Sperm whale and Naraku: Difference between pages

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{{articleissues|cleanup=September 2008|in-universe=December 2007|plot=October 2007|primarysources=September 2008|introrewrite=September 2008|or=September 2008}}
{{Taxobox
{{For|the Buddhist underworld|Naraka (Buddhism)}}
| name = Sperm Whale<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Cetacea | id=14300131 }}</ref>
{{Infobox animanga character
| status = VU
| name = Naraku
| status_system = iucn3.1
| series = InuYasha
| status_ref =<ref>{{IUCN2008|assessors=Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. & Pitman, R.L.|year=2008|id=41755|title=Physeter macrocephalus|downloaded=7 October 2008}} </ref>
| image = sperm whale1b.jpg
| image = [[Image:Naraku 032.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Naraku as he first appears by [[Rumiko Takahashi]]
| image_caption = ''Scarred Giant'' (detail)
| creator = [[Rumiko Takahashi]]
| image2 = Sperm_whale_size.svg
| first = "The Mystical Hand of the Amorous Monk, Miroku"
| image2_caption = Size comparison against an average human
| voiced by = Japanese: [[Hiroshi Yanaka]] (1st),<br />[[Toshiyuki Morikawa]] (2nd)<br />English: [[Paul Dobson]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| alias =
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| age = Appears 23 <ref>[http://www.furinkan.com/iycompanion/misc/faq.html See questions and answers]</ref><!-- Do not change this, read the reference which is an official source --><ref> Zusetsutaizan Ougikaiden By Rumiko Takahashi </ref>
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| species = ''hanyō''
| ordo = [[Cetacea]]
| born =
| subordo = [[Odontoceti]]
| relatives = [[Kanna]] (daughter, deceased) <br /> [[Kagura (InuYasha)|Kagura]] (daughter, deceased) <br /> [[Goshinki]] (son, deceased) <br /> [[Juromaru]] (son, deceased) <br /> [[Kageromaru]] (son, deceased) <br /> unnamed 1 (manga only) (son, deceased) <br /> [[Muso]] (son, deceased) <br /> unnamed 2 (manga only) (son, deceased) <br /> [[Akago]] (son, deceased) <br /> [[Hakudoshi]] (son, deceased) <br /> [[Byakuya]] (son, deceased)
| familia = [[Physeteridae]]
| aux1 name = Weapon
| genus = '''''Physeter'''''
| aux1 = various (see below)
| species = '''''P. macrocephalus''''' or <br/>'''''P. catodon''''' <br/>(see text)
| binomial = ''Physeter macrocephalus'' '''or''' <br/>''Physeter catodon''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
| synonyms =
| range_map = cetacea range map Sperm Whale 4.PNG
| range_map_caption= Sperm whale range (in blue)
}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''Naraku'''|奈落||meaning "[[Naraka (Buddhism)|underworld]]" or "hell"}} is the main [[antagonist]] in the [[anime]] and [[manga]] series ''[[InuYasha]]''. He is directly responsible for the death of the character [[Kikyo]] and the seal placed on the series' protagonist, [[InuYasha (character)|InuYasha]]. He is also the cause of most of the troubles and problems facing the other major characters, making his destruction the overall focus of their quest due to the pain he has personally caused them.


As a ''hanyō'' (translated as "half-demon") and later a ''yōkai'' ("full-demon"), Naraku desires the [[Jewel of Four Souls|Shikon-no-Tama]], a jewel that would be able to grant him near-invincibility should he acquire all the pieces of it. Although early in the series he desires the jewel to purge his half-human self from his body, after he become a full ''yōkai'' he desires the jewel to enhance his strength even further. He is repeatedly opposed by InuYasha and his friends, along with several other characters in the series.
The '''Sperm Whale''' ('''''Physeter macrocephalus''''' or '''''Physeter catodon''''') is the largest of all [[toothed whale]]s and largest living toothed animal. The whale was named after the milky-white waxy substance, [[spermaceti]], found in its head and originally mistaken for [[sperm]]. It has a [[cosmopolitan distribution]] across the world's oceans. The species feeds on [[squid]] and [[fish]], diving as deep as {{convert|2200|m|ft}} in order to obtain its prey, making it the deepest diving mammal in the world. Pods of females and young live separately from older males. Sperm whales live for more than 70 years.


==Overview==
The Sperm Whale's enormous head and distinctive shape, as well as its central role in [[Herman Melville]]'s ''[[Moby-Dick]]'', have led many to describe it as the [[archetype|archetypal]] whale. Partly because of Melville, the Sperm Whale is commonly associated with the [[Leviathan]] of the Bible. The fearsome reputation perpetuated by Melville was based on bull whales' ability to fiercely defend themselves from attacks by early whalers, sometimes resulting in the destruction of the whaling ships. Historically the Sperm Whale has also been known as the '''common cachalot'''. The word ''cachalot'' is originally [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (''cachalote''), probably coming from ''cachola'', a colloquial term for ''head''. Sperm whales were commercially [[whaling|hunted]] until recently, declined as a consequence of over-harvesting, and are currently listed as [[vulnerable]] by the [[International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources|IUCN]].
===Onigumo===
Naraku is a ''hanyō'' ("half-demon" — ''yō'' is derived from ''[[yōkai]]'', which means "[[demon]]"), although he differs from most ''hanyō''.


There was a man named '''Onigumo''' (鬼蜘蛛, おに ぐ も, "demon-spider"), who was full of deceit and hatred for others. He tricked his bandit leader, Rasetsu (the elderly man later on in both ''manga'' and anime who gives Kikyo his top knot to be sent to Mount Hakurei in order to purify his soul) into approaching [[Kikyo]] and attempt to obtain the [[Jewel of Four Souls|Shikon no Tama]], or Jewel of Four Souls; however, Onigumo did not warn him that with Kikyo, there was a ''hanyō'' named [[InuYasha (character)|InuYasha]]. Rasetsu survived the encounter with InuYasha, lost an eye, and returns to camp annoyed to find that Onigumo has made off with his troops. Rasetsu finds Onigumo and his troops at an inn down the road celebrating their change in leadership. Rasetsu blows up the inn, but the charred body of Onigumo somehow manages to survive the blast. Rasetsu throws the barely-living Onigumo off a cliff. (This, however, does not explain the spider scar, as Onigumo had the scar before he met Rasetsu).
== Description ==


By either chance or fate, Onigumo barely survived and was found by Kikyo who slowly nursed him back to the point of being able to speak. Onigumo developed feelings for Kikyo, but knowing that he could not move for the rest of his life, he summoned countless ''yōkai'' using his corrupted soul. He then had them devour his body in exchange for giving him a new body with which he could claim Kikyo and the [[Jewel of Four Souls]]. Thus the countless ''yōkai'' were bound together in a form with Onigumo serving as a connector. (In an anime special, it is implied that a spider-''yōkai'', which looked like a small replica of Naraku's spider form in the second movie, was the de facto leader of these ''yōkai''.) This resulted in the part-human, part-''yōkai'' Naraku.
[[Image:Sperm Whale's head anatomy.JPG|thumb|left|Head anatomy]]
Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales, with adult males measuring up to {{convert|20.5|m|ft|lk=on}} long.<ref name=marinebio>[http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=190 ''Physeter macrocephalus'', Sperm Whale] at [http://marinebio.org/ marinebio.org]</ref> Their distinctive shape comes from their very large head, particularly in males, which is typically one-third of the animal's length. In contrast to the smooth skin of most other large whales, the skin on the back of the Sperm Whale is usually knobbly and has been likened to a [[prune (fruit)|prune]] by whale-watching enthusiasts.<ref name="prune">{{cite book | author=Mark Carwardine | title=On the Trail of the Whale | publisher=Chapter 1. Thunder Bay Publishing Co | year=1994 | id=ISBN 1-899074-00-7}}</ref> They are uniformly grey in colour, though they may appear brown in sunlight; white [[albino]] whales have also been reported.<ref name=audobon>{{cite book|title=Guide to Marine Mammals of the World|author=Reeves, R., Stewart, B., Clapham, P. & Powell, J.|page=240–243|year=2003|isbn=0-375-41141-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sperm Whale (''Physeter macrocephalus''): Species Accounts|url=http://animals.jrank.org/pages/3164/Sperm-Whales-Physeteridae-SPERM-WHALE-Physeter-macrocephalus-SPECIES-ACCOUNTS.html|accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> The [[brain]] of the Sperm Whale is the [[largest body part|largest and heaviest]] known of any modern or extinct animal (weighing on average {{convert|7|kg|lb|lk=on}} in a grown male).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/whalesperm.htm|title=Facts about the sperm whale|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref> However, proportionally, the brain's weight is less than half that of a [[human]] brain when body size is factored in.


===Evolution of Naraku===
The [[blowhole (biology)|blowhole]] is located very close to the front of the head and shifted to the whale's left.<ref name=encyc>{{cite book|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2002|chapter=Sperm whale ''Physeter macrocephalus''|page=1165-1172|editor=Perrin, W., Würsig B. and Thewissen, J.|title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=0-12-551340-2}}</ref> This gives rise to a distinctive bushy blow angled forward. The Sperm Whale has no true [[dorsal fin]], instead a series of ridges are present on the caudal third of the back. The largest was called the 'hump' by whalers and can be mistaken for a [[dorsal fin]] because of its shape.<ref name=princeton>{{cite book|title=Whales Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World|author=Shirihai, H. and Jarrett, B.|page=21–24|year=2006|isbn=0-691-12757-3}}</ref>
In the meantime, he did not forget about his ultimate goal of obtaining the corrupted Shikon no Tama. He disguised himself as both InuYasha and Kikyo and tricked them into hating each other, as he describes that "the Shikon Jewel is the most beautiful when it's tainted by the hatred Kikyo and InuYasha have toward each other".


He mortally wounded Kikyo while disguised as InuYasha, took the Shikon no Tama and returned it to the village, then disguised himself as Kikyo and attacked InuYasha. InuYasha, sensing something was wrong, instinctively went back to the village to retrieve the Jewel. However, disguised as Kikyo, Naraku told the villagers that InuYasha would come for the Shikon no Tama at any cost, thereby forcing InuYasha to use force to obtain the Jewel. As he was getting away with the Jewel, Kikyo, with her remaining strength, sealed InuYasha to the Tree of Ages. Naraku, who desired both the Jewel of Four Souls and Kikyo, thought that she would use the Jewel to heal herself, but instead she requested Kaede to cremate the Jewel along with her dying body, so that it would be taken to the afterlife with her.
[[Image:Sperm whale fluke.jpg|left|frame|The flukes of a Sperm Whale as it dives into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] (courtesy NMFS)]]
The [[:wiktionary:fluke|fluke]] is also triangular and very thick. Flukes are lifted very high out of the water before a whale begins a deep dive.<ref name=encyc/>


Onigumo's soul, within Naraku, objected to Kikyo's death. At this time, Naraku took action to prevent Onigumo from consciously influencing the hanyō's actions. Onigumo perceived this process as imprisonment in a deep dark place where he proceeded to sleep.
Sperm whales have 20–26 pairs of cone-shaped [[teeth]] in their lower jaw, each 8–20&nbsp;[[centimetre|cm]] (3–8&nbsp;[[Inch|in]]) long.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/spermwhl.htm|title=American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref> Each tooth can weigh as much as one kilogram. The reason for the existence of the teeth is not known with certainty. It is believed that they are not necessary for feeding on squid and indeed healthy well-fed Sperm Whales have been found in the wild without teeth. The current scientific consensus is that the teeth may be used for aggression between males of the same species. This hypothesis is consistent with the conic shape and wide spacing of the teeth.<ref>[http://www.whale-images.com/sperm_whale_facts.jsp Sperm Whale Facts]. Retrieved [[December 26]], [[2007]].</ref> Furthermore bull Sperm Whales often show scars which seem to be caused by the teeth of other bulls. Rudimentary teeth are also present in the upper jaw, but these rarely open into the mouth..<ref>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=4|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref>


For fifty years after Kikyo's death, Naraku secretly plotted and waited for the Shikon Jewel to appear again. After the appearance of Kagome as the present-day reincarnation of Kikyo and InuYasha's awakening, he moved forward with his plan of gathering the shattered shards of the Jewel. Knowing his weakness as a ''hanyō'', he relied mostly on evil tricks and traps while gathering information on his potential enemies that would stand before his insidious plot.
Sperm whales are among the most [[sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]] (that is, males and females differ greatly) of all [[cetacean]]s. Males are typically 30% to 50% longer (approximately {{convert|16|m|ft|lk=on}}) than females (approximately {{convert|11|m|ft|lk=on}}) and are three times as massive (41&nbsp;000&nbsp;kg vs. 14&nbsp;000&nbsp;kg, 45&nbsp;[[short ton]]s vs 15&nbsp;short&nbsp;tons).<ref name=encyc/> At birth both males and females are between {{convert|3.5|and|4.5|m|ft|lk=on}}) in length, with a mass of 1&nbsp;000&nbsp;kg (1&nbsp;tonne).<ref name=princeton>{{cite book|title=Whales Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World|author=Shirihai, H. and Jarrett, B.|page=21–24|year=2006|isbn=0-691-12757-3}}</ref>


Being a ''hanyō'' like InuYasha, Naraku also sometimes experiences a period of weakness. During those times, he loses all his ''yōkai'' powers and reverts to his human "form". While in this form, he is composed of his head attached to countless random ''yōkai'' parts. Naraku has the freedom of choosing this time, unlike InuYasha, and since he is made up of thousands of ''yōkai'', each time he "experiments" and "reconstructs" his body, he gets rid of weak and useless parts while keeping the vital ones to get stronger. It is possible that during each of these periods he expelled more and more of his humanity. This process ultimately led to the creation of his stronger form.
The largest bull Sperm Whale verified and accurately measured was 20.5 m (67.9 ft) and 80 tonnes (88 tons).<ref>Wood, The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. Sterling Pub Co Inc (1983), ISBN 978-0851122359</ref> However, there is evidence of larger bulls than this. Owing to extensive whaling, Sperm Whale size may have decreased, as males were heavily exploited during the modern era, primarily after [[World War II]]. In a Nantucket museum there is a jawbone of a Sperm Whale which is 5.5&nbsp;m (18&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{cite web|title=Nantucket and Whaling|url=http://www.pbs.org/odyssey/class/nantucket.html|publisher=PBS|accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sperm Whale|url=http://www.spermwhales.info|accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> The jawbone makes up 25% of the Sperm Whale's overall body length. Thus this whale might have been at most 23&nbsp;m (72&nbsp;ft) long, a mass of around 105&nbsp;[[metric ton]]s (118&nbsp;short&nbsp;tons). Further evidence of larger bulls in the past resides in New Bedford museum, a 5.2 metres (17&nbsp;ft) jaw of a bull that could have been about 21.7 metres (68&nbsp;ft) long, with a maximum mass of about 100&nbsp;tons. In addition, logbooks found in the Nantucket and New Bedford museums are filled with references to bulls that were, considering the amount of oil they yielded, about the same size as these two examples- although whalers were notorious for exaggerating the yield of oil and length of whales they caught. Today, Sperm Whale males do not usually exceed {{convert|18.3|m|ft|lk=on}}) in length or 55.8 short tons in weight.<ref name=princeton/> The largest Sperm Whales observed are comparable in size to the [[fin whale]] (and smaller than [[blue whale]]s), making the Sperm Whale either the second or third largest animal species alive.


