Naraku's True Identity Unveiled is the twenty-first episode of the InuYasha anime. It first aired in Japan on April 9, 2001.
Synopsis[]
- Inuyasha struggles against the empowered Rōyakan; Miroku notes that without Kagome by his side, Inuyasha's power is only a fraction of what it normally is.
- While out on a date with Hōjō, Kagome begins to worry about Inuyasha and the wounds he suffered against Sesshōmaru; she rushes back to the Bone-Eater's Well.
- Shippō is at the bottom of the well in the Feudal Era, with the Shikon no Tama shard, having been chased there by Rōyakan's wolves; the presence of the shard allows Kagome to return to the Feudal Era.
- Inuyasha and Naraku meet face to face; Naraku reveals to Inuyasha that he was born from Onigumo and was the one who indeed turned Kikyō and Inuyasha against one another 50 years ago, in the hopes of gaining the Shikon no Tama, defiling it in the process.
Summary[]
Kagome gets called again and again by her friends, but each time her grandpa answers and thinks about an illness, even though she is in the modern age. When her grandpa asks why she is actually in the modern age, she does not want an answer. After Sōta had finished playing, Kagome asked if she would like to play as she fought with a sword in the Middle Ages. Kagome denies this, saying that the mindless Inuyasha is the one with the sword. When she says that Inuyasha has no idea about feminine feelings, Sōta says out loud that Kagome hugged Inuyasha. Kagome runs away and goes to the well, but turns back, because firstly she cannot get through anyway and secondly has a date with Hōjō.
Rōyakan battles Inuyasha and Miroku
Rōyakan tells Inuyasha to die quietly before starts to attack him. Inuyasha dodges and tells Rōyakan to shut up before he tries to attack him with his Tessaiga. Inuyasha's attack is intercepted by Rōyakan's hands and is thrown away and lands on the ground. Kaede says Inuyasha has been thrown. Miroku says Inuyasha's all talk as his strength isn't back yet. Inuyasha wonders how did Rōyakan get so strong and realizes the large fragment of the Sacred Jewel he had lands on the ground. Rōyakan runs towards the large fragment of the Sacred Jewel and confirms it. Inuyasha weakly walks towards it and says he has to get to the fragments before Rōyakan does. Shippō quickly takes the large fragment of the Sacred Jewel before Rōyakan does and says he can't have them as he runs. Inuyasha calls out to Shippō. Rōyakan says to Shippō he won't get away before he spit a number of three-eyed wolves out of his mouth to chase him. Shippō runs through the forest on the run from the three-eyed wolves and stops by the Bone-Eater's Well to face them then uses a doppelgänger technique using leaves to create more of him. The three-eyed wolves destroys all of the Shippō doppelgängers and try to find the real one. Shippō goes down the Bone-Eater's Well and calls the three-eyed wolves before being knocked out by a tree branch then falls to the ground as the large fragment of the Sacred Jewel lands on the ground. In the modern era, Kagome stops senses the fragments of the Sacred Jewel but she doesn't know where it comes from. Inuyasha is attacking the three-eyed wolves while Miroku is destroying the Saimyōshō with shakujō. Inuyasha uses Iron-Reaver Soul Stealer against the Wolves. After Inuyasha defeats the wolves, he dodges multiple attacks from Rōyakan before being hit. Kaede calls out to Inuyasha. Miroku says Inuyasha usually fights back so easily. Kaede suspects that Inuyasha's slow movements aren't simply due to his injury but it's Kagome as without her, he's unable to realize his true power. Inuyasha dodges Rōyakan's attack. Miroku says Rōyakan definitely is using the power of the Sacred Jewel. Inuyasha becomes confused. Miroku tells Inuyasha to find where the Sacred Jewel fragment is and he can defeat Rōyakan. Kaede says Kagome would know Rōyakan's weak spot where the fragment is hidden. Inuyasha thinks to himself to forget about Kagome and she's not here anymore as he closed up the Well which connected her world to ours and she will never return here again. Inuyasha says they cannot involve Kagome in these dangerous battles. Rōyakan spit out more three-eyed wolves out of his mouth as Inuyasha uses Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer.
