"What? The Shikon Jewel fragments were stolen?!"
Uchiha Retsu stared blankly at Kagome, who was sitting in front of him with an awkward expression, his face filled with disbelief.
How long had it even been? And Naraku had already snatched the Shikon Jewel fragments from her hands?
At this moment, he and Kikyo had just arrived at Kaede's village.
Originally, he had planned to ask Kagome to help order some custom kunai from the modern world. But after being interrupted by Kanna's matter, and after letting her go, he decided to make a trip to Kaede's village first.
When Kikyo heard his plan, she decided to come along as well. Since being revived, she hadn't returned to the village yet and wanted to see her younger sister, Kaede.
However, after they arrived and met Inuyasha's group, they learned that Inuyasha was currently recovering from his injuries.
When Kagome saw Kikyo, her face turned awkward, and she soon told them about the stolen fragments.
Unlike Retsu's shocked expression, Kikyo quickly guessed the reason. She sneered lightly and said,
"Naraku must urgently need the power of the Shikon Jewel.
"It seems your technique is still affecting him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to steal Kagome's fragments."
"Kikyo, do you mean… Naraku hasn't recovered from being used as a sacrifice, so he desperately needs the Jewel's power?"
Kagome froze for a moment, then looked at Kikyo with delight.
She had personally seen Naraku's withered body and gray hair when he left back then. She immediately understood what Kikyo meant.
"If that's the case, then it makes sense," Retsu nodded. Then he turned to Kagome curiously. "So how exactly were your fragments taken?"
Kagome scratched her head, looking even more embarrassed.
"They were taken by… a white-haired little girl."
"A white-haired little girl?" Retsu froze.
Kikyo beside him also looked surprised. She exchanged a glance with Retsu and quickly asked,
"Was she holding a mirror?"
"Yes!" Kagome nodded immediately. "You've met her too?"
"Mm," Kikyo replied. "Retsu found and captured her yesterday. Her name is Kanna. She works for Naraku."
"Kanna? You caught her?" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Did you kill her?"
"No," Kikyo answered calmly. "We asked her a few questions. Seeing that she wasn't malicious, we let her go."
"Let… let her go?!"
Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango all stared in disbelief.
"Mm." Retsu nodded, offering no explanation. He changed the subject and asked Kagome again,
"Tell me in detail how the fragments were stolen."
Kagome recalled what happened and began recounting everything.
After listening, Retsu finally understood the whole story.
Not long ago, Inuyasha's group had broken into Naraku's castle and encountered another incarnation—Kagura.
Just like in the original events, Naraku tricked Inuyasha into fighting Koga. After being injured, Inuyasha turned to battle Kagura.
The difference this time was that Kagura hadn't come alone. Kanna was with her.
Kagura was responsible for drawing attention, while Kanna's task was to seize Kagome's fragments.
At the moment Inuyasha used Wind Scar to wound Kagura, the unsuspecting Kagome was ambushed by Kanna, who snatched the Jewel fragments.
Kagura, nearly killed by Wind Scar, realized that Naraku had been using her as a test subject.
Angry, she didn't linger. She retreated quickly with Kanna and the fragments.
After hearing everything, Retsu understood how Naraku had succeeded.
With Kanna's silent and undetectable ability, stealing the fragments from an unguarded Kagome was incredibly easy.
"Alright, I get it," Retsu nodded.
Looking at Kagome, who seemed dejected, he comforted her,
"If they're stolen, they're stolen. We can just collect them again later.
"Kanna's ability is too special. You're not to blame for losing them."
"Retsu, you know about Kanna's powers?" Sango asked curiously.
"More or less," Retsu replied.
"Her core ability is 'nothingness.' No demonic aura, no scent, and she can even ignore most barriers against demons.
"Someone like Inuyasha, who relies on smell, can't detect her at all."
Thinking of the mirror, he added,
"Also, that mirror she carries contains mirror-demon abilities. Kikyo said it can absorb souls and reflect damage. Be careful if you meet her again."
"Big sister, will you stay for dinner?"
At this moment, Old Lady Kaede walked in and asked Kikyo.
"Yes," Kikyo nodded after thinking. "It's been a long time since we ate together. I'll help."
As she walked over, she suddenly turned back to Retsu.
"Give me the deer you caught earlier."
"Alright," Retsu replied. He took out a storage scroll from the Kamui space and unrolled it.
"Poof!"
With chakra infused, smoke burst from the scroll, and a freshly killed sika deer appeared.
Seeing this, Kikyo tossed a small bear-shaped wooden carving onto the ground.
The carving expanded instantly, transforming into a shrunken black bear—her shikigami, Kuromaru.
Kuromaru lifted the deer onto its back and followed Kikyo outside.
"What was that?!" Kagome exclaimed in amazement.
"That's a shikigami," Miroku explained.
Seeing everyone look at him, he continued,
"There are generally two ways to make shikigami.
"One is by fusing a demon's soul with demonic power to create a combat shikigami. It retains the demon's original abilities, so strong demons are usually chosen.
"But it's dangerous. If the user isn't strong enough, they can be backfired by it."
He glanced toward the door.
"Miss Kikyo's bear has obvious demonic energy. It should be made that way."
"That's scary…" Shippo shrank back.
"Relax," Inuyasha snorted. "You're so weak, no one would bother turning you into a shikigami."
"Kagome!" Shippo immediately complained.
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