"Kanna… Kagura has betrayed me."
Inside a dimly lit cave where Akago was hiding, Naraku stared at Kanna, who stood silently beside the infant-like incarnation.
His voice was calm—
but the darkness in his eyes revealed his true anger.
"…"
Kanna said nothing.
She simply stood there, expressionless as ever.
Naraku let out a cold sneer.
"You feel nothing, don't you?" he said mockingly. "She was taken by Uchiha Kasage. I wonder… is she already dead?"
He paused, a cruel smile forming.
"Her body was filled with miasma. She must have suffered… quite a bit."
He emphasized the word *suffered*, almost enjoying it.
"Or perhaps…" he continued softly, "she finally obtained the freedom she always longed for."
Kanna remained unmoving.
Naraku's expression gradually turned bored.
"You have no emotions. No fear, no pain, no sorrow… You may never even understand what those things mean."
He turned away, no longer interested in her.
Instead, he looked at Akago and casually tossed him a glowing blue orb.
"This is the Demon-Free Barrier. It conceals demonic aura. Its original owner used it to avoid conflict… how laughable."
He narrowed his eyes.
"How will you use it?"
Akago didn't answer.
But the darkness in his gaze deepened.
Naraku clicked his tongue and turned to leave—
But then—
"...Naraku."
Akago spoke.
"I need armor."
Naraku stopped.
"…Armor?"
"To protect this body."
After a brief pause, Naraku nodded.
"I see."
The next moment, his arm grotesquely swelled, muscles tearing with a wet, disturbing sound.
From his flesh, a pale, long-limbed humanoid creature tore itself free and dropped to the ground.
"This is an empty vessel," Naraku said coldly. "Use it as you wish."
Akago reached forward.
Silently, he merged with the body.
Moments later—
The creature's eyes snapped open.
A sinister light flickered within them.
It slowly stood up.
Satisfied, Naraku disappeared into the darkness of the cave.
"…Kagura… freedom…"
Kanna murmured faintly, her empty gaze lingering in the direction he had gone.
For a brief instant—
A ripple passed through her eyes.
Then—
She turned and walked away.
"Kanna. Where are you going?"
Akago called out, still adjusting to his new body.
She didn't respond.
Her figure faded into the shadows.
"…Tch."
Akago's expression darkened.
"Useless."
He glanced around the now-empty cave, then let out a cold laugh.
"I won't rely on Naraku's body."
His eyes gleamed with malice.
"I'll create my own armor."
His thoughts shifted—
"To think that White Child died so easily…"
His gaze turned icy.
"…Uchiha Kasage."
---
Kasage, meanwhile, was completely unaware of Akago's intentions.
At that moment, he stood shirtless within the shrine, his chest marked by intricate black sealing patterns.
The **Four Symbols Sealing Technique** had been activated.
A transparent barrier of pure spiritual energy surrounded him.
At its center—
Lay a lifeless yokai corpse.
"Kasage… that's enough."
Kikyo stood outside the barrier, maintaining it with both hands. Her voice was calm but firm.
"Understood."
Kasage nodded.
Then—
"Release!"
The black sealing marks spread outward, forming complex patterns in the air.
A surge of power erupted.
Dark smoke burst from his chest—
And a voice rang out.
"Finally… I'm free!"
The black mist twisted and gathered—
Forming the figure of Kaguya.
Her presence radiated cold, oppressive power.
"Uchiha Kasage!"
The moment she saw him, her eyes burned with hatred.
She was about to attack—
But then—
She noticed the sealing runes surrounding him.
Her expression changed instantly.
Without hesitation, she turned—
And shot upward, trying to escape.
—BOOM!
She slammed into the barrier.
A burst of spiritual energy exploded outward.
"Gah!"
Kaguya let out a sharp scream.
"Damn it! A barrier?!"
She tried again—
And again—
But every direction was sealed.
There was no escape.
Breathing heavily, she hovered in the air, glaring down at him.
"What do you want, Kasage?!"
Kasage calmly pointed downward.
"There's a body."
Kaguya followed his gaze.
A corpse lay at the center of the barrier.
"Devour it," he continued. "Rebuild your physical form."
Her eyes narrowed.
A trap?
She hesitated.
Kasage's voice turned cold.
"If you refuse… I'll seal you again."
"And next time, you won't come out."
Silence.
Kaguya trembled with rage—
But she understood her situation.
She was nothing more than spiritual smoke.
Powerless.
And yet—
She was immortal.
If she regained a body, she would have a chance.
"…Fine."
The black smoke surged forward.
It engulfed the corpse completely.
Kasage watched silently.
This body had been specially prepared—its soul already extracted.
A perfect vessel.
Under his and Kikyo's gaze—
The smoke writhed, compressed, and reshaped.
Slowly—
A figure emerged.
A woman with long flowing hair, dressed in dark violet.
Kaguya.
Reborn.
Kasage smiled faintly.
"Long time no see."
"Uchiha Kasage!"
Her voice was filled with fury.
"You dare release me?! I'll make you pay!"
Without hesitation, she began chanting a spell—
But—
Kasage vanished.
In an instant, he appeared before her—
And struck her abdomen with brutal force.
"—!"
Her body bent sharply.
The spell collapsed.
Before she could react—
Her body froze.
"Human Path."
Kasage's voice echoed beside her.
Her eyes widened in horror.
The Rinnegan's glow reflected in her gaze.
Then—
Slowly—
Her soul was pulled out.
Her body went limp.
Kasage held the soul casually—
Then tossed it into the mouth of the summoned King of Hell.
Without even looking twice—
He picked up her empty body and threw it in as well.
"…Honestly," he muttered.
"If you knew I could teleport…"
"Why stand on a Flying Thunder God mark?"
He glanced at the fading seal beneath where she had stood.
"…Idiot."
The mark slowly disappeared.
Silence returned to the shrine.