"During these past few days, I was in another world, and I did not entrust my abilities to you."
When traveling to other worlds, Kenma naturally went fully armed and would not lend his Zanpakuto's abilities to anyone else at such a time.
Amanai Riko said with a look of pride, "It was just a few days before you left, Lord Kenma."
"I wanted to tell you about it then, but you left in such a rush before I had the chance."
"Over the past few days, I had the Uchiha elders set up the Senkaimon. We can travel through it at any time now."
She had been busy for a long time to dig through this passage and finally succeeded, hoping to claim credit this time.
Kenma nodded, then his brow furrowed. "You have already been there?"
Amanai Riko's body stiffened, and she immediately waved her hands. "No, no—but Izumi and the others went once. They only stayed long enough to get acquainted with the locals before returning immediately."
Seeing her expression, Kenma did not need to think to know she was hiding something; she likely grew bored and made a trip there herself.
Kenma did not expose her, merely asking, "Oh? So what is the situation in this other world?"
Amanai Riko shrugged. "Nothing special, just a very ordinary world."
"I am not sure if it should even be called an 'other world.' It is actually set in the region of Japan, specifically during the Taisho era."
At that moment, an Uchiha girl with a tear mole at the corner of her eye stepped forward and said, "Lord, um—we seemed to hear things about 'demons' and a 'Demon Slayer Corps' over there. It probably is not anything special..."
The Taisho era—
Demons?
The Demon Slayer Corps?
Hearing the words from Izumi's mouth, Kenma's brow knitted as a flicker of thought crossed his eyes.
A moment later, his brow relaxed, and a spark of realization appeared in his gaze, as if he had thought of something.
He looked at Amanai Riko. "Riko, is it true what Izumi said about demons and the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"In Japan, aren't stories about demons and those who hunt them quite common?" Amanai Riko said.
The concept of demons had been deconstructed countless times in Japanese folklore and various stories. To a Japanese person like her, it was nothing more than a common tale. Thus, she did not pay it much mind.
Kenma had his own guesses about this new world. If it truly was the world he suspected, it would not actually be of much help to him. Furthermore, he was currently focusing his energy on the Stealth Force and had no spare capacity to deal with a new world.
Over the past two years, he had not even opened any new worlds, sticking to the three worlds of 'Sea,' 'Fire,' and 'Curse.' That was until the new world Amanai Riko had opened this time.
He pondered for a moment, then looked at the young girls before him and nodded slightly.
"Riko, since you were the one who opened this world, I will leave its exploration to you and your companions."
"However, you must be accompanied by an adult and pay attention to your own safety."
The power levels in that world were not high, so it was at least safe for the girls.
Hearing Kenma's words, Amanai Riko's eyes instantly lit up.
"Really?"
"Naturally."
Kenma reached out and ruffled the girl's hair, turning her neatly combed locks into a mess.
Amidst the girl's surprises and complaints, Kenma's expression relaxed. He gave a few more instructions before leaving the Senkaimon Hall with Shisui.
Seeing the direction the two were heading, Shisui asked in confusion, "Lord, are we not returning to the Seireitei?"
"We are going to Whitebeard first. I have something to ask of him."
Kenma had only taken two steps when he suddenly felt someone calling out to him.
Following the connection of the thread, Kenma sensed a heavy and depressed emotion coming from the other side, causing his brow to furrow.
"Fugaku, what is it?"
"Lord, you have finally returned."
The one on the other end of the thread was indeed Uchiha Fugaku. His voice rang out in Kenma's mind. However, compared to usual, there was a hint of urgency in Fugaku's words.
"Reporting to the Lord, something terrible has happened. Your father-in-law, Lord Shun'gen, is critically ill. After a diagnosis by the Fourth Division Captain, it has been determined that he does not have much time left."
"Lady Yoruichi has already issued orders for people to search for you everywhere."
Hearing Fugaku's words, Kenma was shocked.
"What!"
He immediately said to Shisui, "We are not going to Whitebeard. We are returning to the Shihoin house!"
With that, he used Shunpo and rushed toward the Seireitei at high speed. Simultaneously, he used his consciousness to ask Fugaku through the thread, "When did this happen?"
"Back to the Lord, it was just last night. Lord Shun'gen's old injuries flared up and rapidly worsened."
"Where is Yoruichi?"
"Lady Yoruichi went to the Stealth Force to inquire and instructed us to notify you immediately. She should be at the Shihoin residence now."
"I understand."
Kenma cut off the communication. In his urgency, his Shunpo became a few degrees faster.
After a period of rapid travel through various streets, the Seireitei came into Kenma's view.
Facing the giant guarding the gate, Kenma did not waste words. He broke through and charged straight in.
The guard, Jidanbo, did not even see a silhouette; he only felt as if a gust of wind had swept past him.
Before he could even be confused, Shisui arrived a step behind. He pulled a token from his robe and tossed it directly to Jidanbo.
"Stealth Force business!"
Before his voice had even faded, Shisui's figure charged into the Seireitei and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
This left Jidanbo staring at the small token in his hand, his confusion quickly turning into a look of terror.
At this moment, Kenma was moving extremely fast, traveling from the Rukongai back to the Shihoin residence in a single breath.
Upon entering the Shihoin estate, Kenma went directly to the courtyard where Shihoin Shun'gen was recuperating.
Crash!
The door was pushed open roughly. Yoruichi, whose eyes were slightly red, felt the familiar spiritual pressure and immediately turned to look.
The sight of Kenma panting for breath entered her vision.
"Hah... Hah... Father, how is he doing?"
"Kenma... Father, he..."
Seeing Kenma return, Yoruichi's eyes grew even redder, and a layer of mist covered them in an instant.
"Father is still holding on... He wants to see you one last time."
The sound of Kenma entering the room was also heard by those inside.
A weak, intermittent voice sounded out.
"Is it... Kenma who has... returned?"
Kenma rushed into the room, his steps urgent as he bypassed the Fourth Division Captain standing by the sickbed.
Coming to the bedside, he looked at the frail Shihoin Shun'gen.
"Father, I am here. I am right here."
The old man lying on the bed looked haggard. It was not until he heard Kenma's voice that he slowly opened his cloudy eyes.
As Kenma's anxious and grieving expression came into view, the old man struggled to pull the corners of his mouth into a relieved smile.
"To be able... to see you one last time... is good."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]