Meanwhile, Uchiha Kasage's Shadow Clone hid along the roadside leading down from the Demon Slayer Village, patiently waiting for the Demon Slayer team to depart for Hitomi Castle.
Since Sango had already returned, he estimated they would likely set out that very evening.
As expected, he was not mistaken. At dusk—the so-called *Hour of Meeting Yokai*—the Shadow Clone spotted the group of Demon Slayers leaving the village and heading toward Hitomi Castle.
"I just wonder if they took my warning seriously… and made preparations."
The Shadow Clone cast one last glance at the Demon Slayer Village stronghold atop the mountain. Then, without hesitation, it turned and silently followed the group.
---
What followed unfolded much like the original events.
After the Demon Slayers easily defeated the spider yokai that appeared, and just as they were about to deliver the final blow, Kohaku—who had been standing at the rear—suddenly froze.
Naraku's spider silk had already taken hold of him.
What came next was a massacre—swift, brutal, and completely unexpected.
One by one, the Demon Slayers fell. In the end, only Sango and Kohaku remained… and even they were struck down by arrows fired from the castle lord's soldiers.
Yet through the Shadow Clone's Sharingan, the truth was clear.
Sango's wounds were not fatal.
She was gravely injured, yes—but still alive.
Moments later, after Hitomi Kagewado ordered the bodies buried, Sango clawed her way out of the earth, barely clinging to life. Discovered by the lord, she was taken in and saved.
Seeing this, the Shadow Clone finally relaxed.
"So… fate hasn't changed."
---
Its gaze shifted toward a certain point within Hitomi Castle.
Naraku's aura was there—dark, suffocating… but incomplete.
"Not his real body… just a puppet."
In the original course of events, Naraku's true body should have been at the Demon Slayer Village, devouring the yokai drawn by the Shikon Jewel before taking its shards.
But now, the shards had already been taken by Kikyo.
Whether Naraku would still appear there… remained uncertain.
Still, this was not the right time to act.
Kikyo's soul had yet to fully recover, and Naraku himself had not reached the stage where he could serve as a proper sacrifice.
"Let him live a little longer…"
---
The Shadow Clone silently infiltrated Hitomi Castle and made its way to Sango's room.
She had already been treated and was resting, her breathing faint but steady.
For a moment, the clone stood there, watching her.
"…You survived. Good."
After confirming she was no longer in immediate danger, it quietly withdrew.
Naraku's puppet remained unaware.
Everything was proceeding… exactly as intended.
With a soft puff of smoke, the Shadow Clone dispelled itself.
---
Far away, deep within the forest, Uchiha Kasage opened his eyes.
The memories of the Shadow Clone flowed into him.
He sat within the wooden structure he had created using Wood Release, silent and still.
Beside him, Kikyo was focused on her work—transforming Kuro Maru into a shikigami.
Kasage watched her for a moment.
There was something fragile in her expression… yet unwavering.
He spoke softly, careful not to disturb her:
"…Sango survived."
Kikyo paused briefly, her hands still glowing with spiritual energy.
"I see…" she replied, her voice calm, but quieter than usual. "Then the threads of fate have not completely unraveled."
Kasage's gaze deepened slightly.
"Not yet. But they will… if we interfere too much."
A faint silence lingered between them.
Kikyo resumed her work.
"…And Naraku?"
"Only a puppet," Kasage answered. "I could have destroyed it."
Kikyo's eyes flickered slightly.
"But you didn't."
"…No."
Kasage leaned back slightly, his tone steady but thoughtful.
"It would change too much. And warn him."
Kikyo gave a faint nod.
"You're learning restraint."
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
There was no hostility—only a quiet understanding.
---
Meanwhile, Inuyasha and his group were searching for the Demon Slayer Village, hoping to obtain its shard of the Shikon Jewel.
They had also learned that the jewel itself originated from that village, and they wanted answers.
Suddenly—
A chilling wind swept past them.
They froze.
Kagome's eyes widened as she gripped her bow.
"Something's coming… and there are a lot of them!"
A dark swarm filled the sky—countless yokai flying in the same direction.
"It's a massive group!" Inuyasha shouted, his expression tightening.
Kagome stared, unease rising in her chest.
"This aura… it feels wrong…"
Miroku clenched his shakujō, sweat forming on his brow.
"It's… disgusting."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, his voice low and sharp.
"No… it's killing intent. They're going to attack something."
Without another word, they gave chase.
---
By early morning, they arrived at the Demon Slayer Village.
What greeted them…
…was devastation.
The wooden palisades were shattered. The gate lay broken and discarded. Smoke still curled into the sky, carrying the stench of blood and ash.
They stepped inside slowly.
Bodies were everywhere—humans and yokai alike.
Collapsed homes. Scorched earth. Broken weapons scattered across the ground.
The aftermath of a desperate battle.
Kagome's voice trembled.
"This… this is…"
Miroku looked around grimly.
"They fought back… against the yokai."
Inuyasha crouched, picking up a weapon forged from yokai remains.
"…This is it. The Demon Slayer Village."
Kagome scanned the area anxiously.
"There's no sign of any Shikon Jewel shards…"
"They were probably taken," Miroku said quietly.
Silence fell over the ruined village.
No survivors.
Only echoes of what once was.
"If we move now, we might catch whoever did this!" Shippō suggested.
Inuyasha stood still for a moment, then shook his head.
"…No."
He looked at the fallen villagers.
"…We bury them first."
Kagome nodded immediately.
"You're right."
---
Then—
A low growl cut through the silence.
Kagome instinctively moved behind Inuyasha.
"Something's there!"
Inuyasha and Miroku tensed, ready to strike.
From behind a collapsed house, a large, lion-like yokai emerged.
Golden fur. Blood-red eyes. A severed yokai head clenched in its jaws.
It growled, stepping forward slowly.
Inuyasha raised Tessaiga.
"So one's still alive…"
Then—
"That voice… Lord Inuyasha?"
Everyone froze.
Kagome blinked in surprise.
"It… it can talk?"
"Calm down, Kirara. They're not enemies!"
The voice came again—familiar.
In an instant, flames engulfed the creature.
As they faded, its massive form shrank—
Revealing a small, two-tailed, fluffy creature.
A complete contrast to its earlier ferocity.
Kagome's eyes sparkled despite everything.
"So… cute…"
---