Tetsusaiga is Stolen! Showdown at Naraku's Castle! is the thirtieth episode of the InuYasha anime.
Synopsis[]
- Sango brings the Tessaiga to Naraku, deciding that it is her only choice.
- Inuyasha and the others arrive at Naraku's castle, where Sango has been brutally attacked by Kohaku.
- With the group surrounded by a deadly miasma, Kagome purifies it with a Sacred Arrow; she is able to damage Naraku with her arrow as well, causing the demon to flee.
Summary[]
At Naraku's Castle, Kohaku appears before Naraku. Naraku asks Kohaku can he kill them. Kohaku confirms this with Naraku and calls him 'Master'. Naraku questions to Kohaku about Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango. Kohaku confirms this with Naraku again. As everyone is asleep, Sango wakes up and she remembers that Naraku told her that he made Kohaku forget and he erased all his memories. Sango sits up and she remembers that Naraku demands that she bring him the Tessaiga, Inuyasha's sword, and he will give Kohaku eternal life. Sango tries to reach for the Tessaiga from Inuyasha but stops. Sango wonders what was she doing as she ponders whether or not to steal the Tessaiga. Inuyasha wakes up and asks Sango what's the matter. Sango lies to Inuyasha about it being nothing as she couldn't sleep and that's all. Inuyasha becomes silent for a moment as he sympathizes with her and tells Sango that he's going to kill Naraku although he feels badly for her. Sango tells Inuyasha that she already told him that Kohaku wasn't himself as her younger brother could never slaughter an entire village and she will deal with him and Naraku at the same time. Kagome secretly wakes up and listens to Inuyasha and Sango's conversation. Inuyasha questions Sango if it's that simple as Kohaku looks exactly the same and wonders can one hate and forget so easily. Sango tells Inuyasha to not underestimate her as she's a demon slayer and she won't fall for dirty tricks. Inuyasha tells Sango that if he were in her position he probably couldn't do it. Sango becomes silent. Inuyasha thinks of his memories with him and Kikyō. Kagomes thinks to herself that it looks exactly the same so Inuyasha can't hate or forget as he is speaking of Kikyō. Miroku then wakes up and calls out to Inuyasha as he warns everyone that they are surrounded. Indeed, countless demons attack, led by a Kohaku deprived of his memories and will by Naraku. Inuyasha fights the demons, then Kohaku, but refrains from killing him at Kagome's demand.
At everyone's surprise, Kohaku then talks, in a voice devoid of emotion he says that indeed he deserves to die, since he killed so many people, including his family and friends. He stabs himself to try and extract the Jewel shard from his back, but Sango yells at him not to do it and uses her Hiraikotsu to send the Tessaiga flying in the air. The Tessaiga falls back in its normal form of an old katana. Kohaku relents and flees with the demons to Naraku. Sango, still confused, as she sees the Tessaiga stuck in the ground very close to herself and wonders what she should do about the trade with Naraku. Suddenly Sango takes the Tessaiga and calls Kirara to fly after Kohaku, which shocks the others.