===Disposal of his human heart===
=== Spermaceti ===
[[Image:naraku3241ru.jpg|thumb|Naraku in the form he created after leaving Mt. Hakurei]]
{{main|Spermaceti}}
After InuYasha was able to break his barrier with the red [[Tetsusaiga]], Naraku got injured by InuYasha and he almost beat him but he retreated to a mountain [[Hakurei-Zan]] for a long time, resurrecting the [[Shichinintai]] in the meantime to keep his enemies busy. To better protect himself from powerful ''yōkai'' enemies like InuYasha, [[Sesshomaru]], and Koga, he deceived a lost soul of a dead priest [[Hakushin]] into creating a barrier so holy, that it would purify and cleanse any ''yōkai'' that came close to it. The closer Naraku's enemies came to the core of the barrier, the stronger it was. This was also the most powerful barrier in the series as its reach extended over the perimeter of an entire mountain and much of the land around it. The stronger a ''yōkai'', the deeper into the barrier they could go until they got to a specific sort of critical point where anything with even the slightest bit of ''demon'' energy would be utterly purified. For any creature with ''yōkai'' as its spirit, they would die at this point no matter how powerful. For example, Koga could not even pass the perimeter of the barrier due to the fact that he is a nomal ''yōkai''. Sesshomaru however was able to penetrate the barrier's perimeter and travel deeper into it but was weakened, during his battles with Suikotsu and [[Shichinintai#Jakotsu 蛇骨|Jakotsu]]. InuYasha was able to pass this final point, but his half demon was purified so completely that he transformed into his human form while inside the barrier. Naraku himself hides within a cave inside the mountain which is not penetrated by the purifying barrier. Kikyo persuades Hakushin to remove the barrier and ascend to Heaven.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Naraku2.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Naraku's new body after [[Hakurei-Zan]]]] -->


Naraku separates himself from his heart, rendering it in two pieces. The physical heart (心臓, ''shinzō'') he imparts to [[Akago]], rendering Naraku effectively [[Immortality|immortal]] unless Akago is destroyed. The spiritual heart, or soul (心, ''kokoro''), which he inherited from the human Onigumo, is discarded inside Hakurei-Zan. This allows Naraku to become stronger, much like a full ''yōkai''. (Comments later made by Abi-Hime and Tekkei revealed that Naraku was still technically a ''hanyō''.) Furthermore, he now possessed an even stronger barrier, which proved impenetrable to anything except for the Tetsusaiga's [[Tetsusaiga#Kongōsōha|Kongōsōha]] ("''Diamond Shard Blast''" or "''Adamant Barrage''" in the English dub).
[[Spermaceti]] is the semiliquid, waxy substance found in the head of the Sperm Whale. The name derives from the late Latin ''sperma ceti'' (both words actually loaned from Greek) meaning "sperm of the whale" (strictly, "sperm of the sea monster"). The common name for the species is actually an [[apocopation]] of Spermaceti Whale. Early beach-combers mistook the substance for the whale's semen. Spermaceti is found in the ''spermaceti organ'' or ''case'' in front of and above the skull of the whale and also in the so-called ''junk'' which is right at the front of the whale's head just above the upper jaw. The case consists of a soft white, waxy substance saturated with spermaceti oil. The junk contains spermaceti oil as well as connective tissue.<ref name=encyc/><ref name=whiteheadsperm>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=8–9|chapter=The Peculiar Anatomy of the Sperm Whale: The Spermaceti Organ|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref>


As soon as Kikyo gives the man who created the barrier the ability to find peace, he departs for the afterlife and the barrier dissolves. Naraku then reveals his new, powerful form and strikes down Kikyo. His powers increased dramatically as he challenged Sesshomaru and deliberately let him tear his body apart with a point-blank range ''yōki'' blast, however it had no effect and Naraku proclaimed that "I cannot die". In order to find the final Shikon shard located at the border between this world and the afterlife, Naraku made a deal with Abi-Hime, the princess of the bird ''yōkai''. However, Abi-Hime and her mother, Tekkei, never did trust Naraku because he was "merely" a ''hanyō''. Both being full ''yōkai'' with utter contempt for ''hanyō'', Abi-Hime and Tekkei plotted against Naraku and later attacked him. Naraku proceeds to behead Tekkei, the river of her blood producing a gateway to the world between this and the next.
One function that the spermaceti organs is believed to serve is that of a [[buoyancy]] or diving organ. Before diving, cold water is brought through the organ and the wax is solidified.<ref name=physiology>{{cite web|title=The Physiology of the Deep Diving Adaptations of Whales |url=http://www.uwrf.edu/biology/electives_dir/444_dir/VSmith/Page1.html|author=Carlson, L., Schuler, A. & Smith, V.|accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> The increase in [[specific density]] generates a down force (approx 40&nbsp;kg equiv) and allows the whale effortless sinking. During the chase in deep levels (max&nbsp;3,000m) the stored oxygen is consumed and excess heat melts the spermaceti. Now only hydrodynamic forces (by swimming) keep the whale down before effortlessly surfacing.


Throughout the series Naraku is always constantly absorbing ''yōkai'' to carry on the process of expelling the weak components of his victims and retaining the stronger ones. Thus he is able to constantly increase his strength even after the events of Mt. Hakurei, though it never increases enough to counteract InuYasha's Kongōsōha until he has absorbed Mōryōmaru and a barrier-dissolving Daiyōkai tree.
Hypotheses on further functions exist: One incidentally discussed in ''Moby-Dick'' by Melville, is that the case evolved as a kind of battering ram for use in fights between males.<ref name="battering">{{cite web|url=http://autodax.net/Carrieretal2002.pdf|title=Spermaceti as battering ram?|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref> This hypothesis is consistent with the well-documented sinking of the ships ''[[Essex (whaleship)|Essex]]'' and ''[[Ann Alexander (ship)|Ann Alexander]]'' due to attacks by Sperm Whales estimated to weigh only one-fifth as much as the ships.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The face that sank the ''Essex'': potential function of the spermaceti organ in aggression|author=Carrier, D., Deban, S. & Otterstrom, J.|url=http://autodax.net/Carrieretal2002.pdf|date=2002|journal=The Journal of Experimental Biology|volume=205|pages=1755–1763}}</ref>


===Re-absorption of Naraku's heart===
Another possibility is that the case is used as an aid to [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]] (see [[Melon (whale)|melon]]).<ref name=whiteheadsperm/> The shape of the organ at any given time is likely to focus or widen the beam of emitted [[sound]].<ref name="cranford">[http://www.spermwhale.org/SDSU/cranford.html spermwhale.org] - Cranford</ref> The Sperm Whale actually has two nostrils — one external nostril, forming the blow hole, and one internal nostril pressing against the bag-like spermaceti container.<ref name=whiteheadsperm/>
[[Image:Naraku-New-Form 01.jpg|thumb| Naraku's form after absorbing Mōryōmaru (Manga)]]
Following the death of Kagura in the manga, Naraku becomes largely absent from the series, and the focus shifts to Akago's and [[Mōryōmaru]]'s quest to absorb ''yōkai'' and Shikon shards. Naraku finally reappears, reviving a tree ''yōkai'' known as Yōmeiju, a tree which devoured humans and ''yōkai'' alike. But this time, as InuYasha and his group watched, Naraku devoured the tree. Shortly thereafter, he and Mōryōmaru squared off for the first time in an open battle. Naraku then reveals that the reason he created Akago as an infant and purposely made him so weak, while providing him with a powerful barrier that he had the power to disable, was because he always knew his heart would turn against him. Taunting Mōryōmaru about his shell, referring to it as a castle and to Akago as a king who has grown fat inside a castle, Naraku at first appeared to be trying to reabsorb him. But this clash ended with a shocking twist: Mōryōmaru absorbed his maker, supposedly defeating him for good. Naraku soon revealed that he was in fact alive, having allowed Mōryōmaru to absorb him in a [[Trojan Horse]]-style ploy in order to then devour Mōryōmaru from the inside. He then used the Yōmeiju's barrier-dissolving abilities to reclaim Akago and then fully assimilated Mōryōmaru into his being.


In Chapter 452 of the manga, "Spider Web", Naraku also returned to Hakurei-Zan to reabsorb the heart of Onigumo which he discarded there. Onigumo speaks to him, gloating that Naraku still needs this discarded human heart to avoid being purified by Kikyo, because of Onigumo's intense negative feelings. The human heart says it possesses more intense negative feelings, and these can prevent purification by bringing darkness to the Shikon Jewel. Naraku seems to confirm this analysis. He intends to exploit the emotional connection between the hearts of Onigumo, Kikyo and InuYasha to destroy both Kikyo and InuYasha. The re-absorptions may mean that Naraku has lost the invulnerability he obtained from keeping his heart outside his body. However, the Shikon no Tama also allows it's possessor to survive otherwise fatal injuries. The diamonds on Naraku's new body, along with his armored shell, may also add some extra protection (due to the former being the hardest substance on the planet, and the latter easily able to swat off even the destructive brunt of the Kongōsōha).
Spermaceti was much sought after by 18th, 19th and 20th century [[whaling|whalers]]. The substance found a variety of commercial applications, such as [[candle]]s, [[soap]], [[cosmetics]], machine oil, other specialized lubricants, lamp oil, pencils, crayons, leather waterproofing, rust-proofing materials and many pharmaceutical compounds.<ref name=smithsonian>{{cite book|title=The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals|author=Wilson, D.|page=300|year=1999|isbn=0774807628}}</ref>
<ref name=highseas>{{cite web|title=The status of natural resources on the high seas|url=http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/highseas.pdf|author=The Southampton Oceanography Centre & A deFontaubert|publisher=[[IUCN]]|page=63|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of Mechanical Science, Arts, Manufactures, and Miscellaneous Knowledge|author=Jamieson, A.|year=1829|page=566|publisher=H. Fisher, Son & Co.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aquarium of the Pacific - Sperm Whale|url=http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/print/sperm_whale/|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref>


===The Shikon Jewel's Completion and Death===
==Distribution==
In chapter 463 in battle with InuYasha, Naraku takes Koga's shikon shards because he placed his Jewel shard inside Kikyo. After he placed it in Kikyo, Kagome shot Kikyo with her last sacred arrow to purify her, then Naraku used Koga's shards to corrupt the Jewel as Kikyo plans to purify the Jewel. But Naraku's evil overpowered Kikyo's holy aura and allowed him to reclaim the Jewel, leaving only Kohaku's shard. Once the Jewel is completed, Naraku will have the power to become a full youkai.


However, in chapter 475, Naraku blames Kikyo for a purity inside the shikon no tama. Currently, Naraku is dead-set on decapitating Kohaku in an attempt to get his shard without becoming purified by Kikyo's presence in the jewel, however a light from the shard prevents him from doing this. The light/purity of Kohaku's shard (though kohaku needs the shard to stay alive) is the work of Kikyo but whether it is her soul or her "light" is a matter of debate. Magatsuhi, the demon sealed inside the Shikon jewel by Midoriko, escapes the gem and creates a new body for itself using some of Naraku's spare parts. Technically this would mean he is not truly Naraku's as he reveals he is merely borrowing a body from Naraku. Magatsuhi is able to, in contrast to Naraku, not only touch the shard in Kohaku's back, but corrupt it as well. In chapter 528, Naraku succeeds in removing the shard from Kohaku, though Kohaku is able to survive the loss of his shard.
The Sperm Whale is among the most [[cosmopolitan species]] in the world, and is found in all the oceans and the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref name=princeton>{{cite book|title=Whales Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World|author=Shirihai, H. and Jarrett, B.|page=21–24|year=2006|isbn=0-691-12757-3}}</ref> The species is relatively abundant from Arctic waters to the equator. Although both sexes range through temperate and tropical oceans and seas, only adult males move through the higher [[latitude]]s.<ref name=audobon>{{cite book|title=Guide to Marine Mammals of the World|author=Reeves, R., Stewart, B., Clapham, P. & Powell, J.|page=240–243|year=2003|isbn=0-375-41141-0}}</ref>


Naraku completes the Shikon-no-Tama and uses the fully dark jewel to begin his final transformation. Before that, when asked by Byakuya what he would do with the jewel, Naraku admitted that he had no real plans for it and wondered what would be left for him when he killed all the people who hated him. Following his completion of the Shikon no Tama, Naraku takes on the form of a gigantic spider. However, within this new body Naraku's face appears on its flesh, and he also manifests a new, dark-skinned, white-haired humanoid form. After the defeat of Magatsuhi by Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, Kagome's spiritual powers return and a small light returns to the once completely corrupted Shikon Jewel. Naraku planned to use the hope of this light to trick Miroku into killing the others with the last use of his Wind Tunnel. Although things do not go as he originally plans, Naraku finally eliminates the last traces of light within the Shikon-no-Tama and fully fuses with the jewel.
Populations are more dense close to [[continental shelf|continental shelves]] and canyons.<ref name=audobon/> Sperm Whales are usually found in deep off-shore waters, but may be seen closer to shore in areas where the continental shelf is small, dropping quickly to 1,000 to 3,000 feet deep.<ref name=princeton/> Examples of areas close to the shore with significant Sperm Whale populations include the [[Azores]] and the [[Caribbean]] island of [[Dominica]].<ref name=whiteheadrange>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|chapter=Sperm Whales and Humans|year=2003|page=23–24|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref>


Kagome asks Naraku what his true wish was, since it seems that the Shikon-no-Tama has not granted it. This question startles him greatly. Inuyasha tells Naraku that he seems to know a lot about relationships because he focused so much on tearing people apart, and mentions that this is because of his human heart, which the Shikon Jewel may not have removed. For the first time, Naraku hesitates to attack Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha attacks him with a variation on the Meidou Zangetsuha more adapted to his fighting style, and seems to damage even Naraku's most powerful form. Although he regenerates from this repeatedly, Sesshomaru takes note of Naraku's vulnerability and uses the Bakusaiga on him. Because of Bakusaiga's decomposing powers, Naraku's large outer body begins to fall apart. As Naraku weakens, the curse on the Wind Tunnel begins to break as well, and Miroku uses it to absorb much of the deadly shouki.
== Ecology, behaviour and life history ==


Naraku becomes cornered as much of his body deteriorates, he uses the Shikon no Tama to grant him more power. He uses this power to stall the others from killing him so he can prepare to crash his gigantic, shouki-filled body into Kaede's village. Though he intends to use this threat of destroying the village to prevent Inuyasha from killing him, Sesshomaru ignores him and strikes his main body with the jewel with Bakusaiga. Sesshomaru's sword, however, doesn't even scratch the jewel, which prevents Naraku's death. As his massive body begins to fall onto the village, everyone escapes from within and try to protect the villagers. Kagome sees the Shikon no Tama within Naraku and shoots an arrow at the jewel. Prior to the arrow hitting the jewel, Naraku thinks to himself that indeed the Shikon no Tama did not grant his true wish: he wanted Kikyo's love, and laments that he won't be able to go where she is in the afterlife. Naraku's body is completely purified and most of the village is saved from destruction.
Sperm whales are a prime example of a species that has been [[r/K selection theory|K-selected]], a [[reproductive strategy]] associated with very stable environmental conditions that is characterized by a low birth rate, significant parental aid to offspring, slow maturation and high longevity.<ref name=encyc/> Females give birth once every four to six years, and the gestation period is between 14 and 16 months.<ref name=encyc/> Males only reach their full size when about 50 years old.<ref name=encyc/> Sperm whales can live for more than 70 years.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cetacean Societies|chapter=The Sperm Whale|author=Whitehead, H. & Weilgart, L.|editor=Mann, J., Connor, R., Tyack, P. & Whitehead, H.|year=2000|page=169|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-50341-0}}</ref><ref name=audobon>{{cite book|title=Guide to Marine Mammals of the World|author=Reeves, R., Stewart, B., Clapham, P. & Powell, J.|page=240–243|year=2003|isbn=0-375-41141-0}}</ref>


