"Eh? Kagase, why are you here?" Kagome's eyes widened in shock when she saw the familiar figure.
"Oh? This woman knows you?" Hiten raised an eyebrow, sizing up Uchiha Kagase from head to toe. "Are you the Inuyasha she was talking about?"
As he spoke, a cruel smile spread across his face.
"No matter who you are—since you came to my doorstep, I'll kill you!"
Before his voice even faded, he swung the Thunder Blade in his hand and lunged forward. Blinding lightning erupted from the weapon, tearing through the air with a violent crackle as it shot toward Uchiha Kagase.
Kagase lightly tapped the ground with his foot and leapt backward, effortlessly evading the attack. The lightning struck the earth where he had stood, exploding into a burst of sparks and scorched debris.
At the same time, with a subtle flick of his wrist, the katana in his hand blurred into an afterimage and slipped from his grip—shooting forward with deadly precision toward Manten behind Hiten.
*Puchi—*
The blade pierced straight through Manten's abdomen. Dark red blood burst out in a violent spray.
"AAAARGH—!" Manten screamed in agony, his body trembling as the pain overwhelmed him.
"Manten!" Hiten's pupils shrank.
Just as he was about to turn, a cold voice echoed behind him:
"Flying Thunder God Technique."
In an instant, Uchiha Kagase appeared beside Manten, his left hand firmly gripping the katana's hilt. A black seal marked with the name "Kagase" was clearly visible—it was the Flying Thunder God mark he had placed earlier.
Pale blue chakra gathered at the fingertips of his right hand.
"Five Elements Seal!"
With a sharp motion, he slammed his palm into Manten's abdomen.
*Puh—!*
The impact sent Manten flying backward. Kagase smoothly pulled the katana free, blood splattering across the ground.
Black sealing formulas spread rapidly from the point of contact, forming a seal over Manten's dantian and locking down his Yokai power completely.
"My… my Yokai power…"
Gravely injured and sealed, Manten collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to resist.
Everything had happened so fast that only now did Hiten fully register it. His cruel smile vanished, replaced by shock and fury as he saw his brother lying motionless.
"Manten!"
He rushed forward in panic—but before he could reach him—
"Flying Thunder God Technique."
Kagase vanished again.
A heartbeat later, he appeared between the two brothers, his right leg wrapped in violent chakra as it tore through the air.
*BOOM!*
The kick slammed into Hiten's abdomen like a falling meteor. The force exploded outward, sending Hiten hurtling backward like a broken projectile.
The ground split beneath him as he was dragged across it, carving a deep trench dozens of meters long. Buildings and walls in his path shattered into splinters and rubble, wood and stone flying everywhere as a massive cloud of dust rose into the sky.
Kagase didn't even glance at Hiten.
Instead, he looked down at the unconscious Manten. A black Flying Thunder God mark had appeared on his chest.
When he struck earlier, he had deliberately avoided vital points—keeping him alive for a reason.
He crouched, ripped the two Shikon Jewel fragments from Manten's forehead, and stored them in his ninja pouch.
Then his eyes shifted into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Kamui."
A spiraling distortion formed in space, swallowing Manten's body whole into the Kamui dimension.
"So… so strong…"
Kagome stood frozen, completely stunned. The Thunder Beast Brothers—who had terrified her moments ago—had been defeated in mere seconds.
The overwhelming power of Uchiha Kagase left her speechless. Hiten and Manten had barely been able to resist.
"Miss Kagome, don't just stand there. Come here," Kagase said calmly, snapping her out of her daze.
"The other one isn't dead yet. These Yokai may not be that strong, but their bodies are far more durable than humans."
Kagome quickly ran to his side, instinctively hiding behind him.
Even though they had only met once, she could feel that this powerful man meant her no harm. Standing near him felt far safer than being anywhere near a Yokai.
"Kagase-kun, thank you so much!" she said, bowing deeply.
"You're welcome. Just call me Kagase," he replied with a friendly smile.
In his previous life, while he preferred Kikyo, he had never disliked Kagome. For a modern middle school girl to survive and do what she had done in a world filled with Yokai—she was already strong.
"Okay, Kagase. You can call me Kagome," she said, nodding.
"Damn you! I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"
A furious roar erupted from within the dust cloud.
Startled, Kagome clung tighter behind Kagase and looked up.
Hiten emerged from the smoke—covered in blood, his expression twisted with rage. He floated in the air, supported by two blazing wheel-like flames beneath his feet.
The Thunder Blade in his hand shone with a blinding light.
"I will never forgive you!"
"Heh. Your strength is pathetic, but you're quite skilled at bragging," Kagase said, his voice dripping with Uchiha arrogance. "Don't make a fool of yourself over things you can't do… trash."
Kagome, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel slightly awkward.
This guy… really had a way of talking.
"DIE!"
Hiten roared, raising his blade.
A massive sphere of lightning rapidly condensed at its tip, crackling violently. The surrounding air trembled under the pressure of his Yokai power.
The lightning sphere screamed as it descended.
Everything in its path—buildings, ground, debris—was instantly obliterated. Rubble was torn apart and fused with the raging electricity, forming a catastrophic force that surged toward Kagase.
"Didn't even call out the attack name before using it. No sense of martial etiquette," Kagase remarked calmly.
"…Seriously?" Kagome blinked, her fear momentarily replaced with disbelief.
The lightning sphere was already upon them.
"Susanoo."
A quiet voice echoed.
The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan erupted.
In an instant, translucent blue ribs materialized around them, expanding rapidly into a skeletal Susanoo that enveloped both Kagase and Kagome.
*BOOOOM—!!*
The lightning sphere collided with the Susanoo, detonating in a massive explosion. Blinding light swallowed the courtyard as thunder roared like the heavens collapsing.
The ground shattered, forming a massive crater. Dust and debris blasted skyward, filling the air.
For a moment, everything fell silent.
Then the dust slowly cleared.
Standing firmly at the center of the devastation was the skeletal Susanoo—unmoved, unbroken.
Inside it, both Kagase and Kagome stood completely unharmed.