Multiversal Manifestation System

Wang Zi hovered silently in the cool night air, his cloak billowing softly around him. His Rinnegan pulsed faintly as he scanned the dense forest below, waiting. The gentle hum of nocturnal life filled the clearing, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Hours passed in stillness, the moon casting its pale light over the forest.

Then, like clockwork, the silence was shattered by the sharp clash of steel and the distant hum of something unnatural.

Wang Zi's eyes opened as they caught two figures moving swiftly through the dense trees. One was clearly in pursuit, their movements calculated and cruel, while the other darted through the forest with graceful urgency.

"Looks like it's starting," Wang Zi muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he observed the pair.

"Kanae and Doma. It's exactly how it was described in the story."

Kanae Kocho was the epitome of grace and beauty. Her long, silky black hair flowed behind her as she moved, tied back neatly with two butterfly-shaped clip that seemed to sparkle faintly in the moonlight. Her violet eyes, bright and gentle, reflected a kindness and warmth that stood in stark contrast to the ferocity of the battle.

She wore the traditional Demon Slayer uniform, slighty modified.

Over the standard dark clothing, she had a haori patterned with a soft pink, patterns drawn on it seemingly mimicking a butterfly's wings.

Her Nichirin Blade, with its slender, curved design, was as graceful as its wielder. The hilt bore a unique floral pattern, and the blade itself seemed to shimmer faintly, reflecting her delicate yet deadly nature.

Despite the blood and sweat from the battle, Kanae's serene expression and composed demeanor remained unshaken.

As they drew closer, the clearing came alive with the vivid display of Flower Breathing, Kanae Kocho's exquisite and lethal technique.

Wang Zi couldn't help but admire the elegance of it. The petals that bloomed from her strikes seemed like they were painted in the air, only to vanish just as quickly.

"Reminds my of Kuchiki Byakuya. Girly techniques, but they actually pack quite a punch huh." Wang Zi thought.

"That's... beautiful," Hua'er whispered in awe. "It's almost like she's dancing."

Doma, the Second Upper Moon, loomed behind her, his ice-based techniques nullifying Kanae's efforts to hit him.

Every time Kanae closed the gap, her blade was met with shards of jagged ice that deflected her strikes or forced her back. Doma's movements were unnervingly precise, his attacks exuding a cruel playfulness, as if he was merely toying with his prey.

"Hahaha! Run, run little human girl!" Doma playfully shouted.

From his vantage point, Wang Zi could see the futility of Kanae's efforts. Despite her skill, her Flower Breathing, and her determination, she stood no chance against Doma's power.

His Blood Demon Art's cryokinesis was a very annoying ability considering the only way the Hashiras had to deal with them was to cut their heads off. It basically rendered Kanae's strikes ineffective.

"She's fighting beautifully," Hua'er said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "But she's outmatched."

"She's exactly like the story described her," Wang Zi said, his gaze fixed on Kanae.

"Gentle to a fault. Even now, she's not scared. She's... pitying him."

Indeed, Kanae's soft voice carried faintly through the air as she spoke to Doma, her tone unshaken.

"You poor thing," she said, her breathing even as she moved gracefully through the clearing.

"You've lived for so long, yet you can't feel anything. How sad your existence must be."

As the battle continued, Wang Zi's gaze shifted to the horizon.

The faintest hints of orange and pink had begun to show in the sky, signaling the approach of dawn. He calculated silently in his head. The sun would rise in just under 30 minutes.

Kanae's movements had slowed slightly, her strikes becoming less frequent. Her breathing was heavier now, though her face still remained calm, resolute.

Doma, in contrast, didn't seem to exert himself at all, laughing softly at her words, mocking her.

"Its almost over." Wang Zi muttered.

From above, the outcome was painfully clear. Kanae's strikes lacked the force needed to break through Doma's icy defenses, and his counters were wearing her down. It was a losing battle, and the sun's inevitable rise would mark the tragic end of Kanae Kocho's story.

Still, Wang Zi couldn't help but marvel at her determination, yet he felt a pang of regret at the beauty being snuffed out so senselessly.

Hua'er flitted around Wang Zi, her concerned expression deepened as she glanced repeatedly between Wang Zi and the ongoing battle below.

"Master," she whispered, floating closer to him. "You said you were going to save her. When are you going to act?"

Wang Zi stood still, arms crossed. His Rinnegan tracked every movement of the battle below. His gaze followed Kanae's graceful strikes and Doma's mocking evasions, yet his lips remained pressed together.

