That night.
The furnace's firelight was white.
So white it stung the eyes.
So white it was like the sun had been stuffed into the cave.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, feeling waves of heat crash against his face one after another, roasting his skin until it hurt.
Totosai stood before the furnace, the hammer in his hand as light as a feather, striking the red-hot billet again and again.
"Clang, clang!!"
The sound of hammering echoed through the cave, its rhythm as steady as a heartbeat.
Inuyasha noticed that every time Totosai brought the hammer down, the spot was different, and so was the force.
"Watch closely."
Totosai suddenly spoke, tilting his head to look at the three of them.
"The weapons for you three will be made from billets from the same furnace, with the same Dragon Scale Powder and Soul Stone."
"But what comes out will be completely different."
"Why?"
Sakura asked.
"Because the one forging them isn't just me."
Totosai raised his head and looked at the three children.
"It's you, too."
He took three red-hot billets from the furnace and set them on the anvil.
"Inuyasha."
Totosai called his name.
"Here."
"Your weapon needs to be forged with the Heart of Fighting Spirit."
"Not with a hammer, but with your will."
"Stand before the anvil and grip this billet."
Inuyasha froze for a moment, but still walked over.
He stood before the anvil, looked at the red-hot billet, and reached out.
"Just grab it?"
"Just grab it."
Totosai's tone was calm.
"The billet's temperature depends on how strong your fighting spirit is."
"If there is fear in your heart, it will be cold."
"If there is no hesitation in your heart, it will be hot."
Inuyasha took a deep breath and reached out to grip the