"Inner Four Symbols Sealing Technique!"
The moment Uchiha Kasage's voice fell—
A mass of black liquid surged out from his body, spreading rapidly through the air. It twisted and wove itself into intricate sealing formulas, forming the pattern of the Four Symbols.
Then—
A translucent black spherical barrier appeared.
And began to expand.
In an instant, it swallowed everything—
The lake water.
Kaguya's drifting grey mist form.
And Naraku, whose grotesque body of fused yokai flesh was already trying to flee.
Kaguya was closest.
The moment the sealing formation completed—
She was trapped inside.
Naraku, however, did not hesitate.
The instant he sensed danger, he severed the portion of his body within the barrier's range and fled using what remained of his upper half.
"What are you doing?!"
Kaguya's voice rose sharply.
Watching the black formulas spread and solidify around her, a deep sense of unease surged within her.
She immediately accelerated her extraction from Kasage's body.
She understood now—
These two were far more dangerous than they appeared.
If she didn't escape—
She would truly be finished.
"…It's useless."
Kasage watched her struggle, a faint, cold smile forming.
"You're not getting out."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You wanted my body so badly…"
"…why not stay inside it forever?"
"You lunatic!!"
Kaguya snapped, finally pulling the last trace of her mist from his body.
Her form condensed into a grey shadow—
And she shot toward the edge of the barrier.
Kasage didn't move.
Didn't even try to stop her.
Because he didn't need to.
Once the seal was deployed—
Escape was impossible.
---
### Lakeshore
"…Kasage, what's happening?"
Kikyo tightened her grip on her bow, watching the massive ink-black sphere engulf the lake.
"…Do you need help?"
Beside her, the Shadow Clone shook its head calmly.
"It's fine. Just a sealing technique."
His gaze remained fixed on the lake.
"Kaguya devoured a celestial maiden. That's how she gained immortality."
"So killing her isn't simple."
There was a brief pause.
"…So we seal her instead."
Kikyo nodded slightly, though her eyes remained sharp.
"And Naraku?"
"If he's unlucky…"
The clone's expression didn't change.
"…he'll be sealed along with her."
Kikyo exhaled softly.
"…Understood."
Even so—
She didn't lower her guard.
---
Kasage's words weren't false.
Years ago, after obtaining the method for the **Inner Four Symbols Sealing Technique**, he had studied it in detail.
It wasn't as deadly as many believed.
In essence—
It was the reverse of the standard Four Symbols Seal.
The normal version expanded outward to contain a target.
This one—
Did the opposite.
Once activated, it would expand first—
Then contract inward—
Sealing everything within its range directly into the caster's body.
Aside from heavy chakra consumption—
It did not inherently cost the user their life.
The reason it had a reputation as a suicidal technique…
Was because it was often triggered at the moment of death.
A final act—
Dragging the enemy down with the user.
In truth—
It activated *upon death*, not *because* of it.
There was another detail.
Much like a Jinchūriki's seal—
Once the caster died, the seal would collapse.
Everything inside would be destroyed.
Because of this—
It was also used to erase secrets before death.
Kasage had prepared this seal long ago.
Back during the Fourth Shinobi War.
At the time, he had thought—
If he were to die, he might as well take someone with him.
Unfortunately—
It had been useless.
The sealing process took too long.
By the time it activated—
There had been nothing left to trap.
After his resurrection, however—
The seal remained.
And now—
He finally had a worthy target.
---
Inside the barrier—
Kaguya reached the edge.
"…I've escaped!"
She laughed, her voice sharp and triumphant.
"Uchiha Kasage! Once I find a new body—"
"I will kill you!"
She lunged forward—
*Thud.*
Her body slammed into the barrier.
The thin, black surface didn't even ripple.
It was absolute.
"…What?!"
Her expression twisted.
"Let me out!"
She struck it again.
And again.
But nothing changed.
---
Farther away—
Naraku had already escaped the initial range by abandoning half his body.
Only his upper torso remained—
But he didn't slow down.
Not even for a moment.
He heard Kaguya's scream—
And glanced back briefly.
Then fled faster.
He knew—
Kasage would not let him escape so easily.
And he was right.
The barrier behind him—
Suddenly accelerated.
What had been a slow expansion—
Turned into a devouring surge.
Like a tidal wave.
Everything within dozens of meters—
Swallowed instantly.
*Splash—!*
The lake roared violently as the expanding sphere churned the water into towering waves.
Naraku's pupils shrank.
"…Damn it!"
He couldn't outrun it.
Without hesitation—
His body swelled.
Then—
*BOOM—!*
He detonated himself.
The explosion propelled his remaining head forward like a streak of light.
Everything else—
Was consumed by the barrier.
---
"…Naraku!!"
Kaguya's voice rang out, filled with fury.
At the same moment—
She made another desperate attempt to escape.
But—
The aftermath of Naraku's explosion struck her directly.
Fragments of yokai flesh slammed into her—
Forcing her back.
Dragging her deeper—
Into the center of the seal.
Despair flickered across her face.
---
And then—
The barrier contracted.
No warning.
No delay.
In an instant—
It collapsed inward.
Kaguya barely had time to scream—
Before she was swallowed whole.
Along with the remains of Naraku—
And the surrounding lake water—
Everything was sealed.
Into Kasage.
---
Silence.
Then—
A complex black sealing pattern appeared briefly across Kasage's chest—
Before fading beneath his skin.
Whoosh—!
The displaced lake water surged back violently, crashing in waves.
Kasage stood atop the surface—
His body swaying slightly with the current.
The seal—Complete.