"Sengoku period…"
"That person…"
"Is it possible?"
After the shock came a deep sense of bewilderment.
Senjuro found it hard to believe what was before his eyes.
Though young, he knew that only demons could live for four or five hundred years.
And the person from this morning didn't look like a demon at all.
So…
He couldn't tell if it was a joke or the truth.
Just then.
"Senjuro!"
A loud voice rang out from behind him.
The voice came so suddenly that it startled Senjuro.
He quickly put away the family tree he was holding, returned it to its original place, and then turned around, cautiously looking at the newcomer.
—A young man with similar hair colour, but a few years older than him, was standing by the entrance of the ancestral hall.
He was dressed in a loose white nightgown, and his thick, dark eyebrows were raised.
"What are you doing here?"
Even in the quiet night, his voice was unreservedly loud.
Kyojuro Rengoku glanced at his brother's flustered and anxious appearance and subconsciously looked behind him.
A yellowed book stood quietly at the top of all the memorial tablets.
The book's position had shifted compared to the tablets.
This sight made Kyoujurou's brow furrow.
"Were you looking through the family tree?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Not sleeping in the middle of the night…"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Senjuro make a "shush" gesture towards him.
Kyoujurou immediately stopped speaking and continued, "Does Father know?"
"The ancestral hall is generally not allowed to be entered or exited…"
"I know," Senjuro said softly, "Please, Brother, please don't tell Father about this."
"I met a special person today, which is why I secretly looked through the family tree behind Father's back."
"Brother."
"You have been practising Flame Breathing for so many years, have you ever known of a Breathing Technique whose sword skills are comparable to Flame Breathing, but is not Flame Breathing?"
"Yes," Kyoujurou answered without hesitation, "Derivative Breathing Techniques of Flame Breathing. What's so special about that?"
"This matter itself shouldn't be related to the family tree, right?"
"That's not what I mean," Senjuro shook his head slightly, his voice gradually becoming serious:
"I want to ask, who was the originator of Flame Breathing?"
"This morning, when I was buying sake for Father, I seemed to have met an ancient person from four hundred years ago."
"He seemed to be acquainted with our ancestor, Rengoku Shinjuro…"
"You mean…?"
"What?" Kyoujurou's eyes widened suddenly.
His golden eyes trembled, and his tone was incredibly heavy.
"Senjuro, you're not joking, are you? Four hundred years, isn't that a demon?"
"Did you encounter an Upper Rank Demon?"
"Oh, no, Brother, please let me finish what I have to say first." His words were interrupted, and Senjuro's attitude was slightly helpless.
Looking at Kyoujurou with similarly golden-red pupils, he slowly said:
"I remember Father has several Demon Slayer Corps Flame Hashira Records. Have you ever read them, Brother?"
"They should contain events from four hundred years ago. If nothing unexpected happens, perhaps… his life story is there."
"I have no talent for swordsmanship since childhood, but you are different, Brother. Perhaps you can use this connection to further improve your swordsmanship."
"Father is about to step down, only you can take on the responsibility of the next Flame Hashira."
"When we parted this morning, I exchanged contact information with him. He said he would visit us in a while…"
"I'm not sure if this is true, but… Brother, I think we should prepare in advance."
"…"
Senjuro's tone was exceptionally sincere, even making the outspoken Kyoujurou fall silent.
He was silent for two seconds, his gaze gradually becoming solemn:
"I see… Senjuro, I understand. For now, let's assume what you said is true."
"But there's a problem with that."
"Are you sure the person you met is human?"
"At least he isn't affected by sunlight. Creatures like Hollows turn to dust even with a little sunlight," Senjuro said casually.
"Also, he never showed any hostility towards us."
"He knows the Demon Slayer Corps, and he knows the names of our ancestors that even we don't know."
"I trust him."
…
Dangai.
Time here has almost lost its proper function.
Shiba Isshin sat alone in a pale space, looking at the almost void-like surroundings, feeling utterly bored.
"How long has it been?"
His perception of time gradually blurred.
He only remembered the scene when he first arrived.
As for how long he had been here?
One second? Three seconds? Or a minute?
Unclear.
As if time had slowed down countless times, his thoughts also slowed down countless times… Dangai was such a place.
Until then.
"Clang!"
The sound of a door opening exploded in his ears.
Shiba Isshin looked sideways, a smile gradually appearing.
"He's here!"
He slowly stood up straight and took a step into the endless white light ahead.
Then.
"Thud!"
The door closed.
Eternal silence returned to the void space.
…
"Third Seat Tsugikuni!"
Human World.
Shiba Isshin slung his arm around Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had suddenly appeared.
His tone was emotional: "I was so stifled, I thought I was lost, but I didn't expect to come out alive!"
"That damn Dangai is a place I don't want to stay in for even a second."
"Next time, remember to use my Shiba Family's Senkaimon. It's much less dangerous there. You must come and honour me with your presence."
The Senkaimon behind them slowly disappeared.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi watched him silently.
Just then.
Shiba Isshin was talking when he suddenly noticed something was off.
He looked at the haori and straw hat that were disintegrating on Yoriichi's shoulder, and raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Did I remember wrong? Where did these accessories on you come from?"
They went through the same place…
And came out in the same place…
But…
He was about to ask for details.
The next second, a series of urgent broadcast sounds suddenly rang out from the Seireitei's exclusive communicator.
"Human World coordinates, Karakura Town 396.408, a strong Menos Grande reaction has appeared. Immediate support is needed!"
Shiba Isshin's expression instantly tightened.
He quickly spoke into his headset: "Received. The Captain of the Tenth Division will arrive shortly. Please hold on for a while longer!"
Having said that, he returned to his carefree expression, his eyebrows curved, and his tone carried a hint of luck.
"Good luck."
"It seems we didn't stay in the Dangai for too long."
He walked forward, patting Tsugikuni Yoriichi's shoulder as he went.
His peripheral vision reflected the emptiness on Yoriichi's shoulder, but he ignored it from the heart, his voice encouraging:
"This mission is yours to handle. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"If I'm not mistaken, your Zanpakuto is very suitable for this mission…"
"Hell, it is said to be a world that even the Soul King has never touched."