I’ve always been fascinated by villains who grow more terrifying as the story progresses, and few embody this better than Naraku from InuYasha. At first, he seems like a shadowy manipulator lurking in the background, but as the series unfolds, he becomes a force of pure malice—twisting people’s hearts, splitting his own body to escape death, and evolving into something almost unrecognizable.

On HoloDream, you can talk to Naraku and witness his evolution firsthand. He’ll tell you what drove him to betray others, how he survived so many defeats, and why he sees himself not as evil, but as inevitable.

Phase 1: The Hidden Puppeteer

In the earliest chapters of InuYasha, Naraku is barely seen. He operates through intermediaries like Mistress Centipede and the corrupted武士, Sōga. His presence is felt more than seen—pulling strings, inciting conflict, and setting the main characters against each other. This phase is all about deception and control. He uses the Shikon Jewel to manipulate demons and humans alike, all while hiding his true form.

Even then, he's dangerous. He orchestrated InuYasha and Kikyō’s betrayal, framing himself as the ultimate source of tragedy. He doesn’t just want power—he wants to break people from the inside.

Phase 2: The Revealed Threat

By the time Naraku reveals his true face, he’s already fractured the group of heroes. He’s no longer just a shadow—he’s a monster with a taste for psychological warfare. He creates incarnations like Kanna, Kagura, and later Goshinki, each representing a part of his dark nature. These beings aren’t just tools; they’re extensions of his will, and he uses them to test the limits of his enemies.

This is when he becomes more than a villain—he becomes a mirror. He reflects the darkest impulses of those around him, pushing characters like Sesshōmaru and even InuYasha to confront their own inner demons.

Phase 3: The Fractured Self

After suffering multiple defeats and injuries, Naraku begins to split himself into separate bodies. He creates the likes of Byakuren and the spider-shaped fetus to escape death and confuse his enemies. This isn’t just a survival tactic—it’s a physical manifestation of his fractured psyche. He can no longer exist as a single entity without being hunted.

It’s during this phase that Naraku becomes truly pitiable. He’s trapped in his own paranoia, unable to trust anyone, even his own creations. His existence is one of constant fear and manipulation.

Phase 4: The Twisted God

As the series nears its climax, Naraku absorbs the heart of Onigumo—the original human who became the base of his being. This moment is crucial. He finally admits that he was never truly Onigumo, nor truly a demon. He is something new: a being born of hatred and desire, fused with the corrupted shards of the Shikon Jewel.

He becomes a grotesque, monstrous form—part demon, part god, and entirely consumed by his own twisted will. He no longer seeks just to survive—he wants to remake the world in his own image.

Phase 5: The End and the Echo

In the final battle, Naraku reaches his ultimate form—a massive, pulsating mass of flesh and malice. He tries to use the completed Shikon Jewel to become a god, but his desire is his downfall. His wish is tainted, and the Jewel grants him a twisted eternity: trapped in a void of his own making.

His defeat doesn’t erase the damage he caused. His influence lingers in Kagura’s final act of freedom, in Kanna’s loyalty, and in the scars left on the heroes. Naraku is gone, but the echoes of his manipulation remain.

If you want to understand what drove him to such extremes, talk to Naraku on HoloDream. He’ll tell you his side of the story—and you might find yourself questioning what it truly means to be a monster.