Naraku, appearing as only a head with the pierced jewel, hovers above the bone-eater's well and says he made a different wish upon the Shikon no Tama, and that when he dies that wish will be granted. He finally dies, and a meidou appears and swallows Kagome and the well disappears. It is revealed the wish Naraku made was actually the wish of Magatsuhi itself: that the souls of a resurrected Naraku and Kagome would replace it and Midoriko (that she was killed by Naraku with Magatsuhi's wish). However, this wish can only be fulfilled if Kagome succumbs to despair and wishes in the meidou to return home. Naraku and Magatsuhi were finally defeated when Inuyasha cuts the point of light in the darkness inside the Shikon no Tama with the Meidou Zangetsuha and arrives in the meidou outside to save Kagome. The Shikon no Tama was finally killed but not destroyed: so Kagome instead chooses to wish that the Shikon no Tama disappear forever.
The social structure of the Sperm Whales species divides on sexual lines. Females are extremely social animals. Females stay in groups of about a dozen individuals and their young.<ref name=encyc/> Males leave these "nursery schools" at somewhere between 4 and 21 years of age and join a "bachelor school" with other males of a similar age and size.<ref name=encyc/> As males grow older, they tend to disperse into smaller groups, and the oldest males typically live solitary lives.<ref name=encyc/> Yet mature males have been stranded on beaches together, suggesting a degree of co-operation not yet fully understood.<ref name=encyc/>


===Appearance===
Few predators besides humans attack Sperm Whales. The most common attacker of Sperm Whales is the [[Orca]], but [[pilot whale]]s and the [[False Killer Whale]] also sometimes attack or harass Sperm Whales.<ref>Pitman, RL; Ballance, LT; Mesnick, SI; Chivers, SJ (2001) "Killer whale predation on sperm whales: Observations and implications" ''Marine Mammal Science'' '''17'''(3): 494-507 [http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=5136745&q=&uid=788845644&setcookie=yes Abstract]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Cetacean Societies|chapter=The Sperm Whale|author=Whitehead, H. & Weilgart, L.|editor=Mann, J., Connor, R., Tyack, P. & Whitehead, H.|year=2000|page=165|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-50341-0}}</ref> Pods of transient Orcas frequently target groups of females with young, usually trying to separate the Sperm Whale calf and kill it. Often, the female Sperm Whales can repel these attacks by forming a circle with their calves in the centre. The adults either face inside the circle, in which case their tail flukes can be used to defend against the Orcas, or they face outside the circle, in which case their jaws are the principal defensive weapons.<ref name=encyc/> If the Orca pod is extremely large, they may sometimes also kill adult females. Large bull Sperm Whales have no non-human predators, as even Orcas could be killed by these aggressive, powerful creatures.
Because of his nature, Naraku's true form is somewhat a mystery. In the past, he was usually seen hidden inside his white baboon pelt, which hides all but his mouth. He is later seen wearing a dark blue kimono with matching hakama and a purple kataginu that matches the color of his ''shōki''. This is not Naraku's true form, but rather the form of a human ''daimyō'' named Hitome Kagewaki, the ill son of the castle lord who Naraku killed and replaced by taking his form. In Naraku's "human" form, he has long, dark hair, red eyes, and pale skin.


In [[InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass]], Naraku is briefly seen in the opening credits as a large spider ''yōkai'', which has been called his true form. This could indeed be possible, due to his origins as Onigumo (which translates to "demon-spider"), as well as the spider scar on his back, have led many to believe Naraku to be a spider-''yōkai'' / ''han'yō''. This is concurrent with an anime special in which an identical (but smaller) spider-''yōkai'' acted as the leader of the ''yōkai'' who consumed Onigumo. The "giant spider" form was likely a temporary form though, or a diversion, as he later regenerates in a form resembling the one he would take in episodes 80–81. During this battle, he creates a form of the top half of his body surrounded in gigantic green tentacles and centipede bodies, along with dozens of smaller gray tentacles and four spiky red claws growing out of his back. Since at this time Naraku had still not perfected his body as it still had components of Onigumo in it, he told [[Sesshomaru]] that this was his body in its intermediate stage of reaching its full ''yōkai'' transformation.
=== Feeding ===
[[Image:A piece of sperm whale skin with Giant Squid sucker scars.JPG|thumb|A piece of Sperm Whale skin with giant squid sucker scars]]


Many fans believe that Naraku's true form is a human form identical to Onigumo or [[Hitomi Kagewaki]] (the young ''daimyō''). However, even less is known about Onigumo than Naraku. Onigumo, whenever seen, has his face in shadows or is bandaged around his face. But Onigumo's hair is seen, and Kagewaki's face when Naraku is having periods of weaknesses (like InuYasha's) — which is remarkably similar to his current appearance (described above). Also, in "Spider Web" (''manga'' Chapter 452), when Naraku went back to Hakurei-Zan in order to reabsorb Onigumo's heart, the heart appears at first in the form of a human head, looking indistinguishable from Naraku's face with different colored hair. After Naraku touches it, the heart takes the form of a spider.
Sperm whales feed on several species, notably the [[Giant Squid]], the [[Colossal Squid]], krill, [[octopus]]s, and diverse fish like [[demersal zone|demersal]] [[batoidea|ray]]s, but the main part of their diet consists of medium sized [[squid]].<ref name=whiteheadfeeding>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=43–55|chapter=The Diet of a Sperm Whale: The Walnut, the Pea and the Half-Pound Steak|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref> Most of what is known about deep sea squid has been learned from specimens found in captured Sperm Whale stomachs, although more recent studies have analysed [[fecal]] matter instead. One study, carried out around the [[Galápagos]], found that squid from the genera ''[[Histioteutbis]]'' (62%), ''[[Ancistrocbeirus]]'' (16%), and ''[[Octopoteutbis]]'' (7%) were the most commonly taken,<ref>Smith S., &Whitehead (2000) The Diet of Galapagos sperm whales ''Physeter macrocephalus'' as indicated by fecal sample analysis" ''Marine Mammal Science'' '''16''' (2) , 315–325 doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2000.tb00927.x </ref> and that most squid were between 12-650 kg in weight. An older study, examining the contents of whales captured by the New Zealand whaling fleet in the [[Cook Strait]] region, found a 1.69:1 ratio of squid to fish by weight.<ref>GaskinD. & Cawthorn M. (1966) "Diet and feeding habits of the sperm whale (''Physeter macrocephalus'' L.) in the Cook Strait region of New Zealand" ''New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research'' '''2''': 156-79 [http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjmfr/1967/15.pdf] </ref> Stealing of Sablefish and Toothfish from long lines has been documented and well known also (see below). Battles between Sperm Whales and [[colossal squid]] (which have been measured to weigh nearly 500 kg) have never been observed by humans, however white scars on the bodies of Sperm Whales are believed to be caused by squid. In one case three Sperm Whales were observed attacking or playing with a [[megamouth shark]], a rare and large deep-sea species only discovered by man in the 1970s.<ref>Compagno, L. J. V., (2001). Sharks of the world. An annotated and
illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). ''FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes''. '''1''' (2): Rome. Pp. 74-78 [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/x9293e/x9293e00.pdf] </ref>


Before obtaining his full ''yōkai'' form, Naraku hated his one known consistent physical trait — the spider-shaped scar that revealed his part-human origin — and worked to remove the human heart associated with it. When Musō left Naraku's body, the scar on Musō's back showed the location of his heart. In one episode of the anime, Naraku cuts the scar from his back with a sword, but it immediately grows back.
It is hypothesised that the sharp beak of a consumed squid lodged in the whale's intestine leads to the production of [[ambergris]], analogous to the production of [[pearl]]s.<ref>Dannenfeldt K.H. (1982). "Ambergris: The Search for Its Origin" ''Isis'' '''73'''(3): 382-397. [http://www.jstor.org/view/00211753/ap010218/01a00040/0 abstract] </ref> The irritation of the intestines caused by the beaks stimulates the secretion of this lubricant-like substance. Sperm whales are prodigious feeders and eat around 3% of their [[body weight]] per day. The total annual consumption of prey by Sperm Whales worldwide is estimated to be about 100 million tons — a figure greater than the total consumption of marine animals by humans each year.<ref>[[Richard Ellis]], ''Monsters of the Sea'', 1994, The Lyons Press, p. 245.</ref>


Following the battles at Hakurei-Zan, Naraku is seen in the same "human form". However, this form was composed only of ''yōkai'' as he had disposed of Onigumo from his body and become a full ''yōkai''. This form has an armor of blades rising over the shoulders, and also features blades along the chest and wrists, with horns on the top of his back. He also wears the same dark blue kimono, now with a huge light blue jacket with a high collar, and a yellow belt. He now also has a monstrous eye in the center of his chest, two red eyes on each of his hands, and three tails that seem to belong to a dragon. In the ''manga'' the tails were purple and around three to four times the size on Naraku, but in the anime they are green and much shorter. In this form he usually extends his fingers and makes them attack as in the form of glowing purple tentacles or extends the bones of his wrist in a zigzag purple beam like motion and infects people with his ''shōki''.
It is difficult to see why the Sperm Whale has such a large head in comparison to the lower jaw. One theory explaining this is that the Sperm Whale's ability to [[animal echolocation|echolocate]] through its head aids in hunting. Within the head, it contains a structure called monkey lips, which it blows air through. This can create clicks that have a [[source level]] exceeding 230 dB re 1 [[micropascal]] referenced to a distance of 1&nbsp;metre.<ref>B. Møhl M. Wahlberg, P. T. Madsen, A. Heerfordt and A. Lund, The monopulsed nature of sperm whale clicks, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114, 1143-1153 (2003).</ref> It has been hypothesised that these were directed at prey in order to stun them, however experimental studies attempting to duplicate this effect have been unable to replicate the supposed injuries, and have cast doubt on this idea.<ref>Benoit-Bird K. Au W. & Kastelein R. (2006) "Testing the odontocete acoustic prey debilitation hypothesis: No stunning results". '' The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America'' '''120''' (2): 1118-1123 ([http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JASMAN000120000002001118000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes Abstract])</ref>


After the absorption of Mōryōmaru and Akago, Naraku's appearance changes again. Initially, his right arm becomes covered in diamond armor, and the rest of his body sports diamond tentacles similar to Mōryōmaru's, although this trait is not present in all subsequent appearances. The exoskeleton breastplate is now composed of diamond and much less rigid, and is connected by two blade-like diamond extensions outside of the high collar. He has no dragon tails in his back, and the armor that was similar to Sesshomaru's is gone. Following his completion of the Shikon no Tama, Naraku takes on the form of a gigantic spider. However, within this new body Naraku's face appears on its flesh, and he also manifests various other forms. In the center of the body, Naraku is seen as a nude human in a protective barrier.
[[Long-line fishing]] operations in the [[Gulf of Alaska]] have complained that numerous Sperm Whales have taken advantage of their fishing operations to eat desirable species straight off the line, sparing the whales the need to hunt them themselves. However, the amount of fish taken is very little compared to what the Sperm Whale needs per day. New video footage has been captured of a large male Sperm Whale "bouncing" a long line, to gain the fish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/05-06/mar18.html#3|title=Whale Buffet|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>


When he begins to battle InuYasha and Kagome, he assumes a new form through the Shikon Jewel. He retains the manner of dress from his post-Mt. Hakurei form. The diamond 'blades' coming over his shoulders increase in number to about eight, and a layer of diamond forms over his forearms, legs and jacket. His face appears to be cracking, and there are diamond tentacles resembling a spiderweb coming from his back, which extend out to several times the length of his body. Upon his dismemberment by Bakusaiga, Naraku uses the Jewel to keep himself alive, and takes on an appearance far less human than has been shown up until this point. His face bears some resemblance to a typical [[Oni (folklore)|oni]], his hair becomes white, and a large ribcage forms over him. However, after Naraku is purified, his face reverts back to its usual appearance.
=== Diving and breathing ===


==Powers, abilities, and attacks==
[[Image:Sperm Whale about to Dive.jpeg|thumb|left|Sperm Whale arching back in preparation to dive off [[Dominica]]]]
Naraku has seemingly countless abilities, many of which may be unknown. Many of his powers are granted/enhanced by the large amount of Shikon-no-tama shards he has. Those that he has revealed are as follows:
Sperm whales, along with [[bottlenose whale]]s and [[elephant seal]]s, are the deepest-diving mammals in the world. Sperm whales are believed to be able to dive up to 3&nbsp;km (1.9&nbsp;miles) in depth and 90 minutes in duration to the ocean floor. More typical dives are around {{convert|400|m|ft|lk=on}} in depth and 35 minutes in duration.<ref name=encyc/> They carry three tonnes of blood which holds enough oxygen to help it achieve its diving depth.


