Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

"Could it be... that Fuyuki City is a potential spirit land that we have never discovered or that has been recorded incorrectly?"

"Could some changes be happening that we are unaware of..."

"How about we go to the Technology Development Bureau...? Is it possible that this was a trick played by Kisuke Urahara back in the day...?"

She frowned slightly, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Leaving the slightly somber atmosphere of the captain's office, Shinobu and Hanataro walked back along the corridor they had come from.

"Vice Class Representative Yamada, have you been to the Rukongai area recently? Have you been to the places I told you about?"

"Of course! It's Butterfly's order! I certainly won't refuse!"

Hanataro Yamada straightened his back and replied in a loud voice, "I've been checking on those people you mentioned every week to see how they're doing!"

"Thank you, Yamada-kun."

"No! It is my honor!"

The two chatted casually, enjoying a brief respite after returning from their mission.

As they were talking, a figure appeared at the fork in the road ahead in the corridor, seemingly waiting.

The newcomer was dressed in standard Shinigami uniform, with the Fifth Division's flower, Mazuki, embroidered on his chest.

Seeing Shinobu Kocho and Hanatarou approach, the Fifth Division member immediately stepped forward, stopped, and bowed slightly, his movements impeccable: "Excuse me, Shinobu is the sixth seat, and Yamada is the seventh seat."

Shinobu Kocho and Hanataro stopped and greeted him in return.

"Hello, a member of the Fifth Division." Shinobu Kocho nodded in response, "What can I do for you?"

The soldier stood up straight, his tone respectful and clear:

"By order of Captain Aizen, I have come to inform the Sixth Seat of the Butterfly: the proposal you submitted before your departure last month regarding the temporary operation of the 78th District of Rukongai has been reviewed and approved."

"The approved documents have been placed in the archives of the Fifth Division's barracks. You can pick them up at any time."

Chapter 134 The Dragon and the Tiger of Documents

Shinobu Kocho suddenly realized what had happened.

To ensure the smooth operation of her ambulance team in the remote areas of Rukongai, she...

She submitted the application a month ago, hoping to set up a small temporary supply point in the Xudiao area and requested the corresponding budget.

In terms of procedure, this requires first reporting to the Fourth Division, then having the Fifth Division, which is in charge of the rescue work, sign their opinion, and finally submitting it to the First Division for approval.

Since it wasn't an urgent matter, she didn't pay much attention to it after submitting it, but she didn't expect that the approval would come so quickly after only a month.

"I see. Thank you for your trouble, Captain Aizen, and for making the special trip to inform me." Shinobu Kocho smiled and thanked her.

Captain Aizen is such a good person. Back when I was studying at the Shinigami Academy, I often consulted this gentle and refined star teacher.

Although he came from Rukongai, Captain Aizen treated everyone equally and answered all her questions, saving Shinobu Kocho, who was just beginning to understand the concept of spiritual power, from many detours.

If it weren't for her innate talent for returning to the Dao, which led to her being taken away by the Fourth Division early, Shinobu Kocho, given her personality, would have preferred to work under such an elegant captain.

"This is my duty." The Fifth Division member bowed again. "The documents are available at any time. If the Sixth Seat of Butterfly has no further instructions, I will take my leave now."

“Okay, please go ahead.” Shinobu Kocho nodded.

The members of the Fifth Division left with steady steps, their figures quickly disappearing at the other end of the corridor.

"Ah, so the application from last time has been approved." Hanatarou looked enlightened and was also happy for Shinobu Kocho.

"That's wonderful, class monitor! With the approval, the temporary clinic in District 78 can be set up as soon as possible, and the wandering souls there won't have to travel so far every time they need to see a doctor or get medicine!"

As the deputy class leader and a medical team that frequently travels to remote areas of Rukongai, he deeply understands the significance of that temporary transport of residents.

"Yes, it is indeed a good thing."

Shinobu nodded, feeling a little relieved.

Providing medical assistance to the residents of Rukongai to the best of her ability was one of the reasons she chose to stay in the Fourth Division and serve as the head of the medical team, in addition to searching for Asuka.

The atmosphere in the Fifth Division's office area is completely different from that of the Fourth Division.

If the Fourth Division is always filled with the refreshing scent of herbs, then this place is always filled with the aroma of paper and ink.

