"I hope Saint Hakushin is still alive."
Uchiha Kasage looked down at the collapsed ruins of Mount Hakurei, as well as the crumbling Barrier surrounding it, and spoke without a trace of sincerity.
The moment his words fell—
a swarm of yokai burst out from the fractured mountain.
But before they could escape far—
they were instantly reduced to ash by the lingering purification power still saturating the area.
Kasage raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…I didn't expect so many of them to survive."
His previous strike had split the mountain apart. Considering that its interior had already been hollowed out, the shockwave should have devastated everything inside.
And yet—
there were still so many.
"…This is—"
Kikyo widened her eyes.
From deep within the mountain—
a thick surge of evil energy began to pour out.
Although it was being rapidly purified by the Barrier's remaining power, it continued to spill out endlessly, like a rising tide.
Worse—
as that energy spread, the illusion covering the interior of the mountain dissolved.
What lay beneath—
made even Kikyo frown.
The entire interior of Mount Hakurei…
was covered in writhing flesh.
It was as if the mountain itself had been devoured from within by yokai. The rock surfaces were coated with living, pulsating tissue, constantly releasing waves of foul energy—only to be burned away by the last remnants of purification.
"The Barrier… it's collapsing," Kikyo said quietly.
As if responding to her words—
the Barrier flickered violently.
Then—
with a final burst of spiritual power—
it vanished.
For a brief moment—
everything went still.
Then—
the evil energy surged back with overwhelming force.
Dark purple miasma spread instantly, swallowing the entire mountain range.
In a single moment—
a sacred land became a domain of corruption.
"…Found you."
A cold light flashed in Kasage's eyes as his Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
The blade in the hand of his Complete Body Susanoo ignited—
jet-black flames erupted along its edge.
Amaterasu.
With a single motion—
the Susanoo hurled the burning blade.
BOOM!
The massive weapon tore through the air like a falling star and slammed into the mountain with thunderous force.
The ground exploded.
Flaming debris scattered in every direction.
Anything touched by the black flames was instantly consumed.
Kasage pulled Kikyo closer.
"…Let's go."
Before the flames even settled—
the Susanoo vanished.
In the next instant—
they reappeared, standing atop the hilt of the massive chakra blade embedded deep within the mountain.
Kikyo steadied herself and looked down.
Her gaze sharpened.
Pinned beneath the blade—
was a grotesque figure.
Its body had been split apart, crushed and torn by the overwhelming force.
But the energy—
that unmistakable, vile aura—
left no doubt.
"…Naraku."
Naraku screamed as the Amaterasu flames burned across his shattered body.
"AAAGH—!"
Thick purple miasma surged outward, trying to smother the flames—
but it failed.
Even the miasma itself ignited.
Naraku reacted instantly.
He discarded the burning portions of his body without hesitation.
His form shattered into fragments, scattering away from the blade before rapidly reconstructing itself.
Kasage clicked his tongue.
"…Fast."
For someone like Naraku—
Amaterasu alone wasn't enough.
In the blink of an eye—
Naraku reformed.
A spherical Barrier appeared around him, sealing him inside.
He rose slowly into the air, stopping at the same height as Kasage and Kikyo.
Hatred.
Caution.
And confidence—
all mixed within his gaze.
"Kikyo… Uchiha Kasage."
His voice was low.
"…It's been a while."
Kasage looked at him with a relaxed smile.
"Yeah. Long time no see."
His eyes moved up and down, examining him.
"…Got a new look?"
Naraku's expression darkened slightly.
His appearance had completely changed.
His face still resembled that of Kagewaki Hitomi—
but everything else—
was no longer human.
His upper body was covered in jagged, armor-like exoskeleton.
Pale bone plating wrapped around his chest and shoulders, lined with sharp protrusions.
Behind him—
three long, dragon-like tails swayed slowly.
On the back of each hand—
a single red eye stared outward.
And at the center of his abdomen—
a massive crimson eye pulsed faintly.
"…This is my new body," Naraku said coldly.
He clenched his fist.
The eyes on his hands shifted, staring directly at them.
"You destroyed Mount Hakurei… but it changes nothing."
His voice grew heavier.
"I've already obtained greater power."
Kasage looked down at him calmly.
"…No matter how strong a rat gets…"
His tone turned cold.
"…it's still a rat."
His gaze shifted to the Barrier surrounding Naraku.
"…Actually—no."
A faint smirk appeared.
"Now you're more like a turtle hiding in its shell."
"Ngh—!"
Anger flashed across Naraku's face.
Miasma surged violently around him.
For a moment—
it seemed like he would attack.
But he restrained himself.
Instead—
his gaze shifted toward Kikyo.
A twisted smile formed.
"Kikyo… you didn't expect to find me here, did you?"
"This is fate."
"The thread of karma that binds us—"
"Enough."
Kikyo cut him off coldly.
Her eyes were sharp.
"Drop the act."
"This was all your doing from the beginning."
"Everything was arranged to lure me here."
Her voice grew colder.
"Kansuke… was nothing more than a pawn to you."
Naraku froze for a moment—
then smiled faintly.
"…So you figured it out."
"Impressive."
Kikyo's gaze didn't waver.
"You're just playing with people's hearts."
"Trying to dress your schemes as 'fate.'"
For a brief moment—
her expression hardened.
"If it weren't for Kasage…"
"I might have believed you."