"Ah,!"
The boat lurched forward with a sudden, violent burst of speed. Caught completely off guard, Kagome cried out as everyone aboard lost their balance, nearly being flung overboard.
At that critical moment, several thick vines suddenly sprouted from beneath the planks. Like living things, they coiled around everyone's waists, firmly securing them in place.
What should have been a long journey across the lake lasted only a few minutes. The small island was already right in front of them, its shoreline and jagged reefs clearly visible through the mist.
"Be careful!" Shintaro clung tightly to the side of the boat, his voice urgent. "There are hidden reefs all around the island. If the bottom of the boat hits,"
BOOM!!
A heavy, muffled crash rang out from beneath the hull.
The entire boat shuddered violently, and everyone's expressions changed at once,they instinctively thought the boat was about to break apart.
But the next instant, they realized,
The hull was completely intact.
Instead, the sound of rocks cracking and shattering echoed from beneath the water.
Kagetsu didn't even blink. Wood created through Wood Release was far tougher than ordinary timber,strong enough to withstand ninjutsu. A few submerged reefs were nothing.
Even so, the force of the impact launched the boat slightly into the air before it landed with a thud on the muddy shore, sliding forward a short distance before finally coming to a stop.
"Alright,safe landing!"
Standing at the stern, he clapped his hands and announced it like a job well done.
Inuyasha was the first to jump off. When he turned back, he found Kagome, Sango, and Miroku still clinging to the sides of the boat, their faces pale.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
"…My legs are a little weak," Miroku admitted, rubbing his dizzy head. He glanced helplessly at the completely unfazed Inuyasha and Kagetsu.
Kagetsu casually lifted Shintaro and set him down on the ground, then turned to pick up Kikyo and jump off the boat.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Kikyo's legs gave out, and she fell straight into his arms.
She looked up at him, eyes narrowed, and pinched his waist sharply.
"You,!"
Kagetsu froze. He hadn't expected that kind of reaction.
Seeing that everyone except Inuyasha was still recovering against the boat, he wisely chose not to argue. Instead, he supported Kikyo quietly, letting her regain her footing.
The island itself was barren,aside from a few scattered shrubs, there was almost no cover. From where they stood, they could clearly see an old wooden Buddhist hall at the center.
"That's the saint's hall," Shintaro said, taking the lead as he pointed ahead.
But before they could get far,
Something on the ground caught their attention.
A skeleton.
Its clothing was still intact, but the body had long since turned to bone.
"…Those are my father's clothes…"
Shintaro's pupils shrank. He collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the remains as his voice trembled.
"…Dad…"
Kagome immediately rushed forward, pulling him into her arms and gently covering his eyes.
"Don't look… it's okay. We're here."
Miroku stepped closer and examined the skeleton carefully. His expression grew grim.
"He only came here half a month ago… yet the body has already decomposed to this extent. That's far too fast."
Kikyo crouched beside the remains, calmly observing the marks on the bones.
"These wounds…" she said quietly. "He was most likely killed by a demon. But due to the purification barrier surrounding Mount Hakurei, any demonic aura has already been erased."
"It must've been Naraku's minions!" Inuyasha growled, gripping Tessaiga as he scanned their surroundings.
"But why would demons come here?" Kagome asked softly, still soothing Shintaro.
"What else could they want?" Kagetsu said, his gaze fixed on the distant hall. "The only thing of value on this island… is Saint Hakushin's preserved body."
Everyone's expressions shifted.
Without another word, they quickened their pace toward the hall.
Shintaro swallowed his grief and followed, his fists clenched tightly.
For generations, his family had been entrusted with guarding the saint. If something had happened to it… the responsibility would be unbearable.
As they approached, they saw that the door to the hall had been smashed open, hanging crookedly from its frame.
Someone had forced their way inside.
When they entered, the scene confirmed their fears.
The interior was in disarray,offerings scattered, tables overturned.
And at the center,
The altar was empty.
"Saint Hakushin is gone!" Shintaro cried out, pointing at the vacant space. "He was always enshrined right there!"
Then his eyes fell on something nearby.
A khakkhara lay wedged beneath an overturned offering table.
He ran over, his hands trembling as he reached for it.
"This… this is the staff my father brought with him when he came here…" he whispered. "It was also one of the saint's ritual tools…"
Miroku looked around the ruined hall, his voice heavy.
"The saint's body is gone… and combined with the strange lights seen half a month ago,it must have been taken by Naraku."
"Why would Naraku want a dried-up monk?" Inuyasha muttered, glancing at the empty altar.
"Watch your mouth," Miroku said sharply. "This is a sacred place."
Kikyo rose to her feet, her eyes scanning the traces left behind.
"It likely has to do with the purification barrier surrounding Mount Hakurei," she said slowly. "Naraku cannot enter such a place directly. But if he uses Saint Hakushin's remains… he may be able to conceal himself within the barrier."
"So his goal is the saint's spiritual power," she concluded. "That's why he came here."
Shintaro tightened his grip on the staff and looked up at them.
"The one who stole the saint… is named Naraku?"
"Yes," Miroku nodded. "The strange lights seen half a month ago were most likely him."
He gently pulled the staff free from the floor and handed it to the boy.
"Your father died fighting Naraku's subordinates… trying to protect the saint."
Shintaro's hands trembled slightly as he accepted it,but his eyes grew steadier.
"So… Father died protecting Saint Hakushin…"
He looked down at the staff, then clenched it firmly.
"That was his duty as village chief."
After a brief pause, he looked up again.
"He wasn't punished by the gods… was he?"
"No," Kagome, Sango, and Miroku answered at once, their voices firm.
"He wasn't."
They searched the island briefly, but aside from the destroyed hall, there were no further traces left behind.
Eventually, they regrouped outside.
"Since the saint's body has been taken and there's nothing left here," Inuyasha said, looking toward the mist-covered mountain in the distance, "we're heading to Mount Hakurei. We'll find out what Naraku's planning there."
Miroku nodded. "First, I'll help collect your father's remains."
"I'll help too," Sango added immediately.
Meanwhile, Kagetsu, Kikyo, Inuyasha, and Kagome returned to the shore and prepared to push the wooden boat back into the water.
"Haah!"
With a shout, Inuyasha shoved the boat forward, sending it sliding back into the lake.
Soon, Miroku and Sango returned with Shintaro. In his arms, the boy carried a white cloth bundle,his father's remains.
After everyone boarded,Kagetsu stepped toward the stern.
But before he could do anything,Kikyo and Kagome exchanged a glance.
Then, at the exact same time, both of them pressed down on his shoulders, firmly forcing him to sit.
"…I,"
"Sit," Kikyo said flatly, gripping his arm tightly. "You're not going anywhere."
Kagome turned to the others. "Inuyasha, Miroku,you two row."
"…Fine."
The two of them exchanged a look, then picked up the poles and began pushing the boat away from shore.
As the boat slowly moved across the water,
Everyone, almost unconsciously, let out a sigh of relief.
Their expressions visibly relaxed.
Seeing how tightly he was being restrained, Kagetsu immediately understood.
No more high-speed boating.
He sighed and sat obediently under their watchful gaze.
Compared to the reckless dash on the way there, the return trip was much slower.
But aside from Kagetsu, no one complained.
In fact… this felt far safer.
After reaching the shore, they bid farewell to Shintaro and left the wooden boat behind for him.
Then, without delay,The group set off once more.
This time, their destination was clear.
Mount Hakurei.