Episode 81

Vanishing Point; Naraku Disappears is the eighty-first episode of the InuYasha anime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Inuyasha arrives on the scene where Naraku and Sesshōmaru are battling, with Sesshōmaru completely engulfed in Naraku's flesh.
 * 2) Naraku is surprised by Inuyasha's ability to break through his barrier; Naraku becomes grievously injured when Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru both attack him, causing Naraku to flee from his castle.
 * 3) Kohaku, who is with Rin, is ordered by Naraku to kill her; Naraku hoped that this might set off a deadly chain of events with Sesshōmaru killing Kohaku, but Sesshōmaru saw right through Naraku's plot and refused to play by his rules.
 * 4) With Naraku's disappearance, Inuyasha and his friends wonder where he might have vanished to.

Summary
Inuyasha gets to Naraku, manages to break his shield, and begins to battle him, thus freeing Sesshomaru. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru then battles (more or less) together against Naraku, who has to retreat badly wounded, using Rin as a delaying tactic.

To Inuyasha's confusion, Sesshomaru goes after Rin instead of pursuing Naraku, despite Rin being a human. Back with his friends, Inuyasha goes to get Kohaku before he can kill Rin. Rin is kept in a nearby house, but she and Kohaku gets outside at Naraku's command. Kohaku resist his orders long enough for Sesshomaru and Inuyasha to intervene. Sesshomaru, loath to follow Naraku's plan, let the boy go. Kohaku is then taken by Kagura, while Rin rejoins Sesshomaru.

Differences from the manga

 * The battle between Naraku, Sesshōmaru, and Inuyasha is slightly extended in the anime. Sesshōmaru is engulfed in Naraku's flesh for much longer, and when Inuyasha arrives he fires two separate Wind Scars at Naraku before Sesshōmaru cuts himself free. In the manga, as soon as Inuyasha arrives in the castle he fires a Wind Scar at Naraku which breaks his barrier and Sesshōmaru immediately cuts himself free from Naraku's flesh.
 * Naraku tries to absorb Inuyasha into his flesh in the anime; this does not occur in the manga.