"Hmph!"
Naraku let out a cold snort. A sinister smile spread across his face as he turned his palm upward.
A pulsating heart appeared.
Slowly—
He tightened his grip.
"Kagura," he said, his voice low and chilling, "you may refuse."
His fingers curled tighter around the heart.
"But if you do… I'll kill you right now."
"—Naraku!"
Kagura clutched her chest as sharp pain surged through her body. Her expression twisted, her eyes burning with hatred.
"…I'll go," she forced out through gritted teeth.
"Good."
Naraku showed no interest in her unwillingness. With a casual motion, he withdrew the heart and spoke indifferently,
"Don't overestimate the danger. Kanna was discovered—and still returned safely. That alone proves it."
"Heh…"
Kagura let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"If he's really not that dangerous, then why don't you manipulate him like you do Inuyasha?"
Naraku's expression darkened instantly.
But Kagura didn't stop.
"Or what?" she continued, her voice laced with scorn. "Are you afraid that if you provoke him, he'll kill you outright?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"After all… that miko beside him can tear through your barriers without effort."
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Kagura didn't wait for a response.
She turned and walked out without hesitation, ignoring the killing intent radiating from behind her.
Since the moment Naraku used her as a pawn—nearly costing her life—her desire for freedom had only grown stronger.
And through Kanna…
She had learned everything about Uchiha Kasage.
The man who had pushed Naraku this far.
Behind her, Kanna followed silently.
—
"Kagura."
After putting some distance between themselves and Naraku's chamber, Kanna finally spoke.
"Your life is in Naraku's hands. Do not anger him."
Kagura stopped walking.
She turned slowly.
"We are only tools," Kanna added calmly.
Kagura looked at her, then suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
"Don't worry, Kanna."
A trace of bitterness curled at her lips.
"Naraku won't kill me. Not now."
Kanna remained silent, watching her.
Kagura crouched down, bringing herself to Kanna's level. Her voice lowered, tinged with self-mockery.
"That bastard's life isn't his own anymore either."
Her eyes flickered.
"As long as he's trapped in this state, he needs me. I'm the one capturing Yōkai for him—keeping him alive."
She straightened up again, a faint, hollow smile appearing.
"That's why we exist, isn't it?"
A brief silence passed.
Then Kagura turned away.
"I'm going out for a while. If I'm going to risk my life following you to monitor that terrifying man…" she muttered, "…I'd rather at least see a bit more of this world before I die."
She took a step forward—
"You won't die, Kagura."
Kanna's quiet voice stopped her.
Kagura froze.
"…What?"
She turned sharply.
Something in Kanna's tone had changed.
Without hesitation, Kagura rushed forward, scooped Kanna into her arms, and dashed out of the castle.
A feather dropped—
Expanded—
And in the next moment, Kagura leapt onto it, soaring into the sky.
The wind howled around them as they sped away, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and Naraku.
Only when the castle had completely vanished into the horizon did Kagura finally speak again—
"Kanna… did he catch you?"
Her voice was tense.
"He did," Kanna replied calmly.
Kagura's eyes narrowed.
"What did he do to you? Why did he let you go?"
"…Nothing."
A pause.
"How did you escape, then?"
"He let me go."
Kagura stared at her, disbelief clear on her face.
"You're telling me… he did nothing? And just let you walk away?"
"…."
Kanna remained silent, simply looking at her.
Kagura pressed a hand to her forehead.
"…This is giving me a headache."
She took a breath, then tried again.
"Kanna… does he know you're part of Naraku?"
"No. He only knows I serve Naraku."
Kagura frowned.
"He knows you're his subordinate… but not that you're part of him?"
Her confusion deepened.
"Then why didn't he kill you?"
"…."
No answer.
Kagura exhaled sharply, frustration evident.
"That man… does he just not take Naraku seriously at all?"
In her mind, it didn't make sense.
If it were someone like Inuyasha, the moment he sensed Naraku's presence, he would already be swinging Tessaiga without hesitation.
If Kagura herself were free—
She would be even more ruthless.
"…Why?" she muttered.
"I don't know," Kanna replied softly.
—
Meanwhile—
Uchiha Kasage had no idea about their conversation.
He sat quietly on the grass, his gaze fixed ahead.
Not far away—
Kagome and Kikyo stood side by side, both dressed in miko robes, bows in hand.
They were practicing archery.
After the meal earlier, Kikyo had intended to leave. But Kagome had approached her, asking for guidance.
And so—
This scene unfolded.
Kasage watched in silence.
Even without knowing much about archery, one thing was clear—
Kagome's talent was exceptional.
Her improvement was visible with every shot.
But this didn't surprise him.
In the original course of events, Kagome had started as a complete novice—barely able to draw a bow.
Yet over time, as she journeyed to gather the shards of the Shikon Jewel, her skills improved rapidly.
And that was without formal training.
Aside from occasional guidance from Kaede, she had mostly learned on her own.
That level of growth…
Spoke volumes about her natural talent.
Kasage's gaze shifted slightly.
Under Kikyo's guidance, Kagome's arrows began to carry more refined spiritual power.
More focused.
More controlled.
He understood immediately—
Kikyo wasn't just teaching her archery.
She was teaching her control.
As Kikyo's reincarnation, Kagome possessed immense spiritual power.
Yet—
Compared to Kikyo, her performance had always seemed lacking.
Even though Kikyo sustained her body with souls of the dead, her control and lethality far surpassed Kagome's.
But Kasage knew the truth.
Kagome's power wasn't weak.
It was unstable.
Unrefined.
She could only unleash it in bursts—usually in moments of crisis.
Within the group, she stayed behind Inuyasha, acting as their "radar" for the Shikon Jewel.
But fifty years ago—
When Kikyo fought alongside Inuyasha—
Things were different.
Inuyasha charged forward.
Kikyo stood behind—
And destroyed everything in sight.
Her sacred arrows were devastating to Yōkai.
Now, Kagome had fallen into a support role.
Only stepping forward when everything else failed.
Kasage's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched another arrow fly true.
"…But if she learns to control that power properly…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Then things might become far more interesting."