With Kohaku officially joining the group, Inuyasha and the others found a spot to rest while listening to Kohaku divulge information regarding Naraku.
"I haven't seen him for several days. The last time was when he gave me several Shikon Jewel shards and ordered me to resurrect the Shichinintai to block your pursuit."
"The Shichinintai?" (Band of Seven)
"Yes. They were notorious mercenaries from over ten years ago; each of them had the strength of a hundred-man slayer. With the help of the Shikon Jewel, they've become even more powerful than before."
"Hundred-man slayers? Just a boast, surely. How strong can humans be? They're likely just fodder meant to stall us," Inuyasha said dismissively.
Shippo piped up: "What about the priestess Kikyo?"
The group immediately looked at Shippo with feigned reverence: "If you're going to speak the truth, keep it coming."
Thwack!
An embarrassed and enraged Inuyasha rewarded him with a punch to the head.
"Ahem. Inuyasha, we can't be careless. Don't forget, that demon who hollowed out an entire mountain and forced the entire Eastern Wolf Yokai Tribe to flee was one of the Shichinintai, wasn't he?" Miroku noted.
"Correct. His name was Kyokotsu. He was the weakest of the Shichinintai, and Aosora-sama defeated him instantly," Kohaku answered.
"What? Someone that ferocious was only the weakest?" The group was stunned.
Inuyasha's expression grew more serious. He turned to Aomori and asked, "What did you think of that Kyokotsu guy's strength?"
"That guy was too weak; I didn't feel much of anything," Aomori replied. "He just had a large build. His speed was too slow; against you, Inuyasha, he'd be nothing but a target. You should be able to handle him easily. However, the others might find it a bit a struggle."
"Heh, I told you so," Inuyasha grinned triumphantly.
"Kohaku, tell us about their appearances and techniques," Sango suggested.
"Alright, onee-chan."
As a trained Demon Slayer, sketching was a basic skill. Kohaku immediately drew portraits of the remaining six members.
"Mukotsu, an expert in poison. Ginkotsu, his entire body is fitted with mechanical parts, making him impervious to blades. Renkotsu, a master crafter, he was the one who forged Ginkotsu's body; his combat prowess is unknown. Suikotsu, extremely bloodthirsty, uses iron claws as weapons. Jakotsu, fond of women's clothing, wields a flexible Jakotsutō."
After a pause, Kohaku's expression turned grim. "The last one is the leader of the Shichinintai, Bankotsu. He is a powerhouse with the title of a thousand-man slayer, and he is the only one among them who has met Naraku personally."
Hmm, Kohaku has good observation skills; he captured all their features, Aomori thought. He also knew that their personalities corresponded to the Seven Deadly Sins.
Kyokotsu represented Gluttony, Mukotsu represented Lust, Ginkotsu represented Greed, Renkotsu represented Envy, Suikotsu represented Wrath, Jakotsu represented Sloth, and Bankotsu represented Pride.
"Wait, you said Bankotsu met Naraku? That means he might know Naraku's whereabouts!" While the others were busy memorizing the faces, Inuyasha seized on the key point.
"Regarding Naraku's location, I actually have a suspicion," Kohaku said. "Mount Hakurei. Naraku specifically instructed that you be lured to Mount Hakurei."
"Mount Hakurei?" Inuyasha asked, puzzled. "What kind of place is that?"
"I've heard of Mount Hakurei. It is a famous sacred land. It is said that no matter how irredeemable a person is, they can find salvation there," Miroku explained. "It seems Mount Hakurei lies in the Northeast direction."
"Which means Naraku is very likely staying on Mount Hakurei," Kagome added.
"Yes. I once saw many demons deep within Mount Hakurei, so I suspect Naraku is hiding inside," Kohaku agreed.
Inuyasha clapped his hands and shouted, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's head to Mount Hakurei right now!"
"Are we just going to ignore the Shichinintai?"
"Defeating Naraku is the priority. The Shichinintai are only there to delay us; we don't need to worry about them for now." Miroku also agreed with heading to Mount Hakurei first.
"But didn't Kohaku say the plan was to lure us there? Aren't we walking straight into a trap?" Shippo worried.
"If Naraku is really there, I'd charge in even if it were a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. Who cares about a trap?" Inuyasha said nonchalantly.
Spoken like a true Inuyasha, Aomori laughed inwardly.
In this "Dungeon within a Dungeon," his goals were clear: one, snatch some kills, and two, forge a handy weapon. He didn't want to drag things out; he had many things to do and couldn't afford to be gone for too long. Heading straight for Mount Hakurei suited him perfectly.
