"Kaguya?"
Kikyo frowned slightly, looking at Kagura with confusion.
"What kind of yokai is that?"
Uchiha Kasage paused when he heard the name.
He remembered it clearly.
In the original story, this was no ordinary opponent.
Not only were her abilities strange and difficult to counter, but her origin itself was… abnormal.
Like Naraku, she possessed the ability to devour other yokai and living beings to seize their power.
But what she had done—
Was far more extreme.
She had devoured a celestial maiden.
Not only stealing her body and abilities—
But also obtaining immortality.
And that wasn't all.
Once she obtained the Heavenly Feather Robe, she could use a spell called Mirror Still Water—
A technique that, through a pentagram formation, could freeze time itself within a designated area.
Kasage's eyes narrowed slightly.
A time-stop ability…
In the original story, Kagome had been unaffected due to her nature as a time traveler—allowing the group to overcome that ability.
"…Hah."
Kasage suddenly thought of something.
He wasn't from this world either.
Would that make me immune as well?
It was a possibility worth considering.
As for Kikyo not recognizing the name—
That was normal.
Kaguya had been sealed fifty years ago, and from what he remembered, her appearance occurred after Kikyo's death.
Still…
The more he thought about it, the more chaotic the power scaling of this world seemed.
Kaguya had been sealed by Miroku's grandfather—
Yet she possessed an ability as absurd as stopping time.
Even Kagura and Kanna had been completely helpless against it.
And Naraku—
Despite not being immune like Kagome—
Still dared to scheme against her.
It didn't add up.
In fact, Kamikuya herself had once shown caution toward Naraku, even choosing to remain sealed while he was alive.
Yet in the story—
Naraku had still been defeated by her in a single move.
"…What a mess," Kasage muttered inwardly.
Even more puzzling—
Miroku had mentioned that his grandfather had known about Mirror Still Water.
Which meant—
He had witnessed it.
And yet, he still managed to defeat and seal her.
Without Kagome's "exception."
That's… hard to explain.
Meanwhile—
Kagura, unaware of Kasage's thoughts, began explaining:
"That yokai calls herself the Princess of the Heavenly Palace."
Her tone carried a trace of distaste.
"She acts mysterious and self-important."
"Fifty years ago, she was sealed inside the Mirror of Life by a powerful sorcerer."
Kagura's expression grew more serious.
"Now, Kanna and I are gathering the items needed to break that seal—on Naraku's orders."
Her pink eyes darkened slightly.
"…Naraku intends to devour her."
There was a brief pause.
"Kanna seems to know more than she's saying. She specifically sent me to find you."
Her gaze locked onto Kasage.
"Uchiha Kasage… Kanna said we must kill Kamikuya."
"We cannot let Naraku succeed."
Kasage frowned slightly, his fingers brushing his chin as he thought.
In the original timeline—
Naraku had faked his death to deceive Kamikuya, luring her into breaking the seal before devouring her.
But now—
Things were different.
Kagura's heart was still in Naraku's possession.
Which meant—
Naraku hadn't used that strategy.
Or…
He simply wasn't capable of it anymore.
"Kagura," Kasage said calmly, lifting his gaze.
"You mentioned Naraku has been acting strangely."
"What exactly do you mean?"
Kagura frowned, tapping her folding fan lightly against her chin as she recalled.
"He's been locking himself inside the castle."
"He rarely comes out."
"Everything outside… he leaves to me and Kanna."
She paused—
Then suddenly seemed to remember something.
Her eyes lit up slightly as she struck her fan against her palm.
"That's right."
"One time… part of his body suddenly transformed into a yokai limb."
Her voice lowered.
"It disappeared quickly… but that's never happened before."
She hesitated for a moment.
"And lately… he's been forcing me to capture more and more yokai."
Kasage's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…I see."
A faint look of understanding crossed his face.
"I roughly understand what's happening to him."
"And his purpose."
"Kasage?" Kikyo turned to him, curiosity in her eyes.
Kagura also stared at him intently, anticipation clear in her expression.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
Kasage spoke slowly as he walked over to the reclining chair beneath the tree and sat down.
"The power inside Naraku has begun to lose control."
He glanced at Kagura.
"Do you remember what I told you?"
"His existence was formed when Onigumo offered his body to countless yokai."
"In other words—"
"Onigumo's obsession was the core that held everything together."
Kagura's eyes widened as realization struck.
"You mean—"
"Onigumo's obsession became Musou… separated from Naraku… and was killed by Kikyo?"
Her voice rose slightly, unable to hide her excitement.
"Then the core of Naraku is gone!"
"Does that mean he's going to die?!"
"…No."
Kasage's answer came calmly, immediately extinguishing her hope.
"It's not that simple."
"Besides Onigumo's obsession, Naraku also relies on the Shikon Jewel to exist."
"As long as the Shikon Jewel remains…"
"He won't die so easily."
"The Shikon Jewel…?" Kagura was clearly surprised.
She hadn't expected that connection.
"Yes."
Kasage nodded.
"It's complicated."
He continued:
"And even though Musou is dead… Onigumo's obsession hasn't completely disappeared."
"As long as Naraku exists, that trace will remain."
"However—"
"Without Musou, its influence has weakened drastically."
"In that sense… Naraku did achieve part of his goal."
Kasage's gaze darkened slightly.
"But he didn't expect the consequences to be this severe."
Kagura's shoulders visibly slumped.
Her ears drooped, disappointment filling her eyes.
Kasage watched her for a moment—
Then spoke again, his tone slightly softer.
"But don't misunderstand."
"Even if he won't die…"
"His condition is far from stable."
He leaned back slightly.
"Don't forget—he's still suffering from the side effects of that forbidden technique."
"His life force is constantly being drained."
Kagura's eyes flickered.
Kasage continued:
"Before, he used the yokai within his body to absorb that loss."
"That worked because Onigumo's obsession suppressed them."
"He could force them to die in his place."
"But now…"
He paused briefly.
"That control is gone."
Kikyo's eyes sharpened slightly as she immediately understood.
"…Which means the yokai inside him are now resisting."
Her voice was calm, but firm.
"They won't willingly die for him anymore."
"They may even rebel… just to survive."
Kasage nodded.
"Exactly."
"That's why Naraku is desperate to devour Kamikuya."
"To use her power—"
"To stabilize himself."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Kasage looked at Kagura.
"Don't worry."
"I'll deal with this."
Kagura let out a quiet breath of relief.
"…Good."
She raised her hand slightly.
Her feather drifted down to her feet.
As she stepped onto it, she added one last piece of information:
"The Celestial Maiden's castle…"
"It's located in the Sea of Honneam."
With that—
A gentle wind rose.
Carrying her away into the sky.