"Naraku!"
An angry shout suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
Kikyo lowered her gaze.
Inuyasha and the others had arrived.
However—
the massive chakra blade beneath her and Uchiha Kasage, along with the black Amaterasu flames still burning across the ground, kept them from approaching recklessly.
Kasage glanced at the flames.
His Mangekyō Sharingan turned slightly—
and with a subtle shift of his ocular power—
the black fire slowly died out.
Amaterasu wasn't very effective against Naraku—
but for Kagome and the others—
it was far too dangerous.
"…Is that Naraku's new body?" Kagome Higurashi asked, her voice tense.
Miroku and Sango stared as well, shock clear on their faces as they took in the grotesque bone armor, the jagged protrusions, and the massive crimson eye embedded in his chest.
"Inuyasha… you came too."
Naraku's voice was cold and distant.
"But I don't have time to deal with you right now."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha roared, already moving.
"You hid here for so long—what are you planning?!"
The moment the flames vanished—
he dashed forward.
"Inuyasha, be careful!" Miroku shouted, flying in with Sango atop Kirara.
"His yokai aura is far stronger than before!"
"Tch. Aura or not—he's still the same rotten bastard!" Inuyasha snapped.
In the next instant—
he was already beneath Naraku.
Without hesitation, he drew Tessaiga.
Seeing the Barrier—
his blade flared crimson.
"Wind Scar!"
A blazing arc of power tore through the air, surging toward Naraku.
Naraku didn't move.
He simply watched—
eyes filled with disdain.
"…Fool."
BOOM!
The attack struck the Barrier head-on, engulfing it completely.
But just as quickly—
the light faded.
Naraku remained untouched.
"What…?!" Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"The Red Tessaiga… couldn't break it?!"
Naraku smiled coldly.
"Inuyasha… let me return that attack."
The Barrier shimmered—
and the same Wind Scar energy appeared once more.
Then—
it was released.
Straight toward Inuyasha.
"What?!"
Caught off guard, Inuyasha barely managed to dodge, rolling across the ground as the attack tore past him.
"Ah!" Kagome cried out as the shockwave knocked her off her feet.
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha immediately rushed toward her.
Kikyo watched quietly—
then sighed.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand.
Two puffs of smoke appeared—
and her bow and arrows materialized.
In one smooth motion, she drew an arrow and aimed directly at Naraku.
"Tell me, Naraku."
Her voice was cold and steady.
"What were you really doing here?"
"I don't believe you went this far just to reshape your body."
Naraku's lips curved slightly.
"You want to know?"
His aura surged.
"Then I'll tell you—"
Before he finished—
his arm twisted into a sharp, monstrous tentacle—
and shot toward her.
"Pathetic."
Kasage's eyes narrowed as a skeletal Susanoo arm formed beside him—
ready to intercept.
But—
Kikyo was faster.
The moment the attack reached her—
she released the string.
Whoosh!
The sacred arrow became a streak of light.
The incoming tentacle—
disintegrated instantly upon contact.
The arrow continued forward—
unstoppable.
Naraku's expression changed.
His Barrier surged with power.
"Ridiculous—!"
He didn't finish.
The arrow pierced through the Barrier—
as if it were nothing.
Straight into his chest.
"…Impossible—"
The next instant—
purification erupted.
His body exploded into fragments.
Only his head escaped—
spinning through the air.
"Damn it!"
Fear flickered in Naraku's eyes.
Miasma surged upward, trying to carry him away.
But—
a low hum echoed.
Beside Kasage—
a Susanoo hand formed.
Three glowing magatama spun rapidly.
"Yasaka Magatama."
They shot forward like streaks of light—
and slammed into Naraku's head.
BOOM!
The impact crushed it into a distant rock—
which exploded instantly into dust.
Silence followed.
Kasage's gaze shifted slightly.
"…He escaped."
He turned toward Kikyo.
"…Did you sense it?"
"The Shikon Jewel."
Kikyo lowered her bow and shook her head.
"No."
"It's hidden."
Her voice remained calm, but serious.
"It wasn't on him. Even when his body was destroyed… I couldn't sense it."
Kasage nodded slowly.
"…Then we let him go."
"For now."
A faint smirk appeared.
"Once he gathers the remaining shards…"
"…we'll kill him."
Kikyo reached into her robes and took out a shard.
The Shikon Jewel fragment glimmered faintly in her hand.
"It's ready."
"I purified it… and sealed Sage Art spiritual power inside."
Kasage took it, examining it closely.
"…It looks normal."
Kikyo nodded slightly.
"I concealed the energy deep within it."
"Without evil energy to trigger it… it won't reveal itself."
Kasage's gaze shifted downward—
toward Kagome below.
A knowing smile appeared.
"…Good."
"Now…"
"…we just need Naraku to take it."