Just as he was about to nudge them along, Miroku said, "Inuyasha is right. Furthermore, Naraku surely hasn't expected us to find his location so quickly. Perhaps we can catch him off guard before he finishes setting his trap!"
"Yeah, I think so too," Aomori added.
With Miroku's explanation, no one else had any doubts. They reached a consensus to head for Mount Hakurei. Thus, with Kohaku, who knew the location, leading the way, the group set off.
…
"What? Kyokotsu is dead?"
In a courtyard filled with the fragrance of flowers, Renkotsu, disguised as a monk, spoke in surprise.
Sitting across from him, Jakotsu shrugged. "Yeah. That idiot was too flamboyant. He probably got taken out by some powerful demon who didn't like his attitude."
"Sigh. We just got resurrected and one is already dead. That leaves only five of us brothers."
"One dead leaves six, doesn't it?" Renkotsu corrected.
"Eh? Is that so?" Jakotsu started counting on his fingers.
"It doesn't matter. Where is Mukotsu?"
"Didn't Aniki say the condition for our resurrection was to deal with the pursuers for that demon Naraku?" Jakotsu said. "So Mukotsu went ahead to set an ambush. With his abilities, a single strike should do it. We might not even get a turn."
"Oh, fair enough. And Suikotsu?"
"How should I know? Maybe off killing people somewhere? Also, Aniki went off excitedly to find his precious treasure."
"Everyone running off on their own, even Aniki..." Renkotsu sighed, lamenting how hard it was to lead this team.
"What's the big deal? We've finally been resurrected; of course we should enjoy ourselves first," Jakotsu said carelessly.
"Fine. Let's go meet up with Aniki first. We'll wait for him to decide our next move."
"Alright."
"Ginkotsu, let's go," Renkotsu said to Ginkotsu, who was dazing in the courtyard.
"Oh."
…
In a village along the mandatory path to Mount Hakurei, Mukotsu lay in hiding. He planned to release his poison and wipe out Inuyasha's group when they arrived.
"I heard there are two beautiful girls among them. I'll have some fun before I kill them." The short, ugly Mukotsu grinned lecherously, licking his lips at the thought.
Suddenly, a flash of light descended from the horizon. It severed his neck in an instant and snatched away his Shikon Jewel shard, leaving behind nothing but a pile of bones.
Several miles away, Aomori's figure appeared before Inuyasha and the others. He tossed the newly acquired Shikon Jewel shard in his hand and said, "While I was scouting ahead just now, I found a trace of an enemy and took care of him. It seemed to be Mukotsu of the Shichinintai."
"That fast?!" They had only stopped to rest for a few minutes, and Aomori had already killed the enemy.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha felt like his brother, Tessaiga, was going to be upset since he hadn't even drawn his sword to cut anything today.
"What? Inuyasha, you look quite envious. Do you want Aosora-sama to leave an enemy for you next time?" Seeing Aosora's power and kind personality, Shippo immediately clung to his metaphorical leg, taking the chance to needle Inuyasha.
"Hmph, I don't deign to strike at such small fry. I'm saving my strength to cut Naraku," Inuyasha snorted.
"There are still five members of the Shichinintai left. There will be plenty of chances."
The group set off again. After traveling for a while longer, night fell. They found a cave in the mountains to rest for the night.
As a being with a divine body and boundless energy, Aomori didn't need rest. He offered to go ahead and scout the path for them.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be back by dawn. If I'm not back, don't come looking for me, just go straight to Mount Hakurei."
"Okay. Be careful!" Kagome waved goodbye.
After Aomori left, Shippo felt a bit uneasy. "Aosora-sama will be okay, right?"
"Relax. Even if something happens to us, it's unlikely anything will happen to him," Inuyasha said, eyes closed as he rested.
"Saying it like that makes me even more worried," Shippo sighed. "I feel so unsafe without Aosora-sama here."
"Yeah," Kohaku nodded slightly in deep agreement.
"Stop overthinking and get some sleep. We have to be up early tomorrow," Kagome said.
No one dared to disobey the "big sister's" orders. Except for Miroku, who was on watch, everyone else lay down and drifted into sleep.
…
In the night sky, a streak of purple lightning vanished in an instant, unnoticed by most.
"Hmm?"
On a small hillside, a cold, elegant man draped in a white fur pelt with silver-white hair looked up at the sky, letting out a soft sound of surprise.