;[[Saimyōshō]] :Naraku's minion wasps from hell. They are useful for stopping [[Miroku (InuYasha)|Miroku's]] Kazaana ("wind void"; ''Wind Tunnel'' in the English dub), spying on his enemies, and gathering Jewel shards.
The physiology of the Sperm Whale has several adaptations to cope with drastic changes in pressure when diving. The [[ribcage]] is flexible to allow lung collapse, and the heart rate can decrease to preserve [[oxygen]] supplies. [[Myoglobin]], which stores oxygen in muscle tissue, is much more abundant in Sperm Whales than terrestial animals. [[Blood]] can be directed towards the brain and other essential organs only, when oxygen levels deplete. The spermaceti organ may also play a role (see above).<ref name=physiology/>
;[[Shapeshifting]]: He can take the form anything he chooses (usually a humanoid). He would have a different voice as well. He can also change his body however he wants. This is seen when he fights [[Sesshomaru]] in an attempt to absorb him.
;''Yōkai'' puppets ("demon puppets" in the English dub) :Puppets which resemble him. He controls them from afar and can see through their eyes. They are mostly made of mud and soil, and are able to spring roots in order to attack opponents.
;[[Superhuman strength]] and speed: Much like Sesshomaru, Naraku is far stronger than a normal demon and can move faster than the eye can see, both in the air and on the ground.
;[[Flight]] : Similarly to Sesshomaru, Naraku possesses the ability to float midair, and to ride upon a cloud of his own shoki. After his transformation into a full yokai, Naraku never chose to employ his shoki-sustained flight, but flew only by the strength of his will.
;''Yōkai'' parts :As he is made up of multiple ''yōkai'' in one body, Naraku is able to manipulate their body parts at will in order to restructure and strengthen his body, and he can also regenerate himself from injury and reform his body parts if they are cut off. He most commonly uses these parts to form tentacles which he uses to attack.
;[[Absorption]]: Naraku is able to absorb other ''yōkai'' into his body, adding their powers and body to his own. This is primarily how he gains strength, by seeking out and absorbing strong ''yōkai'', giving him access to their powers. Naraku can also expel weaker body parts in order to rid himself of them.
;[[Psionics]]: Naraku has shown using various psychic powers and capabilities; including [[telepathy]], [[Psychokinesis|telekinesis]], [[teleportation]], [[mind control]], [[Illusion|illusion-casting]], and [[astral projection]].
;Detachments :Makes incarnations out of his own body to do his dirty work for him. Most have a spider mark on their back which is a result of being born of Naraku when he still was a ''han'yō'' with Onigumo inside him. After he purged himself of his human presence in the countless lumps of flesh inside Hakurei, he and all his future children were free of having that scar on them.
;[[Force field (science fiction)|Barrier]]:A barrier which prevents the foe from finding and/or attacking him. At first his barrier was only useful in hiding his presence. As he persevered in absorbing new, stronger demons into his body and discarding the weaker ones, it became powerful enough to survive the [[Tetsusaiga#Kaze no Kizu|Kaze no Kizu]], which is why InuYasha needed to obtain blood from the bat ''yōkai'', Taigokumeru, in order to penetrate. After Naraku became a full ''yōkai'' (in a sense) the barrier became so powerful that nothing but the [[Tetsusaiga#Kongōsōha|Kongōsōha]] was able to pierce it.
;''Yōki'' control:Whenever someone sends an attack of ''yōki'' (''yōkai'' energy) into Naraku's barrier he can channel the flow of the attack into his own ''jaki'' (''yōki'' aura) and then attack his opponents with it. However, this can only be done with attacks that cannot penetrate his barrier, which means it's useless against InuYasha's Kongōsōha.
;[[Healing factor|Regeneration]]: Naraku can quickly heal his own wounds and also put back together severed pieces of his body. He can control 100% of his body all the time (even when severed), which comes in handy when he is trying to absorb someone. However, there is a limit to how much he can regenerate. The more damage he takes the more time he will need later on to recover. Too much damage can kill him, which is why he had to flee from his enemies in the beginning of the series. Usually, he will absorb ''yōkai'' to speed up his regeneration process. However, after he removes his heart, which comes out as [[Akago]], he was able to regenerate no matter how much damage his body took since his life force wasn't in his body.
;'''Choosing when to become human''': Unlike InuYasha, who is forced to become fully human on the first night of a new moon every month, Naraku, as a hanyo with Onigumo inside him, could choose what time of the month he lost all of his powers and became human, although he was merely a human head attached to a mass of yokai parts during this time, which he used to experiment with his body and rid himself of any unnecessary parts. Since the events that have transpired on Mt. Hakurei, he no longer has to become human at any time, being a full-fledged yokai.
;Beam attack: Naraku sends out one or more of the horns on his elbows in a zigzag beam attack or extends his fingers into tentacles with a glowing attack at the tip of fingers to attack his foe(s). In the ''manga'' this attack was of a silverfish color and in the anime it is of a purple color. Furthermore, even though this attack is a ''yōki'' attack, because Naraku is using his body parts infused with ''shōki'' to attack his opponents, InuYasha cannot use his [[Tetsusaiga#Bakuryūha|Bakuryūha]] (Backlash Wave) against it since it counts as a physical attack.
;''Shōki'' (miasma):This is Naraku's trademark, poison which kills anything that touches it . It is what makes his poisonous gas. Naraku uses it to cover his entrances and exits, and can surround himself with the gas while flying. He created a "false Shikon shard" for Kōga with this substance. It was able to power Kōga in the ''manga'' and anime for a while until it backfired, poisoning him, and ultimately leading him to remove it with the help of Kagome. Naraku's body is filled with it, which is why when a foe bites him or even touches him he/she gets poisoned. Later on, as his power grew upon his transition to full ''yōkai'', his ''shōki'' is able to take on a liquid form and acts like a river of acid. His ''shōki'' is so strong that it allows him to break away pieces of the nearly completed Shikon no Tama to use in his schemes. In the current ''manga'', he can melt entire mountains. Over time his ''shōki'' has become so dangerous that after he infects Kikyō with it, neither Kagome nor Kikyo's holy powers seem to be able to purify it. Kikyo absorbs Midoriko's soul in order to protect herself but she comments that she doesn't know how long Midoriko's power can last against Naraku's venom, in the regard that she and Midoriko remain at the same strength while Naraku continues to increase in power. Eventually, even the influence of Midoriko is nullified with Naraku's absorption of the tree and Mōryōmaru.
;Live Body Pieces: After absorbing Akago/Mōryōmaru, Naraku gained the power to merge pieces of his body with other ''yōkai'', thus giving him control over them and increasing their regenerative abilities. He can send pieces of his body abroad to scout for new ''yōkai'', for him to add into his body. It is important to note that these pieces, after becoming separate of Naraku's body, became living beings that can move and fight on their own.
;''[[Shikigami]]'' :This power is only displayed in the Playstation 2 RPG InuYasha game; InuYasha: Secret of the Cursed Mask. He obtained this power by deceiving Utsugi, a 'hitogata' (clay doll demon) duplicate of the original Utsugi, who was created by the priest Kakuju to ease his/her suffering when his/her real wife/husband died. Utsugi (the hitogata) required the soul of a relative of the real Utsugi, and a large portion of the Shikon Jewel, which Naraku provided, and helped in retrieving shards from Koga to become a true, live human. When Naraku supposedly died (w/ jewel on hand) at the hands of InuYasha & co, the leftover jewel was retrieved by Utsugi behind the scenes. When Utsugi finally retrieved the soul she/he needed (which as it turns out, was Kakuju's) Naraku's voice began echoing from the Sacred Jewel, and Naraku took over Utsugi's body rather than absorbing her/him to acquire her shikigami-channeling powers. He became able to use the destructive power of an unknown variety of shikigami, and would time-to-time spout out a long verse when he attacked during the fight in the game. Because this only happens in a game based on the anime (which wasn't entirely canon from the start) and the events of the game stray away from the actual [[cliffhanger]] ending of the anime, this power is un-canon.
;''Phantom Castle'':Naraku is seen having the ability to create various "Phantom Castles" as a temporary headquarters throughout the series.
;Dormancy: Naraku has the ability to hide himself within one of his servants and make it appear as though he has disappeared, or have been killed, rather. A simple task; he gets himself "killed" and hides within the body of a servant of his choice. To reinforce this fact, he even (although temporarily) removes Miroku's Wind Tunnel and returns Kagura's heart.
;[[Magic (paranormal)|Black Magic]]: Naraku knows many different spells and curses, a prime example being the Wind Tunnel curse.
;Armor Shell :Upon absorbing Mōryōmaru, he gained the ability to cover himself at will with Mōryōmaru's nigh impenetrable shell. It has been revealed that Naraku is hiding the Shikon Jewel underneath this shell.


==Relationships==
Because of the great depths to which they dive, Sperm Whales sometimes drown when entangled in [[Submarine communications cable|transoceanic telephone cables]].<ref>The Southwestern Company: "The Volume Library 1", page 65, 1987, ISBN 0-87197-208-5</ref>
===Detachments===
To get rid of unnecessary parts as well as keeping a better eye on his surrounding situations, Naraku was constantly releasing detachments of himself to carry out his bidding. Only a few of the detachments truly live up to their purposes as most betrayed him or were quickly disposed of by the people going after him. As of Chapter 548, with the death of Byakuya, Naraku no longer has any detachments:


;[[Kanna (InuYasha)|Kanna]] : Kanna is an albino girl that barly speaks. She is a ''yōkai'' of ''[[Mu (negative)|mu]]'', "void". Kanna comes from an old word meaning "godless world." She is Naraku's first detachment, and remains utterly loyal to him while knowing that they are just used as tools in his schemes. Representative of the void in which she controls, Kanna herself is completely devoid of any emotion, never questioning any orders given to her by Naraku. In chapter 480, after a failed attempt to destroy Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga, Naraku orders her to commit suicide by shattering herself—as a final attempt to destroy Inuyasha's group. In her final moments, however, Kanna seemed to display some signs of emotions, as if she really did not wish to die. It is in her death that she commits her only act of defiance to Naraku: As a shard of Kanna's shattered body flies into Kagome's eye, Kanna uses this opportunity to show Kagome the light that is present within the Shikon no Tama, which could be the key to defeating Naraku.
While Sperm Whales are well adapted to diving, repeated dives to great depths do have long term effects on the whales. Skeletons of Sperm Whales show pitting of the bones that is often a sign of [[decompression sickness]] in humans. Skeletons of the oldest whales showed the most extensive pitting, whereas skeletons of Sperm Whale calves showed no damage. This damage may indicate that Sperm Whales are susceptible to decompression sickness, and sudden surfacing could be lethal to them.<ref name="bends">{{cite journal | author=Moore MJ, Early GA | title=Cumulative sperm whale bone damage and the bends | journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] | volume=306 | issue=5705 | year=2004 | pages=2215 | pmid=15618509 | doi=10.1126/science.1105452}}</ref>
;[[Kagura (InuYasha)|Kagura]] : Kagura is a powerful wind sorceress ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: "wind user"; also refers to the sacred dances of ''[[miko]]'') and appears first in the ''manga'' and anime, though she is his second detachment. Naraku endlessly uses her as bait to test the enemies' strength and, aware of her betrayals, keeps good watch over her. Her storyline is constantly followed as she plots to destroy Naraku and win back her heart, often in combination with Sesshomaru. Eventually, she is killed by Naraku after she openly betrays him to protect Kohaku.
; [[Goshinki]] : The third detachment of Naraku, Goshinki was a large horned ogre with the ability to read minds. He was extremely agile, very powerful, and had teeth so strong they ultimately broke the Tetsusaiga, which ended up being his own undoing. After being defeated, Sesshomaru contracted Kaijinbō to create [[Tōkijin]] from the fangs of Goshinki's head once the head was resurrected.
; [[Juromaru]] : He was a feral detachment and brother of Kagerōmaru, who lived in his stomach. He and his brother Kagerōmaru were both killed in battle by Inuyasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar).
; [[Kagerōmaru]] : He was a small, fast and intelligent detachment from Naraku. He lived inside Juromaru. He was not particularly loyal to Naraku. He and his brother Juromaru were both killed in battle by Inuyasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar).
; [[Muso (InuYasha)|Musō]] : He was born as "the man with no face", a reincarnated Onigumo. He was reabsorbed after a short time of independence.
; [[Akago]] : He is a child that has the ability to corrupt the hearts of people into doing his bidding. He was cut in half by a priest, which led to the creation of Hakudōshi. After being cut in half, the left half (which remained to be Akago) was taken by Kanna, and Kanna told Kagura to take the right half (which became Hakudōshi). He later is placed inside the ''haku'' (life force) puppet, [[Mōryōmaru]]. In Chapter 446, Mōryōmaru is taken over by Naraku. In Chapter 448, Naraku disappears with Akago, and by his next appearance in Chapter 452, has reabsorbed him. '''NOTE''': The status of ''Akago'' as this character's actual name is contested, since ''akago'' is standard modern Japanese for ''baby'' (whereas all the other characters' names have obscure and / or archaic meanings). In the official English translation, he is called "the infant".
; [[Hakudōshi]] : He is an incarnation from Akago. Taking the form of a young child, he was able to tame the ''yōba'' (horse-''yōkai'') [[Entei (InuYasha)|Entei]]. He continues Akago's quest to get the last Shikon shard. After Naraku is nearly destroyed at the boundary of the afterlife, Hakudōshi is charged with flushing out Kikyo. He eventually is found out as a traitor to Naraku and is sucked in by Miroku's Kazaana.
; [[Naraku's Offspring#Byakuya|Byakuya]] : Naraku's incarnation that first appeared in Chapter 397. He told the Dokumizuchi, who had eaten Mōryōmaru's flesh, the location of InuYasha. He was created to replace Kagura, serving the purpose of tracking down Mōryōmaru while keeping tabs on the full-extent of InuYasha's Tetsusaiga. Byakuya uses [[origami]] as his primary weapon and seem to be able to create illusions, but not much else was known about him. He was killed when Inuyasha used the Cutting Meidou on him after he attacked Kagome.


===Other===
Between dives, the Sperm Whale will come up to the surface to breathe for about eight minutes before diving again.<ref name=encyc/> Odontoceti (toothed whales) breathe air at the surface of the water through a single, s-shaped blowhole. The blowhole is located on the left side of the front of the head. Sperm whales spout (breathe) 3–5 times per minute at rest, but the rate increases to 6–7 times per minute after a dive. The blow is a noisy, single stream that rises up to 15&nbsp;m (50&nbsp;ft) above the surface of the water and points forward and to the left of the whale at a 45° angle. On average, females and immatures blow every 12.5 seconds before dives, while large males blow every 17.5 seconds before dives.<ref name=whiteheadforaging>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=156–161|chapter=Foraging|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref>
; Magatsuhi: The demon sealed within the Shikon Jewel centuries ago, it appears in Chapter 513, borrowing flesh from Naraku to craft a temporary body, an armored man with white hair and claws. Upon being free, Magatsuhi attempts to kill Kohaku, and engages Sesshomaru in combat only to have his borrowed body destroyed. Magatsuhi is later in its true form inside the Shikon Jewel locked in eternal combat with Midoriko, revealing to Inuyasha that when Kagome makes a selfish wish on the Shikon Jewel, she will take Midoriko's place, with Naraku's soul allowing Magatsuhi to finally escape from its imprisonment. But the both demons were destroyed forever by Inuyasha when he cuts the point of light in the darkness inside the Shikon no Tama with the Meidou Zangetsuha and arrives in the meidou outside to save Kagome. Then Kagome's selfless wish dissolved the rest of jewel.


