Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler

Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler

Year: 2003

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Toshiya Shinohara

FantasyAdventureAnimation

The three Fang swords clash in an epic battle. Inuyasha and his brother Sessomaru each wield a blade inherited from their father, who also sealed a third sword, Sounga. Seven hundred years after his death Sounga awakens, threatening mankind’s very existence. Can the children of the Great Dog Demon stop this unimaginable power?

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Timeline – Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003)

Trace every key event in Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Tōga denies Sesshomaru's claim to Tessaiga and So'unga

Two centuries ago, the great dog-demon Tōga refused his elder son Sesshomaru’s request to own the legendary blades Tessaiga and So'unga. The decision cements the rift between brothers and sets the fate of the swords. He then travels to a samurai-guarded mansion where Izayoi is giving birth.

Two centuries ago Tōga's ancestral home
2

Attack on Izayoi's birthing mansion

A brutal assault led by Takemaru of Setsuna storms the mansion where Izayoi is giving birth. Izayoi is stabbed and the manor is set ablaze, threatening the newborn's life. Tōga fights the attackers, wounds Takemaru, and enters the burning halls.

Two centuries ago Mansion guarded by samurai
3

Tenseiga revives Izayoi; Inuyasha is born

In the burning halls, Tōga wields his third blade, Tenseiga, to revive Izayoi from death's brink. He saves her and allows her to flee with the newborn. Izayoi names the child Inuyasha.

Two centuries ago Burning mansion
4

Mansion collapses; Tōga urges Izayoi to live

As Takemaru presses the attack, the mansion collapses around father and assailant. Tōga's spirit appears to urge Izayoi to live a long life with Inuyasha. Izayoi escapes with the infant as the structure falls.

Two centuries ago Burning mansion
5

Inuyasha travels to the present through the Bone-Eater's Well

In the present day, Inuyasha travels through the Bone-Eater's Well in a bid to reunite with Kagome. The crossing bridges the Feudal era and modern Japan. He emerges in Kagome's world and begins their shared journey.

Present day Bone-Eater's Well
6

Kagome's family uncovers So'unga

Kagome's family uncovers the ancient sword So'unga, realizing its true identity is dangerous. Saya, the sheath-conscience, emerges to warn of the blade's threat. The discovery sets events in motion that pull Inuyasha back to the Feudal era.

Present day Higurashi residence
7

So'unga possesses Inuyasha and pulls him into the Feudal era

Saya warns of the blade's danger, and when Inuyasha finally grips So'unga, the weapon takes control and drags him back to the Feudal era. The sudden transition thrusts him into the ancient world and against his own demonic side. Kagome and friends realize the threat is real and must intervene.

Present day Transition: Present to Feudal era
8

Friends restrain Inuyasha; Dragon Twister erupts

In Feudal era, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara attempt to restrain the possessed Inuyasha. He breaks free and unleashes the Dragon Twister, overpowering them. Kagome carries Saya into the Feudal era to join the others.

Feudal era Feudal era
9

Kagome reunites with allies; Myōga and Totosai appear

Kagome joins Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and the others in the Feudal era. Myōga provides historical context about Saya and the danger, while Totosai arrives to explain the blade's peril and its ominous power.

Feudal era Feudal era
10

Sesshomaru confronts Inuyasha over So'unga; Beads release

Sesshomaru confronts Inuyasha about So'unga's possession and orders him to stand down. Kagome uses the Beads of Subjugation to break the blade's hold, freeing Inuyasha and scattering So'unga. Sesshomaru departs with Jaken and Rin as Inuyasha vows to defeat the blade.

Feudal era Feudal era
11

So'unga revealed as inhabited by an ancient demon; Takemaru returns

Tōga's spirit returns and reveals So'unga is inhabited by an ancient evil demon. Takemaru retrieves Sesshomaru's severed arm from the past and is reborn with So'unga into a new body, vowing vengeance on Tōga by killing his sons. The threat intensifies as the two swords converge with a dark purpose.

Feudal era Past / Netherworld
12

Takemaru seizes a castle; undead army and netherworld portal

Takemaru seizes a nearby castle, crushes its army, and reanimates the fallen soldiers into an undead legion. He opens a portal to the netherworld, enabling his forces to spill into the world and threaten both eras.

Feudal era Castle
13

Allies unite to stop Takemaru and So'unga

Kagome and her comrades join Inuyasha and Sesshomaru for a major assault against Takemaru's undead forces. Miroku uses Wind Tunnel to wipe out the remaining soldiers, while the group strategizes to counter So'unga's power.

Feudal era Feudal era
14

Fusion of Backlash Wave and Dragon Strike; So'unga destroyed

The only way to stop Takemaru and So'unga is to fuse Tessaiga's Backlash Wave with Sesshomaru's Dragon Strike. Though initially reluctant, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru join forces to unleash the combined attack. They destroy So'unga's body and send the blade into the netherworld as Tōga's spirit looks on proudly.

Feudal era Battlefield / Netherworld
15

Tōga's spirit appears; world slowly returns to normal

With So'unga defeated, Tōga's spirit appears to express pride in his sons as the portal closes. Sesshomaru departs with Jaken and Rin, leaving Inuyasha and his friends to survey a world returning to normal. The brothers' uneasy alliance marks a new balance between the feudal and modern realms.

Feudal era Battlefield

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:49

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Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003) Timeline Questions Answered – Chronology FAQ

Find frequently asked questions about the Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003) timeline, including chronological order, nonlinear jumps, cause-and-effect links, and scene sequence clarifications. This timeline FAQ helps explain when key events happen, how moments connect, and why the story unfolds in that specific order.

Q1

Why did Tōga deny Sesshomaru the Tessaiga and So'unga swords?