"Sesshomaru-sama, is there something in the sky?" Jaken, holding the Staff of Two Heads, asked curiously.
"..." Sesshomaru remained looking up, silent.
"Sesshomaru-sama, is there something in the sky?" The little girl, Rin, also asked curiously.
Sesshomaru retracted his gaze and said calmly, "It's nothing. Just a powerful fellow passing by."
Jaken: "..."
This differential treatment hurt his feelings, but he quickly reacted, hopping around as if his feet were on fire. "A powerhouse acknowledged even by Sesshomaru-sama? Could it be a Daiyokai passing by?"
"It wasn't a yokai," Sesshomaru replied, a rare follow-up, before turning to continue walking.
The direction that lightning disappeared in is the same direction Naraku went. Perhaps we will cross paths.
After a few steps, Rin's sleepy voice came from behind. "Sesshomaru-sama, Rin is so sleepy."
Sesshomaru acted as if he didn't hear and kept walking, but before long, he stopped in front of a tree, sat down, and closed his eyes.
Jaken took the hint and said, "We shall rest here today."
"Okay..." Rin let out a yawn, walked to the tree, sat down against the trunk, and was soon fast asleep.
Seeing Sesshomaru unmoved, Jaken saved his breath, found a spot, and lay down. Sesshomaru opened his eyes, glanced at Rin, and closed them again.
…
Aomori, transformed into a bolt of lightning, sped toward Mount Hakurei. Before long, the silhouette of the mountain appeared in the distance. Shrouded in mist, Mount Hakurei loomed mysteriously.
"Such a scent of holiness." Even from afar, Aomori could sense the extraordinary divine aura of the mountain. "It feels quite similar to my Holy Light. That monk had some skill."
Aomori was in no hurry to enter the mountain. He expanded his Mind's Eye, wandered the vicinity for a bit, and soon discovered his target in front of a village. A smile played on his lips as he flew directly toward it.
…
Under the night sky stood a woman in shrine maiden robes. She had pitch-black eyes, an oval face, and long, silky black hair tied with a simple white ribbon in a traditional hime-cut style. Her appearance was strikingly similar to Kagome's. She was the most powerful priestess of this era, Kikyo.
Having tragically fallen due to Naraku's scheme, she had been resurrected using a clay body as a vessel. Now, she too was searching for and seeking to destroy Naraku.
In the breeze, Kikyo's expression was indifferent. She gazed at Mount Hakurei in the distance and sighed softly. After standing still for a long time, she pulled a lock of white hair from her sleeve. This was something an old man she had met had given her before he died. The old man, who had committed many sins in his youth, yearned for salvation at the end of his life. He had begged Kikyo to take his hair to Mount Hakurei to be buried.
"I'm sorry. I may have to break my word," Kikyo said quietly.
The sacred aura of Mount Hakurei was repelling Kikyo, who was now one of the deceased. She could not advance further; if she did, the borrowed souls within her would flee, and she would lose her ability to move.
Kikyo turned to leave. Shortly after, she arrived at a small village. Just as she was about to enter, a white figure descended from the sky and landed before her.
She really does look like Kagome, but she's easy to distinguish. The difference in temperament is too vast, Aomori thought as he observed the legendary priestess. Such an ethereal priestess... I really don't know what kind of luck Inuyasha had to be able to pull her down into the mortal realm.
Meanwhile, Kikyo was also observing this "person" who had suddenly appeared. Not human, not a demon. With such a sacred aura, could he be that person?
After a moment of silence, Kikyo asked first, "Might you be the Saint Hakushin?"
"No, I'm not that old monk," Aosora smiled. "I sensed an aura similar to Kagome-san's and came over. You must be Kikyo."
"Yes," Kikyo nodded slightly. "You know Kagome?"
"My name is Aosora. I'm traveling with Kagome, Inuyasha, and the others. We're heading to Mount Hakurei to find Naraku."
When Inuyasha's name was mentioned, Aomori could clearly sense a slight disturbance in Kikyo's aura.
"Naraku is on Mount Hakurei?"
"Almost certainly. How does that nursery rhyme go again?"
"The pure is the tainted, the tainted is the pure."
"Exactly."
As they spoke, some villagers arrived, carrying a wounded man into the village. Seeing this, Kikyo frowned.
"Go if you want to. Don't mind me," Aomori said.
"Then, excuse me." Kikyo nodded slightly and followed the villagers into the village.
Smiling, Aomori followed her inside.