===Reproduction===
===Enemies===
;[[InuYasha (character)|InuYasha]] : Naraku's primary enemy and his murderous. Naraku made a scheme to steal both the Shikon no Tama and Kikyo. He wanted her, and wanted InuYasha out of the picture, because Onigumo's heart was still beating within him. Naraku's scheme was not successful, but because of it, InuYasha was sealed by Kikyo's Fūin no Ya (spiritual sealing arrow), and Kikyō died of wounds inflicted by Naraku. Because of this, as well as the fact Naraku has most of the jewel shards that he desires and then completes and merges with the jewel, Inuyasha is Naraku's primary enemy.
The manner in which it is determined which males breed with which females has not been definitively determined. There is evidence that the males have dominance hierarchies and there is also evidence that female choice influences the mating system.<ref name=whiteheadmating>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|chapter=Mating Systems|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=271–285|chapter=Foraging|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref> A single calf is born after a [[gestation]] period of 14 to 16 months.<ref name=princeton/> [[Lactation]] proceeds for 19 to 42 months, but the calf may suckle for up to 13 years (although usually less).<ref name=princeton/> Calves can suckle from females other than its mother.<ref name=princeton/>
;[[Kagome Higurashi|Kagome Higurashi]] : All of her friends have suffered by Naraku's evil plans and he has attempted to kill her because of her interference. Kagome is most likely the one who can destroy Naraku. Although Inuyasha is able to enhance his Tetsusaiga with new powers in order to battle Naraku's increasing strength, Kagome's ''hama no ya'' (sacred arrow) is one of the few things repeatedly able to damage or overcome Naraku's own powers throughout the manga/anime, and the arrow is often able to cause him the most damage when the Tetsusaiga does not work. In the early events of the manga/anime, it damages him to such an extent that he is forced to send for Kikyo in order to heal himself.
;[[Miroku (InuYasha)|Miroku]] : When Miroku's grandfather, a ''hōshi'' ([[Buddhist monk]]), pursued and fought against Naraku, Naraku cursed him by placing a Kazaana ("wind void") on the ''hōshi''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hand. The Kazaana curse was passed down to Miroku, who watched his father being consumed by it. If Naraku is not defeated, Kazaana will cause Miroku to be sucked in as Miroku's grandfather and father. Being the one who caused the curse, Naraku also has a way to prevent Miroku from using it against him; namely, the Saimyōshō.
;[[Sango (InuYasha)|Sango]] : Her entire family was slain because of Naraku's trap. Naraku then framed InuYasha, but Sango eventually learned who the real culprit was. Her brother, Kohaku, is later resurrected with a shard of the Shikon no Tama, and used as a slave to Naraku.
;[[Sesshomaru]] : Detests Naraku for attempting to use him as a pawn to kill InuYasha, and for having [[Rin (InuYasha)|Rin]] in order to control him. [[Kagura (InuYasha)|Kagura's]] death further sealed his determination to destroy Naraku.
;[[Kikyo]] : She is secretly plotting Naraku's downfall, but Naraku seems to be one step ahead of her. Eventually killed at Naraku's hands. However, it is possible she purposely died in order to kill Naraku later based on her quotes and the confirmation of her soul being inside the Shikon no Tama. He realizes this himself upon discovering the overbearing light that was within the shard that Kohaku carried. Moments before his death, it is revealed that Naraku's one wish was to, in fact, have Kikyo's heart, showing in spite of his actions, he had loved her all this time. He laments in the knowledge that he wouldn't be able to "go to where [she is]" either, but accepts it, his fate, and perishes after making a different wish to the jewel.
;[[Koga (InuYasha)|Koga]] : His Yōrō-Zoku (wolf-''yōkai'' tribe) was decimated by Naraku's plot via Kagura. Naraku again framed InuYasha, but Koga eventually learned who the real culprit was.
;[[Kagura (InuYasha)|Kagura]] : His second detachment who hates living in slavery, but must obey because her heart is in his hands and therefore her life is in his hand. After she tries many times to help kill him and perhaps gain freedom, Naraku returns her heart, but impales her straight through her chest, poisoning her with ''shōki'' and ultimately "relieving" her of her life.
;[[The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter|Kaguya]] : Naraku fakes his own death in [[InuYasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass|the second movie]] to lure Kaguya out of hiding, then reappears in an attempt to absorb her and gain her power of eternal youth. She is destroyed by InuYasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar), however, before Naraku can achieve his goal. Much like Abi-Hime, she is disgusted by Naraku's ''hanyō'' status. Is sucked into Miroku's kazaana, thereby foiling Naraku's attempt at gaining immortality.
;[[Michiru Kururugi (InuYasha)|Michiru Kururugi]] / [[Kaname Kururugi (InuYasha)|Kaname Kururugi]] : In the video game ''[[InuYasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask]]'' is a young male or female sent from modern times to the feudal era. Possessing powerful ''[[shikigami]]'', he or she aides InuYasha and friends in defeating Naraku.
;[[Muso (InuYasha)|Musō]] : The heart of Onigumo, sought to be free of the prison of Naraku who wanted to kill his beloved Kikyo, but was later consumed by Naraku, as he was not yet ready to part with him yet.
;[[Kohaku (InuYasha)|Kohaku]] : Eventually regains his memory and begins to think about how to kill Naraku for what he has done.
;[[Shichinintai#Bankotsu 蛮骨|Bankotsu]] : Leader of the Shichinintai, he was going to turn against Naraku sooner or later. InuYasha would have gladly teamed up with Bankotsu in order to defeat Naraku, however, Bankotsu wanted to go it alone once he defeated InuYasha, but he failed and was subsequently killed. Naraku then absorbed his Shikon shards.
;[[Akago]] and [[Hakudōshi]] : Since Akago is really Naraku's heart, they seek to free themselves from Naraku's control and become independent. Hakudōshi is loyal to Akago and created Mōryōmaru as a body to protect Akago. Hakudōshi is found out and Naraku leaves him behind to be sucked in by Miroku's Kazaana, while Akago is left to live a while longer, only to be absorbed at the hand of Naraku again.


==Music==
Females reach sexual maturity at between 7 and 13 years old, but males do not become sexually mature until at least 18 years old. Upon reaching sexual maturity, males move to higher [[latitude]]s, where the water is colder and feeding is more productive. Females remain at lower latitudes upon reaching sexual maturity.<ref name=princeton/>
''InuYasha Ongaku Hen''
*"Jayō — Naraku" (「邪妖　奈落」 "Malicious — Naraku") — Naraku's principle theme, which uses a harpsichord for the melody, with pipes to create the effect of something mysterious and sinister — much like Naraku himself. It frequently plays when Naraku is plotting something.


''InuYasha Ongaku Hen Ni''
Sperm whales can live 70 years or more.<ref name=princeton/>
*"Shōki" (「瘴気」 "Miasma") — Theme for Naraku's ''shōki'' / miasma.
*"Naraku no Yabō" (「奈落の野望」 "Naraku's Ambition") — A more fully orchestrated arrangement of Naraku's theme with a pounding intensity. It commonly plays when Naraku is displaying his power.
*"Zō Tō" (「憎闘」 "Hateful Battle") — A fast-paced arrangement of Naraku's theme played during battles.
*"Jigoku Mushi, [[Saimyōshō]]" (「地獄虫　最猛勝」 "Hellish Insects, the Saimyōshō") — Theme for Naraku's Saimyōshō.


''Eiga InuYasha: Kagami no Naka no Mugenjō Ongaku Hen''
== Taxonomy and naming ==
*"Dai Kumo ~Naraku~" (「大蜘蛛　～奈落～」 "Giant Spider ~Naraku~") — An arrangement of Naraku's theme played in the first scene of the movie.
*"Mein Taitoru" (「メインタイトル」 "Main Title") — An arrangement of the opening theme from the ''InuYasha'' movies (itself an arrangement of InuYasha's theme) together with Naraku's theme played as they battle during the opening credits.
*"Yūshoku" (「復活」 "Revival") — An arrangement of Naraku's theme played as he emerges from Kohaku's body in an attempt to absorb [[Kaguya]].


Naraku's Japanese ''seiyū'', Toshiyuki Morikawa, sang vocals for and delivered a monologue and message on Naraku's image song single, ''InuYasha Character Songs: Rakujitsu''. The last track includes bonus messages from Satsuki Yukino (as [[Kagome Higurashi]]), Takeshi Kusao (as [[Shichinintai#Bankotsu 蛮骨|Bankotsu]]), and Ai Orikasa (as [[Shichinintai#Jakotsu 蛇骨|Jakotsu]]).
The Sperm Whale is the sole extant species of its genus, ''[[Physeter]]'', which is placed in the family [[Physeteridae]]. Two species of the related extant genus ''[[Kogia]]'', the [[Pygmy Sperm Whale]] ''Kogia breviceps'' and the [[Dwarf Sperm Whale]] ''K. simus'', are sometimes also placed in this family, or else are placed in their own family, [[Kogiidae]].<ref>{{MSW3 Cetacea|id=14300126}}</ref>
#"Rakujitsu" (「落日」 "Sunset")
#"Rakujitsu (Remix)"
#"Rakujitsu (Original Karaoke)"
#"Monorōgu & Messāju" (「モノローグ&メッセージ」 "Monologue & Message")
#"Ekusutora Messāju" (「エクストラメッセージ」 "Extra Message")


In turn, a bonus message from Naraku was also included in the last tracks of Kagome's and Bankotsu and Jakotsu's singles.
The Sperm Whale is one of the many species originally described by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in 1758 in his 18th century work, ''[[Systema Naturae]]''; he recognised four species in the genus ''Physeter''.<ref>{{la icon}} {{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C | authorlink=Carolus Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. | publisher=Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). | date=1758| pages=824 | url= }}</ref> Experts soon realised that just one such species exists, although its correct name is a matter of dispute.


==Notes and references==
Until 1974 the species was generally known as ''P. catodon'', however in that year Husson & Holthuis<ref>Husson, A.M. & Holthuis, L.B. (1974). ''Physeter macrocephalus'' Linnaeus, 1758, the valid name for the Sperm Whale. ''Zoologische Mededelingen'' 48: 205-217.</ref> proposed that the correct name should be ''P. macrocephalus'', the second name in the genus ''Physeter'' published by Linnaeus concurrently with ''P. catodon'', on the grounds that the names were synonyms published simultaneously and therefore the ICZN principle of "First Reviser" should apply, in this instance leading to the choice of ''P. macrocephalus'' over ''P. catodon'', a view re-stated in Holthuis, 1987<ref>Holthuis, L. B. (1987). The scientific name of the sperm whale. ''Marine Mammal Science'' 3(1): 87-89.</ref>. This has been adopted by some subsequent authors, however Schevill (1986<ref>Schevill, W.E. (1986). The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and a paradigm: the name ''Physeter catodon'' Linnaeus 1758. ''Marine Mammal Science'' 2(2): 153-157.</ref> and 1987<ref>Schevill, W.E. (1987). Reply to L. B. Holthuis "The scientific name of the sperm whale", ''Marine Mammal Science'' 3(1): 89-90.</ref>) argued that ''macrocephalus'' was published with an inaccurate description and that therefore only the species ''catodon'' was valid, rendering the principle of "First Reviser" inapplicable. At the present time, the name ''P. catodon'' is used in the most high profile species information systems, for example the [http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/show_species_details.php?record_id=3874214 Catalogue of Life] and the [http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137118 World Register of Marine Species], however some other sources use ''P. macrocephalus'', for example in the [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/41755/all IUCN Red List of Threatened Species] and in various papers and book chapters, e.g. Whitehead, 2002<ref name=encyc/>; therefore, to retrieve maximum relevant information, it is currently advisable to search under both names. According to the relevant species page on [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180489 ITIS], the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, "Physeter catodon and Physeter macrocephalus are awaiting a ruling regarding their usage by the [[ICZN]]". However, most scientists, the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature, and the International Whaling Commission prefer ''P. macrocephalus'' over ''P. catodon''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sperm Whales Social Evolution in the Ocean|author=Whitehead, H.|year=2003|page=3|isbn=0-226-89518-1}}</ref>
{{Reflist}}


{{InuYasha characters}}
The following is an extract from [[Herman Melville|Melville's]] [[Moby-Dick]], in which he expatiates about the vernacular naming and common lore surrounding the Sperm Whale:


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{{cquote2|quote=This whale, among the English of old vaguely known as Trumpa whale, and the Physeter whale, and the Anvil Headed whale, is the present Cachalot of the French, the Pottfisch of the Germans, and the Macrocephalus of the Long Words. [[...]] It is chiefly with his name that I now have to do. Philologically considered, it is absurd. Some centuries ago, when the sperm whale was almost wholly unknown in his proper individuality, and when his oil was only accidentally obtained from the stranded fish; in those days spermaceti, it would seem, was popularly supposed to be derived from a creature identical with the one then known in England as the Greenland or [[Right Whale]]. It was the idea also, that this same spermaceti was that quickening humor of the Greenland Whale which the first syllable of the word literally expresses. In those times, also, spermaceti was exceedingly scarce, not being used for light, but only as an ointment and medicament. It was only to be had from the druggists as you nowadays buy an ounce of rhubarb. When, as I opine, in the course of time, the true nature of spermaceti became known, its original name was still retained by the dealers; no doubt to enhance its value by a notion so strangely significant of its scarcity. And so the appellation must at last have come to be bestowed upon the whale from which this spermaceti was really derived.|personquoted=Melville's ''Moby Dick'', Chapter 32, named "Cetology"}}
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[[Category:Anime and manga telepaths]]
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[[Category:Fictional Japanese swordsmen]]
[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
[[Category:Fictional nobility]]
[[Category:Fictional shapeshifters]]
[[Category:Fictional spiders]]
[[Category:InuYasha characters]]


[[Category:Magic users in comics]]
== Evolution ==


[[ca:Naraku]]
Sperm whales are believed to have diverged from other toothed whales early in the evolution of the suborder—around 20 million years ago<ref name=encyc/>, and a number of fossil genera and species have been described from the Late [[Oligocene]] period and beyond (refer main article [[Sperm whale family]]).<ref>Stucky, R. E. & McKenna, M. C. (1993). Mammalia. Pp. 739-771 in Benton, M. J. ed.: The Fossil Record 2. Chapman & Hall, London.</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Mchedlidze. G. A.|year=2002|chapter=Sperm whales, evolution|page=1172-1174|editor=Perrin, W. F., Würsic, B. & Thewissen, J. G. M.|title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals|publisher=Academic Press, San Diego|isbn=0-12-551340-2}}</ref>
[[es:Naraku]]

[[pt:Naraku]]
== Relationship with humans ==
[[fi:Naraku]]
=== Cultural importance===
The teeth of Sperm Whales, when mounted on rope, are important cultural objects in [[Fiji]], where they are known as [[tabua]]. They were traditionally given as gifts for [[atonement]] or esteem (called ''sevusevu''), and were important in negotiations between rival chiefs.<ref>Arno A. (2005). "Cobo and tabua in Fiji: Two forms of cultural currency in an economy of sentiment". ''American Ethnologist'', '''32'''(1): 46 – 62 [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=16581746 Abstract]</ref> Today the tabua remains an important item in Fijian life. The teeth were originally rare in Fiji and [[Tonga]] (which exported the teeth), however with the arrival of Europeans the market was flooded with teeth, so many that it collapsed. The oversupply led in turn to the development of the European art of [[scrimshaw]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Constantine, R.| editor=Perrin, W., Würsig, B. & Thewissen, J. | title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals | publisher=Academic Press |chapter=Folklore and Legends| page =449| year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-12-551340-2}}</ref>


The Sperm Whale is also the [[list of U.S. state mammals|state animal]] of [[Connecticut]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Connecticut State Animals|url=http://www.stateanimals.com/states/connecticut/index.html|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref>
[[Image:SpermWhaleLyd3.jpg|thumb|Skeleton of a Sperm Whale]]

=== Population and hunting ===
{{seealso|Whaling}}

The number of Sperm Whales throughout the world is unknown. Crude estimates, obtained by surveying small areas and extrapolating the result to all the world's oceans, range from 200,000 to 2,000,000 individuals. Although the Sperm Whale was hunted for several centuries for its meat, oil and spermaceti, the conservational outlook for Sperm Whales is brighter than that for many other whales. Although a small-scale coastal fishery still occurs in Indonesia, they are protected practically worldwide. Fishermen do not catch the deep-sea creatures that Sperm Whales eat, and the deep sea is likely to be more resistant to pollution than surface layers.

In June 1821, a Sperm Whale claimed to be about 25.9&nbsp;m (85&nbsp;ft) long attacked the [[Nantucket]] whaleship [[Whaleship Essex|''Essex'']]. Only 8 out of the 21 sailors managed to survive and be rescued by other ships.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Wreck of the Whaleship Essex|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/A671492|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref>

However, the recovery from the whaling years is a slow process, particularly in the [[South Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]], where the toll on males of a breeding age was severe.

