"You absolutely have to shoot through that star-shaped beam of light… please!"
Kagome gripped the azusa spirit bow tightly, her fingertips turning pale from the pressure. The Demon-Slaying Arrow was firmly aimed at the six-pointed star pattern that had appeared on Midoriko's chest, while she prayed silently.
Not long ago, she had noticed countless strands of spider silk spreading across the sky above the village.
So they went to investigate.
There, inside the shrine, they discovered the shrine maiden Midoriko—resurrected and being controlled by Naraku.
She had fallen into Naraku's trap and was dragged alone into Midoriko's barrier.
Under Naraku's control, Midoriko was forced to fight her.
Now Kagome had been pushed into a cruel choice—either be killed by Midoriko, or kill her with her own hands, letting darkness take root in her heart.
But thanks to Midoriko's warning, she finally understood what she needed to do.
"Go… you have to succeed!"
Kagome shouted softly and released the bowstring without hesitation.
The Demon-Slaying Arrow, shining with brilliant spiritual power, shot forward like a meteor toward Midoriko's chest, her body still restrained by Naraku's spider silk.
"Hmph."
Seeing Kagome finally release the arrow, Naraku, hidden behind Midoriko, revealed a satisfied smirk.
Once Kagome killed Midoriko with her own hands, her soul would be tainted.
And her spiritual power would no longer be a threat.
But just as the arrow was about to strike—
It suddenly flashed with a blinding light…
And vanished.
"The arrow… disappeared?"
Naraku's expression froze. His eyes locked onto the empty space where the arrow had been, filled with shock.
In the next instant—
The space behind Midoriko lit up with radiant spiritual energy.
The vanished arrow reappeared from thin air, bypassing Midoriko entirely, and shot straight toward Naraku with unstoppable force.
Before he could react—
It pierced his skull.
The purifying energy exploded instantly, reducing his body to ashes.
"It worked!"
Kagome clenched her fist, her eyes wide with disbelief and excitement as she looked at the faintly glowing spirit bow in her hands.
She never imagined she could unleash such an attack.
"Miss Midoriko!"
She quickly looked up.
As Naraku vanished, the spider silk binding Midoriko dissolved rapidly.
A gentle spiritual light radiated from her body, purifying the remaining traces of evil energy. The brightness forced Kagome to close her eyes instinctively.
"It's over…"
When Kagome opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on the wooden corridor of the shrine.
Not far ahead, Midoriko stood in her red and white miko attire, smiling softly.
"You are… incredible…"
Midoriko's gentle voice carried a hint of amazement as she looked at Kagome.
Sensing that her time was running out, she spoke calmly.
"You truly managed to use—"
Suddenly, she froze.
A sharp pain struck her right eye.
Her expression changed instantly.
"That feeling… how…?"
Before she could process it, a crimson Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed in her right eye.
In the next moment—
The space around her twisted violently.
A spiraling vortex—appeared out of nowhere.
Right before Kagome's stunned gaze, Midoriko's body was pulled by an invisible force and dragged into the vortex, disappearing completely.
"Huh?!"
Kagome stared at the empty corridor, blinking in confusion.
But that brief glimpse of the Mangekyō Sharingan… and the familiar spatial distortion…
"That was Kasage's ability…? How could it be on Miss Midoriko…?"
"Kagome! Kagome, are you okay?!"
At that moment, as the barrier shattered, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo rushed in.
Seeing Kagome sitting there in a daze, they quickly surrounded her, their voices filled with concern.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome snapped back to reality and stood up.
"Kagome, where is the shrine maiden Midoriko?" Miroku asked, looking around.
"It seems she just… disappeared," Inuyasha said, sniffing the air. "Her scent is fading. She's no longer here."
"Yes… she suddenly vanished, but…" Kagome hesitated, glancing toward the place where Midoriko had disappeared.
"But what?" Inuyasha asked.
"…No, it's nothing." Kagome shook her head. She wasn't sure what she had seen.
"The shrine maiden disappeared… could Naraku have taken her?" Sango asked.
"No. Naraku was hit by my arrow—he must have escaped. Midoriko disappeared after that."
"Damn it! That bastard got away again!" Inuyasha growled, clenching his fists.
Meanwhile, at Kikyo's shrine.
Uchiha Kasage was sorting herbs with Kikyo when he suddenly paused.
A faint glow flashed in his eyes—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Without a word, he activated Kamui.
A spiraling space opened before him.
From within it, a figure in miko robes emerged—it was Midoriko.
Kikyo stopped what she was doing and stood up, her gaze sharpening as she examined the unfamiliar shrine maiden.
Midoriko, already at her limit, collapsed the moment she appeared.
Kasage stepped forward and caught her.
"It's… you…"
Leaning weakly against him, Midoriko recognized him—the wandering spirit she had once met long ago.
She tried to speak—
But Kasage's expression didn't change.
"Human Path."
In an instant, his Mangekyō transformed into the pale purple Rinnegan.
His hand pressed against her abdomen.
Before she could say anything—
Her soul was pulled out.
Without hesitation, he threw it into the mouth of the King of Hell behind him.
Kikyo stepped forward silently, taking Midoriko's body from his arms and laying it gently on the ground.
Her eyes lingered on the intricate details of the miko's attire.
"This shrine maiden… she's not ordinary."
"Her name is Midoriko," Kasage replied, then asked curiously, "You're both shrine maidens. Is there really that much difference?"
"There is."
Kikyo pointed to the refined patterns and ornaments on Midoriko's clothing.
"I am a wandering battle priestess. She belongs to a shrine lineage—her status is far higher."
Kasage observed more closely.
Compared to Kikyo's simple robes, Midoriko's attire was far more elaborate, decorated with delicate embroidery and ornaments.
"…I see."
He nodded slightly, then looked back at Kikyo, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"You're not going to ask how I met her? Or why she ended up in my Kamui space?"
Kikyo lifted her gaze and looked straight at him.
"Then explain."
Her voice was calm, but firm.
"How did you meet her… and why did she appear in your Kamui dimension?"