"But… Midoriko's soul is inside the Shikon Jewel. Even if we use a clay body to revive her…"
Kagome hesitated, glancing subconsciously at Kikyo, her voice lowering slightly.
"…she would just be an empty shell without a soul… just like you were back then."
By this time, Uchiha Kasage had already found a suitable place to build the kiln. He stopped and turned toward them.
"Since those yokai were able to merge human and yokai souls to create fake Shikon Jewels, there must be a way to extract a soul from the real one."
He paused.
Then slowly raised a hand to cover one eye.
Deep within, he could feel his Sharingan shifting—changing.
After a brief silence, he spoke again.
"…I already have a rough idea."
"Really?!"
Kagome's eyes widened in surprise.
Kikyo also looked at him, a faint flicker of astonishment passing through her calm gaze. Even she hadn't expected him to find a lead so quickly.
Kasage lowered his hand, his expression steady.
"If we can extract Suiko's soul from the Shikon Jewel… and place it into a clay body—"
He paused, his tone growing heavier.
"—the Shikon Jewel may disappear entirely once it loses her soul. And even if it doesn't…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"As its creator, Suiko would know how to end it."
Silence.
Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others were completely stunned.
Any lingering hesitation about resurrecting Suiko vanished.
After all—
Destroying the Shikon Jewel and defeating Naraku was their shared goal.
---
Kasage had already made his decision.
Whether they agreed or not… he would bring Midoriko back.
If he wanted to truly sever the chain of fate surrounding the Shikon Jewel—
Then its creator had to return.
As for relying on Kagome to make the "correct wish" to erase the jewel…
He didn't trust that path.
Even setting aside whether events might change—
The idea that the Shikon Jewel would simply disappear because of a wish…
It felt too uncertain.
Too fragile.
Now that he stood in this world—
He would choose his own method.
---
As for extracting Midoriko's soul—
It wasn't impossible.
There were two methods he could think of.
One was the forbidden jutsu—the Reaper Death Seal.
It could forcibly extract a soul and seal it within the Shinigami.
But the cost…
Was far too great.
The user's own soul would also be taken.
And here, there was no way to undo it—no mask, no means of release.
That path was a dead end.
Which left only one option—
The power of the Rinnegan.
The Six Paths Techniques.
The Human Path… and the Naraka Path.
Both governed the soul.
Especially the Human Path—
Its ability to extract a soul directly from the body.
If anything could pull Suiko's soul from the Shikon Jewel—
It was that power.
---
Kasage exhaled slowly.
Then—
He moved.
"Earth Release!"
His palm struck the ground.
Chakra surged through the earth.
The soil rose, reshaped itself, compressed, and hardened.
Within moments—
A perfectly formed kiln stood before them.
"Enju, check it," Kasage said, stepping back. "Tell me if anything needs to be adjusted."
"O-Okay!"
Enju blinked in shock at the speed of its creation, then hurried forward to inspect it carefully.
"I'll help," Kikyo said, walking over as well. There was a quiet curiosity in her eyes—this technique had once brought her back from death.
---
"Inuyasha… what do we do?"
Kagome, Sango, and Miroku turned toward him.
Inuyasha looked at Suiko's remains… then at Kasage and Kikyo working seriously beside the kiln.
He hesitated.
He wanted to chase Naraku.
But this…
This mattered too.
"…Let's stay a few days," Shippō suddenly said.
He pointed toward Kirara.
"Look—Kirara really likes Priestess Suiko."
Everyone turned.
Kirara was gently rubbing her head against Suiko's petrified cheek, her eyes soft, filled with something like remembrance.
"…Could Kirara know her?" Miroku murmured thoughtfully.
"Kagome," he added, "Sango—how long has Kirara been with you?"
Sango thought for a moment.
"She's been in the village since I was born. She's protected the Demon Slayer Village for generations… She's been there for a very long time."
"…Then it's possible," Miroku said quietly. "Suiko's remains were found behind that same village. Kirara may have known her."
Sango looked at Kirara in surprise.
"…Is that true?"
"Inng~"
Kirara responded softly, her tail swaying.
Sango's eyes widened.
"She really did…!"
Kagome smiled faintly, then turned decisively.
"Then we're staying."
Her voice was firm.
"We wait until Suiko's body is ready."
Inuyasha exhaled.
"…Fine. A few days, then."
---
"Inuyasha, stay here and protect Enju and Suiko's remains," Kagome said, already moving.
Then she grabbed Sango's hand.
"Sango, come on—we'll help!"
"Right!"
---
With everyone working together, the kiln—now a true **Ghost Kiln**—was completed.
Enju listed the materials they still needed:
"Special medicinal herbs, spiritual items… clay, charcoal… and yokai blood."
"I'll gather the herbs and spiritual items," Kikyo said, taking the list. Then she turned to Kasage.
"…Kasage. Come with me."
There was a quiet intensity in her voice now.
"Your clones will make this faster."
Kasage met her gaze for a brief moment—
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
---
"I'll go to the nearby town to buy charcoal," Sango said, turning to Miroku.
"Monk, you're coming with me."
Miroku smiled faintly.
"Of course."
---
"Kagome, what about me?"
"Go to the river and collect fine clay," Enju replied.
"Got it!" Kagome nodded, then looked at Shippō. "Come on!"
"I'm coming!"
---
"…And me?" Inuyasha asked.
"You stay here," Kagome answered casually.
Kasage spoke calmly:
"Inuyasha, go with Kagome. There could be yokai or wild beasts near the river."
At the same time, he formed a seal.
**Poof!**
A Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
"I'll leave a clone here. It's enough."
"Whoa—two Kasages?!" Kagome blinked in amazement.
Shippō poked the clone.
"It's solid?! Not an illusion?!"
Kasage gave a brief explanation:
"Shadow Clone Jutsu. A physical clone capable of acting independently."
Then—
He turned to Kikyo.
She was already ready.
Without hesitation, he reached out, pulling her close.
Their eyes met briefly—
A quiet understanding passing between them.
"We're going," he said.
In the next instant—
They vanished.
---
"Let's go!" Kagome called, running toward the river with Shippō.
Sango and Miroku mounted Kirara and headed toward town.
Inuyasha glanced once more at Suiko's remains—
Then followed Kagome.
---
Soon—
The courtyard fell quiet.
Only Kasage's Shadow Clone and Enju remained.
The kiln flickered softly.
And the preparations for resurrection… had begun.