Kagome is sitting with Hōjō in the café and she only thinks of Inuyasha and therefore makes an annoyed face. Hōjō notices that she is not in a good mood, but he suspects that it is due to one of her illnesses. She tells herself that she doesn't feel anything for Inuyasha, but when she thinks about his injuries from Sesshōmaru, she runs off to somehow get through the well. There she still feels the jewel that lies with Shippō at the bottom of the well and this was already found by the wolves who look over the edge of the well. Kagome digs a little in the ground and then she is suddenly transported through time and lands next to Shippō and already has her jewel splinter in her hand. Shippō is very happy to have Kagome back, but then the wolves' problem comes back to life but the wolves comes closer to them. Inuyasha is still fighting when he says that he can smell Kagome, which surprises Kaede and Miroku. Inuyasha runs towards the Bone-Eater's Well and says he's sure of it that Kagome's here. Rōyakan tells Inuyasha he won't get away as he attacks him. Inuyasha tells Rōyakan to shut up before he jumps towards him and kicks him in the face. Inuyasha uses his Tessaiga and tells Rōyakan to not get in his way as he attacks him on his neck. Miroku says Inuyasha is suddenly much stronger. Inuyasha quickly runs past Miroku to go to the Bone-Eater's Well. Miroku calls out to Inuyasha to at least deliver the fatal blow. When Rōyakan moves forward to chase Inuyasha, Miroku moves out of the way. Inuyasha continues to run to the Bone-Eater's Well. As Shippō and Kagome are surrounded by the three-eyed wolves, Kagome asks Shippō what's going on. Shippō tells Kagome that Inuyasha's wound isn't fully healed and the enemy is taking advantage of that to attack. Kagome thinks to herself that she knew it that Inuyasha's in danger. The three-eyed wolves start to come down the Bone-Eater's Well towards Shippō and Kagome, who says they're here. Inuyasha grabs the tree and pulls it out with the three-eyed wolves out of the Bone-Eater's Well and jumps into the air. Rōyakan comes toward Inuyasha, who says to Rōyakan he'll teach him before throwing the tree in Rōyakan's mouth, making fall to the ground. The three-eyed wolves disappear. Inuyasha looks to see Shippō and Kagome coming out of the Bone-Eater's Well.
Inuyasha lands on the ground near the Bone-Eater's Well. Kagome slowly walks towards Inuyasha as she calls out to him. Inuyasha tells Kagome she's a silly fool and why'd she come back. Kagome runs towards Inuyasha with open arms and hugs him as she calls out his name. Kagome tells Inuyasha she thought he died because he didn't come for her. Inuyasha tells Kagome he told her not to come anymore. Kagome stops hugging Inuyasha and says she couldn't help it as she longed to see him. Inuyasha becomes surprised and thinks to himself that Kagome longed to see him. Kagome asks Inuyasha what's that look he has and didn't he want to see her as well and how dare he as she was so worried about him and what a fool she was and he doesn't understand a thing and starts crying. Inuyasha asks Kagome why was she crying and don't cry over such a trifle. Kagome yells at Inuyasha that she's not crying out of sadness but of frustration. Shippō says to himself Inuyasha and Kagome fight the minute they set eyes on each other but thanks thank goodness it's all over. Miroku and Kaede arrived to see Kagome. Miroku says Kagome has returned and calls out to Kaede and becomes confused when she doesn't respond. Kaede says to Miroku doesn't he find it strange. Miroku becomes confused. Kaede says to Miroku that the droves of poison insects have disappeared. Miroku tells Kaede that she's right. Naraku watches nearby and sees Kagome in Inuyasha's arms and thinks she is Kikyō but says she can't be as she died 50 years ago. Kagome is helping Shippō out of the Bone-Eater's Well and suddenly senses someone and thinks to herself what is this presence and walks away from the well. Kagome says someone's here and also possesses the Sacred Jewel fragments. Inuyasha and Miroku become interested. Kagome says there's lots of them. Inuyasha and Miroku run to Naraku's location, who going to leave. Inuyasha jumps onto a tree branch and towards Naraku and lands near him. Inuyasha tells Naraku he knew he was nearby and says he's Naraku. Miroku arrives. Inuyasha says to Naraku he's got him now. Miroku thinks to himself that Naraku is in front of him. Shippō, Kaede, and Kagome arrive to see Naraku. Inuyasha tells Naraku before he kills him, he must ask him one thing: what grudge does he have against him. Naraku questions Inuyasha about a grudge and he guess he can't die in peace not knowing why someone hates him so much. Kaede starts to ask Naraku who he is. Kagome becomes confused. Naraku realizes it's Kaede and says how old she has grown. Kaede asks Naraku does he know her and says she knew it that he is Onigumo. Naraku questions the name 'Onigumo' as it such a nostalgic name and says he is Naraku and not Onigumo but it is true that 50 years ago he was borne out of Onigumo. Naraku says Onigumo was a foolish man that began to desire the kind-hearted young priestess who nursed him and he succumbed to his weakness and called forth the demons.