Hua'er tilted her head, puzzled.

"Why are you just watching?" Her voice was soft but carried a trace of urgency.

Wang Zi's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. His expression betrayed no emotion, but the intensity in his eyes seemed to deepen.

Hua'er hovered for a moment, her confusion growing as she observed him.

"Master… isn't this why you came here instead of the start of the main story?"

Still, he didn't answer.

He merely stood there, unmoving, as the fight continued to unfold before him. Doma's laughter echoed through the trees as he toyed with Kanae, his ice-based abilities keeping her at bay.

Despite her skill and resilience, it was clear that she was outmatched. Each time her Flower Breathing struck, Doma's icy defenses deflected her attacks with ease.

As the faint light of dawn crept over the horizon, Doma's expression shifted. He glanced toward the sky, regret flickering in his cold, inhuman eyes.

"It seems our fun has to end, little flower. Such a shame, I would've loved to taste you."

He sighed mockingly, his voice dripping with insincere lamentation. With that, he began to retreat into the shadows, his movements quick and deliberate to avoid the sun's rays.

Kanae staggered, blood staining her haori as she collapsed to her knees. Her breathing was labored, and her once-flawless composure faltered. Yet, even in her weakened state, her violet eyes held a glimmer of defiance.

Then came a rustle in the underbrush, and a small figure burst into the clearing.

"Sister!"

Shinobu's voice cracked with emotion as she rushed to her sister's side. Her movements were frantic, and her face was twisted with grief as she dropped to her knees, cradling Kanae in her arms.

Kanae's lips moved weakly, whispering something to Shinobu that Wang Zi couldn't hear from his vantage point.

Silent tears streamed down Shinobu's cheeks, her trembling hands holding Kanae close as the first rays of sunlight bathed the clearing.

Hua'er, unable to bear the sight, turned sharply toward Wang Zi.

"Master, why?!" she demanded, her voice breaking with frustration.

"You could've stopped this! Why didn't you save her?"

Wang Zi remained silent, his eyes fixed on the scene below. His expression was unreadable. 

Hua'er's gaze darted between Wang Zi and the heart-wrenching scene below. Her usual playfulness was gone, replaced by genuine confusion and sadness. But when she realized he wasn't going to answer, she sighed deeply and fell silent, retreating to hover at his side.

Below, Shinobu wept quietly, Kanae's body going limp in her arms as the sun rose fully into the sky. The clearing was bathed in golden light, a stark contrast to the grief unfolding beneath it. And still, Wang Zi did nothing but watch, his gaze unwavering, even as Shinobu started burying her sister.

The golden morning light now bathed the forest clearing in a soft glow, the shadows retreating.

Shinobu stood over the freshly filled grave of her sister, her tears falling silently, her body trembling as she clutched Kanae's bloodstained haori. She had draped it over her own shoulders, wearing it like a shield against the reality of what had just happened.

Shinobu knelt by the grave, her hand running across the disturbed earth as she whispered softly, words too faint for even Wang Zi's hearing.

She stayed there for what felt like an eternity, her slender frame hunched over in mourning, but eventually, her tears slowed, and her posture stiffened. When she stood, the look in her eyes had changed, grief replaced by... determination.

Hua'er glanced at Wang Zi, her expression a mixture of confusion and anger.

"Are you going to explain why you just stood there, watching it happen?"

Wang Zi didn't respond, his gaze fixed on Shinobu as she took one last look at the grave, her fingers brushing against the haori she now wore. Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the forest.

Once Shinobu was out of sight, Wang Zi finally descended from the sky, his Akatsuki cloak fluttering as he landed softly in front of the grave. Hua'er followed close behind, her arms crossed and her expression impatient.

"Well?" she demanded.

"You said you were going to save her. What was the point of coming here if you were just going to let her die?"

Wang Zi sighed, his gaze lingering on the grave.

"I was going to save her," he said quietly.

"But sometimes... doing nothing is the right choice."

Turning to face Hua'er, Wang Zi's Rinnegan reflected his calm expression.

"I thought about it, Hua'er. Kanae Kocho's death is a key event in this world. It drives Shinobu. Without it, she wouldn't have the same hatred for demons, the same resolve to grow stronger. If I save Kanae, it changes everything. And when you don't know what's coming, it's dangerous to make those kinds of changes."

Hua'er frowned, her small fists clenching at her sides.

"So you let her die because you're scared?"

Wang Zi shook his head.

