"Interesting… looks like a few troublesome individuals are waiting for us ahead."
Uchiha Kasage lifted his gaze toward the road, a faint glimmer of interest flashing in his eyes as he spoke quietly.
At his words, Kikyo immediately sharpened her senses. Her expression shifted slightly.
"…I can feel it," she said softly. "The aura of Shikon Jewel shards… and not just one. There are several."
"I feel it too!" Kagome quickly focused, closing her eyes as she concentrated.
"…Yes… it's the Shikon Jewel," she confirmed, her voice tightening. "There are… five… no—seven shards."
Kasage glanced at her, mildly impressed.
As expected…
Kagome's connection to the Shikon Jewel was extraordinary.
Unlike Kikyo, whose awareness came from her power and her past as the jewel's guardian, Kagome had lived with it inside her body since birth.
Her bond with it ran deeper.
"Be careful!" Inuyasha suddenly growled, sniffing the air sharply.
"There's a strong smell of blood!"
He paused, narrowing his eyes.
"…And something else…"
His expression hardened.
"…Grave soil."
"Seven shards… and the scent of the dead…" Miroku muttered, his tone turning serious.
"…Could it be—?"
"Yeah," Kasage nodded calmly. "If nothing's changed, it's the Band of Seven."
"They've likely been revived using Shikon Jewel shards. That has Naraku written all over it."
Kasage's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
So they're all together this time…
Unlike before, they weren't appearing one by one.
Naraku had clearly learned.
Keeping them united meant they wouldn't be picked off individually.
"That bastard Naraku!" Inuyasha snapped, rage igniting instantly.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, sprinting toward the source of the scent.
"Inuyasha, wait!" Kagome shouted.
—but he was already gone.
"That idiot…" Miroku sighed.
"Sango, go after him. This could be a trap."
"Right—Kirara!"
In a burst of flames, Kirara transformed, her body expanding instantly.
Sango leapt onto her back, reaching down.
"Kagome, come on!"
Kikyo watched the direction Inuyasha had vanished, a faint crease forming between her brows.
"He never changes…"
There was a trace of quiet concern in her voice.
Kasage chuckled softly.
"It's what happens when you let a dog run without a leash."
Kikyo glanced at him sideways—
—and despite herself, a faint smile touched her lips.
"…That comparison is surprisingly accurate."
Kasage's gaze softened slightly as he looked at her.
"Come on," he said more gently. "If we don't hurry…"
"…he'll get himself hurt again."
There was a subtle shift in his tone—calm, but not indifferent.
Without waiting, Kasage bent down and lifted Kikyo into his arms.
A burst of chakra surged beneath his feet—
—and in the next instant, he shot forward like an arrow.
Miroku looked around, then down at Shippō.
"…I'll be relying on you."
"Leave it to me!"
Shippō pulled out a small toy horse.
Poof!
In a cloud of smoke, it expanded into a full-sized mount.
"Thanks!"
Miroku climbed on, holding Shippō as the oddly mismatched pair hurried after the others.
When Kasage arrived with Kikyo—
Inuyasha was already facing them.
Seven figures.
The ground around them was soaked in blood.
Scattered corpses and fallen warhorses lay everywhere—
remnants of a slaughtered army.
The group standing ahead was unmistakable.
The Band of Seven.
The most eye-catching among them stood at the rear.
A massive figure—nearly five meters tall.
Bulging muscles. Sharp fangs.
More beast than human.
Kyokotsu.
In contrast—
A tiny figure stood nearby, barely reaching a meter in height.
Wrapped in white, face hidden beneath cloth, only narrow eyes visible.
Unsettling.
Mukotsu.
Kasage's eyes narrowed slightly.
They don't look fully human…
It wouldn't have been surprising if they had yokai blood mixed in.
Just then—
A man in a pink kimono stepped forward.
Snake-like patterns marked his cheeks. His lips curved into a wide, excited smile.
His eyes locked onto Inuyasha—
—and lit up.
"Eh? Could it be… Inuyasha?!"
Without hesitation—
Kasage pulled out a tanuki mask and put it on.
Kikyo blinked, confused.
"…Why the mask?"
Kasage leaned slightly closer, his voice lowered.
"…Self-defense."
"If I don't, I might not be able to stop myself from killing that one."
Kikyo studied him for a moment—
then followed his gaze.
At the man staring at Inuyasha.
Jakotsu.
"Inuyasha!" the man called again, practically glowing with excitement.
"So cute!"
Inuyasha stiffened.
"…How do you know my name?" he snapped.
---
But Jakotsu didn't even hear him.
His cheeks flushed as he stared.
"Those ears… I love them!"
He licked his lips, lifting his blade.
"Give them to me."
A visible shiver ran down Inuyasha's spine.
"…The hell is wrong with this guy…"
"Inuyasha!"
Miroku landed beside him.
He stepped forward, his gaze steady.
"…Are you the Band of Seven?"
"That's right."
A man carrying a massive halberd stepped forward.
His presence alone commanded attention.
"We are the Band of Seven."
"I am their leader—Bankotsu."
As tension rose—
Jakotsu's voice cut through again.
"Ah~ Inuyasha is adorable…"
"…but this monk isn't bad either."
Silence.
Inuyasha and Miroku froze.
Their expressions darkened instantly.
Behind them—
Sango and Kagome exchanged looks.
"…This is bad," Kagome muttered.
---
Kasage leaned slightly toward Kikyo again.
"…Now you understand."
Kikyo watched Inuyasha and Miroku's utterly defeated expressions—
…and, just barely—
smiled.