Naraku’s plans come full circle for potentially tragic results for one dear to Inuyasha in this latest volume. The epic feudal fairy tale hits the ground running in this series of chapters as Naraku achieves his ultimate form, and we learn the dastardly reason why. While he lured and trapped Inuyasha and friends inside Mount Hakurei, Naraku has divested himself of his only weakness: his human heart. The heart of Onigumo whose twisted yearning for Kikyo has stayed Naraku’s hand one time too often, no longer resides in Naraku’s body. Now free of it, Naraku has one thought, one goal before he sets off to collect the remaining jewel shards and defeat his enemies: to kill Kikyo once and for all!

Quite a few nefarious turn of events occur in this latest installment. First, Inuyasha has to escape the mountain. Then Naraku, in his new form, hunts down Kikyo for a violent and possibly final confrontation. The aftermath of their battle leaves both Inuyasha and Kagome in turmoil. Inuyasha is tormented, wondering if his first love is alive or dead. Kagome suffers from her long held jealousy over Inuyasha’s feelings for Kagome. And this will open the door for Naraku’s next evil plot, to attain the last jewel shards and poison Kagome. It is her doubts about Inuyasha’s feelings for her and her own jealousy that open the door for a seemingly innocent child to try to ferret out the potential evil in her heart.

Suspenseful, always intriguing, the saga of Inuyasha hits new plateaus of intensity as Naraku’s evil hits new heights. He is one of the best Machiavellian villains in manga. As he recounts his intentions in this volume it is an impressive and intricate set of plans. They are plans the group of heroes couldn’t possibly be ready for. In fact, by the end of this manga, Kagome and Inuyasha end up at a temple hiding a hideous secret.

IN SUMMARY:
Inuyasha is an impressive fantasy adventure with no limits on the imagination or the excitement.