In a flashback, when Kikyō left Onigumo's cave carrying a jar, countless demons went to Onigumo that he summoned. Onigumo says even his rotting soul is worth something and asks the demons if they want a taste of him and hungry for him and he wants a body that moved freely in order to possess the Sacred Jewel and the lovely maiden Kikyō. Onigumo tells the demons to devour him and in return give him power. Thus Onigumo and the countless demons were bound together to create Naraku. End of the flashback, Naraku says that is how many demons become one into Naraku and creating his body took countless demons and because the priestess Kikyō had been reduced to a powerless girl this regions teemed with demons all because the priestess Kikyō had fallen in love with a worthless hanyō. In a flashback, Inuyasha and Kikyō were riding on a boat and when she gets off the boat she accidentally trips and he manages to catch her. Inuyasha and Kikyō stare at each other for a moment before they hugged one another. Naraku says Kikyō gave into childish desires and tried to use the power of the Sacred Jewel and was punished and tells Inuyasha he experienced the punishment yourself. In a flashback, Inuyasha was standing by the Sacred Tree when he was attacked by arrows from Naraku disguised as 'Kikyō', surprising him. Naraku tells Inuyasha to die. Kikyō holding the Sacred Jewel in the fields. All of a sudden a rustle sneaks up behind Kikyō and injures her. When Kikyō landed on the ground, she tries to get the Sacred Jewel but Naraku disguised as 'Inuyasha' steps on her hands. Naraku calls Kikyō a fool and tells her he has absolutely no desire to become a human, shocking Kikyō. Naraku takes it from Kikyō and says he will take the Sacred Jewel none the less and leaves. Inuyasha becomes angry and tells Naraku how dare he tricked them as he deceived Kikyō and him into trying to kill each other.
