Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 136 Mutual Concern

A name, a name she had pursued for decades, a name that had almost become an obsession.

It lingered between my lips and teeth, almost spilling out uncontrollably.

She tried searching on her own, and she tried using the power of the Fourth Division to search, but she couldn't find that person.

Now, can Captain Aizen in front of me help me?

His intelligence is undeniable, and perhaps it will be of great help to him?

Reason was pulling her in a dilemma, telling her that this was inappropriate, that it was her private matter, and that she shouldn't bother the captain of the Fifth Division.

But that deep-seated longing ultimately overcame the concerns.

She took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the fabric of her sleeve, her voice lower than before: "Captain Aizen... actually, there is something, but it's a personal matter..."

"I've been searching for a person, or rather, a soul... for many years, and I still can't find any trace of him."

Aizen's gentle expression remained unchanged as he gazed intently at her, like a teacher listening to a student's troubles: "Oh? What kind of spirit is it that worries you so much?"

"A wandering spirit..." Shinobu's thoughts seemed to travel through time, back to the Butterfly Mansion filled with the scent of herbs, and that clumsy figure: "His name is Asuka, and he was probably... born in the Inugami district of Rukongai. He was a very special person."

She gave a brief description of Asuka's appearance and personality, but concealed the fact that Asuka possessed a Zanpakuto for safety reasons.

As the sixth seat of the Fourth Division, she already knew that Asauchi was issued by the Soul Society, but why Asuka had it... she didn't know, and it was best not to cause any unnecessary trouble.

"Captain Aizen, you... are knowledgeable and have a wide network of connections. I want to know if he has... has completely dissipated and returned to the spirit particle cycle? Or has he been reincarnated?"

She spoke the last few words with extraordinary difficulty, using all her strength.

Aizen's gentle smile seemed to freeze for a moment.

It was so brief that it was almost imperceptible.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on his clasped hands. The lenses of his glasses reflected two small, impenetrable patches of white light in the light, perfectly concealing all the turmoil deep within his eyes.

When he looked up again, his gentle smile had returned: "Asuka... the Inugami district... is that the area you requested to set up a clinic in?"

Aizen's voice was low and slow, as he retrieved the name from the depths of his memory.

"That is indeed a somewhat chaotic area, with frequent movement of souls..." He frowned slightly. "That name."

...I don't recall it at the moment.

"The Soul Society is so vast that the fate of souls is also unpredictable."

"Searching for a soul that has been missing for many years is like finding a needle in a haystack... Miss Butterfly, your persistence is truly touching. I believe he will be grateful for your efforts if he knew about them."

"7

Aizen's words soothed Shinobu's anxiety: "Here's what we'll do. I'll have the Fifth Division keep an extra eye out for the name 'Asuka' and any related characteristics during their daily intelligence gathering and patrols of Rukongai."

"While I can't guarantee the outcome, I will notify you immediately if there are any clues."

"Really... thank you so much, Captain Aizen!" Shinobu Kocho didn't expect to receive such a solemn response, and a warm current mixed with gratitude and hope welled up in her heart.

She immediately stood up and bowed solemnly.

"No need for formalities, Miss Butterfly," Aizen's gentle voice came. "Helping comrades in distress is simply my duty. I hope to bring you good news soon."

The heavy doors to the captain's office closed silently after Shinobu Kocho left, isolating the space between the inside and outside.

Shinobu Kocho felt genuinely happy.

Captain Aizen is still as understanding as ever. I should have come to discuss this with him sooner.

Bird... I hope to see you again...

With that thought in mind, Shinobu Kocho put away the documents and hurriedly headed towards Rukongai.

"We must tell Mr. Xingming and the others this good news..."

"7

Inside the door, Aizen Sosuke remained with his hands folded and his body slightly leaning back, like a frozen sculpture.

"Ha...this is really, this is really..."

Even someone as composed as him couldn't help but feel excited behind his glasses at this moment.

"Shinobu Kocho... Shinobu Kocho..."

"7

He kept repeating the name, frantically searching his mind for every memory.

Demon Slayer Corps, Insect Hashira, Humans, Breathing Techniques...

He quickly retrieved these terms and compared them with the sixth seat of the fourth division that he was familiar with, causing his body to tremble involuntarily.

"No wonder...no wonder a girl from Rukongai who appeared out of nowhere has such excellent swordsmanship skills..."

"Is the powerful spiritual energy within you due to the influence of Number Seventy-Eight...? Asuka? Is his name Asuka?"

"But why have you been in Soul Society for over seventy years... while Asuka only appeared a few days ago? What happened to you in the Dangai?"

Aizen's fingers kept fidgeting with each other on the back of his hand, as if trying to clarify the thoughts in his mind—

"Or is this the risk of traveling to another world? Will time become chaotic? Ah... you're shrouded in so many mysteries, Number Seventy-Eight, Asuka..."

""

Behind the glasses, all pretense of warmth had vanished from the eyes, leaving only a bottomless fervor.

"Bird... Bird..." A low, dreamlike murmur escaped his lips.

"...Wait a little longer, wait and see." He forced himself to calm down and turned his gaze to the distant sky:

...This repulsive throne of heaven is nothing compared to the wider world...

In the present world, Karakura Town.

Behind the counter, Kisuke Urahara tapped the lucky cat with the tip of his fan: "Seventh order, Asuka-kun. Address: Inspiration Fortune Telling Shop, Chohara 3-chome, Naruki City."

At that moment, Asuka, wearing a navy blue apron with the words "Urahara Shoten" printed on it, was putting a wooden box labeled "Special Spirit-Repelling Incense" into a cardboard box on the back of her bicycle, facing the afternoon sun.

Upon hearing Urahara Kisuke's voice, his brow twitched involuntarily: "I said... the last order isn't finished yet, why are you assigning another one?"

Urahara smiled and handed over the receipt, then took a ceramic jar with a talisman on it.

"The capable should do more, have a safe journey~"

Feiniao pushed the stroller out the door, the rusty chain clicking loudly.

This is his daily routine: delivering goods to unscrupulous merchants.

According to the unscrupulous merchant, his spiritual pressure experienced a devastating collapse that night, and he almost died.

Urahara does not intend to release him from his artificial body until he can properly balance his spiritual pressure.

"What an unreliable guy..."

"..." Asuka muttered.

He tried to delve into his mind, to communicate with his inner being and the creature that possessed him, but those two went silent again, and he didn't know what they were up to...

Recalling the battle that night, and the words of the black-haired youth.

Could it be that being knocked out of the boundary really caused them that much damage? So much so that they haven't recovered yet.

On the sweltering streets, bicycle wheels rolled over the sun-softened asphalt.

When the red light came on, the bird stopped in front of a 711-Eleven convenience store. The glass reflected his figure, wearing a cheap T-shirt, with messy black hair and dark circles under his eyes. This image overlapped with the bright smile of the celebrity spokesperson in the shop window poster, creating an absurd collage.

"Never mind, at least I'm still alive."

"I just don't know... I don't know if Shinobu is really in Soul Society..."

"9

With a push, the bicycle shot off with a whoosh.

Produce