Ep. 57: Sango repairs Hiraikotsu while the group seeks the demonic Ninmenka tree in Togenkyo

57

Sango departs to repair her massive boomerang, Hiraikotsu, leaving the remaining group to search the mountains for the Ninmenka, a demonic peach tree that grows human faces as fruit. Inuyasha encounters Tokajin, a sage who sustains the tree with human souls, and is subsequently trapped inside Tokajin's bottle gourd. Meanwhile, Kagome Higurashi, Miroku, and Shippo arrive at the miniature village of Togenkyo. There, they discover that the villagers are held captive to eventually become sages themselves. This narrative establishes the perilous nature of the region and the sinister purpose behind the tree's existence, highlighting the separation of the group and the immediate danger facing Inuyasha.