Under Captain Aizen's leadership, the Fifth Division, a combat support division, is known for its astonishing efficiency in handling documents.

That sense of order silently permeates every floor tile and every white wall.

Shinobu Kocho walked familiarly down the corridor leading to the captain's office, her gaze sweeping over the members of the Fifth Division dojo who were wielding their swords under the guidance of their commanding officers.

"I really miss it... I wonder what everyone has become after all these years..." She suddenly felt a little melancholy.

In an open document processing area piled high with files half a person's height, she saw that small figure.

Hinamori Momo, the vice-captain of the Fifth Division, is currently submerged in a sea of ​​paper.

However, although she appeared to be submerged, she was not in a sorry state.

Three scrolls, unfurled simultaneously, floated before her.

Her slender fingers moved with an almost blurry speed, annotating, stamping, and categorizing different documents.

The brush danced nimbly between her fingers, dipping into ink, applying it, and returning it to the inkstone.

She casually tossed a document, still wet with ink, and it landed precisely in the corresponding numbered filing basket in the distance.

That focus and efficiency seemed to transform the documents flying in the air into a fierce tiger descending the mountain, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

"Oh my, truly worthy of the legendary Tiger of Documents, his aura is truly impressive!"

"Ah! Miss Shinobu!" Hinamori Momo quickly noticed the person who came and immediately looked up from the flood of documents.

The seriousness that belonged to the vice-captain melted away on his face in an instant, replaced by a bright smile from the bottom of his heart: "You're here! Are you here to pick up the documents approved by the captain?"

As she spoke, she gestured with her finger.

Several floating documents quietly closed up like birds returning to their nests, flying back to her and stacking them neatly, making the whole space feel much cleaner.

With her outstanding academic performance and meticulous work attitude, Hinamori Momo was highly regarded by Aizen during her internship at the Shinigami Academy. After graduation, she joined the Fifth Division and was promoted to the position of vice-captain of the Fifth Division.

To repay this recognition, she has maintained her high efficiency in her work for years.

Therefore, she, Captain Aizen, and Ishii and Yanji, who were also members of the Fifth Division, were known as the Dragon, Tiger, and Hawk of the Gotei 13.

Shinobu Kocho smiled and nodded in response, "Then I'll trouble you, Vice-Captain Momoko~"

"Don't call me that!" As fellow members of the Women's Shinigami Association, Hinamori Momo and Kocho Shinobu have a good personal relationship, so there aren't many restrictions based on their social ranks.

Shinobu Kocho's gaze swept over the mountain of files piled up beside Momo Hinamori, and she sighed, "It seems the Fifth Division's workload is still as astonishing."

"It's all for the sake of supporting the work!" Hinamori Momo's smile was tinged with a mix of helplessness and pride.

She quickly got up and deftly rummaged through a special wooden shelf behind her that was marked "Approved - Fourth Division".

"Ah! Found it!" She pulled out a thin scroll bearing the seal of the Fifth Division Captain and handed it to Shinobu Kocho with both hands: "Here you go, Shinobu-san, Captain Aizen has approved it! Setting up a temporary point in the 78th ward is wonderful, it will definitely help a lot of the residents of Rukongai!"

"Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for your trouble, Captain Aizen." Shinobu Kocho took the scroll and glanced at the closed door of the captain's office. "Is it convenient for Captain Aizen to receive guests now? Since you're here, you should thank me in person."

"Of course! The captain just finished a team meeting and should be free now."

Hinamori Momo responded immediately, quickly walked to the door, respectfully knocked three times, and then pushed it open a crack: "Captain, the Sixth Seat of the Fourth Division, Butterfly, has arrived. He has delivered the documents for you and would like to express his gratitude."

From inside the door came Aizen Sousuke's gentle, mellow voice, like a soft breeze:

"Please come in, Miss Butterfly."

Although it's not my first time visiting Captain Aizen, I always find it very pleasing to the eye.

The room was neatly arranged with books and scrolls, the gilded titles on the spines reflecting a faint light, bearing four large characters—

"Backside of Pine Leaves".

This is Captain Aizen's serialized column in the monthly magazine "Seireitei Telegraph," which Shinobu Kocho occasionally buys to pass the time.

