"How did Naraku end up like that? And… has the Shikon Jewel disappeared?" Inuyasha asked while staring at the giant spider in the distance, currently being surrounded by Kasage's Six Paths puppets.
"Something like that," Kasage replied calmly. "I already extracted Midoriko's soul from the Shikon Jewel. Naraku has now absorbed every yōkai soul inside it, which is why he transformed into that monster."
He turned toward Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and the others.
"For now, I'll leave Naraku to all of you. Once I finish reviving Enju and Midoriko, I'll join the battle immediately."
As he spoke, his eyes shifted toward Mugen Byakuya.
Cracks had already spread across Mugen Byakuya's body, and it looked like he could collapse at any moment.
"Now that Naraku has completely fused with the Shikon Jewel, Mugen Byakuya won't last much longer," Kasage said seriously. "I need to make him use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique before he disappears."
"Don't worry about it!" Inuyasha grinned as he raised Tessaiga onto his shoulder, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "It's finally time to settle things with Naraku once and for all!"
"Yeah, Inuyasha!" Shippo shouted excitedly, pumping his fists.
"Shippo, you're staying here."
Before he could move, Inuyasha planted a foot directly on Shippo's head and pinned him to the ground.
"W-Why?! Why am I being left behind?!" Shippo yelled while kicking his legs wildly.
"The current Naraku fused with all the yōkai inside the jewel," Inuyasha said bluntly. "He's way too dangerous. Don't go rushing into this mess, brat."
"This fight is different from before, Shippo," Sango added with a serious expression.
"Naraku isn't even close to normal anymore," Miroku said quietly. "He's become a true monster."
"I'm already busy protecting Kagome," Inuyasha added without mercy. "I don't have time to babysit you too."
"Kagome…" Shippo looked at her pitifully, eyes full of hope.
Kagome gave him an apologetic smile and shook her head.
"Sorry, Shippo. Listen to Inuyasha this time."
The little fox yōkai instantly deflated and stared gloomily at the ground.
"Don't worry!" Inuyasha said confidently as he removed his foot. "I'll cut Naraku down soon enough."
He turned and started walking toward the battlefield.
"Kohaku, you stay here too," Sango said gently to her younger brother.
"Sister…" Kohaku tightened his grip on his kusarigama, clearly wanting to fight beside her.
But after seeing the worry in Sango's eyes, he finally lowered his head slightly.
"…Alright. I'll wait for you to come back."
"Boring."
Sesshomaru glanced coldly at the noisy group before walking toward Naraku without another word.
"Rin. Jaken. Stay here."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin and Jaken answered immediately.
Just then, Totosai suddenly called out from nearby while hammering away at something.
"Wait a second, Sesshomaru!"
He tossed over a white scabbard.
"I just finished making this for Bakusaiga. Try it out!"
Sesshomaru caught it effortlessly and slid Bakusaiga into the sheath.
Perfect fit.
As expected of Totosai.
Sesshomaru secured the sword at his waist before continuing toward the distant battlefield without another word.
"Let's go too!" Inuyasha shouted after him.
Then he looked toward Koga, who was struggling to stand.
"Hey, Wolf-boy. Stay here and recover. I don't need dead weight slowing me down."
Koga immediately looked irritated.
"Koga," Kagome said softly, "just rest here. We can handle Naraku and the Shikon Jewel."
"…Tch."
A frustrated look crossed Koga's face, but he knew his injuries were serious.
"Fine," he growled. "But you better kill that bastard Naraku."
"We will," Kagome replied firmly before hurrying after Inuyasha.
"Kasage, Kagura and I are going ahead too," Kikyo said quietly.
She handed the unconscious Midoriko to Enju before climbing onto Blazing Hoof.
Kasage nodded slightly.
"Be careful."
At the same time, he directed Abihime to accompany Kikyo for protection.
"Kasage, Kanna will stay here," Kagura said as she stepped onto her feather. "We're leaving first."
Kasage gave a small nod.
Kanna's combat abilities weren't suited for a battle of this scale unless she unleashed the Mirror Demon. But with so many powerful fighters already present, there was no need for that risk.
Kasage glanced around the area.
An injured Koga.
An elderly swordsmith like Totosai.
Shippo, Rin, Kohaku, and the others.
It was practically a group made up of children, injured people, and non-combatants.
"Lord Kasage," Enju asked while carefully holding Midoriko, "why hasn't Lady Midoriko awakened yet?"
"That's normal," Kasage answered calmly. "She fought inside the Shikon Jewel for hundreds of years. After having her soul forcibly removed, she naturally needs time to recover."
He paused before adding:
"It won't interfere with the resurrection. She can wake afterward."
Then Kasage looked toward Enju seriously.
"Are you ready?"
As soon as his words fell, he activated the Transcription Seal inside Mugen Byakuya's eyes.
The Mangekyo Sharingan appeared briefly before transforming into the pale purple Rinnegan.
At the same time, Kasage controlled Mugen Byakuya through the black receivers, forcing his hands into rapid seals.
"Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."
The moment the jutsu activated, Mugen Byakuya's life force and chakra began draining rapidly.
Kasage immediately poured his own chakra through the black receivers to sustain the technique.
Even with his awakened Rinnegan and Hashirama cells greatly boosting his chakra reserves, the consumption still felt overwhelming.
To fully focus his power, he even withdrew several Six Paths puppets from the battlefield against Naraku.
"Eh?!"
Enju suddenly gasped.
A faint white glow had appeared around both her clay body and Midoriko's.
Crack… crack…
Tiny fractures spread across the surface of the clay bodies.
"It's cracking!" Jaken shouted in shock.
Nearby, Shippo, Kohaku, and the others stared with wide eyes.
Within moments, both clay bodies became completely covered in cracks before shattering apart into countless fragments of glowing light.
The fragments floated gently away like fireflies.
And beneath that fading light—
Two real bodies appeared.
Warm skin.
Soft breathing.
The unmistakable presence of life.
"I… really came back…"
Enju raised trembling fingers to touch her own cheek.
The warmth.
The softness.
The feeling of truly being alive again.
Tears immediately filled her eyes and rolled down her face.
Beside her, Midoriko's brows twitched slightly.
As life returned to her body, the long-slumbering priestess slowly opened her eyes.
Her sacred gaze was still filled with confusion, as though she had not fully awakened from centuries of endless battle and darkness inside the Shikon Jewel.