"Reverse Four Symbols Sealing!"
As Kagetsu's voice rang out, black liquid surged from his body, weaving into intricate Four Symbols Sealing incantations in midair. A translucent, jet-black spherical barrier formed, rapidly expanding.
In an instant, it engulfed everything nearby: the lake water, Kamihime in her grey mist form, and Naraku's grotesque, partially severed body.
Kamihime, being closest, was caught almost immediately. Naraku, however, acted decisively. The moment he saw the barrier forming, he abandoned the parts of his body within its range, accelerating his escape with his remaining upper half.
"What are you doing?!" Kamihime's voice trembled with panic as the black incantations expanded. She hurriedly extracted herself from Kagetsu's body, pulling every wisp of her essence outward. She had realized,these two men were far more treacherous than she imagined. If she didn't escape now, she'd be finished.
"It's useless. You can't escape," Kagetsu said coolly, a faint mocking smile curling his lips. "Since you like my body so much… why not remain sealed inside it?"
"You lunatic!!" Kamihime screamed, transforming her last wisp of mist into a grey shadow and propelling herself toward the barrier's edge.
But Kagetsu remained calm, unmoving. The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing had already deployed,she couldn't leave its radius.
"Kagetsu, what's happening? Do you need help?" Kikyo asked on the shore, noticing the sudden expansion of the black sphere at the lake's center. She gripped her longbow tightly, worry flashing in her eyes.
"It's fine," the Shadow Clone replied calmly. "It's a sealing technique. Kamihime absorbed the Celestial Maiden's immortal powers, making her very difficult to kill. I'm sealing her." He added nonchalantly, "Naraku's nearby, too. If he fails to escape, he'll just be trapped along with her."
Kikyo nodded, relief settling over her. Kagetsu wasn't exaggerating.
Back when he had acquired the training scroll for the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing, he realized it wasn't as deadly as rumored.
It was almost identical to the standard Four Symbols Seal, except the effect direction was reversed. The normal Four Symbols Seal expanded outward to trap targets. The Reverse version contracted inward, sealing everything within range into the caster's body.
Aside from consuming a large amount of chakra, it didn't cost the caster their life,contrary to the tales of Danzo dying while sealing a bridge. Danzo had been near death and exhausted of chakra; the technique itself wasn't fatal.
Interestingly, the seal acted much like a Jinchuriki's: once the caster died, the seal could not be reopened. That was why it was often used to protect one's secrets in life-or-death situations.
The Reverse Four Symbols Seal on Kagetsu's body was one he had set up before the Fourth Great Ninja War. Back then, he thought it might be a last-ditch tactic: if he died, at least he could drag an enemy down with him. It had proven mostly useless,the time from activation to completion was too long.
Now, however, it would serve its purpose perfectly: sealing Kamihime, the unkillable Celestial Maiden.
Kamihime surged to the barrier's edge, laughing wildly.
"Kagetsu! I've escaped! Once I find a new body, I will kill you!"
She lunged toward the barrier.
Thud!
Her misty form slammed into the black sphere. The seemingly fragile barrier stood unyielding, immovable, a flawless shield.
"Let me out!!" she screamed, striking it repeatedly,but it was useless.
On the other side, Naraku,having sacrificed his lower half,had managed to escape the sealing radius. Only his upper body remained as he fled desperately.
Hearing Kamihime's furious cries, he glanced back but dared not stop. Kagetsu wouldn't allow him to escape easily.
Sure enough, the black barrier expanded at terrifying speed. What had once grown like a gentle wave now surged like a tsunami, consuming everything within dozens of meters.
Splash,!
The lake churned violently as the seal expanded, devouring all within its path.
Naraku's pupils contracted sharply as the approaching darkness engulfed him. His speed was insufficient.
"Damn it!" he growled, swelling his body, and BOOM! With a self-destructive explosion, he left only his head behind, using the force to propel himself like a streak of light.
The remnants of his lower half were instantly swallowed by the black barrier.
"Naraku! You disgusting half-demon!!" Kamihime roared, furious. She lunged toward the edge once more,but Naraku's detritus smeared her, and the shockwave shoved her back to the center, plunging her into despair.
Then, almost instantly, the black barrier contracted.
What had taken moments to expand now shrank in the blink of an eye,sweeping Kamihime, Naraku's remains, and the surrounding water into Kagetsu's body.
A complex black sealing incantation appeared on his chest, slowly fading beneath his skin.
Swoosh,
The displaced lake water rushed back with tremendous force, sending waves crashing outward. Kagetsu swayed atop the water, the Reverse Four Symbols Seal fully complete.
Kamihime and Naraku were now imprisoned within him.