"Ah—!"
A shrill scream tore through the sky as Naraku's Corruption was instantly cleaved in two by the **Tenseiga** in Sesshomaru's hand.
"Good!"
Seeing Naraku's Corruption split apart, Inuyasha finally relaxed, his tense nerves easing as he slightly lowered the Tessaiga.
But that moment of relief lasted only an instant.
The severed Corruption suddenly abandoned half of its body, letting it dissolve into wicked energy. Its true form blurred, then surged forward the very moment Inuyasha let his guard down.
"Die!"
Inuyasha's pupils shrank. Instinctively, he swung his blade—but the Tessaiga passed straight through Naraku's Corruption as if cutting through air.
A chilling, sinister force pierced into his body.
In an instant, Naraku's Corruption possessed him.
"Oh no! Naraku's Corruption has entered Inuyasha's body!" Shippo cried out from Kirara's back, shocking everyone nearby.
Inuyasha lowered his head. When he looked up again, his once-clear eyes had turned blood-red, filled with madness and cold killing intent.
A twisted smile curled on his lips as he pointed Tessaiga at Sesshomaru. But the voice that came out was not his own—it was Naraku's Corruption.
"Sesshomaru… what will you do? Kill this half-Yokai?"
"Naraku's Corruption… you chose the wrong host."
Sesshomaru's expression remained cold and composed. He looked at Inuyasha without hesitation.
"I will kill you along with him."
Despite his words, Sesshomaru did not draw Bakusaiga. He kept Tenseiga in hand.
"Heh… if you used Bakusaiga, this half-Yokai would die instantly, wouldn't he?"
Naraku's Corruption sneered through Inuyasha, eyes mocking.
"Why Tenseiga? Showing mercy to your younger brother?"
"Hmph."
Sesshomaru snorted, impatience flashing in his golden eyes—but he did not deny it. Slowly, he raised Tenseiga.
"I have never acknowledged this half-Yokai as my brother."
Before the words faded, he vanished—reappearing instantly before Inuyasha.
**Clang!**
The collision of Tenseiga and Tessaiga rang out sharply, sparks flying in all directions.
The two figures blurred across the battlefield, their blades clashing repeatedly in rapid succession.
Sesshomaru held back, wary of harming Inuyasha.
But Inuyasha—controlled by Naraku's Corruption—showed no such restraint. He fought recklessly, trading injury for injury without hesitation.
---
"Kikyo… let's move closer."
Abihime lowered her voice, speaking quietly beside her.
"At the right moment, use the Kotodama beads to restrain Inuyasha. I'll draw Naraku's Corruption out."
Kikyo glanced at her, calm but resolute.
"…Understood."
She set down her sacred bow beside Kagome and stepped forward, standing at Abihime's side.
A crimson aura of Yokai power wrapped around them as flames flickered beneath their feet. Silently, they approached the battlefield.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, locked in fierce combat, noticed nothing.
---
Their blades collided once more before they separated.
Sesshomaru's gaze hardened.
"Hmph… if you won't kill him, then die!"
Naraku's Corruption smirked viciously. Suddenly, Tessaiga transformed—its blade turning pitch black.
"Meido Zangetsuha—!"
"Sit."
Kikyo's cold voice cut through the air.
At once, the Kotodama beads around Inuyasha's neck flared with brilliant white light. A tremendous force pressed down on him.
"What—?!"
His body froze mid-motion. The next instant, he slammed violently into the ground, sending dust soaring into the sky.
Sesshomaru halted his strike, glancing down at Inuyasha—then briefly toward Kikyo, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He had seen this before… when Kagome used the Kotodama to stop Inuyasha under So'unga's control.
But Kikyo… could do it as well.
---
"Summoning Technique!"
Abihime seized the moment, forming hand seals.
A cloud of white smoke burst outward—and from it emerged a massive white Yokai: the Iron Chicken.
Its enormous wings beat violently as it descended, razor-sharp claws cutting through the air with a piercing screech.
"The Iron Chicken?!" Miroku, Sango, and Shippo exclaimed in shock.
As Inuyasha struggled to rise, a massive shadow loomed over him.
The Iron Chicken's claws slammed down, pinning him firmly to the ground.
**Boom!**
The earth shattered beneath him as his body was driven deep into the soil, completely immobilized.
"Damn it!"
Naraku's Corruption fought desperately, but the Iron Chicken's immense strength and Yokai power held him fast.
Seeing this, the Corruption sneered.
"You're afraid of hurting him… aren't you? Then you can't do anything to me!"
---
Suddenly, the Iron Chicken opened its massive beak.
Inside stood a pale girl in white—holding a mirror.
"Kanna," Abihime called firmly,
"pull Naraku's Corruption out of Inuyasha."
Kanna nodded silently.
In an instant, she vanished—reappearing atop the Iron Chicken.
Raising her mirror, she pointed it toward Inuyasha.
"Come out… Naraku's Corruption…"
The mirror glowed.
A powerful suction force erupted from it, pulling at Inuyasha's body.
Naraku's Corruption felt it immediately—its very soul being torn free.
"No—! Damn it!"
It struggled wildly, but it was useless.
---
"Kanna…?"
Kohaku's eyes widened in disbelief.
"She really betrayed Naraku…" Sango murmured. "Kagome was right…"
Miroku narrowed his eyes at the mirror.
"Kanna's power is perfect against this… Her mirror extracts souls. And Naraku's Corruption is formed from the souls of Yokai within the Shikon Jewel."
---
The Corruption was dragged out completely, writhing in midair—trapped by the mirror's pull.
"Die."
Sesshomaru moved instantly.
In a flash, he appeared behind it. Tenseiga struck—its blade cutting through the corrupted soul with precise, radiant slashes.
"…This is your end."
Sesshomaru sheathed his sword slowly, watching coldly as Naraku's Corruption began to fade.
"No… impossible… how could I lose… to you…"
Its voice grew weaker… until it vanished entirely.
Silence fell.
Naraku's Corruption was gone.