"So this is the mummified body of Saint Hakushin,the one sheltering Naraku?"
Kagetsu stood before the lotus throne, studying the corpse with slightly raised brows.
The skin was shriveled and blackened, clinging tightly to bone. Deep, hollow eye sockets stared forward like empty pits, giving off an indescribably eerie presence.
He clicked his tongue.
"Inuyasha was right… this really is just a dried-up corpse."
Truth be told, this sight alone brought back a bit of old psychological discomfort for him.
Ordinary mummies were often gilded, turned into golden figures of reverence.
This one, however…
Was grotesque.
More like a demon than a saint.
"Who goes there? How dare you trespass upon sacred ground!"
A low, hoarse voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
From those empty eye sockets,
A pair of bloodshot, orange-yellow eyeballs emerged, pupils shrunk to pinpoints as they locked onto Kagetsu and Kikyo.
The already horrifying figure gained an even darker, more sinister aura.
Being stared at like that, Kagetsu had to suppress the urge to burn it on the spot with Amaterasu.
"Looking like this, how are you not something evil?" he muttered.
"Don't speak so carelessly."
Kikyo shot him a look before stepping forward, placing herself slightly in front of him. She bowed respectfully toward the altar.
"You are Saint Hakushin, correct?"
"That is correct," the mummy replied calmly. "I am Hakushin."
His gaze shifted to her.
"Priestess… why have you come?"
"The barrier surrounding this sacred land,it was created by you, wasn't it?" Kikyo asked, meeting his gaze steadily. "You were once a revered monk. Why would you aid Naraku and allow him to hide here?"
"You must already know what he truly is."
"I do," Hakushin said flatly.
"But whether Naraku is evil… is of no concern to me. I act only according to my own will."
"You,"
Kikyo stepped forward, clearly intending to press further,
But Kagetsu reached out and gently stopped her.
"That's enough," he said quietly. "No need to continue."
"…But,"
"Trust me," Kagetsu said, giving her hand a small squeeze. "He chose his path long ago."
Kikyo hesitated, then finally nodded.
"…Alright."
Kagetsu let out a quiet breath.
He knew very well,if this continued, Kikyo might actually succeed in changing Hakushin's heart, just like in the original story.
But not now.
Not while they still needed this barrier intact.
Hakushin's gaze turned toward Kagetsu.
"Who are you? And why have you come here?"
"Nothing complicated," Kagetsu replied calmly. "We were entrusted with a request."
He glanced at Kikyo.
"A man burdened with heavy sins asked, before his death, that his hair be brought here,so that his soul might find peace in this sacred place."
Understanding, Kikyo stepped forward and placed Kansuke's white hair upon the altar.
"…Redemption…"
Hakushin lowered his gaze.
Within those eerie eyes, something shifted.
Confusion.
Pain.
Fear.
All of it slowly settled into a deep, heavy sorrow.
He closed his eyes.
The next moment,
The lock of white hair began to glow softly, transforming into a sphere of gentle light that slowly floated upward.
Kagetsu watched silently.
That light… was Kansuke's soul, finally finding release.
At the same time,
The purification power surrounding Hakushin surged.
In Kagetsu's hand, the Banryū suddenly shone brilliantly.
The lingering resentment,the demonic energy, the countless grudges of those it had slain,
All of it drifted upward alongside the light.
Washed away.
Completely purified.
Kagetsu looked at the blade, a hint of surprise crossing his face.
The malevolent aura was gone.
Different skills for different fields.
If it came to combat, Kagetsu had no doubt he could cut through this barrier and destroy Hakushin.
But this,
This kind of purification and salvation…
He couldn't replicate it.
Hakushin, in life, had buried himself alive to become a living Buddha,sacrificing everything to protect people suffering from war and famine.
He might not have been strong in battle.
But when it came to redeeming souls,
He was unmatched.
The Banryū was now clean,its evil energy gone.
Still, it remained a true demonic blade.
Its power would return in time.
Kagetsu had long since realized something about weapons in this world,
Demonic swords weren't just tools.
They were closer to living beings.
They contained their own demonic energy.
That was why even humans like Bankotsu could wield them,the power came from the blade itself.
But that also meant,If the blade was too strong, a weak wielder could easily be consumed by it.
Controlled.
Turned into a puppet.
"Since you've chosen to protect Naraku," Kagetsu said, resting the blade on his shoulder, "then as his enemies… we have no choice but to stand against you."
With that, he took Kikyo's hand and turned to leave.
"…Kagetsu," Kikyo murmured softly as she glanced back at Hakushin, who had returned to stillness.
"What are you planning?"
"I'll tell you once we're out," Kagetsu replied quietly. "First… we're going to meet someone."
They had only taken a few steps,
When a small figure appeared in the corridor ahead.
A pale, white-haired girl stood silently, holding a mirror.
Her expression was empty.
It was Kanna.
"Kanna…?" Kikyo said, surprised. "You're here too? Did Naraku send you?"
"To stop you."
Her voice was completely devoid of emotion.
The mirror in her hands began to glow faintly.
Kagetsu immediately felt a force tugging faintly at his soul,
But it was weak.
Very weak.
He glanced at Kikyo.
She seemed completely unaffected as well.
Kanna continued, expressionless, making no attempt to increase her power.
Kagetsu understood instantly.
She wasn't really trying.
Just like Kagura.
This was nothing more than a performance,for Naraku's sake.
He smiled faintly.
"Tell Kagura to be careful," he said casually. "Don't die."
Before the words had even fully settled,
He activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In an instant, both he and Kikyo vanished.
Kanna stood there silently, staring at the now-empty corridor.
After a moment, she lowered her mirror.
Her small figure gradually faded into the surrounding mist,
Until she, too, disappeared without a trace.