The ep begins with flashbacks of previous eps in which Kagome explains (in a voice over) about how Naraku made Inu and Kikyo think they betrayed each other.
At dusk, a band of outlaws is travelling down a road on horseback. They have just raided a tiny village One of the men says that they should hurry out of the area instead of setting up camp for the night, because it is said that the monsters come out when the sun sets. Their chief thinks that they are cowards.
Suddenly, they see someone standing in the middle of the road, with the setting sun making him a silhouette (we can tell that it is Sesshomaru). The chief orders his men to attack the person and strip him of his weapons. As they charge Sess, his left arm turns into a blue wolf-type claw, and in his silhouette, his eyes turn red. With one foul swoop, Sess takes them all out.
Jaken emerges from the grass and commends Sess on taking out the men so quickly. He says that killing the blue demon earlier and stealing his arm was a great idea. Sess calls Jaken a fool and then rips the arm off, tossing it to the ground. He says that the arm has already been rendered useless, but the hand of the blue arm grabs Jaken! Sess tells Jaken to find him another suitable demon and bring back his arm, and if he doesn’t, Sess will kill him. Sess then walks away while Jaken has to free himself from the gripping hand.
Jaken is thinking that all of this is Inu’s fault for cutting off Sess’ arm (in ep 7). There is a flashback of the scene where Inu used the Tetsusaiga to sever Sess’ leg (while he was in his dog demon form), which means that his left arm was gone in his human form. Jaken indicates that it’s not the sword he hates, but the beast that wielded it (Inu). He says that Sess, by rights, should have the Tetsusaiga and that they will get it back from Inu.
Sess says that even if he gets another arm, it will be rendered useless after a short time. A voice suddenly says “A vexing problem, isn’t it?”. Sess turns around to find a demon sitting behind him. Jaken hides behind Sess. The demon (who is just a man with a monster suit on) asks Sess if he is the elder brother of Inu, Sesshomaru. Sess asks the demon what he wants, and if he should know him. The demon says that he also hates Inu, and that he can help Sess.
The demon holds up a human arm and suggests that Sess use it. Jaken thinks he’s crazy. The demon tells Sess that it is indeed a human arm, but that it is embedded with a shard of the Shikon jewel. He claims that if Sess uses the arm, he will be able to wield the Tetsusaiga. Sess says that the demon mentioned he hated Inu, and does that mean that he wants to use Sess to get his revenge? The demon says yes, and Jaken begins a forceful protest at his master’s exploitation, but Sess says it sounds interesting and agrees to the proposal. Then the demon adds one more benefit. He gives Sess a small round object which he claims to be a hive, and says that Sess can make good use of it. Sess says that he wishes to know the name of the one he is making this pact with. The demon apologizes and says to call him Naraku (whoa ho ho....). Sess tells him he’s got a deal.
Meanwhile, Inu & Co. have stopped at a tavern to spend the night. In their room, Kagome and Shippo are eating. Kagome thinks this is much better than sleeping in the forest, and Inu sarcastically excuses himself for making them sleep outside all the time. Kagome calls him “touchy” and asks what his problem is. Shippo thinks Inu’s mad because it was Miroku’s idea to come to the tavern, but with food like this, who cares whose idea it was? Inu tries to ignore them.
Outside, Miroku is putting up talismans and tells the innkeeper that with this last seal in place, the ominous clouds over his tavern should disappear for good. The innkeeper thanks him and says now that Miroku has performed his “exorcism”, the innkeeper can sleep easy. Miroku just smiles and takes the compliment, saying that it’s all in a day’s work. (he is so terrible!)
Miroku goes back to the room and Kagome asks him how the exorcism went. He says “uneventful” and that he’s now ready for some rest. Inu then questions Miroku about his “powers” and about the fact that whenever they need to bed down for the night, Miroku suddenly detects an “ominous cloud” over whatever tavern is the nicest. Miroku says “You noticed that did you?”, and claims that a lie is sometimes the fastest way to get what he wants. Shippo is surprised, but Kagome knew it all along. Inu tells Miroku that he’s shiftier than he thought, but Miroku tells Inu that if he partakes in the results, his opinion of Miroku will soften (he says this as he offers Inu some food). Shippo seems excited about the dumplings that they got, and Inu says he’s as bad as Miroku.
Kagome tells Inu to calm down, but then the room starts to shake. Inu says whatever it is, it’s big. Miroku thinks they should run, but Inu says no way, Miroku just can’t “eat and run” (classic!). Miroku says that if the demon is big, they’ll be no match for it [there is some great verbal banter here]. Miroku says “It’s irrational, it’s impossible, it’s against my religiion”. Inu replies “You ought to be arrested.” (this is so great!)
Kagome says that she senses a jewel shard, and it’s approaching very quickly. Miroku says that since a jewel fragment is involved, he’ll make the effort, and he runs outside, followed by Inu, who says that this shard is his. Outside, the townspeople are wondering what’s going on. A huge shadowy claw then zooms across the sky and starts wreaking havoc on the town.