=== Watching Sperm Whales ===
{{seealso|Whale watching}}

Sperm whales are not the easiest of whales to [[whale watching|watch]], due to their long dive times and ability to travel long distances underwater. However, due to the distinctive look and large size of the whale, watching is increasingly popular. Sperm whale watchers often use [[hydrophone]]s to listen to the clicks of the whales and locate them before they surface. Popular locations for Sperm Whale watching include the picturesque [[Kaikoura]] on [[New Zealand]]'s [[South Island]], where the continental shelf is so narrow that whales can be observed from the shore, [[Andenes]] and [[Tromsø]] in Arctic [[Norway]] and at the [[Azores]] where it can be seen throughout the year.<ref name=whiteheadrange/><ref>{{cite web|title=Whale and dolphin watching in the Azores|url=http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/whales/azores/|publisher=Wildlife Extra|accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref> [[Dominica]] is believed to be the only Caribbean island with a year-round residential pod of females and calves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whale Watching Dominica|url=http://www.dominica.dm/site/whalewatching.cfm|accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref>

=== In the news ===

[[Image:Sperm Whale.jpg|thumb|right|Female in Dominican Pod, 2005]]

In July 2003 a huge blob of white flesh was found washed up on a beach on the coast of southern [[Chile]]. The 12-metre (40&nbsp;ft) long mass of gelatinous tissue<ref name="gelatinous">{{cite web|url=http://zapatopi.net/cephnews/chileanblob.html|title=ZPi Cephalopod News: a blob 12&nbsp;m long, 5.8&nbsp;m wide, 1.6&nbsp;m high was found near Puerto Montt in Los Muermos, Chile|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref> gave rise to speculation that a previously unknown giant [[octopus]] had been discovered. However, researchers at the [[Museum of Natural History]], [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]] concluded that the mass was in fact the innards of a Sperm Whale, a conclusion drawn by looking at the [[dermal gland]]s. When a Sperm Whale dies, its internal organs rot, until the animal becomes little more than a semi-liquid mass trapped inside the skin. Eventually, the skin will burst, causing the internal mass to float free and possibly wash up on the beach.<ref name="chileanbeach">{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040122083507.htm|title=Unravelling the mystery of the white mass on the Chilean beach|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>

Dead Sperm Whales float towards shore quite often. Apart from the disposal issues identified above, beach managers fear that [[shark]]s, in particular the [[great white shark]], will be attracted towards the beach by the rotting flesh, and potentially cause danger to beach users. For this reason, dead Sperm Whales are often towed out to sea before they become properly beached. This occurred twice in May 2004, once off [[Oahu]] in [[Hawaii]] where a dead whale was towed out {{convert|35|mi|km}} to sea but floated back to shore two days later.<ref name="washedup">{{cite web|url=http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=2148|title=Whale washed-up in Oahu|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>

==== Exploding whales ====
{{main|Exploding whales}}

Perhaps the most famous piece of Sperm Whale lore dates from 1970, when a long-dead, 8&nbsp;[[short ton]] (7.25&nbsp;[[tonne]]), 45&nbsp;foot (13.7&nbsp;m) long specimen came to a beach in [[Oregon]]. For a time, it was a curiosity to local residents. As the beach is public [[easement|right-of-way]], it was the duty of the Oregon Department of Transportation to dispose of it. They filled the animal with a half-ton of [[dynamite]]. On Thursday, [[November 12]], the [[exploding whale|dynamite was set off]], but the blast did not go toward the Pacific as planned. No one was hurt, but a car was crushed by falling blubber. Onlookers were covered with noxious-smelling bits of dead whale.<ref name="Oregon">{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/critters/disposal/whale.htm|title=On Oregon's exploding whale|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref><ref name="film">{{cite web|url=http://www.perp.com/whale/|title=Film of Oregon's exploding whale|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>

January 2004 saw a more dramatic entry of the Sperm Whale into the global media spotlight. A dead specimen of the whale, 17 metres long and weighing 50 tonnes, had washed up on a local beach in [[Tainan City]], [[Taiwan]]. On being transported to a university in the city, gas pressure from decomposition built up inside the body, causing an explosion. Nobody was hurt, but blood and entrails were spread over several cars and surrounding pedestrians.<ref name="exploding">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4096586/|title=Account from MSNBC|accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>

==== Accidents====

In March 2007, a Japanese fisherman drowned after his boat was capsized by a panicked Sperm Whale he was trying to rescue. The whale had wandered into the relatively shallow waters in a bay in [[Shikoku]].<ref name="YahooNews20070313">{{cite news | title =Whale kills would-be rescuer in Japan | work = Reuters | language =English | publisher = Reuters | date =[[2007-03-13]] | url =http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST3442220070313 }}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
{{cetaceaportal}}
<div class="references-small">
* {{cite book | author=Carwardine, Hoyt, Fordyce & Gill | title=Whales & Dolphins: The Ultimate Guide to Marine Mammals | location=London | publisher=HarperCollins | year=1998 | id=ISBN 0-00-220105-4}}
* {{cite book | author=Randall R. Reeves&nbsp;... ''et al.'' | title=Guide to marine mammals of the world / National Audubon Society | location=New York | publisher=A.A. Knopf: Distributed by Random House | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-375-41141-0}}
* {{cite book | author=William F. Perrin, Bernd Würsig, J.G.M. Thewissen (Eds.) | title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals | location=San Diego, Calif. | publisher=Academic Press | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-12-551340-2}}
* [http://www.candlecomfort.com/historyofcandles.html Spermaceti in candles] [[July 22]], [[2007]]
* [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/98/13/7384 Retroposon analysis of major cetacean lineages: The monophyly of toothed whales and the paraphyly of river dolphins] [[June 19]], [[2001]]</div>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Physeter macrocephalus}}
{{wikispecies|Physeter macrocephalus}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/www.70south.com/resources/antarctic-animals/whales 70South - information on the Sperm Whale]
* [http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=190 MarineBio: Sperm Whale, ''Physeter catodon'']
* [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs9phys,0,4763989.story?coll=ny-lihostory-navigation "Physty"-stranded Sperm Whale nursed back to health and released in 1981]
* [http://www.mobydickthewhale.com/moby-dick/moby-dick-chapter-32.htm Cetology of the Sperm Whale from ''Moby-Dick''] Herman Melville
* [http://www.uwrf.edu/biology/electives_dir/444_dir/VSmith/Page1.html The physiology of the deep diving adaptations of whales]
*[http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Physeter_macrocephalus/ ARKive] Photographs, video.

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[[Category:Sperm whales]]
[[Category:Megafauna]]
[[Category:Cetaceans of Australia]]

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[[zh-min-nan:Boah-phang-keng]]
[[bg:Кашалот]]
[[ca:Catxalot]]
[[cs:Vorvaň obrovský]]
[[co:Capodogliu]]
[[da:Kaskelothval]]
[[de:Pottwal]]
[[et:Kašelott]]
[[es:Physeter macrocephalus]]
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[[is:Búrhvalur]]
[[it:Physeter macrocephalus]]
[[he:ראשתן גדול ראש]]
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Revision as of 11:29, 12 October 2008

For the Buddhist underworld, see Naraka (Buddhism).
Naraku
InuYasha character
File:Naraku 032.jpg
Naraku as he first appears by Rumiko Takahashi
First appearance"The Mystical Hand of the Amorous Monk, Miroku"
Created byRumiko Takahashi
In-universe information
Specieshanyō
RelativesKanna (daughter, deceased)
Kagura (daughter, deceased)
Goshinki (son, deceased)
Juromaru (son, deceased)
Kageromaru (son, deceased)
unnamed 1 (manga only) (son, deceased)
Muso (son, deceased)
unnamed 2 (manga only) (son, deceased)
Akago (son, deceased)
Hakudoshi (son, deceased)
Byakuya (son, deceased)

Naraku (奈落, meaning "underworld" or "hell") is the main antagonist in the anime and manga series InuYasha. He is directly responsible for the death of the character Kikyo and the seal placed on the series' protagonist, InuYasha. He is also the cause of most of the troubles and problems facing the other major characters, making his destruction the overall focus of their quest due to the pain he has personally caused them.

As a hanyō (translated as "half-demon") and later a yōkai ("full-demon"), Naraku desires the Shikon-no-Tama, a jewel that would be able to grant him near-invincibility should he acquire all the pieces of it. Although early in the series he desires the jewel to purge his half-human self from his body, after he become a full yōkai he desires the jewel to enhance his strength even further. He is repeatedly opposed by InuYasha and his friends, along with several other characters in the series.

Overview

Onigumo

Naraku is a hanyō ("half-demon" — yō is derived from yōkai, which means "demon"), although he differs from most hanyō.

There was a man named Onigumo (鬼蜘蛛, おに ぐ も, "demon-spider"), who was full of deceit and hatred for others. He tricked his bandit leader, Rasetsu (the elderly man later on in both manga and anime who gives Kikyo his top knot to be sent to Mount Hakurei in order to purify his soul) into approaching Kikyo and attempt to obtain the Shikon no Tama, or Jewel of Four Souls; however, Onigumo did not warn him that with Kikyo, there was a hanyō named InuYasha. Rasetsu survived the encounter with InuYasha, lost an eye, and returns to camp annoyed to find that Onigumo has made off with his troops. Rasetsu finds Onigumo and his troops at an inn down the road celebrating their change in leadership. Rasetsu blows up the inn, but the charred body of Onigumo somehow manages to survive the blast. Rasetsu throws the barely-living Onigumo off a cliff. (This, however, does not explain the spider scar, as Onigumo had the scar before he met Rasetsu).

By either chance or fate, Onigumo barely survived and was found by Kikyo who slowly nursed him back to the point of being able to speak. Onigumo developed feelings for Kikyo, but knowing that he could not move for the rest of his life, he summoned countless yōkai using his corrupted soul. He then had them devour his body in exchange for giving him a new body with which he could claim Kikyo and the Jewel of Four Souls. Thus the countless yōkai were bound together in a form with Onigumo serving as a connector. (In an anime special, it is implied that a spider-yōkai, which looked like a small replica of Naraku's spider form in the second movie, was the de facto leader of these yōkai.) This resulted in the part-human, part-yōkai Naraku.

Evolution of Naraku

In the meantime, he did not forget about his ultimate goal of obtaining the corrupted Shikon no Tama. He disguised himself as both InuYasha and Kikyo and tricked them into hating each other, as he describes that "the Shikon Jewel is the most beautiful when it's tainted by the hatred Kikyo and InuYasha have toward each other".

He mortally wounded Kikyo while disguised as InuYasha, took the Shikon no Tama and returned it to the village, then disguised himself as Kikyo and attacked InuYasha. InuYasha, sensing something was wrong, instinctively went back to the village to retrieve the Jewel. However, disguised as Kikyo, Naraku told the villagers that InuYasha would come for the Shikon no Tama at any cost, thereby forcing InuYasha to use force to obtain the Jewel. As he was getting away with the Jewel, Kikyo, with her remaining strength, sealed InuYasha to the Tree of Ages. Naraku, who desired both the Jewel of Four Souls and Kikyo, thought that she would use the Jewel to heal herself, but instead she requested Kaede to cremate the Jewel along with her dying body, so that it would be taken to the afterlife with her.

Onigumo's soul, within Naraku, objected to Kikyo's death. At this time, Naraku took action to prevent Onigumo from consciously influencing the hanyō's actions. Onigumo perceived this process as imprisonment in a deep dark place where he proceeded to sleep.

For fifty years after Kikyo's death, Naraku secretly plotted and waited for the Shikon Jewel to appear again. After the appearance of Kagome as the present-day reincarnation of Kikyo and InuYasha's awakening, he moved forward with his plan of gathering the shattered shards of the Jewel. Knowing his weakness as a hanyō, he relied mostly on evil tricks and traps while gathering information on his potential enemies that would stand before his insidious plot.

Being a hanyō like InuYasha, Naraku also sometimes experiences a period of weakness. During those times, he loses all his yōkai powers and reverts to his human "form". While in this form, he is composed of his head attached to countless random yōkai parts. Naraku has the freedom of choosing this time, unlike InuYasha, and since he is made up of thousands of yōkai, each time he "experiments" and "reconstructs" his body, he gets rid of weak and useless parts while keeping the vital ones to get stronger. It is possible that during each of these periods he expelled more and more of his humanity. This process ultimately led to the creation of his stronger form.

Disposal of his human heart

File:Naraku3241ru.jpg
Naraku in the form he created after leaving Mt. Hakurei

After InuYasha was able to break his barrier with the red Tetsusaiga, Naraku got injured by InuYasha and he almost beat him but he retreated to a mountain Hakurei-Zan for a long time, resurrecting the Shichinintai in the meantime to keep his enemies busy. To better protect himself from powerful yōkai enemies like InuYasha, Sesshomaru, and Koga, he deceived a lost soul of a dead priest Hakushin into creating a barrier so holy, that it would purify and cleanse any yōkai that came close to it. The closer Naraku's enemies came to the core of the barrier, the stronger it was. This was also the most powerful barrier in the series as its reach extended over the perimeter of an entire mountain and much of the land around it. The stronger a yōkai, the deeper into the barrier they could go until they got to a specific sort of critical point where anything with even the slightest bit of demon energy would be utterly purified. For any creature with yōkai as its spirit, they would die at this point no matter how powerful. For example, Koga could not even pass the perimeter of the barrier due to the fact that he is a nomal yōkai. Sesshomaru however was able to penetrate the barrier's perimeter and travel deeper into it but was weakened, during his battles with Suikotsu and Jakotsu. InuYasha was able to pass this final point, but his half demon was purified so completely that he transformed into his human form while inside the barrier. Naraku himself hides within a cave inside the mountain which is not penetrated by the purifying barrier. Kikyo persuades Hakushin to remove the barrier and ascend to Heaven.

Naraku separates himself from his heart, rendering it in two pieces. The physical heart (心臓, shinzō) he imparts to Akago, rendering Naraku effectively immortal unless Akago is destroyed. The spiritual heart, or soul (心, kokoro), which he inherited from the human Onigumo, is discarded inside Hakurei-Zan. This allows Naraku to become stronger, much like a full yōkai. (Comments later made by Abi-Hime and Tekkei revealed that Naraku was still technically a hanyō.) Furthermore, he now possessed an even stronger barrier, which proved impenetrable to anything except for the Tetsusaiga's Kongōsōha ("Diamond Shard Blast" or "Adamant Barrage" in the English dub).

As soon as Kikyo gives the man who created the barrier the ability to find peace, he departs for the afterlife and the barrier dissolves. Naraku then reveals his new, powerful form and strikes down Kikyo. His powers increased dramatically as he challenged Sesshomaru and deliberately let him tear his body apart with a point-blank range yōki blast, however it had no effect and Naraku proclaimed that "I cannot die". In order to find the final Shikon shard located at the border between this world and the afterlife, Naraku made a deal with Abi-Hime, the princess of the bird yōkai. However, Abi-Hime and her mother, Tekkei, never did trust Naraku because he was "merely" a hanyō. Both being full yōkai with utter contempt for hanyō, Abi-Hime and Tekkei plotted against Naraku and later attacked him. Naraku proceeds to behead Tekkei, the river of her blood producing a gateway to the world between this and the next.

Throughout the series Naraku is always constantly absorbing yōkai to carry on the process of expelling the weak components of his victims and retaining the stronger ones. Thus he is able to constantly increase his strength even after the events of Mt. Hakurei, though it never increases enough to counteract InuYasha's Kongōsōha until he has absorbed Mōryōmaru and a barrier-dissolving Daiyōkai tree.

