Kikyo spoke with a solemn expression, though a trace of confusion lingered in her voice.
"That city lord… there's something very strange about him. I couldn't sense any life force at all. It's as if everything below his neck is… already dead."
She paused, then slowly turned her gaze back toward the castle, now fading into the dim light of dusk. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"And the entire place… it's completely engulfed in a dense yokai aura."
Uchiha Kasage gave a faint smile.
"That's only natural," he said calmly. "Because that 'city lord'… is Naraku."
"…Naraku?!"
Kikyo's eyes widened in shock as she turned sharply toward him.
"You mean… that man was Naraku?"
Kasage nodded, his tone steady and certain.
"There's no mistake. That chaotic, mixed yokai aura—formed from the fusion of countless yokai… only he could possess something like that."
Kikyo took a breath, quickly regaining her composure as she walked beside him.
"…Then his condition makes sense," she said quietly. "He's severely weakened."
"Most likely because of Kagome and Inuyasha," Kasage replied.
He glanced ahead, eyes thoughtful.
"Inuyasha alone shouldn't be capable of injuring him to that extent. It was probably Kagome's sacred arrow—pure spiritual power. That kind of attack would be far more effective against him."
He already knew the truth.
Naraku had been gravely wounded by Kagome's arrow.
"…That girl, Kagome…" Kikyo murmured softly, nodding. "If it was spiritual power… then yes, it's possible."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
Then Kasage spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.
"By the way… has your soul fully recovered?"
Kikyo paused, then nodded.
"Yes… it has."
A faint frown appeared on her face as uncertainty crept into her voice.
"In that case… in his current condition, Naraku likely isn't suitable for… what we need, correct?"
Kasage chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"No… quite the opposite."
Kikyo looked at him, surprised.
"We may be able to discard these bodies sooner than expected," he continued. "With Naraku's personality, there's no way he'll tolerate being this weak for long."
"…You mean he'll try to restore himself?" Kikyo asked, her eyes sharpening.
Then, as if something clicked—
Her gaze shifted toward the distance.
The rumors they had heard earlier… about land corrupted by yokai aura…
Understanding dawned in her eyes.
---
At that moment—
The surrounding yokai aura suddenly stirred.
Like a tide responding to an unseen force, it began to surge and gather rapidly in the distance.
Kikyo's eyes widened as she looked up.
The converging point was a towering mountain peak nearby—its silhouette resembling a dormant volcano.
"It's started," Kasage said, a faint smile playing at his lips as he watched the phenomenon. "Naraku is already moving."
"…Using yokai aura to heal himself…" Kikyo whispered, watching as the mountain was slowly swallowed by darkness.
"Let's go," Kasage said, glancing at her. "If we're too late, getting rid of these bodies will take much longer."
Kikyo nodded firmly.
"Right."
Without hesitation, the two of them moved toward the mountain.
---
As they approached, the environment grew increasingly desolate.
The trees along the path were long dead—nothing but brittle, skeletal branches stretching toward the sky.
The earth beneath their feet was barren and cracked.
Here and there, scattered bones lay exposed, remnants of unknown creatures. A faint stench of decay lingered in the air.
There was no life.
Not even a trace.
---
They found a narrow path winding up the mountain and began their ascent.
The closer they got, the heavier the yokai aura became—thick, oppressive, suffocating.
A soft, milky-white glow gradually emerged from Kikyo's body.
Her spiritual power.
It spread gently outward, forming a barrier that pushed back against the encroaching yokai aura.
Though her clay body itself could not be easily harmed, the soul within her was still sensitive to corruption.
And this aura—
It was deeply unpleasant.
Still, thanks to the chakra Kasage had provided earlier, her spiritual energy was abundant. There was no need for restraint.
The light expanded, naturally enveloping Kasage as well.
Though his Edo Tensei body was unaffected by such forces, the cleansing presence of her spiritual power made a noticeable difference.
It felt like stepping out of suffocating smog into fresh air.
Even breathing became easier.
Kasage cast her a brief sideways glance.
He said nothing.
But his pace quickened slightly.
---
After a while, he suddenly spoke.
"Inuyasha and the others are ahead."
Kikyo slowed slightly.
"…And Kagome?" she asked quietly.
Kasage nodded.
"She's there too."
Kikyo fell silent for a brief moment, then nodded.
"…Then we should go. If Naraku set this up, it won't be without traps."
---
Soon, a cave came into view ahead.
A dense, overwhelming yokai aura poured out from within—it was clearly the source.
At the cave entrance—
Sango stood clutching her chest, her face pale and covered in cold sweat.
Her earlier injuries from Naraku had not yet healed. Now, under the constant erosion of the yokai aura, her body had reached its limit.
She couldn't step inside.
Kagome and Shippō stood beside her, supporting her.
Inuyasha and Miroku were nowhere to be seen—they had already entered the cave.
"Sango, are you okay?" Kagome asked anxiously. "The yokai aura… it's getting stronger."
"…Mmm…" Sango groaned softly, then looked at Kagome with surprise.
"Kagome… you're not affected at all?"
Kagome shook her head, equally confused.
"I don't understand it either… but I really don't feel anything."
At that moment—
Shippō and Kirara suddenly took a step toward the cave.
"…Huh?!"
Shippō froze, his face filled with shock as he struggled to resist the pull.
"It feels like… something is dragging me in!" he cried. "What's happening inside that cave?!"
"Kirara!" Kagome exclaimed.
Kirara let out a small cry, nodding—she felt it too.
Kagome turned back toward the cave, worry deepening in her eyes.
"…Are Inuyasha and Miroku okay?"
No answer came.
The cave remained silent.
Too silent.
Time passed, and the stillness only made the unease worse.
"…Why haven't they come out yet?" Kagome whispered.
"I'm going in," Sango said suddenly, forcing herself to stand despite her trembling body.
"No—Sango!" Kagome immediately stopped her.
"If you go in like this, you won't last!" Shippō added urgently.
Kirara also stepped in front of her, blocking the way.
"Sango… we should leave first," Kagome said, her voice filled with concern. "Staying here is only making it worse for you."
---
Then—
Footsteps.
Clear and steady.
From behind them.
Kagome turned instinctively—
And froze.
The surrounding yokai aura… was disappearing.
Rapidly.
"…It's fading…" she whispered in disbelief.
Sango also turned, forcing herself to look.
From the darkness behind them—
A soft, milky-white light approached.
As it drew closer, the yokai aura recoiled, retreating as if fleeing from its natural enemy.
Within that light—
Two figures walked side by side.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Yet utterly unstoppable.
---