It turns out to be another of Sess’ shadow beasts, and the people run in fear. Inu and Miroku arrive, and Inu sees Sess sitting on the beast’s shoulder. He seems surprised that Sess is back. Sess jumps off the monster and lands on the ground, emittnig a poisonous fume from his hand. Inu & Co. all jump back (Inu doesn’t jump back that far) and Inu covers his nose with his sleeve.
Sess tells Inu that, as usual, he was slow to take action. Inu coughs as a huge black circle appears between him and Sess (result of the poison fumes). Sess says that he's come for the Tetsusaiga. Back behind some rocks, Miroku notes that the two know each other, and Kagome says that Sess is Inu’s brother, but that he’s a full demon, not a half demon like Inu. Inwardly, Kagome wonders about Sess’ second attempt to get the Tetsusaiga, when before, he couldn’t even touch it. She wonders what has changed.
Sess tells Inu to draw the Tetsusaiga, or is he going to surrender it without a battle? Inu draws it, claiming that this time, he’ll take off more then just one of Sess’ arms. He attacks Sess, who easily avoids him. Sess says it’s a pity that Inu hasn’t been able to fully unleash the Tetsusaiga’s power yet, and Inu is like “Oh yeah?”, and attacks Sess again. Sess reaches out and stops the sword stroke by grabbing Inu’s wrist with his right hand. An energy begins to emit from Sess’ hand, and it starts burning the flesh on Inu’s wrist. Kagome says it’s because of Sess’ poisonous nails.
Sess asks Inu which will drop first, his wrist or the Tetsusaiga? Inu says it won’t be the sword, and then reaches up with his left hand to grab the end of the hilt. He is able to free his right hand from Sess’ grip. He begins pushing Sess backward, and the others are surprised that Inu overpowered Sess. Inu tells Sess that he’s going to cut him in half, but Sess replies that Inu should have surrendered. Sess then leaps up, away from Inu, and uses his energy whip to knock the sword out of Inu’s hand and it goes flying. When it lands (blade-first) in the ground, it transforms back into its steel form. Inu runs for it, but Sess gets there first. Sess then reaches out and grabs hold of the sword’s hilt with his human hand.
The others are shocked, because Sess shouldn’t be able to touch the sword. As Sess pulls it out of the ground, it transforms back into its energy form, and Sess uses it to send a flash of energy at Inu. Inu is forced to jump back. Inwardly, Inu can’t understand why Sess can hold the Tetsusaiga, when he is a demon. Sess proclaims to be the rightful owner of the Tetsusaiga, and tells them to stand back while he demonstrates its full power. He signals to Jaken, who rides forth on the huge shadow beast, and it smashes its claw down on the side of the mountain. The ground begins to shake, and suddenly a host of lights emerge from the mountainside. The lights turn into demons, and they all rise up into the air.
Sess then tells Inu to watch and learn from a master, claiming that with one stroke, he will slaughter 100 demons. He pulls the sword back and then forcefully swings it in front of him, sending huge bolts of energy crashing toward the demons. All the demons are destroyed. Inu can’t believe what he’s seeing. All that’s left in the wake of the Tetsusaiga’s power is a huge crater where the mountain used to be.
Shippo, Kagome and Miroku are still shocked. Miroku can’t believe that Sess slayed all those demons, and split the mountain. Sess tells Inu that the sword forged from their father’s fang is unbeatable, but also says that the sword can’t choose its master, and that perhaps now Inu realizes that he can’t control it (because he’s a half-breed). Inu is furious with Sess.
Kagome calls Inu’s name and starts running toward him, but Miroku stops her and says that he will go. He tells her and Shippo to stay behind him, and Kagome figures that he’s going to use his hand. Sess tells Inu that his blood will stain the sword, and that it’s a fitting end for him. Inu vows (to himself) that Sess will never keep the Tetsusaiga. He seems ready to do something, when Miroku suddenly steps in front of him. Miroku claims that he is going to put an end to their foolish sibling rivalry.
Inu tells Miroku to butt out, and Sess seems to recognize something about Miroku. Inu tells Miroku that he can handle it, and pushes in front of him. Miroku tells Inu that he can’t do it on his own, and steps in front again. They start bickering back and forth. Meanwhile, Jaken remembers that Naraku said something about a monk, and wonders if Miroku is the same man. Naraku had told them that a monk was travelling with Inu and that he could be even more troublesome than Inu. Jaken doesn’t think that he looks that tough.
Jaken moves forward on the shadow beast and asks Sess to let him finish the monk off. Sess agrees, and Jaken orders the shadow beast to crush him. It raises its claw, but Miroku takes the beads off his hand and unleashes the wind tunnel. Sess jumps back and plants the Tetsusaiga in the ground to hold himself, but the shadow beast starts getting sucked into the wind tunnel. Jaken panicks. Shippo cheers Miroku on, and Kagome says that he’s the best, then turns to Inu and says “Oh yeah, you were good too.” Inu is not impressed.