Re-absorption of Naraku's heart

File:Naraku-New-Form 01.jpg
Naraku's form after absorbing Mōryōmaru (Manga)

Following the death of Kagura in the manga, Naraku becomes largely absent from the series, and the focus shifts to Akago's and Mōryōmaru's quest to absorb yōkai and Shikon shards. Naraku finally reappears, reviving a tree yōkai known as Yōmeiju, a tree which devoured humans and yōkai alike. But this time, as InuYasha and his group watched, Naraku devoured the tree. Shortly thereafter, he and Mōryōmaru squared off for the first time in an open battle. Naraku then reveals that the reason he created Akago as an infant and purposely made him so weak, while providing him with a powerful barrier that he had the power to disable, was because he always knew his heart would turn against him. Taunting Mōryōmaru about his shell, referring to it as a castle and to Akago as a king who has grown fat inside a castle, Naraku at first appeared to be trying to reabsorb him. But this clash ended with a shocking twist: Mōryōmaru absorbed his maker, supposedly defeating him for good. Naraku soon revealed that he was in fact alive, having allowed Mōryōmaru to absorb him in a Trojan Horse-style ploy in order to then devour Mōryōmaru from the inside. He then used the Yōmeiju's barrier-dissolving abilities to reclaim Akago and then fully assimilated Mōryōmaru into his being.

In Chapter 452 of the manga, "Spider Web", Naraku also returned to Hakurei-Zan to reabsorb the heart of Onigumo which he discarded there. Onigumo speaks to him, gloating that Naraku still needs this discarded human heart to avoid being purified by Kikyo, because of Onigumo's intense negative feelings. The human heart says it possesses more intense negative feelings, and these can prevent purification by bringing darkness to the Shikon Jewel. Naraku seems to confirm this analysis. He intends to exploit the emotional connection between the hearts of Onigumo, Kikyo and InuYasha to destroy both Kikyo and InuYasha. The re-absorptions may mean that Naraku has lost the invulnerability he obtained from keeping his heart outside his body. However, the Shikon no Tama also allows it's possessor to survive otherwise fatal injuries. The diamonds on Naraku's new body, along with his armored shell, may also add some extra protection (due to the former being the hardest substance on the planet, and the latter easily able to swat off even the destructive brunt of the Kongōsōha).

The Shikon Jewel's Completion and Death

In chapter 463 in battle with InuYasha, Naraku takes Koga's shikon shards because he placed his Jewel shard inside Kikyo. After he placed it in Kikyo, Kagome shot Kikyo with her last sacred arrow to purify her, then Naraku used Koga's shards to corrupt the Jewel as Kikyo plans to purify the Jewel. But Naraku's evil overpowered Kikyo's holy aura and allowed him to reclaim the Jewel, leaving only Kohaku's shard. Once the Jewel is completed, Naraku will have the power to become a full youkai.

However, in chapter 475, Naraku blames Kikyo for a purity inside the shikon no tama. Currently, Naraku is dead-set on decapitating Kohaku in an attempt to get his shard without becoming purified by Kikyo's presence in the jewel, however a light from the shard prevents him from doing this. The light/purity of Kohaku's shard (though kohaku needs the shard to stay alive) is the work of Kikyo but whether it is her soul or her "light" is a matter of debate. Magatsuhi, the demon sealed inside the Shikon jewel by Midoriko, escapes the gem and creates a new body for itself using some of Naraku's spare parts. Technically this would mean he is not truly Naraku's as he reveals he is merely borrowing a body from Naraku. Magatsuhi is able to, in contrast to Naraku, not only touch the shard in Kohaku's back, but corrupt it as well. In chapter 528, Naraku succeeds in removing the shard from Kohaku, though Kohaku is able to survive the loss of his shard.

Naraku completes the Shikon-no-Tama and uses the fully dark jewel to begin his final transformation. Before that, when asked by Byakuya what he would do with the jewel, Naraku admitted that he had no real plans for it and wondered what would be left for him when he killed all the people who hated him. Following his completion of the Shikon no Tama, Naraku takes on the form of a gigantic spider. However, within this new body Naraku's face appears on its flesh, and he also manifests a new, dark-skinned, white-haired humanoid form. After the defeat of Magatsuhi by Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, Kagome's spiritual powers return and a small light returns to the once completely corrupted Shikon Jewel. Naraku planned to use the hope of this light to trick Miroku into killing the others with the last use of his Wind Tunnel. Although things do not go as he originally plans, Naraku finally eliminates the last traces of light within the Shikon-no-Tama and fully fuses with the jewel.

Kagome asks Naraku what his true wish was, since it seems that the Shikon-no-Tama has not granted it. This question startles him greatly. Inuyasha tells Naraku that he seems to know a lot about relationships because he focused so much on tearing people apart, and mentions that this is because of his human heart, which the Shikon Jewel may not have removed. For the first time, Naraku hesitates to attack Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha attacks him with a variation on the Meidou Zangetsuha more adapted to his fighting style, and seems to damage even Naraku's most powerful form. Although he regenerates from this repeatedly, Sesshomaru takes note of Naraku's vulnerability and uses the Bakusaiga on him. Because of Bakusaiga's decomposing powers, Naraku's large outer body begins to fall apart. As Naraku weakens, the curse on the Wind Tunnel begins to break as well, and Miroku uses it to absorb much of the deadly shouki.

Naraku becomes cornered as much of his body deteriorates, he uses the Shikon no Tama to grant him more power. He uses this power to stall the others from killing him so he can prepare to crash his gigantic, shouki-filled body into Kaede's village. Though he intends to use this threat of destroying the village to prevent Inuyasha from killing him, Sesshomaru ignores him and strikes his main body with the jewel with Bakusaiga. Sesshomaru's sword, however, doesn't even scratch the jewel, which prevents Naraku's death. As his massive body begins to fall onto the village, everyone escapes from within and try to protect the villagers. Kagome sees the Shikon no Tama within Naraku and shoots an arrow at the jewel. Prior to the arrow hitting the jewel, Naraku thinks to himself that indeed the Shikon no Tama did not grant his true wish: he wanted Kikyo's love, and laments that he won't be able to go where she is in the afterlife. Naraku's body is completely purified and most of the village is saved from destruction.

Naraku, appearing as only a head with the pierced jewel, hovers above the bone-eater's well and says he made a different wish upon the Shikon no Tama, and that when he dies that wish will be granted. He finally dies, and a meidou appears and swallows Kagome and the well disappears. It is revealed the wish Naraku made was actually the wish of Magatsuhi itself: that the souls of a resurrected Naraku and Kagome would replace it and Midoriko (that she was killed by Naraku with Magatsuhi's wish). However, this wish can only be fulfilled if Kagome succumbs to despair and wishes in the meidou to return home. Naraku and Magatsuhi were finally defeated when Inuyasha cuts the point of light in the darkness inside the Shikon no Tama with the Meidou Zangetsuha and arrives in the meidou outside to save Kagome. The Shikon no Tama was finally killed but not destroyed: so Kagome instead chooses to wish that the Shikon no Tama disappear forever.

Appearance

Because of his nature, Naraku's true form is somewhat a mystery. In the past, he was usually seen hidden inside his white baboon pelt, which hides all but his mouth. He is later seen wearing a dark blue kimono with matching hakama and a purple kataginu that matches the color of his shōki. This is not Naraku's true form, but rather the form of a human daimyō named Hitome Kagewaki, the ill son of the castle lord who Naraku killed and replaced by taking his form. In Naraku's "human" form, he has long, dark hair, red eyes, and pale skin.

In InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass, Naraku is briefly seen in the opening credits as a large spider yōkai, which has been called his true form. This could indeed be possible, due to his origins as Onigumo (which translates to "demon-spider"), as well as the spider scar on his back, have led many to believe Naraku to be a spider-yōkai / han'yō. This is concurrent with an anime special in which an identical (but smaller) spider-yōkai acted as the leader of the yōkai who consumed Onigumo. The "giant spider" form was likely a temporary form though, or a diversion, as he later regenerates in a form resembling the one he would take in episodes 80–81. During this battle, he creates a form of the top half of his body surrounded in gigantic green tentacles and centipede bodies, along with dozens of smaller gray tentacles and four spiky red claws growing out of his back. Since at this time Naraku had still not perfected his body as it still had components of Onigumo in it, he told Sesshomaru that this was his body in its intermediate stage of reaching its full yōkai transformation.

Many fans believe that Naraku's true form is a human form identical to Onigumo or Hitomi Kagewaki (the young daimyō). However, even less is known about Onigumo than Naraku. Onigumo, whenever seen, has his face in shadows or is bandaged around his face. But Onigumo's hair is seen, and Kagewaki's face when Naraku is having periods of weaknesses (like InuYasha's) — which is remarkably similar to his current appearance (described above). Also, in "Spider Web" (manga Chapter 452), when Naraku went back to Hakurei-Zan in order to reabsorb Onigumo's heart, the heart appears at first in the form of a human head, looking indistinguishable from Naraku's face with different colored hair. After Naraku touches it, the heart takes the form of a spider.

Before obtaining his full yōkai form, Naraku hated his one known consistent physical trait — the spider-shaped scar that revealed his part-human origin — and worked to remove the human heart associated with it. When Musō left Naraku's body, the scar on Musō's back showed the location of his heart. In one episode of the anime, Naraku cuts the scar from his back with a sword, but it immediately grows back.

Following the battles at Hakurei-Zan, Naraku is seen in the same "human form". However, this form was composed only of yōkai as he had disposed of Onigumo from his body and become a full yōkai. This form has an armor of blades rising over the shoulders, and also features blades along the chest and wrists, with horns on the top of his back. He also wears the same dark blue kimono, now with a huge light blue jacket with a high collar, and a yellow belt. He now also has a monstrous eye in the center of his chest, two red eyes on each of his hands, and three tails that seem to belong to a dragon. In the manga the tails were purple and around three to four times the size on Naraku, but in the anime they are green and much shorter. In this form he usually extends his fingers and makes them attack as in the form of glowing purple tentacles or extends the bones of his wrist in a zigzag purple beam like motion and infects people with his shōki.

After the absorption of Mōryōmaru and Akago, Naraku's appearance changes again. Initially, his right arm becomes covered in diamond armor, and the rest of his body sports diamond tentacles similar to Mōryōmaru's, although this trait is not present in all subsequent appearances. The exoskeleton breastplate is now composed of diamond and much less rigid, and is connected by two blade-like diamond extensions outside of the high collar. He has no dragon tails in his back, and the armor that was similar to Sesshomaru's is gone. Following his completion of the Shikon no Tama, Naraku takes on the form of a gigantic spider. However, within this new body Naraku's face appears on its flesh, and he also manifests various other forms. In the center of the body, Naraku is seen as a nude human in a protective barrier.

When he begins to battle InuYasha and Kagome, he assumes a new form through the Shikon Jewel. He retains the manner of dress from his post-Mt. Hakurei form. The diamond 'blades' coming over his shoulders increase in number to about eight, and a layer of diamond forms over his forearms, legs and jacket. His face appears to be cracking, and there are diamond tentacles resembling a spiderweb coming from his back, which extend out to several times the length of his body. Upon his dismemberment by Bakusaiga, Naraku uses the Jewel to keep himself alive, and takes on an appearance far less human than has been shown up until this point. His face bears some resemblance to a typical oni, his hair becomes white, and a large ribcage forms over him. However, after Naraku is purified, his face reverts back to its usual appearance.

Powers, abilities, and attacks

Naraku has seemingly countless abilities, many of which may be unknown. Many of his powers are granted/enhanced by the large amount of Shikon-no-tama shards he has. Those that he has revealed are as follows:

Saimyōshō
Naraku's minion wasps from hell. They are useful for stopping Miroku's Kazaana ("wind void"; Wind Tunnel in the English dub), spying on his enemies, and gathering Jewel shards.
Shapeshifting
He can take the form anything he chooses (usually a humanoid). He would have a different voice as well. He can also change his body however he wants. This is seen when he fights Sesshomaru in an attempt to absorb him.
Yōkai puppets ("demon puppets" in the English dub)
Puppets which resemble him. He controls them from afar and can see through their eyes. They are mostly made of mud and soil, and are able to spring roots in order to attack opponents.
Superhuman strength and speed
Much like Sesshomaru, Naraku is far stronger than a normal demon and can move faster than the eye can see, both in the air and on the ground.
Flight
Similarly to Sesshomaru, Naraku possesses the ability to float midair, and to ride upon a cloud of his own shoki. After his transformation into a full yokai, Naraku never chose to employ his shoki-sustained flight, but flew only by the strength of his will.
Yōkai parts
As he is made up of multiple yōkai in one body, Naraku is able to manipulate their body parts at will in order to restructure and strengthen his body, and he can also regenerate himself from injury and reform his body parts if they are cut off. He most commonly uses these parts to form tentacles which he uses to attack.
Absorption
Naraku is able to absorb other yōkai into his body, adding their powers and body to his own. This is primarily how he gains strength, by seeking out and absorbing strong yōkai, giving him access to their powers. Naraku can also expel weaker body parts in order to rid himself of them.
Psionics
Naraku has shown using various psychic powers and capabilities; including telepathy, telekinesis, teleportation, mind control, illusion-casting, and astral projection.
Detachments
Makes incarnations out of his own body to do his dirty work for him. Most have a spider mark on their back which is a result of being born of Naraku when he still was a han'yō with Onigumo inside him. After he purged himself of his human presence in the countless lumps of flesh inside Hakurei, he and all his future children were free of having that scar on them.
Barrier
A barrier which prevents the foe from finding and/or attacking him. At first his barrier was only useful in hiding his presence. As he persevered in absorbing new, stronger demons into his body and discarding the weaker ones, it became powerful enough to survive the Kaze no Kizu, which is why InuYasha needed to obtain blood from the bat yōkai, Taigokumeru, in order to penetrate. After Naraku became a full yōkai (in a sense) the barrier became so powerful that nothing but the Kongōsōha was able to pierce it.
Yōki control
Whenever someone sends an attack of yōki (yōkai energy) into Naraku's barrier he can channel the flow of the attack into his own jaki (yōki aura) and then attack his opponents with it. However, this can only be done with attacks that cannot penetrate his barrier, which means it's useless against InuYasha's Kongōsōha.
Regeneration
Naraku can quickly heal his own wounds and also put back together severed pieces of his body. He can control 100% of his body all the time (even when severed), which comes in handy when he is trying to absorb someone. However, there is a limit to how much he can regenerate. The more damage he takes the more time he will need later on to recover. Too much damage can kill him, which is why he had to flee from his enemies in the beginning of the series. Usually, he will absorb yōkai to speed up his regeneration process. However, after he removes his heart, which comes out as Akago, he was able to regenerate no matter how much damage his body took since his life force wasn't in his body.
Choosing when to become human
Unlike InuYasha, who is forced to become fully human on the first night of a new moon every month, Naraku, as a hanyo with Onigumo inside him, could choose what time of the month he lost all of his powers and became human, although he was merely a human head attached to a mass of yokai parts during this time, which he used to experiment with his body and rid himself of any unnecessary parts. Since the events that have transpired on Mt. Hakurei, he no longer has to become human at any time, being a full-fledged yokai.
Beam attack
Naraku sends out one or more of the horns on his elbows in a zigzag beam attack or extends his fingers into tentacles with a glowing attack at the tip of fingers to attack his foe(s). In the manga this attack was of a silverfish color and in the anime it is of a purple color. Furthermore, even though this attack is a yōki attack, because Naraku is using his body parts infused with shōki to attack his opponents, InuYasha cannot use his Bakuryūha (Backlash Wave) against it since it counts as a physical attack.
Shōki (miasma)
This is Naraku's trademark, poison which kills anything that touches it . It is what makes his poisonous gas. Naraku uses it to cover his entrances and exits, and can surround himself with the gas while flying. He created a "false Shikon shard" for Kōga with this substance. It was able to power Kōga in the manga and anime for a while until it backfired, poisoning him, and ultimately leading him to remove it with the help of Kagome. Naraku's body is filled with it, which is why when a foe bites him or even touches him he/she gets poisoned. Later on, as his power grew upon his transition to full yōkai, his shōki is able to take on a liquid form and acts like a river of acid. His shōki is so strong that it allows him to break away pieces of the nearly completed Shikon no Tama to use in his schemes. In the current manga, he can melt entire mountains. Over time his shōki has become so dangerous that after he infects Kikyō with it, neither Kagome nor Kikyo's holy powers seem to be able to purify it. Kikyo absorbs Midoriko's soul in order to protect herself but she comments that she doesn't know how long Midoriko's power can last against Naraku's venom, in the regard that she and Midoriko remain at the same strength while Naraku continues to increase in power. Eventually, even the influence of Midoriko is nullified with Naraku's absorption of the tree and Mōryōmaru.
Live Body Pieces
After absorbing Akago/Mōryōmaru, Naraku gained the power to merge pieces of his body with other yōkai, thus giving him control over them and increasing their regenerative abilities. He can send pieces of his body abroad to scout for new yōkai, for him to add into his body. It is important to note that these pieces, after becoming separate of Naraku's body, became living beings that can move and fight on their own.
Shikigami
This power is only displayed in the Playstation 2 RPG InuYasha game; InuYasha: Secret of the Cursed Mask. He obtained this power by deceiving Utsugi, a 'hitogata' (clay doll demon) duplicate of the original Utsugi, who was created by the priest Kakuju to ease his/her suffering when his/her real wife/husband died. Utsugi (the hitogata) required the soul of a relative of the real Utsugi, and a large portion of the Shikon Jewel, which Naraku provided, and helped in retrieving shards from Koga to become a true, live human. When Naraku supposedly died (w/ jewel on hand) at the hands of InuYasha & co, the leftover jewel was retrieved by Utsugi behind the scenes. When Utsugi finally retrieved the soul she/he needed (which as it turns out, was Kakuju's) Naraku's voice began echoing from the Sacred Jewel, and Naraku took over Utsugi's body rather than absorbing her/him to acquire her shikigami-channeling powers. He became able to use the destructive power of an unknown variety of shikigami, and would time-to-time spout out a long verse when he attacked during the fight in the game. Because this only happens in a game based on the anime (which wasn't entirely canon from the start) and the events of the game stray away from the actual cliffhanger ending of the anime, this power is un-canon.
Phantom Castle
Naraku is seen having the ability to create various "Phantom Castles" as a temporary headquarters throughout the series.
Dormancy
Naraku has the ability to hide himself within one of his servants and make it appear as though he has disappeared, or have been killed, rather. A simple task; he gets himself "killed" and hides within the body of a servant of his choice. To reinforce this fact, he even (although temporarily) removes Miroku's Wind Tunnel and returns Kagura's heart.
Black Magic
Naraku knows many different spells and curses, a prime example being the Wind Tunnel curse.
Armor Shell
Upon absorbing Mōryōmaru, he gained the ability to cover himself at will with Mōryōmaru's nigh impenetrable shell. It has been revealed that Naraku is hiding the Shikon Jewel underneath this shell.