Sango brings Tessaiga to Naraku
While her friends follow her by scent, Sango arrives at Naraku's castle and calls for Kohaku when she hears Naraku's voice telling her to put down her weapon. Sango confronts Naraku and demands the return of Kohaku as she's even ready to throw her Hiraikotsu away to see Naraku. Naraku reveals Kohaku to Sango from the castle's curtain, but puts the blame on the Sacred Jewel for all the evil that happened. Enraged, Sango attacks, throwing the Tessaiga at Naraku and using her own concealed blade to slash him. Naraku reveals himself to have borrowed the appearance of the young lord of the castle after killing him. Sango attacks again, but her blade breaks, leaving her unarmed and wounded and she takes a hit from Tessaiga. Kirara attacks Naraku, but to no avail as miasma defeats her. Sango worries about Kirara. Now Sango too is attacked by Miasma and lies exhausted on the ground. Naraku then asks Sango to serve him but when she refuses, he has Kohaku come and attack her. Kohaku commences on repeatedly attacking her with his Kusarigama and wounds her severely, yet Sango continues to resist Naraku's offer to serve him. Suddenly, Naraku gives Sango her Hiraikotsu to fight Kohaku, but she realizes that there's just no way she can kill her own brother, and renounces to pick her weapon then runs towards him smiling and collapsing halfway. All of a sudden Kohaku's gaze gets an expression again and he recognizes Sango, Inuyasha and his friends have arrived at that scene. They see Kohaku fall to the ground, horrified at his own deed. Kagome goes to Sango while Naraku wonders why she couldn't kill Kohaku but he seems unable to comprehend how one could love someone more than their own lives. Sango that Kohaku shouldn't be more important than yourself. As Sango lays on Kagome's lap, recovering, she only sees that Kohaku is slowly regaining consciousness and even seems optimistic. Miroku realizes to Inuyasha that this is exactly what happened with him 50 years ago.Inuyasha questions Miroku. Kagome realizes that Naraku tried to make Sango hate Kohaku so that she would kill him then the Sacred Jewel in his back would become more evil as it's the same trick he used to make Kikyō and Inuyasha hate each other and fight as. Kagome angrily says she can't forgive Naraku and she will never forgive this. Kagome thinks to herself that Kikyō died so that the Sacred Jewel would remain dormant and in the same way Sango refused to fight Kohaku. Kagome says Naraku's such a fool as there's no way Sango would have done it as she is a kind sister who loves her brother.
Angered, Naraku surrounds them with miasma. Sango remembers a flashback with Kohaku about their father before she slowly gets up. Kagome becomes worried about Sango. Inuyasha demands that she keep still as he's got a lot of things to say to her so she doesn't dare die. Sango thinks to herself that it's her fault but before she gives Kohaku her breathing mask.This act of selfless love purifies the Sacred Jewel shard embedded in Kohaku's back. Kohaku's Sacred Jewel shard reminds Kagome that she can locate Naraku, even in the miasma, by the other Jewel shards in his possession. Kagome tells Naraku to prepare to die before she shoots a sacred arrow at him. Due to Kagome's spiritual powers, this creates a large explosion and Naraku stands there with one arm shot off and is surprised that the miasma have also been purified. Kagome tells Naraku that he is so despicable. Naraku wonders about Kagome and was this her power and with hardly any effort she can purge the miasma the poison vapors as it's the power belonged to Kikyō and it can't be. Kagome tells Naraku that she won't let him go even if he begs forgiveness before she shoots another sacred arrow at him, impaling his chest. Naraku realizes that this is none other than Kikyō's sacred arrow and that means Kagome is. Inuyasha says Kagome did it. Miroku realized that Kagome purged the miasma and located Naraku. The sacred arrow ripped Naraku apart from his head before a violent wind arises. Inuyasha calls out to Kagome as he grabs onto her. Miroku grabs onto Shippō and tells him not to let Kirara go. Now a wind comes up, in whose protection Naraku flees first and Sango realizes that her sleeping brother Kohaku is also being taken and repeatedly calls out to him. Naraku's castle disappears.