Besides the scent of ink, the air was filled with a subtle, scholarly atmosphere.

Aizen Sousuke sat behind his large desk, put down his quill pen, and the ink from the pen tip spread a small patch of deep blue on the spread-out file.

"Long time no see, Miss Butterfly. How have you been?"

His smile remained flawless, like a thawing stream in spring, carrying the warmth that nourishes all things.

Following Aizen's calming gesture, Shinobu Kocho gracefully sat down in the chair in front of the table and gently placed the scroll of approval in her hand on the table.

"Captain Aizen, I came here specifically to thank you for setting up a temporary supply depot and transporting supplies for our Fourth Division in the 78th district of Rukongai. Thank you for your trouble."

"It was no trouble at all, Miss Butterfly, you're too kind." Aizen nodded slightly and leaned back in his chair, relaxing.

With his fingertips lightly touching, he said calmly, “Supporting the residents in remote areas of Rukongai and ensuring the safety of the Fourth Division’s ambulance patrols are both necessary and far-sighted measures, both from a moral standpoint and from the perspective of the Gotei 13’s responsibilities.”

"As the Fifth Division responsible for support and coordination, we should naturally cooperate fully."

His gaze, gentle and venerable, fell upon Shinobu Kocho through the glasses: "Captain Unohana has mentioned your work in the Fourth Division many times. You are methodical, responsible, and a model for Shinigami."

"Captain Aizen is right. I'm just doing my duty." Shinobu Kocho bowed slightly in thanks.

"Staying true to one's duty is already a rare quality." Aizen's smile deepened slightly. "Miss Butterfly, if you ever encounter any situations in Rukongai where you need the Fifth Division's cooperation or support, don't hesitate to come and discuss them with me."

"Whether it's resource allocation, manpower reinforcement, or other paperwork difficulties, Xiaotao and the others will do their best to help."

"Even if you just encounter something troublesome in your daily life, you can tell us. We are colleagues, and we will help you if we can."

These words resonated with a powerful force, like a warm current flowing into the heart.

Under this gentle care, Shinobu Kocho suddenly had a thought.

Chapter 135 Mutual Remembrance

A name, a name she had been searching for 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 talent is evident to all, 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 overwhelmed his concerns.

She took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously tracing the fabric of her sleeve, her voice lower than before: "Captain Aizen... actually, there is something, but it's just 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 intently watched her, like a teacher listening to a student's troubles.

"Oh? What kind of spirit is it that you're so concerned about?"

“A wandering spirit…” Shinobu’s thoughts seemed to travel through time, returning to the Butterfly Mansion filled with the scent of herbs, to that clumsy figure: “His name is Asuka, he should be… born in the Inuzuri district of Rukongai, a very special person…”

She briefly described Asuka's appearance and personality, but for safety reasons, she concealed the fact that Asuka possessed a Zanpakuto.

As the sixth seat of the Fourth Division, she already knew that the item was issued by the Seireitei, but as for why Asuka would have it... she didn't know, and it was best not to cause any unnecessary trouble.

"Captain Aizen, you... are knowledgeable and well-connected. I want to know if he has... completely vanished 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 eyelids slightly, his gaze falling on his clasped hands. The lenses reflected two small, impenetrable patches of white light in the light, perfectly concealing all the turmoil in the depths of his eyes.

When he looked up again, his gentle smile had returned: "Asuka... Xudiao District... is the area you requested to establish?"

Aizen's voice was deep and slow, dredging up the name from the depths of his memory.

“That is indeed a somewhat chaotic area, with frequent movement of souls…” He frowned slightly: “I don’t recall that name yet.”

"The Soul Society is so vast that the lifespan of a soul is also uncertain."

"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."

Aizen's words soothed Shinobu's anxiety: "How about this, I will have the Fifth Division keep an extra eye out for the name 'Asuka' and related characteristics during their daily intelligence gathering and patrols of Rukongai."

"Although I cannot guarantee the outcome, I will notify you immediately if there are any clues."

"Really... thank you so much, Captain Aizen!" Shinobu Kocho was surprised to receive such a solemn response, and a warm feeling mixed with gratitude and hope welled up in her heart.

She immediately stood up and bowed deeply in respect.