Chapter 321

The Spreading Taint is the 321st chapter of InuYasha manga.

Summary

 * Kagura brings Sesshōmaru to the gateway where Gozu and Mezu are.
 * Naraku appears, having tricked Hōsenki and the others into exposing the shard. Inuyasha comes back after his fall, determined to kill Naraku.

Synopsis

 * Kagura has brought Sesshōmaru to the realm of fire, where the gateway that leads to the borderland is located. She says she's just going to wait by the entrance to the cave, and Jaken angrily asks if it's dangerous up ahead. She tells the Imp to shut up, because they were the ones who sought the gateway and she already told them they might not be able to pass through it alive. Sesshōmaru walks onward and sees the two statues, Gozu and Mezu beside the gateway, and they ask "Do you wish to pass?" Jaken says of course they do, that's the whole reason they came all the way here. The two statues come to life and say "Then we shall let you pass." Meanwhile Kagura is watching from afar and remembers how Hakudōshi tricked her. She also thinks to herself that the only way to pass through the gate is to die at the hands of the two guards, and even if you force the gate open you get covered in a strange light and turn to stone. So what will Sesshōmaru do? As the two living statues draw nearer to attack, Sesshōmaru draws his Tōkijin.
 * In the borderland, Kagome screams for Inuyasha, fearing that he has died from the fall down into the misty abyss below. The air starts to swirl with demonic aura. "Heh, so Inuyasha has died?" Naraku makes his appearance, and tells the group he's been watching them the whole time. Hōsenki asks him if he's the one who possesses the tainted jewel, and Naraku derisively says he's surprised the old demon still has any strength left in him. Then, Hōsenki pierces through Naraku's barrier and through his chest with his diamond arms, however Naraku shows no signs of pain and acts like it's a mere mosquito bite. Naraku's tentacles reach out to take Hōsenki's shard, and Kagome draws an arrow to stop him. She notices that Hōsenki's shard has turned pure black again.
 * Hōsenki withdraws his arms from Naraku once the tentacles touch him. He shifts his attention suddenly and stops Kagome from shooting an arrow by firing diamond spears at her. She is saved by Sango's Hiraikotsu. Kagome wonders why the shard has become tainted again even after they purified it once already.
 * Naraku thanks them for their help. He explains that when covered by diamond armor and demonic aura, he could barely influence Hōsenki's shard; all he could do was add the smallest sliver of darkness. When Kagome and Inuyasha cracked Hōsenki's diamond body and exposed the shard, Naraku was able to fully corrupt it, and when Naraku touched the shard, Hōsenki came fully under his control. In other words, they played right into his hands. Naraku also says that he admires Hōsenki's ability to speak to gems, but he assures him that "The Shikon jewel wishes to become whole..."
 * As Naraku is about to steal the shard, the windscar flashes up from the misty chasm, destroying his tentacle. Inuyasha appears, and Naraku mockingly says he looks tired from his battle with Hōsenki. Inuyasha retorts that Naraku's gotten cocky, thinking he's won too early and showing himself. He says he's going to kill him once and for all. As Inuyasha wields his Tessaiga, the blade turns red, planning to break the demonic barrier. Naraku sneers at this attempt.