Episode 168

Naraku's Heart is the first episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Summary
Night time, Kanna recites a poem as Naraku holds Kagura's heart in his hand. Smiling, Naraku says Kagura better not let him escape; she's guarding him with her life. At that time, Kagura watches a cell below Naraku, which holds Goryōmaru in it; she watches as captured demons are thrown at him continously for him to kill and absorb. Kagura questions Goryomaru as to WHAT he is as she saw him get beheaded and die. Hakudōshi arrives and explains that Kagura is a fool, believing doing whatever Naraku says will save her. Goryomaru breaks his silence, telling Kagura that she has to choose; say Naraku's slave or come with him and be free. She quickly guesses that Goryomaru is somehow the Infant and both halfs, the Infant and Hakudoshi, want to overthrow Naraku. Hakudoshi congradulates her on figuring it out, saying that they lack sufficent strength to eliminate Naraku now. Kagura realises what he means: They need jewel shards to make Goryomaru stonger. In her own time again, Kagome is taking make up exams while her friends wait outside the classroom. Inuyasha arrives to take Kagome home, having grown impatient. In anger for him breaking her consentration, she gives him a sit command and tells him to wait at her house. However, Kagome's teacher tells her she failed the make up exams, getting very question wrong. Inuyasha gloats that she's happy to see him now.

Back in the Fedual Era, Hakudoshi promises to return Kagura's heart to her right before Naraku is destroyed. Asking how she can help, Kagura is instructed by Goryomaru to destroy the statues outside hsi cell as Naraku knew they would keep him inside. Complying, Kagura watches in shock as Goryomaru begins transforming. In the present, after packing books to study, Kagome and Inuyasha head back to the Feudal Era once again. While traveling through the well, Inuyasha asks Kagome if she needs help slaying the "Entrance Exam Demon"; he doesn't understand. Kagome tells him it's something he can't help with. Inuyasha, believing she thinks he would lose, says it's like saying Jaken could beat him.

At that moment, Jaken sneezes; you sneeze when someone is talking about you behind your back. Sesshōmaru asks if the crystals of demonic energy have reactd to the Fuyōheki; Jaken infroms him that they have not. Exiting the well, Inuyasha and Kagome take off to meet with everyone; however, he backpack opens and she loses her books and the contained with the jewel shard. Hakudoshi appears before them, saying he's been waiting. He sends the Saimyōshō to retrieve the shard. Sango, Shippō and Miroku arrive, and Hakudōshi leaves with his newly-acquired shards. Still following Naraku's orders, Kohaku is hunting strong demons. He comes across a child and father who bind a wound Kohaku received while battling. The child - Taichi - is possessed by a demon. Kohaku stops the child from killing his father and races after swearing to save the boy. As Kohaku frees the child and slays the demon, Kagura arrives and attacks Kohaku.

Kōga follows a scent and battles with Mōryōmaru, the demonic golem Hakudōshi created. As Kōga is fighting, Kikyō arrives and chases Mōryōmaru off with a sacred arrow, but she nearly collapses after shooting it. She notes that Mōryōmaru seems different, as if he now has a soul. Kagura attacks Kohaku, trying to get his Jewel Shard; she promises to end his life painlessly as she can. Kohaku tries to learn the location of Naraku's heart from Kagura, making her think about her situation. She's just switches masters from Naraku to that terrible Infant. As they follow their lost jewel shard, Kagome senses the presence of Kohaku's shard approuching the stolen one. Naraku watches the conversation between Kagura and Kohaku in Kanna's mirror; he is amused both have chosen to betray him, knowing Kagura would die happy knowing he was next.

Kagura shatters the crystal Kohaku had to help him find the Infant. Hakudōshi arrives, being not too surprised that Kagura would choose to betray him and his twin as well, and Kagura sends Kohaku away on one of her feathers while she attacks Hakudōshi. Though the Dance of the Dragon is useless against his sheild, Hakudoshi decied to send it right back at her. Inuyasha arrives, and his Wind Scar saves Kagura. Sango follows Kohaku. Hakudōshi flees before Inuyasha is able to use his Adamant Barrage. Goryōmaru arrives to confront Inuyasha and transforms into Mōryōmaru; the demonic golem ate Goryomaru after he was slain, having been the demonic arm on the priest. Hakudōshi gives Mōryōmaru the jewel shards and sends him after Kohaku. Hakudōshi then grabs Kagura, and is pleasantly surprised to find that Inuyasha won't attack him now because Kagura is in the way; she makes an effective shield. Kagura tells Inuyasha that Naraku's heart, the Infant, is located within Mōryōmaru. Hakudōshi brags about his plan, and Kagura informs him that Naraku has been aware of the plan all along.

When Hakudōshi brags of his invincibility, Naraku destroys Hakudoshi's barrier, freeing Kagura. the Wind Scar tears Hakudoshi apart, but his head reforms. Miroku prepares to swallow him into the Wind Tunnel, but Saimyosho are summond by Hakudoshi; however, they then flee. Kagura laughs at Hakudoshi, saying Naraku has cut him off first. Snarling that he cannot be defeated easily, Hakudoshi produces a cloud of miasma, which Kagome immediately purifies. With the cloud gone, Hakudoshi seen with a regenerated arm, heading to Kagura to chop off her head. Hakudoshi believes he is nothing like Kagura, being his own master and not Naraku's tool. However, he is pulled into the Wind Tunnel. Miroku cannot help but feel disgusted that he helped Naraku. Kagome offers Kagura a place with them, but she chooses to leave. Kohaku hides from Sango and is surprised by Mōryōmaru. As the demon is about to take Kohaku's shard, Sango and Inuyasha arrive and attack Mōryōmaru. Kohaku calls Sango "Sister" and she realizes that some - if not all - of Kohaku's memories have returned. Inuyasha attacks Mōryōmaru, calling him Naraku's Heart; Mōryōmaru flees. Sango asks Kohaku if he has regained his memory, and Kohaku confesses that he recalls everything, but still cannot join Sango. Kikyō sits weakly at the foot of a tree. Two monks come across her; they are startled when their demon-repelling charms do not work (having mistakenly assumd she was a demon) and run away. Kikyō seems weak, and is unsure if she can defeat Naraku with her weakening strength; two novice monks were able to enter her barrier.

Trivia

 * There's a gap between the last episode and this one, which would have explained what is going on now. The part where Naraku shows Kagura the prisoner she is meant to guard with her life and her suprise that it's Goryomaru have been ignored.