We first see Sango the youkai exterminator fighting a giant centipede with her huge boomerang, Hiraikotsu. After killing the centipede she takes a Shikon shard from it and states that the Shikon Jewel was created in her town.

Sango's town is later shown and we are introduced to her father, her pet named Kirara, and her little brother Kohaku. Sango is collecting the Shikon pieces in hopes of finding someone that will be able to purify them.

One night Sango, her father, and Kohaku are called to a castle to exterminate a large spider demon, during the fight, it appears that the demon has been killed, but a small spider jumps on Kohaku. Kohaku kills his father and attempts to kill Sango, but not before the lord of the castle has them both killed. A young master there realizes that the lord was possessed and kills him, but it appears to be too late for Sango and Kohaku, so they are buried in the garden. Sango (and unknown to her Kohaku) manages to survive. Naraku arrives shortly there after and convinces Sango that Inu-Yasha has destroyed her town in his quest for the Shikon Jewel.

After learning the truth, Sango decides to travel with the group in order to avenge her fellow townsfolk. Kohaku now travels with Naraku under his possession.