Episode 188

Inside Naraku is the 21st episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Plot
Naraku recalls his creation after Onigumo offered himself up to demons in order to gain Kikyō and kill Inuyasha. During this time, Byakuya notices the jewel has been completely defiled by Naraku to the point of where Magatsuhi cannot return to the inside of it; this forces the evil spirit to reside within an unconcious Rin. Naraku thinks to himself that the darkness filling the jewel is all thanks to him transforming all the hate and anger felt towards him by Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku. He then finally absorbs the Shikon Jewel into his body, instantly healing all the damage from his battle with Inuyasha, Sango and Sesshōmaru. As his body heals, Naraku begins sprouting extra limbs that group past the cave's limits. A miasma spews out fo the cave, killing all the life in the immediate area as it flies up into the sky, creating a powerful storm that attracts demons.

In the present, Kagome learns that she will be graduating and going to high school on a wait list. Everyone is thrilled for her, and she attends her graduation ceremony with Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka. Hōjō tries to give Kagome a button from his school uniform as a goodbye present, but she runs off before he can. Heading home to travel back to the past, Grandpa gives her some presents for graduating and her Mother hugs her goodbye, telling her to be careful.

In the Feudal Era everyone sees a dark cloud forming on the horizon from Kaede's village and set off for the final battle with Naraku. Kagome arrives and is greeted by everyone, ready for the final battle with Naraku. Inuyasha tells Shippō that he cannot go, and that if they die in battle, he will have to be the one to avenge them. Shippō is about to protest when Inuyasha knocks him unconscious and leaves. Everyone is shocked by Inuyasha's words, but he says he had to say all that to get Shippo to comply. Kagome says that if Inuyasha was going to knock Shippo anyway, he shouldn't have bothered with a speach; Inuyasha hears this and agrees he should have knocked Shippo out right away. Kagome sourly notes that she was only joking. Flying through the clouds, they see that Naraku has transformed once more and now resembles a huge spider, that uses its threads to capture approaching demons.

Sesshomaru arrives at the same time. Byakuya appears before them, saying that Bakusaiga will be able to slay Naraku without any problem; however, Rin is still inside Naraku's body, Naraku's belly opens, acting as an invitation to his foes. Sesshomaru goes in without any hesitation as Inuyasha and Kagome follow. Miroku and Sango begin doing so themselves as Byakuya says they might not get out. Miroku holds out his right hand threatenly, making Byakuya wonder if he'll get sucked into the Wind Tunnel. Miroku says Byakuya isn't worth it, but says to himself that he's got one more use before the final one kills him. He and Sango promise to marry right after defeating Naraku. Once everyone is inside Naraku, Byakuya can only comment only how stupied his enemies are; they should just forsake Rin and detroy Naraku from the outside. Naraku then seals himself, covering his belly with his legs, appearing as an omnious resemblence to the Shikon jewel.

Once inside, Naraku greets his greets, appearing as many faces on his flesh; he questions them if they intend to kill him from the inside, inviting them to start wherever they please as everything around them is him. Naraku explains that everyone has been exposed to his miasma from the start; curiously, they haven't died. They are told the Shikon jewel desires their souls, so it is saving them from the poison. He sends an armored version of himself to fight Inuyasha, who's Tessaiga seems useless against it. Sango successfuly manages to decapitate it with Hiraikotsu, but it quickly regrows a head and the head grows its own body. Kagome says they need to find the jewel, explaining Naraku hasn't completely absorbed it yet. This news shocks the rest of the group as they think Naraku would have completely absorbed it by now.

Inuyasha and Kagome fall into a hole, which quickly seals. Sango, Kirara and Miroku are left behind; Naraku intends to keep them apart as their strength lays in number. Kagome uses what's left of her limited spiritual abilities to sense out the completed Jewel so that they can get it back from within Naraku, but as they move toward it, Inuyasha transforms into his fully demonic state and begins to attack Kagome. Naraku finds sick pleasure in this, believing history will repeat itself with Inuyasha will kill the woman he loves (however, Naraku was the one who fataly wounded Kikyo). Kagome denies Inuyasha could do such as thing. Naraku decides to give her a fair chance at survival, producing an arrow laced with miasma that will kill Inuyasha and save her. Kagome angerily refuses, saying Inuyasha will never kill her. Naraku laughs at this as Inuyasha pushes Kagome into a deep abyss. Inuyasha looks into the abyss as Naraku continues laughing..

Trivia

 * This episode and the next three all have "Naraku" in their titles.
 * Naraku's armored copy regrows two bodies after being "split in half"; this bears similar to the Infant/Hakudoshi.
 * Despite the miasma released by Naraku's transformation reducing wildlife to bones and wilting plants, Rin remains uneffected; could Magatsuhi's possesion of Rin kept her from dying?