A pale blue surge of chakra erupted instantly.
The skeletal frame of the Susanoo formed in an instant—then muscles, then armor layered over it, solidifying into a towering warrior. Beneath it, fully formed legs materialized, completing its stance.
The Fourth Form Susanoo stood revealed, radiating overwhelming pressure.
BOOM!
It crashed into the forest like a falling mountain.
The impact thundered across the land—earth shattered into a massive crater, trees snapped like twigs, and a storm of dust surged into the air.
Atop the Susanoo's head, **Uchiha Kasage**, Kikyo, and Karan stood steady and untouched, as if the violent landing meant nothing.
Kasage immediately looked down at Kikyo in his arms, his voice softer.
"Kikyo… are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied gently, shaking her head with a faint smile. "You don't need to worry."
Only after confirming this did Kasage turn his gaze toward Karan.
Her aura was faint, unstable.
He sighed.
"If your yokai energy was running out, you should've stopped. Why push yourself that far?"
Karan scratched her head, cheeks slightly flushed.
"I… I thought I could make it in one go…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"…And I kind of forgot I could rest mid-flight…"
Then suddenly, she bowed deeply.
"I'm really sorry!"
Kasage narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling her earlier behavior.
A faint, knowing smile appeared.
"…You insisted on taking the catnip and food first."
He looked straight at her.
"Don't tell me… you were afraid that if you couldn't finish the job, I'd take them back?"
"Ahaha—of course not!" Karan laughed awkwardly, her eyes darting away. "I just didn't want to drop them while flying!"
Kasage kept staring.
Her tail flicked nervously.
Before the pressure could build further—
Kikyo let out a soft laugh.
"That's enough, Kasage," she said gently. "Don't tease her too much."
She looked at Karan with a warm expression.
"She's not a flying yokai. Carrying us this far is already impressive."
"Yes! Exactly!" Karan immediately straightened up, clearly relieved. "I'm not a bird yokai—flying long distances is hard!"
Then, as if remembering something important, she quickly added:
"My yokai energy is completely drained. I need to go rest! The rest of the way is short—you can handle it!"
Before Kasage could reply—
*Poof.*
She vanished in a puff of smoke.
Kasage stared at the empty space for a second… then shook his head.
"That cat…"
Despite his words, there was no real irritation in his tone.
Kikyo smiled faintly, her gaze drifting toward the horizon.
"She may be reckless… but she's dependable."
From the height of the Susanoo, the view stretched far and wide.
At the end of the forest—
A canyon was clearly visible.
Kasage dispelled the Susanoo.
The massive figure dissolved into fading chakra, and the two descended gently to the ground.
Without a word, Kasage stepped forward, crouched, and turned his back to her.
"I'll carry you the rest of the way."
Kikyo didn't refuse.
"…Alright."
A soft smile touched her lips as she leaned onto his back, her arms wrapping lightly around his neck.
Kasage lifted her with ease.
For a brief moment—
He felt the warmth of her presence against him.
A faint smile formed.
Then—
*Whoosh!*
His figure blurred, leaving behind an afterimage as he sped forward.
---
Moments later—
Kasage leapt out from the forest and landed lightly at the edge of a canyon.
The wind rose from below.
Ahead—
Mountain peaks stretched into the distance, cloaked in mist.
And beyond them—
A single, towering mountain stood apart.
Its shape was strange, almost unnatural.
A faint spiritual glow surrounded it, visible even from afar.
Kasage narrowed his eyes.
"That's Mount Hakurei."
Kikyo followed his gaze.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"…That mountain…"
There was something off.
A subtle unease.
"It feels… strange."
Kasage didn't deny it.
"We'll understand once we get closer."
He knew—
The power surrounding that mountain wasn't simple.
Strong… yet distorted.
Pure… yet conflicted.
---
"Let's go."
Without hesitation, Kasage leapt down into the canyon with Kikyo on his back.
Chakra gathered beneath his feet, allowing him to cling to the cliffside as he descended swiftly.
Moments later, they reached the bottom.
After a brief glance to orient themselves—
They continued toward Mount Hakurei.
---
Not long after they left—
The forest behind them glowed with the warm colors of sunset.
Figures emerged from the trees.
"Inuyasha! We're finally out!" Kagome stretched, relief clear in her voice. "Can you smell Kikyo and Kasage?"
Inuyasha sniffed the air carefully.
"…Yeah. They were here."
His eyes sharpened.
"They left not long ago."
Then he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"If we hadn't wasted time helping those villagers find that 'Monkey God,' we'd've caught up already!"
Kagome shot him a look.
"That wasn't a waste! We helped them—and rescued the Monkey God too!"
Sango smiled slightly.
"And thanks to Kagome, we figured out where it was right away."
Miroku nodded.
"And we confirmed Naraku's direction. That alone made it worthwhile."
Shippō crossed his arms seriously.
"Those monkey yokai weren't pushovers either!"
"Tch. Just a bunch of monkeys," Inuyasha muttered.
Then he crouched in front of Kagome.
"Get on. We're moving."
Kagome climbed onto his back, holding on tightly.
"They went into the canyon," he said. "We need to catch up before Kikyo runs into Naraku."
"Right!"
With that—
Inuyasha leapt.
He shot down into the canyon with incredible speed.
"Kirara, let's go!" Sango called.
Kirara transformed, flames flickering around her paws, and took flight.
Carrying Sango, Miroku, and Shippō—
She followed closely behind, descending toward the canyon below.