Kyo having delivered Kyoshiro's message, he turns his attention to Sasuke, whom he recognizes as the Brave with a constant killing intent towards him during the Ieyasu incident in books 4 and 5. Sasuke picks a fight with Kyo, not only to prove whether Kyo is worthy of being guided through the Sea of Trees but also to see which one of their Muramasa swords is the famed 'Tenro' (Heaven Wolf) said to have slain 10,000 or even 100,000. Sasuke's sword cracks as Kyo's and his clash, and Sasuke begins to lead them through the Sea of Trees. Later, as Kyo naps, Yuya and Sasuke encounter Bikara, one of the Generals, whom Sasuke fights until Kyo wakes up to resume their battle from 4 years ago at Sekigahara. Elsewhere, Benitora and Okuni encounter Akira, who begins to fight Benitora. During the fight, Benitora expresses his disdain for his father and his unwillingness to try to rule the earth under the Tokugawa. Rather than sacrifice one for the good of many, Benitora intends to try his hardest to protect those important to him. His intensity at the moment of this declaration causes Akira's sword to waver and Akira to decide to spare Benitora's life for the moment.
Bikara and Kyo continue to fight. Sasuke is so impressed by Bikara's speed that he predicts Kyo will lose. Bikara wonders where the strength Kyo had 4 years ago went to. Kyo appears to be defeated by Bikara, but as the time since Kyo started fighting reaches 10 minutes, Kyo reawakens in the strengthened state Yuya first witnessed in book 6. This true 'Demon Eyes Kyo' with the crimson cross on his back easily outclasses even Bikara's fastest speed. Bikara is saved from death by Shindara, however. Sasuke recognizes Shindara, who offers to fight Kyo next, as the 'Undying Shindara' that Yukimura warned him to not try to fight. Kyo promises to kill both Shindara and Bikara, but first Shindara scolds Bikara for going off to fight on his own and reveals that the Generals now know the location of the real cave where Kyo's body is. With this information, the Generals are supposed to head straight to the location, causing them to prepare to leave. Shindara surrounds Kyo in flame while Antera distracts Sasuke, giving the Generals the time to kidnap Yuya and leave. Shortly afterwards, Benitora and Okuni finally meet up with Kyo and Sasuke.
That night, as Kyo and the others worry about Yuya and wonder about the way to go to find the body, Yukimura shows up. Yukimura is convinced that the Generals will keep their hostage safe, and he also reveals he knows where Yuya is right now, the Hades Plain (Yomotsu Hirasaka), the path to the Crimson Lotus Pure Land (Guren Jodo) where Kyo's body is hidden. Hades Plain looks like a beautiful field of flowers, but is in truth a deadly place. Kyo's group doesn't venture far from the camp, however, before they encounter two new Generals, Haira and Makora. The dark haired, older-looking Haira fights Yukimura while the masked, light-haired Makora sits back and watches.