A.

Tōga denied Sesshomaru's request for ownership of Tessaiga and So'unga two centuries before the main story. He believed Sesshomaru was not worthy of wielding these powerful blades, which were legendary treasures passed down through the dog-demon bloodline. This denial became the source of the ongoing rift between the two brothers, as Sesshomaru resented that his younger half-brother Inuyasha inherited Tessaiga while he received nothing.

togasesshomarutessaigasoungainheritancesword legacy
Q2

Who is Takemaru and why does he attack Izayoi's mansion?

A.

Takemaru of Setsuna is the army leader who leads the attack on the mansion where Izayoi is giving birth to Inuyasha. He is secretly in love with Izayoi and cannot accept that she has chosen the dog-demon Tōga over him. Out of jealousy and rage, Takemaru arranges her assassination by stabbing her and setting the mansion ablaze, intending to eliminate both her and the newborn.

takemaruizayoisetsunaattackmansionjealousy
Q3

What is So'unga and why is it so dangerous?

A.

So'unga is one of the three legendary swords forged by the blacksmith Tōtōsai for the great dog-demon Tōga. It is the most powerful and dangerous of the three blades, containing an ancient evil demon within its structure. When wielded, the demon can possess the user and unleash devastating attacks like the Dragon Twister, making the sword a threat to all existence if not controlled.

soungademonsworddangerpossessionancient evil
Q4

How does So'unga possess Inuyasha?

A.

After Kagome's family uncovers So'unga in the modern world, the sheath-conscience named Saya warns that Inuyasha must master the sword before it threatens the world. When Inuyasha grips the blade, So'unga's ancient demon takes control of his arm and drags him back to the Feudal era. The possession amplifies his demonic nature, forcing him to attack his own friends until Kagome uses the Beads of Subjugation to break the sword's hold.

possessioninuyashasoungakagomebeads of subjugationdragon twister
Q5

How do Tessaiga's Backlash Wave and Sesshomaru's Dragon Strike work together?

A.

Tōtōsai reveals that the only way to destroy So'unga and Takemaru is to fuse Tessaiga's Backlash Wave with Sesshomaru's Dragon Strike. The Backlash Wave is Tessaiga's defensive technique that reflects attacks, while Dragon Strike is Sesshomaru's sword technique using his own blade Tokijin. When combined, these complementary powers create an attack strong enough to destroy So'unga's physical form and send it into the netherworld.

backlash wavedragon striketessaigasesshomarufusion attacktokijin
Q6

How does Takemaru come back to life in the movie?

A.

Takemaru retrieves Sesshomaru's severed arm from two centuries earlier and uses it along with So'unga to rebirth himself into a new body. Tōga's spirit reveals that So'unga houses an ancient evil demon, and this demon's power allows Takemaru to resurrect himself. He then swears vengeance on Tōga by killing his sons Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.

takemaruresurrectionsesshomaru armrebornvengeance
Q7

Why does Inuyasha resist working with Sesshomaru?

A.

Inuyasha initially refuses to cooperate with his older brother Sesshomaru, insisting they could never stand together. Their relationship has been antagonistic since childhood, fueled by Sesshomaru's jealousy over their father Tōga choosing Inuyasha to inherit Tessaiga while denying Sesshomaru any of the legendary blades. Only the urgent threat of world destruction forces Inuyasha to overcome this rivalry and combine powers with his brother.

inuyashasesshomarurivalrybrotherscooperationtension
Q8

What is Tenseiga and what does it do?

A.

Tenseiga is the third sword in Tōga's legendary trio, distinct from Tessaiga and So'unga. Unlike the other two blades designed for combat, Tenseiga is a life-saving sword with the power to revive the dead. Tōga uses it to bring Izayoi back from death's brink after Takemaru stabs her, allowing her to escape with the newborn Inuyasha.

tenseigarevivelife saving swordizayoitoga
Q9

What are the three swords and how are they related?

A.

Tōga possessed three legendary swords forged by Tōtōsai: Tessaiga (the Fang), So'unga (the Sound), and Tenseiga (the Heaven). Tessaiga was passed to Inuyasha as a weapon against demons. So'unga, the most dangerous, contains an ancient evil and was sealed away. Tenseiga serves as the life-giving blade with resurrection powers. Each sword represents a different aspect of the dog-demon legacy.

three swordstessaigasoungatenseigatotosaiforged
Q10

What happens to So'unga at the end of the movie?

A.

After Inuyasha and Sesshomaru combine their attacks to destroy So'unga's physical body, the sword is hurled into the netherworld through the portal Takemaru opened. The portal then closes, sealing the ancient evil demon within So'unga away from the mortal realm. Tōga's spirit appears one final time to express pride in his sons before the portal shuts.

soungadefeatednetherworldportaltoga spiritsealed
Q11

Why does Kagome carry Saya into the Feudal era?

A.

Kagome carries Saya, the sheath-conscience of So'unga, into the Feudal era because Saya serves as the key to understanding and potentially stopping the sword's power. As the sword's conscious spirit, Saya holds knowledge about So'unga's true nature and can communicate with those who wield it. Her presence helps the group strategize against the threat.

kagomesayasheathsoungafeudal eraguide
Q12

Why does Sesshomaru have a severed arm in the past?

A.

In the flashback two centuries ago, Tōga wounds Takemaru during his attack on the mansion. During this confrontation, Sesshomaru's arm is severed, likely by Tōga himself or in the chaos of the battle. This severed arm is preserved somehow and later retrieved by Takemaru in the present day, allowing him to use it for his resurrection and rebirth with So'unga.

sesshomarusevered armtakemaruflashbackpast
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