"It's not fear. The system warned me, time can't be reversed. If I save Kanae and Shinobu doesn't grow into the role she's supposed to, then everything I know about this timeline could disappear. It's too risky. Kanae isn't worth jeopardizing everything."

"And who said I was letting her stay dead?" A faint smirk tugged at Wang Zi's lips. 

Hua'er blinked, startled. "What do you mean?"

Wang Zi stepped forward, extending his hand. The ground trembled softly as he activated the Deva Path, the soil of Kanae's grave shifting and lifting away to reveal her lifeless body. Despite the blood and dirt, her serene face was as peaceful as if she were simply asleep.

"What are you doing now?" Hua'er asked, her tone wary.

"I told you," Wang Zi said.

"Kanae Kocho's story doesn't end here."

"Jigokudō."

The ground behind him split open with a low rumble, and the enormous figure of the King of Hell emerged, its mouth wide open, glowing with an ominous light.

"I'll keep her body safe." Wang Zi said. He gently lifted Kanae's body with the Deva Path and floated it into the King of Hell's mouth, and it started chewing.

CRUNCH CRUNCH!

Moments later, the King of Hell's jaws opened again, and Kanae's body emerged, fully healed, all signs of injury erased, but she remained lifeless.

"She's still dead," Hua'er pointed out, her voice softer now.

"For now," Wang Zi replied, moving Kanae's pristine body back into the King of Hell's mouth. "This thing's perfect for storage. Barely use it anyway."

Hua'er floated closer, her curiosity replacing her frustration.

"Storage for what?"

Wang Zi's smirk widened.

"Plans, Hua'er. I've got plans. Kanae and Shinobu both die in the original timeline anyway, so bringing them out of this world won't change much. But right now, reviving her serves no purpose."

"But one thing's for sure - Kanae isn't gone forever. She's just... waiting." 

With that, the King of Hell descended back into the ground, taking Kanae with it. The grave now stood empty, the forest silent once more. Wang Zi looked at the horizon one last time before stepping forward, following Shinobu's footsteps.

"Guess I'll follow her," Wang Zi muttered to himself, the black and red of his Akatsuki cloak rippling as he turned to walk in the same direction. Hua'er floated beside him, her arms crossed.

"You don't even know where this place is, do you?"

"Nope," Wang Zi admitted. "Not a clue."

Hua'er raised an eyebrow.

"And yet you're following her instead of, I don't know, flying up to see where you are? Makes no sense."

Wang Zi shrugged.

"It's simple, really. Shinobu knows where she's going, back to the Butterfly Mansion. That place is important to the story. Tanjiro and Nezuko will eventually end up there, and from there, I can shadow them and stick close to the main plot. Easy."

"You could also fly and map the area out," Hua'er said dryly.

"Too much work," Wang Zi said with a dismissive wave.

"Besides, if I fly, there's a chance I'll stumble onto Muzan or one of his minions and mess up the timeline. I don't need Muzan figuring out I'm here and changing his plans, especially if he skips killing Tanjiro's family or alters the way things play out. I'm not here to rewrite the story, I'm here to watch and learn."

Hua'er sighed but said nothing as Wang Zi trudged forward, following the faint signs of Shinobu's path through the forest. His Rinnegan scanned the area, ensuring he wouldn't lose her trail.

Though she was fast and nimble, her movements had left subtle disturbances in the environment, a bent branch here, a disturbed patch of grass there.

"My goal isn't Tanjiro anyway," Wang Zi continued, talking more to himself than to Hua'er.

"I'm here for the Hashira and their techniques. The Demon Slayer Mark, Total Concentration Breathing - it's all about improving myself. Tanjiro's story is great and all, but I'm not here to babysit him."

"The Butterfly Mansion will also be a good base of operations, and I can keep tabs on everything from there, eventually I'll map out the parts of the world that I need to get the people I want."

"I remember Kagaya Ubuyashiki being killed by Muzan... That man would come in handy in handling some of the complicated stuff back in the federation. He seems to be a good leader and be highly adaptable. His curse problem also seems easy to fix with the Rinnegan, if nothing else the problem with them expending vitality can be offset with the use of mana."

"Maybe I'll bring someone to take over the shop aswell. As things get bigger I don't wanna be annoyed left and right because of it, I just want SP, not problems." Wang Zi mused.

As they continued, the forest grew denser, the sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Wang Zi's steps were unhurried, his Rinnegan scanning for Shinobu's trail. He had no doubt that she was heading back to the mansion, and he'd find himself there soon enough.