled. "Just a small favor."
The Mangekyō in his eyes began spinning rapidly.
Naraku, staring directly into them, felt his vision distort,
Then go empty.
His pupils lost focus.
He had fallen into genjutsu.
Kagetsu exhaled quietly.
He had worried Naraku's composite demonic nature might grant resistance. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
Now came the crucial step.
Kagetsu raised a finger and pressed it lightly against Naraku's forehead.
His Mangekyō spun once more at blinding speed.
"Transcription Seal."