Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are still battling. Inuyasha is confident he can still chop off the new arm, but Sango points out that this is a dragon’s claw. They’re much more powerful than a regular demon’s arm. Toto-sai says that unless Inuyasha can master the Wind Scar, which is the secret to Tetsusaiga’s ultimate power, Sesshomaru will likely kill him.
Sesshomaru relentlessly attacks the sword, making it ring and vibrate violently. His goal is to destroy it. Inuyasha throws himself in front of the sword and takes a major wound to the head. Sesshomaru also blinds him with his poisonous claws. The chips are down, but then Inuyasha senses the winds of power surrounding his brother. He can even smell them. He realizes that if he hits the winds in the exact spot where they all combine, he can even cut into the power. With all his strength he swings the blade. Sesshomaru is hit with a powerful blast. The Tenseiga at his waist glows and Sesshomaru disappears in the blast.
Inuyasha has discovered how to use the Wind Scar, but Toto-sai warns that he is still not equal to Sesshomaru in power. He realizes that the Tenseiga protected Sesshomaru and transported him to safety. Despite Sesshomaru’s black heart, the Tenseiga still belongs to him, and will save his life, since it is a healing sword. Toto-sai repairs the minor damage Tetsusaiga received and then takes his leave, hoping that the brothers will one day realize they can’t fight forever.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru lies in a forest somewhere, severely injured but alive. A young human girl, Rin, stumbles upon him. Though he at first tries to scare her away, she keeps bringing him food and caring for him. Sesshomaru is obviously unnerved by this behavior. When the villagers beat the girl for stealing food, he even inquires to her injuries. She says nothing but smiles brightly at him.
A strange wolf demon leads his pack into Rin’s village, in search of a thief who happens to be hiding in the poor girl’s house. The wolf leader kills the thief and takes a Shikon shard from him. He then orders the wolves to kill the villagers. He leaves, but the wolves remain and devour the villagers, Rin included.
Jaken searches for Sesshomaru, unnerved that earlier Sesshomaru attacked him with his sword. Was it a test, or was he teasing? Sesshomaru shows up and they’re about to leave when the demon smells a familiar blood scent. He and Jaken investigate and find the dead Rin. Sesshomaru brings her back to life with the Tenseiga, much to Jaken’s—and even Sesshomaru’s—surprise. The girl then follows him as he coolly walks away.
The Inuyasha gang, Kagome having announced sensing a shard a while back, arrive upon the massacred village. The wolves attack them, but Inuyasha easily fends them off. So the wolves call for help and their leader, the wolf man from earlier, shows up. Kagome warns that he has three shards—one in each leg and one in an arm. He’s powerful and quick, and they’ve got a real tough fight on their hands.