Sess starts thinking that this is a good time to use the secret weapon that Naraku gave to him, and which he called the Hive of the Saimyoushou, which contains “insects from hell”. Naraku had said that it would be useful in plugging the hole in Miroku’s hand. Sess tosses the hive up in the air, and hundreds of wasp-like insects appear out of it. They swarm toward Miroku. Kagome notes that they’re not being sucked in, but that they’re flying right at Miroku! As they continue to enter his hand, Miroku suddenly feels a huge pain in his hand. He steps back, halting the wind tunnel as he cradles his right hand and sinks onto the ground. He tells Inu that he’ll have to take over again, and Inu wonders what the insects did to him.
The shadow beast, who was almost sucked into the wind tunnel, falls foward onto the ground and Jaken goes flying. The insects zoom in for another attack, and Inu uses his iron reaver soul stealer attack to shred them. Kagome asks Miroku if he is alright. He says that the insects have poisoned him with their venom. Kagome tells Miroku not to move, and that she’s going to look for an antidote. As she runs back toward the tavern, she yells to Inu to watch Miroku. Inu continues to destroy the insects, then lands and asks Miroku for “a little help here”. Miroku apologizes to Inu but says that the venom has gotten to him. He wonders how insects could block the use of his hand.
As most of the insects have been destroyed, Inu throws his blades of blood at Sess, but Sess blocks them easily with the Tetsusaiga. Inu grabs Miroku and they take shelter with Shippo behind the shadow beast (which is still incapacitated). Inu angrily tells Miroku that he owes him big for this, but Miroku seems seriously hurt, and doesn’t answer. Inu remembers what Miroku said about the venom and wonders if he’s really in trouble. Shippo warns them that Sess is coming, and as Sess approaches, he figures that Inu has no hope. Inu wonders what he ‘s going to do, knowing that only one stroke from the Tetsusaiga will destroy them all. Sess says that this is the end, and tells them to die as he swoops the Tetsusaiga forward. The shadow beast is completely destroyed and an explosion rocks the ground.
Surprisingly, Inu emerges from the earth that has fallen on top of him, and growls at Sess. Sess laughs, saying that Inu is stupid. He tells Inu to run and hide because that is the only option left. Sess then says that, on the other hand, Inu could stand and face his death, and that in doing so, he would die with honour. Inu’s reply to this speech is so awesome. He says “Blah, blah, blah. The guy starts swinging a big new sword around and suddenly he’s looking for a soap box to stand on and preach to the world.” That was so great! Inu then gives Sess a piece of advice.... when he kills someone, make sure he does it right the first time, because if the first attack only maims the person, they have a nasty way of coming back to make you regret it! Go Inu!
Inu then leaps up completely out of the dirt and attacks Sess, forcing him up into the air. Sess says that he’s heard enough, and brings the Tetsusaiga down on Inu. But Inu blocks it with the Tetsusaiga’s sheath! Sess is surprised that Inu is holding off the Tetsusaga with its own sheath. Inu starts laughing at Sess.
Meanwhile, Jaken emerges from the dirt and can’t believe that Sess almost killed him too. Jaken worries about his future! A hand then reaches up and grabs Jaken by the head. Miroku emerges from the dirt, followed by Shippo. Jaken can’t believe that they’re still alive. Miroku asks Jaken how, when he’s never even met Sess or Jaken before, they knew to use the insects to stop his wind tunnel? Jaken plays stupid for a moment, then uses his staff to knock Miroku down the dirt hill with a fire blast. Shippo runs to Miroku’s side while Jaken stands at the top of the fill, claiming that he can handle a weak monk and a puny fox child all at once.
Sess ridicules Inu for trying to hold off a powerful sword with a sheath, but Inu claims that it’s no ordinary sheath. Inu promises to crack open Sess’ head with it. Meanwhile, Shippo is trying all of his usual tricks on Jaken, but is getting nowhere. Miroku tells Shippo to save himself, but Shippo says that he’s staying. They duck and then run as another fire blast comes at them from Jaken’s staff.
Sess tells Inu that if he thinks he can kill him, prove it. Sess then takes a sideswipe at Inu, forcing Inu to jump backward into the air. When he lands, Sess renews his attack, and after several hits, he knocks the sheath from Inu’s hand. Now weaponless, Inu is at the pointy end of the Tetsusaiga, and Sess tells Inu that with one more strike, it will be over. They regard each other for a single moment, Sess with an expression of confidence, Inu with complete anger. Sess raises the Tetsusaiga up for the final blow.
Suddenly, an arrow strikes the tip of the Tetsusaiga. Then another one strikes on the blade. Everyone watches in awe as the Tetsusaiga’s glow goes out and it transforms back into its steel form. Inu can’t believe it. As one of the arrows lands in the ground behind them, they hear Kagome’s voice calling Sess’ name. They turn to see her standing up on the crest of a hill near the tavern, and she’s got another arrow knocked on her bow. She tells Sess to drop the sword, or the next arrow will pierce his heart.
Inu calls her name, and as she draws the arrow back more, she shouts to him to get out of there quickly. Inwardly, Sess can’t believe that this girl’s arrow cancelled the Tetsusaiga’s transformation. Miroku marvels that it must be true.... Kagome is the reincarnation of the Priestess (Kikyo). As everyone looks at her with awe-struck expressions, Kagome stands ready to loose her next arrow.