Relationships

Detachments

To get rid of unnecessary parts as well as keeping a better eye on his surrounding situations, Naraku was constantly releasing detachments of himself to carry out his bidding. Only a few of the detachments truly live up to their purposes as most betrayed him or were quickly disposed of by the people going after him. As of Chapter 548, with the death of Byakuya, Naraku no longer has any detachments:

Kanna
Kanna is an albino girl that barly speaks. She is a yōkai of mu, "void". Kanna comes from an old word meaning "godless world." She is Naraku's first detachment, and remains utterly loyal to him while knowing that they are just used as tools in his schemes. Representative of the void in which she controls, Kanna herself is completely devoid of any emotion, never questioning any orders given to her by Naraku. In chapter 480, after a failed attempt to destroy Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga, Naraku orders her to commit suicide by shattering herself—as a final attempt to destroy Inuyasha's group. In her final moments, however, Kanna seemed to display some signs of emotions, as if she really did not wish to die. It is in her death that she commits her only act of defiance to Naraku: As a shard of Kanna's shattered body flies into Kagome's eye, Kanna uses this opportunity to show Kagome the light that is present within the Shikon no Tama, which could be the key to defeating Naraku.
Kagura
Kagura is a powerful wind sorceress (Japanese: "wind user"; also refers to the sacred dances of miko) and appears first in the manga and anime, though she is his second detachment. Naraku endlessly uses her as bait to test the enemies' strength and, aware of her betrayals, keeps good watch over her. Her storyline is constantly followed as she plots to destroy Naraku and win back her heart, often in combination with Sesshomaru. Eventually, she is killed by Naraku after she openly betrays him to protect Kohaku.
Goshinki
The third detachment of Naraku, Goshinki was a large horned ogre with the ability to read minds. He was extremely agile, very powerful, and had teeth so strong they ultimately broke the Tetsusaiga, which ended up being his own undoing. After being defeated, Sesshomaru contracted Kaijinbō to create Tōkijin from the fangs of Goshinki's head once the head was resurrected.
Juromaru
He was a feral detachment and brother of Kagerōmaru, who lived in his stomach. He and his brother Kagerōmaru were both killed in battle by Inuyasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar).
Kagerōmaru
He was a small, fast and intelligent detachment from Naraku. He lived inside Juromaru. He was not particularly loyal to Naraku. He and his brother Juromaru were both killed in battle by Inuyasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar).
Musō
He was born as "the man with no face", a reincarnated Onigumo. He was reabsorbed after a short time of independence.
Akago
He is a child that has the ability to corrupt the hearts of people into doing his bidding. He was cut in half by a priest, which led to the creation of Hakudōshi. After being cut in half, the left half (which remained to be Akago) was taken by Kanna, and Kanna told Kagura to take the right half (which became Hakudōshi). He later is placed inside the haku (life force) puppet, Mōryōmaru. In Chapter 446, Mōryōmaru is taken over by Naraku. In Chapter 448, Naraku disappears with Akago, and by his next appearance in Chapter 452, has reabsorbed him. NOTE: The status of Akago as this character's actual name is contested, since akago is standard modern Japanese for baby (whereas all the other characters' names have obscure and / or archaic meanings). In the official English translation, he is called "the infant".
Hakudōshi
He is an incarnation from Akago. Taking the form of a young child, he was able to tame the yōba (horse-yōkai) Entei. He continues Akago's quest to get the last Shikon shard. After Naraku is nearly destroyed at the boundary of the afterlife, Hakudōshi is charged with flushing out Kikyo. He eventually is found out as a traitor to Naraku and is sucked in by Miroku's Kazaana.
Byakuya
Naraku's incarnation that first appeared in Chapter 397. He told the Dokumizuchi, who had eaten Mōryōmaru's flesh, the location of InuYasha. He was created to replace Kagura, serving the purpose of tracking down Mōryōmaru while keeping tabs on the full-extent of InuYasha's Tetsusaiga. Byakuya uses origami as his primary weapon and seem to be able to create illusions, but not much else was known about him. He was killed when Inuyasha used the Cutting Meidou on him after he attacked Kagome.

Other

Magatsuhi
The demon sealed within the Shikon Jewel centuries ago, it appears in Chapter 513, borrowing flesh from Naraku to craft a temporary body, an armored man with white hair and claws. Upon being free, Magatsuhi attempts to kill Kohaku, and engages Sesshomaru in combat only to have his borrowed body destroyed. Magatsuhi is later in its true form inside the Shikon Jewel locked in eternal combat with Midoriko, revealing to Inuyasha that when Kagome makes a selfish wish on the Shikon Jewel, she will take Midoriko's place, with Naraku's soul allowing Magatsuhi to finally escape from its imprisonment. But the both demons were destroyed forever by Inuyasha when he cuts the point of light in the darkness inside the Shikon no Tama with the Meidou Zangetsuha and arrives in the meidou outside to save Kagome. Then Kagome's selfless wish dissolved the rest of jewel.

Enemies

InuYasha
Naraku's primary enemy and his murderous. Naraku made a scheme to steal both the Shikon no Tama and Kikyo. He wanted her, and wanted InuYasha out of the picture, because Onigumo's heart was still beating within him. Naraku's scheme was not successful, but because of it, InuYasha was sealed by Kikyo's Fūin no Ya (spiritual sealing arrow), and Kikyō died of wounds inflicted by Naraku. Because of this, as well as the fact Naraku has most of the jewel shards that he desires and then completes and merges with the jewel, Inuyasha is Naraku's primary enemy.
Kagome Higurashi
All of her friends have suffered by Naraku's evil plans and he has attempted to kill her because of her interference. Kagome is most likely the one who can destroy Naraku. Although Inuyasha is able to enhance his Tetsusaiga with new powers in order to battle Naraku's increasing strength, Kagome's hama no ya (sacred arrow) is one of the few things repeatedly able to damage or overcome Naraku's own powers throughout the manga/anime, and the arrow is often able to cause him the most damage when the Tetsusaiga does not work. In the early events of the manga/anime, it damages him to such an extent that he is forced to send for Kikyo in order to heal himself.
Miroku
When Miroku's grandfather, a hōshi (Buddhist monk), pursued and fought against Naraku, Naraku cursed him by placing a Kazaana ("wind void") on the hōshi's hand. The Kazaana curse was passed down to Miroku, who watched his father being consumed by it. If Naraku is not defeated, Kazaana will cause Miroku to be sucked in as Miroku's grandfather and father. Being the one who caused the curse, Naraku also has a way to prevent Miroku from using it against him; namely, the Saimyōshō.
Sango
Her entire family was slain because of Naraku's trap. Naraku then framed InuYasha, but Sango eventually learned who the real culprit was. Her brother, Kohaku, is later resurrected with a shard of the Shikon no Tama, and used as a slave to Naraku.
Sesshomaru
Detests Naraku for attempting to use him as a pawn to kill InuYasha, and for having Rin in order to control him. Kagura's death further sealed his determination to destroy Naraku.
Kikyo
She is secretly plotting Naraku's downfall, but Naraku seems to be one step ahead of her. Eventually killed at Naraku's hands. However, it is possible she purposely died in order to kill Naraku later based on her quotes and the confirmation of her soul being inside the Shikon no Tama. He realizes this himself upon discovering the overbearing light that was within the shard that Kohaku carried. Moments before his death, it is revealed that Naraku's one wish was to, in fact, have Kikyo's heart, showing in spite of his actions, he had loved her all this time. He laments in the knowledge that he wouldn't be able to "go to where [she is]" either, but accepts it, his fate, and perishes after making a different wish to the jewel.
Koga
His Yōrō-Zoku (wolf-yōkai tribe) was decimated by Naraku's plot via Kagura. Naraku again framed InuYasha, but Koga eventually learned who the real culprit was.
Kagura
His second detachment who hates living in slavery, but must obey because her heart is in his hands and therefore her life is in his hand. After she tries many times to help kill him and perhaps gain freedom, Naraku returns her heart, but impales her straight through her chest, poisoning her with shōki and ultimately "relieving" her of her life.
Kaguya
Naraku fakes his own death in the second movie to lure Kaguya out of hiding, then reappears in an attempt to absorb her and gain her power of eternal youth. She is destroyed by InuYasha with Kaze no Kizu (Wind Scar), however, before Naraku can achieve his goal. Much like Abi-Hime, she is disgusted by Naraku's hanyō status. Is sucked into Miroku's kazaana, thereby foiling Naraku's attempt at gaining immortality.
Michiru Kururugi / Kaname Kururugi
In the video game InuYasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask is a young male or female sent from modern times to the feudal era. Possessing powerful shikigami, he or she aides InuYasha and friends in defeating Naraku.
Musō
The heart of Onigumo, sought to be free of the prison of Naraku who wanted to kill his beloved Kikyo, but was later consumed by Naraku, as he was not yet ready to part with him yet.
Kohaku
Eventually regains his memory and begins to think about how to kill Naraku for what he has done.
Bankotsu
Leader of the Shichinintai, he was going to turn against Naraku sooner or later. InuYasha would have gladly teamed up with Bankotsu in order to defeat Naraku, however, Bankotsu wanted to go it alone once he defeated InuYasha, but he failed and was subsequently killed. Naraku then absorbed his Shikon shards.
Akago and Hakudōshi
Since Akago is really Naraku's heart, they seek to free themselves from Naraku's control and become independent. Hakudōshi is loyal to Akago and created Mōryōmaru as a body to protect Akago. Hakudōshi is found out and Naraku leaves him behind to be sucked in by Miroku's Kazaana, while Akago is left to live a while longer, only to be absorbed at the hand of Naraku again.

Music

InuYasha Ongaku Hen

  • "Jayō — Naraku" (「邪妖　奈落」 "Malicious — Naraku") — Naraku's principle theme, which uses a harpsichord for the melody, with pipes to create the effect of something mysterious and sinister — much like Naraku himself. It frequently plays when Naraku is plotting something.

InuYasha Ongaku Hen Ni

  • "Shōki" (「瘴気」 "Miasma") — Theme for Naraku's shōki / miasma.
  • "Naraku no Yabō" (「奈落の野望」 "Naraku's Ambition") — A more fully orchestrated arrangement of Naraku's theme with a pounding intensity. It commonly plays when Naraku is displaying his power.
  • "Zō Tō" (「憎闘」 "Hateful Battle") — A fast-paced arrangement of Naraku's theme played during battles.
  • "Jigoku Mushi, Saimyōshō" (「地獄虫　最猛勝」 "Hellish Insects, the Saimyōshō") — Theme for Naraku's Saimyōshō.

Eiga InuYasha: Kagami no Naka no Mugenjō Ongaku Hen

  • "Dai Kumo ~Naraku~" (「大蜘蛛　～奈落～」 "Giant Spider ~Naraku~") — An arrangement of Naraku's theme played in the first scene of the movie.
  • "Mein Taitoru" (「メインタイトル」 "Main Title") — An arrangement of the opening theme from the InuYasha movies (itself an arrangement of InuYasha's theme) together with Naraku's theme played as they battle during the opening credits.
  • "Yūshoku" (「復活」 "Revival") — An arrangement of Naraku's theme played as he emerges from Kohaku's body in an attempt to absorb Kaguya.

Naraku's Japanese seiyū, Toshiyuki Morikawa, sang vocals for and delivered a monologue and message on Naraku's image song single, InuYasha Character Songs: Rakujitsu. The last track includes bonus messages from Satsuki Yukino (as Kagome Higurashi), Takeshi Kusao (as Bankotsu), and Ai Orikasa (as Jakotsu).

  1. "Rakujitsu" (「落日」 "Sunset")
  2. "Rakujitsu (Remix)"
  3. "Rakujitsu (Original Karaoke)"
  4. "Monorōgu & Messāju" (「モノローグ&メッセージ」 "Monologue & Message")
  5. "Ekusutora Messāju" (「エクストラメッセージ」 "Extra Message")

In turn, a bonus message from Naraku was also included in the last tracks of Kagome's and Bankotsu and Jakotsu's singles.

Notes and references

  1. ^ See questions and answers
  2. ^ Zusetsutaizan Ougikaiden By Rumiko Takahashi
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