As the sun rises, Sango tries to leave her friends, feeling she's unworthy of their trust and might end up betraying them again, but they all say it's alright and continue to wish for her to stay in there group and fight Naraku. Upon hearing this Sango breaks down into tears and falls unto Kagome's lap hugging her. As she cries Kagome consoles her that everything will be alright, and they will both defeat Naraku and save her brother Kohaku. The next morning, they wake up in the open field and realize the castle was just an illusion. Miroku tells Inuyasha the Tessaiga, who notices it nearby. Kagome realizes that there are no Sacred Jewel shards around, so Naraku is no longer there. Despite her injuries, Sango wants to leave because she feels guilty about her actions and might end up betraying them again. However, her friends says it's alright and continue to wish for her to stay and that they will all save Kohaku and fight Naraku together. When Inuyasha even says she should stay, Sango breaks down into tears and falls unto Kagome's lap hugging her. As Sango cries Kagome consoles her that everything will be alright, and they will both defeat Naraku and save her brother Kohaku.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Music[]
- Opening Theme — CHANGE THE WORLD — TV OST Vol. 1
- Inuyasha and Sango talk — In a Trip of Destiny (Shukumei no Tabi e) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kohaku’s demons charge, Inuyasha blocks Kohaku’s attacks — Fang Sword, Tessaiga (Kiba no Ken Tessaiga) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kohaku says Inuyasha should kill him — Dead Soul (Shinidama) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kohaku leaves, Sango takes Tessaiga and follows him — Trap (Wana) — TV OST Vol. 2
- Naraku blames Sango’s father’s death on the Shikon no Tama — Evil Demon, Naraku (Jayō Naraku) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Naraku slices Sango’s arm, Kirara bites him and is poisoned — Attack (Shūgeki) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Naraku calls Kohaku, who tells Sango she will die — Sign of Unrest (Fuon na Kehai) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kohaku attacks Sango, Naraku commands her to kill Kohaku — Evil Spirits Desiring the Shikon no Tama (Shikon no Tama o Nerau Chimimōryō) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Sango realizes Kohaku can become his true self — Kagome and Inuyasha — TV OST Vol. 1
- Miasma surrounds group, Sango offers Kohaku mask — To the End of Sorrow (Kanashimi no Hate ni) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kagome fires arrow at Naraku — Fight to the Death (Shitō) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Sango wants to leave but the group wants her to stay — Taijiya, Sango — TV OST Vol. 1
- Ending Theme — Fukai Mori — TV OST Vol. 2
Trivia[]
- When Naraku (Kagewaki Hitomi in disguise) grabbed the Tessaiga, he wasn't affected by the anti-yõkai barrier. This could be directly inferred that he was merely a hanyõ, although the whole group didn't realize this until Kōga's incident.
- Although Kagome has used her Sacred Arrow before, this is the first time it is enshrouded with lilac-colored spiritual energy and that she has control over its targeting accuracy, and is able to strike Naraku twice, almost blowing him to smithereens. This was referred as an "enchanted arrow" by Naraku, who knew that only Kikyō, as a top-level miko was capable of such strength.
Differences from the manga[]
- In the manga, Sango is taken aback when Inuyasha suddenly awakens before she attempts to steal his Tessaiga. In the anime, though, Sango hesitates herself and isn't surprised when Inuyasha awakens.
- During his fight with Kohaku, Inuyasha slams his Tessaiga into the ground and then punches Kohaku in the face. He does neither in the manga.
- Kohaku speaks in the anime, whereas he remains mute the entire time in the manga.
- When Naraku asks Sango to throw down her weapon, she throws it into the roof of the castle in the anime. The manga merely has her place her Hiraikotsu on the ground.
- In the anime, Naraku blames all the terrible events that have happened to Sango on the Shikon Jewel. This conversation does not happen in the manga.
- Sango tosses Tessaiga at Naraku before attacking in the anime, leading to a brief sword fight between the two. Naraku never uses the Tessaiga to trade blows with Sango in the manga.
- Naraku is able to wound Sango with the Tessaiga in the anime, causing her to fall to the ground before his hair sprays her with miasma. The manga merely has Naraku's hair immobilize Sango.
- Naraku's Saimyōshō lead the group to the castle in the manga. They do not in the anime.
- Naraku attempts to have Sango kill Kohaku herself to corrupt the Shikon shard in the anime, though he simply intends on having Kohaku kill Sango in the manga.
- Sango rushes at Kohaku and embraces him, which causes him to hesitate in the manga. The anime omits this, though Kohaku hesitates and even remembers that she is his older sister.
- The anime cuts out a major portion of the fight with Naraku, including his hair changing into snake-shaped miasma, Miroku attempting to use his Kazaana, and Inuyasha giving his robe to Kagome to wear.
- Sango using her mask to protect Kohaku from the miasma is anime exclusive.
- The scene of Kohaku carrying off Naraku's head from the battle is cut in the anime.
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