Through Akuni's relentless collection of human blood, Iron Rooster's body finally recovered. Meanwhile, Inuyasha and his companions, who had discovered Akuni's atrocities of using flocks of birds to kill people and drain their blood, once again found Naraku's trail. Or rather, this time Naraku had never intended to conceal his movements. His goal this time was not the Four Souls Shard in the Otherworld.
Unlike what she remembered, Naraku had not reconstructed his body at Mount Hakurei this time. Neither his body nor his Barrier was nearly as strong as she remembered, and his battle against Iron Rooster and her daughter was particularly grueling.
Yet Naraku felt not the slightest regret. He had no desire to waste time on meaningless matters. Although reconstructing his body at Mount Hakurei could increase his demon power, it would waste a great deal of time, both collecting monsters and rebuilding his body. And physical strength would be utterly useless in the mental battle he was about to face. Only individual will could determine who truly ruled the body! Who truly possessed that power!
Naraku ordered Kagura and Kanna to hold Akuni back, but the fearless, battle-hardened bird demon princess thought nothing of either of them. And with good reason. Akuni casually blocked Kagura's prized Wind Blade attacks with her shoulder armor, while Kanna's mirror could not capture the soul of the swiftly moving Akuni. Seeing Akuni's Red Flame about to strike her, Kagura squeezed her eyes shut, only to suddenly fall into a warm embrace...
It was Shun Ye. Almost the instant he caught her, Kagura realized who it was and naturally opened her eyes.
Sure enough, the silver-haired, red-eyed young man held her against him with one arm, while his other hand swept casually through the air, effortlessly deflecting the Red Flame that