The two Samsara of Heavenly Life techniques, born from the same Mangekyō Sharingan, merged completely at the peak of their resonance, fusing into a single, complete jutsu.
At this moment, Retsu's chakra and ocular power were being drained at a terrifying speed. Veins bulged on his forehead as he endured the immense burden.
Naraku's condition was even more miserable.
His life force was being siphoned away endlessly by the forbidden technique. His jet-black hair turned gray-white before everyone's eyes. His once-powerful body shriveled rapidly, like a withered tree drained of all moisture. Deep wrinkles spread across his face.
"Damn… so this is a Six Paths–level forbidden technique. Even a demon can't withstand it," Retsu muttered, clicking his tongue as he watched Naraku age.
Demons often lived for hundreds, even thousands of years—far longer than humans. Though lifespan didn't directly equal vitality, their life force was undeniably stronger.
Yet even so, Naraku had been reduced to this state.
It showed just how horrifying the price of reversing life and death truly was.
The agony of having his life force ripped away, combined with Retsu's exhausted ocular power, caused Naraku to break free from the Sharingan's illusion.
At the same time, Retsu's rapidly depleting chakra could no longer sustain the Self-Destruction Curse Seal. The black markings on Naraku's body receded like a tide.
Freed from his restraints, Naraku collapsed to the ground, gasping violently.
But the resurrection technique had already been activated. Retsu wasn't worried about him escaping and focused solely on maintaining the jutsu.
"AAAH—!"
The moment he regained consciousness, Naraku let out a hoarse, desperate scream.
"You… what have you done to me?!"
Enduring the tearing pain, feeling his life force pouring away like a broken dam, watching his body wither, terror and rage filled his eyes as he glared at Retsu.
He tried to mobilize his demonic power and miasma to flee.
But to his horror, all of it was being forcibly converted into pure life energy and drained away, leaving him with nothing.
At that moment, faint white halos began to glow around Retsu and Kikyo.
A miraculous transformation began.
Retsu's dust-formed Edo Tensei body started dissolving at a visible rate, replaced by living flesh filled with vitality and strength.
His skin became smooth and lustrous. Fresh blood flowed through his veins. Even his presence grew warm and heavy with life, free of the cold emptiness of the undead.
On Kikyo's side, cracks spread across the exposed parts of her clay body—her cheeks, her arms—with crisp cracking sounds.
Crack. Crack.
Then it shattered.
The fragments turned into countless particles of light and vanished.
When the glow faded, a truly living body was revealed.
Her skin was fair and delicate, carrying the warmth and radiance of life itself. The lifeless clay shell was gone.
Her shrine maiden robes, being real clothing, remained perfectly intact.
As for Retsu, even his clothes had once been part of Edo Tensei.
Now, as he was revived, the forbidden technique reconstructed a deep-blue robe identical to his former one, complete with the fan crest on his back—saving him from an awkward situation.
With Kikyo's revival, the barrier she had maintained lost its support and dissolved into shimmering light.
Outside, Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others stood frozen, staring in shock.
No one dared move.
"S-She… she's really alive…" Shippo stammered, eyes wide as he sensed their unmistakable living aura.
"Yeah… Kikyo… she's really back," Inuyasha murmured, staring at her.
His sharp nose caught the familiar scent from fifty years ago.
"This… this is unbelievable… the dead really can return…" Miroku whispered.
Kagome stood dumbfounded, her entire worldview shattered.
Only Sango reacted differently.
Her eyes shone with hope as she stared at Retsu.
"If… if he can do this… does that mean Kohaku could come back too?"
She had watched carefully. She knew it was Retsu who had cast the technique.
At this moment, no one paid any attention to the dying Naraku.
Retsu slowly clenched his fist.
The solid sensation in his palm, the surging power in his body—it filled him with indescribable excitement.
He had finally escaped that dust-made shell.
He was truly alive again.
He inhaled deeply, cool night air filling his lungs. That vivid, living breath made him feel intoxicated.
Instinctively, he activated his Sharingan.
Scarlet Mangekyō patterns appeared in his eyes.
Feeling his full chakra and restored ocular power, Retsu was surprised.
"I didn't expect this… not only is my chakra fully restored, even my exhausted eye power is back. It's even stronger than before."
Earlier, he had completely drained himself. His Mangekyō had even reverted to the three-tomoe state.
He had thought recovery would take a long time.
Yet his reborn body brought him this unexpected gift.
Suddenly, he thought of something and turned toward Naraku.
White-haired. Wrinkled. Lying on the ground.
Could it be…?
Did my recovery come from absorbing his excess life force?
There was no way Naraku ended up like this for no reason.
"You're pretty tough," Retsu said lightly as he walked over and looked down at him. "You're still alive after all that."
Naraku was too weak to speak.
He could only glare at Retsu with hatred and unwillingness.
Soft footsteps approached.
Kikyo walked up beside Retsu.
She looked down at her hands, feeling the genuine spiritual power flowing within her.
A gentle, relieved smile appeared on her face.
"Kikyo, how does it feel to be alive again?" Retsu asked with a smile.
"Very good. Thank you," she replied sincerely, meeting his eyes with gratitude.
"No need to thank me," Retsu grinned, pointing at Naraku. "He paid the price. We just enjoyed the benefits."
"K-Kikyo…"
Inuyasha finally snapped out of his daze.
He walked over carefully, voice trembling, eyes filled with joy, guilt, and confusion.
"...Inuyasha." Kikyo glanced at him, her gaze complex.
Then her eyes passed over Kagome behind him.
She gave them both a small nod in greeting.
Without another word, she looked back at Naraku.
A trace of cold satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
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