Uchiha Kasage watched Kikyo teasing Jaken, clearly holding back his laughter. He stood off to the side, lips pressed together, afraid that even a small reaction would ruin her moment.
"Alright, little yokai," Kikyo said, amused by Jaken's desperate prostration. A gentle smile appeared on her face. "I can see how loyal you are to Sesshomaru. Don't worry… I will help him."
As her words fell, she smoothly drew another arrow. Without hesitation, she pulled the bowstring taut, aiming directly at Sesshomaru—who was still surrounded by writhing tentacles—and released.
The arrow traced a graceful arc through the night sky, cutting through the darkness as it flew toward him.
—
At that moment, Sesshomaru had just severed the tentacles in front of him. His expression remained cold as he glanced at the growing pile of yokai remains gathering at his feet.
He understood perfectly.
This was Naraku's trap.
If he allowed himself to be completely buried, there would be no escape—only absorption.
But the poison in his body was worsening.
Every swing of Tokijin demanded more effort. His movements were slowing, his strength draining. Clearing the endless remains beneath him was becoming impossible.
As fresh tentacles surged in from all directions—
He paused.
An arrow streaked through the air.
In an instant, the tentacles surrounding him shattered, torn apart by pure, overwhelming purifying power. The arrow struck the ground at his feet with precision.
A wave of white spiritual energy spread outward.
Everything beneath him—every fragment of yokai flesh—was reduced to dust.
"…That miko?"
Sesshomaru's eyes flickered slightly.
Taking the opportunity, he planted Tokijin into the ground and leaned on it briefly, catching his breath while forcing his yokai energy to suppress the poison.
But the reprieve was short.
More tentacles surged toward him again.
He raised Tokijin, preparing to strike—
Then his gaze shifted.
It fell upon the arrow embedded in the ground.
For a brief moment, he hesitated.
Then—
He reached out and pulled it free.
The moment his hand closed around it—
*Boom.*
The arrow burst apart.
Pure white spiritual power surged into his body, spreading rapidly through his veins.
For an instant, everything stopped.
His yokai energy—already weakened—was completely purged.
His body faltered.
"Clang!"
Tokijin struck the ground, barely supporting him as his strength momentarily vanished.
Yet—
Sesshomaru did not grow angry.
Instead, something changed in his eyes.
Because along with his yokai energy…
The poison had disappeared.
Completely.
He lifted his head slowly, staring directly at Naraku. A cold, lethal intent surged from his gaze.
Freed from the poison, his body began recovering instantly. Fresh yokai energy flooded back into him at an astonishing rate.
For a perfect Great Yokai like him, restoring power was effortless.
The weakness from moments before vanished as if it had never existed.
As the tentacles closed in again—
Sesshomaru moved.
He drew Tokijin sharply, no longer on the defensive. Instead, he charged forward.
A single swing—
A brilliant blue arc tore through the battlefield, reducing everything in its path to nothingness.
"His power… increased?!"
Naraku's pupils shrank.
His gaze snapped toward Kikyo high above, his expression darkening instantly.
"Kikyo…!"
He had seen it clearly.
The moment Sesshomaru grasped that arrow—everything changed.
"Trash… where are you looking?"
A cold voice sounded beside him.
Naraku's head snapped forward—
Sesshomaru was already there.
Tokijin descended.
"Damn it!"
Naraku reacted instantly. His body twisted violently as a massive bull-headed yokai burst forth to block the attack.
"Slash!"
The blade cut through it effortlessly—
But the remains exploded.
A thick cloud of dark purple miasma erupted, laced with the same insidious poison.
"…Disgusting."
A flicker of irritation crossed Sesshomaru's eyes as he leapt back, avoiding the spreading toxin.
"Sesshomaru… you cannot kill me!"
Naraku's figure reformed within the miasma, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
"Naraku!!"
A familiar roar echoed across the battlefield.
Naraku stiffened.
He turned sharply—
"Inuyasha…"
Inuyasha charged forward, Tessaiga raised high.
"Wind Scar!"
A golden wave of power surged forward like a falling star.
"Hmph. Useless."
Naraku immediately raised his barrier—
But in the next instant—
Tessaiga turned blood-red.
Having absorbed the power of the Shikon Jewel shard, it could now shatter barriers.
"BOOM!"
The golden strike slammed into the barrier—
—and shattered it instantly.
"What—?!"
Naraku's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Wind Scar struck his body directly.
"Agh—!"
In a desperate attempt to survive, he used the mass beneath him to block the attack. His lower body was obliterated, but his upper half barely escaped, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Inuyasha, don't get close!" Sesshomaru called out sharply. "That miasma is poisoned!"
"What?!"
Inuyasha halted immediately, gripping Tessaiga as he watched Naraku's body begin to regenerate once more.
"Inuyasha… how did you enter the barrier?" Naraku demanded, glaring at him. He hadn't sensed his presence at all.
"Barrier?" Inuyasha blinked. "There was an opening leading straight into the castle. I thought you left it there on purpose."
"…Damn it."
Naraku's expression darkened instantly.
"Kikyo…!"
It was obvious. That opening had been left behind deliberately.
His gaze flicked upward.
Kagura and Kanna were still locked in combat with a massive wooden dragon, completely unable to interfere.
"Fighting me… and you still dare to lose focus?"
Sesshomaru's voice cut through the tension.
He charged again, blue energy gathering along Tokijin's blade.
"Die, Naraku!"
At the same time—
"Wind Scar!"
Inuyasha attacked once more.
Blue and gold collided—then merged—
Striking Naraku together.
"NO—! I won't die here!"
Naraku roared as his body exploded, releasing a torrent of miasma that swallowed everything.
"…Did we get him?" Inuyasha muttered, staring into the haze.
A swirling vortex of miasma suddenly shot into the sky.
Naraku's voice echoed from within it.
"I'll be taking my leave for now… Sesshomaru. If you don't hurry, that little girl might truly die, you know~"
Only his upper body remained, wrapped in dark energy as he fled into the distance.
"Naraku!!"
Sesshomaru gripped Tokijin tightly, his killing intent surging.
"I will kill you!"
"...Naraku."
A calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Did you forget about me?"
Inuyasha's head snapped upward.
On the highest rooftop—
"Susanoo."
Kasage's voice was low and steady.
A pale blue skeletal form erupted into existence around him, rapidly forming into a massive armored figure—towering over the castle like a god of war.
The Susanoo raised its left hand—
A massive bow materialized within it.
Inside, Kasage reached out, gently taking Kikyo's hand.
"Kikyo… lend me your power," he said softly, a faint smile on his lips.
Kikyo blinked for a moment—then tightened her grip.
"Alright."
Her spiritual power flowed into him—pure, steady, unwavering.
Kasage felt it surge through him, warm and powerful.
A smile formed.
"Then let's give it a name…"
The Susanoo drew the bowstring.
A radiant arrow formed—woven from chakra and pure spiritual power.
It shone brilliantly in the night, filled with overwhelming purifying force.
"Kikyo's Susanoo Arrow."
The bowstring tightened—
The arrow locked onto Naraku, fleeing through the sky.
And held him in its sights.