Naraku asks Inuyasha why was the trust he had in each other so easy to destroy. Inuyasha asks Naraku what was he saying. Naraku tells Inuyasha the truth is that anger and bitter anger set him against each other and that is the true legacy of the trust he had for each other and Kikyō couldn't understand as instead of choosing death she should have clung on to her life and used the Sacred Jewel and had she pleaded for her life her pathetic wretched wish would have been easily granted and she would have understood the ultimate truth of darkness and she was such a foolish woman as the Sacred Jewel grows even more beautiful when it is tainted. Inuyasha asks Kagome how many fragments does she see inside Naraku. Kagome says ten then twenty but there are much more. Inuyasha tells Naraku he'll show what tainted is and he will make that tainted blood of his flow then runs to him. Naraku into the air and Inuyasha follows before Inuyasha uses his Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer on Naraku, destroying his baboon pelt. Inuyasha becomes surprised to see Naraku's appearance and some of his face. Naraku smirks before he uses his miasma to kill some of the forest around them. Miroku, Shippō, Kaede, and Kagome flee from the miasma. Miroku tells everyone to get away from the miasma. Kagome calls out to Inuyasha. Naraku and Inuyasha fall to the ground of the miasma as Inuyasha's Robe of the Fire-Rat is completely disintegrated in a cloud of miasma. Naraku says to Inuyasha he's sunken into his miasma. Inuyasha slowly takes out his Tessaiga to use it's power to clear some of the miasma. Naraku becomes surprised that Inuyasha is cutting through the miasma then he walks away. Inuyasha jumps at Naraku and uses his Tessaiga to strike Naraku, destroying the upper garment off his body, whereupon he can see a spider-shaped scar on Naraku's back. Then Naraku flees in a cloud of miasma as well as the rest of it disappears. Inuyasha realized that Naraku escaped and becomes and angrily yells for Naraku to stay and fight. Later, Kaede questions Miroku about a spider on Naraku's back. Miroku confirms it as according to Inuyasha a spider-shaped burn mark on his back. Kaede says the thief Onigumo had terrible burns and perhaps that is proof that it is Onigumo. Miroku says a spider on Naraku's back will also be the telltale sign of Naraku. Shortly after the battle Rōyakan begged for help as Kagome removed the two jewel shards from his head given to him by Naraku, then returned to normal, thanked Kagome for her help and ran back to the forest. Kagome looks to see Inuyasha sitting in a tree. Inuyasha thinks to himself that Kikyō didn't even consider using the power of the Sacred Jewel to live. Kagome thinks to herself that Kikyō chose death as she chose to follow Inuyasha. Inuyasha looks to see Kagome staring at him.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Music[]
- Opening Theme — CHANGE THE WORLD — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kagome’s friends call her, her grandpa makes up sicknesses — Fun Group of Friends (Tanoshii Nakamatachi) — TV OST Vol. 2
- Rōyakan catches Tessaiga — Fang Sword, Tessaiga (Kiba no Ken Tessaiga) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Miroku fends off insects, Inuyasha dodges wolf’s attacks and cannot find his fragment — Fight to the Death (Shitō) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kagome comes back to feudal era, Inuyasha picks up her scent — Attack (Shūgeki) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Kagome hugs Inuyasha — Kagome and Inuyasha — TV OST Vol. 1
- Naraku sees Kagome, she senses his presence — Evil Demon, Naraku (Jayō Naraku) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Naraku talks about Onigumo’s pact with demons — Evil Energy (Jaki) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Naraku confirms he is the one who made Inuyasha and Kikyō hate each other — Trap (Wana) — TV OST Vol. 2
- Inuyasha asks Kagome to count Naraku’s jewel shards, Naraku poisons surrounding forest — Attack (Shūgeki) — TV OST Vol. 1
- Ending Theme — Fukai Mori — TV OST Vol. 2
Notes[]
- Episodes 21 and 22 originally aired together as a one-hour special. The original Japanese version of Episode 21 is 5 minutes longer than the English version. Viz licensed the censored version of both episodes to fit with the standard time length as all the other normal episode are. Because of this, Kagome retrieving the Shikon shards from Rōyakan is cut out.
- The title of this episode is spot on. Although not totally revealed until Tetsusaiga is Stolen! Showdown at Naraku's Castle!, when Inuyasha exposes Naraku, he already has the form of Kagewaki Hitomi.
Differences from the manga[]
- The opening scene of Grandpa speaking to Kagome's various friends over the phone and Kagome getting angry about Inuyasha at Sōta are anime exclusive.
- In the anime, Inuyasha asks Kagome about the number of Shikon shards Naraku has before attacking. In the manga, however, Inuyasha attacks Naraku in a fit of rage after the latter insults Kikyō.
- Miroku and Naraku exchange a few words about Miroku's grandfather in the manga. This isn't present in the anime.
- In the manga, Inuyasha discusses with Kaede and Miroku about the spider mark he saw on Naraku's back. In the anime, however, Miroku relays what Inuyasha told him off screen.
- In the manga, Inuyasha is adamant that Kagome not help Rōyakan because of how dangerous he is. In the anime, Kagome takes out the Shikon shards from Rōyakan's head without any objection from Inuyasha.
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