"Naraku!"
A furious shout rang out below.
Kikyo glanced down to see Inuyasha and the others arriving at the battlefield. However, the massive chakra blade beneath her and Kagetsu's feet,along with the still-smoldering black flames scattered across the ground,kept them from rushing in recklessly.
Kagetsu swept his gaze across the burning battlefield. His Mangekyō Sharingan rotated slightly,
The Amaterasu flames began to fade, extinguishing one by one.
They weren't very effective against Naraku, but they were more than dangerous enough for Kagome, Miroku, and Sango.
"Is that… Naraku's new body?"
Kagome, Miroku, and Sango stared upward in shock. The jagged bone armor, the grotesque spikes, and especially the massive crimson eye embedded in his chest,
It was nothing like the Naraku they knew.
"Inuyasha, you came too?" Naraku cast him a brief glance, voice cold and indifferent. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to deal with you right now."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha snapped, already moving. "You went to all this trouble to hide here,what are you plotting?!"
The moment the flames cleared, he leapt forward without hesitation.
"Inuyasha, be careful!" Miroku called out urgently as he and Sango rode Kirara into the air. "His demonic aura is far stronger than before!"
"Demonic aura?" Inuyasha scoffed. "It's just that rotten soul of his getting even filthier!"
Before his words had even finished,
He was already beneath Naraku.
With a sharp pull, he drew the Tessaiga.
Crimson light flared along the blade as he channeled its power.
"Wind Scar!"
A blazing arc of energy tore through the air, roaring straight toward Naraku.
Naraku didn't move.
Inside the spherical barrier surrounding him, he merely sneered.
"Fool."
BOOM!
The Wind Scar slammed into the barrier, engulfing it completely,
Then vanished.
The barrier remained intact.
Naraku stood inside, completely unharmed.
"What?!" Inuyasha's eyes widened. He stared at the Tessaiga in disbelief. "Even the Red Tessaiga couldn't break it?!"
Naraku's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Inuyasha… allow me to return your attack."
The barrier shimmered,
And the same Wind Scar reappeared.
It surged downward.
"What,?!"
Inuyasha barely reacted in time, throwing himself aside as the attack tore past him.
"Ah!"
The shockwave clipped Kagome, sending her tumbling to the ground.
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha scrambled up, rushing to her side.
Seeing the situation spiral, Kikyo let out a quiet sigh.
She raised her hand.
Poof!
A longbow and quiver materialized instantly.
In one smooth motion, she drew an arrow, pulled the string taut, and aimed directly at Naraku.
"Tell me," she said coldly, "what were you really doing in Mount Hakurei? You didn't go through all this trouble just to reshape your body."
Naraku smiled faintly.
Demonic power surged around him.
"You wish to know?" he said slowly. "Then I shall tell you,"
Before he could finish,
His arm twisted grotesquely, transforming into a sharp, spear-like tentacle that lashed out toward her.
"Ridiculous!"
Kagetsu reacted instantly. A skeletal arm of Susanoo manifested beside him, ready to intercept,
But Kikyo was faster.
The moment the attack came,
She released the string.
Whoosh!
The sacred arrow became a streak of light.
Naraku's tentacle didn't even touch it,
It disintegrated instantly under the overwhelming purification power.
The arrow continued forward,
Unstoppable.
"Hmph!" Naraku scoffed, reinforcing his barrier. "Things are not the same as before. Your arrows,"
His words cut off abruptly.
The barrier,
Shattered.
Like paper.
The arrow pierced straight through it,
And struck his chest.
"…Impossible…!"
His voice trembled with disbelief.
Then,
Boom!
Purifying power exploded within his body.
His torso was obliterated instantly, reduced to fragments.
Only his head survived,flung into the air.
"Damn it!"
Fear flashed in Naraku's eyes.
Miasma surged upward, trying to wrap around his head and carry it away.
But,
A low hum filled the air.
Within Susanoo's manifested palm, three glowing magatama spun rapidly.
"Yasaka Magatama."
They shot forward like meteors.
BOOM!
Naraku's head was slammed into a distant boulder,
Which exploded into dust.
Silence fell.
Then,
Kagetsu's gaze shifted slightly.
"He got away."
His tone was calm.
He turned to Kikyo.
"Did you sense the Shikon Jewel?"
Kikyo lowered her bow and shook her head.
"No. He's hidden it. When you destroyed his body just now, I didn't feel its presence at all."
"Not on him…" Kagetsu muttered.
He clicked his tongue, then shrugged.
"Then let him live a little longer."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"When he finishes gathering the remaining shards,we'll take everything from him in one move."
He glanced at her again.
"What about your shard?"
Kikyo smiled faintly and reached into her robe, retrieving the fragment she had taken from Kansuke.
"It's ready."
"I've infused it with purified spiritual power,and sealed Sage-enhanced energy within it."
Kagetsu took the shard, examining it closely.
It looked completely ordinary.
"No visible difference?"
"I concealed the power deep inside," Kikyo explained. "It won't react unless stimulated by evil energy."
"Perfect."
Kagetsu nodded slowly.
Then his gaze shifted toward Kagome below.
A faint, knowing smile curved his lips.
"Now…"
"All we have to do,"
",is let Naraku take it."