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Meanwhile, as the war on the Konoha battlefield raged on.
In the distance, within the dense forests surrounding Konoha, a group of figures moved swiftly through the trees.
Amid the lush greenery.
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Silhouettes darted past the massive tree trunks, their forms obscured by heavy cloaks.
"Yagura, who do you think will win this battle between Konoha and the Rock Ninja?"
Within the moving group, a playful voice echoed from the treetops.
Hearing this, a young-looking ninja halted, casting a sidelong glance at the speaker. His voice was calm as he responded,
"Tenzō, regardless of whether Konoha or the Rock Ninja triumph, in the end, we of the Mist will reap the ultimate rewards."
With that, he resumed his pace.
A black-haired young man in the group narrowed his eyes slightly at Yagura's words, a glimmer of sharp intent flashing in his gaze. He murmured to himself,
"Lord Mizukage hasn't shared much information with us. What exactly is the objective of this mission?"
Unable to figure it out, he shook his head lightly and continued following the group.
In a nearby contingent moving in parallel, a red-haired giant of a man with a ferocious expression and sharp teeth barked angrily,
"Faster! At this rate, the war at Konoha will already be over by the time we arrive! If we delay Lord Mizukage's orders, the responsibility will fall entirely on you!"
Hearing his reprimand, the Mist Nin stiffened their expressions and quickened their pace.
Among the group was a young man with blue skin and a shark-like face, standing out starkly.
Fuguki Suikazan squinted his small, bean-like eyes at the young man and called out in a raspy voice,
"What's your name?"
The young man stopped on a tree branch, his expression unchanged. With a predatory, almost bloodthirsty smile in his shark-like eyes, he replied,
"Hoshigaki Kisame."
Fuguki eyed him with a menacing look.
"How long has it been since you graduated from the academy?"
Though Kisame appeared respectful, his tone remained steady.
"Four years."
Fuguki nodded slightly, scrutinizing him further before saying,
"From today, you're part of my squad. You have the potential."
At Fuguki's words, Kisame's face twisted into a cruel smile. His raspy voice was tinged with excitement as he replied,
"Understood, Captain Fuguki."
Fuguki seemed pleased by the respectful title, smiling in satisfaction.
"Remember, as a Mist Ninja, your primary duty is to safeguard the village's interests. Stick with me, and how much you gain from this war will depend on your abilities."
Kisame knelt respectfully, his voice cold and unwavering.
"I will follow Captain Fuguki's orders without fail."
Pleased by Kisame's apparent loyalty, Fuguki turned confidently and resumed walking. Kisame followed closely behind, his face emotionless, concealing his true thoughts.
The Mist Nin disappeared into the forest, leaving behind only damp footprints as evidence of their presence.
---
In a secluded, tranquil valley.
Time had passed.
Outside the valley, a pale figure sat idly on a tree branch, his golden-yellow eyes lazily observing an ant crawling on the bark, seemingly lost in thought.
His mind echoed with words spoken by Aizen long ago.
"Zetsu, never deny your existence. You are unique. If my experiment succeeds, Zetsu, you will become the cornerstone of a new era, forever etched in history."
"Zetsu, do you desire such power? Do you lack that ambition? It's a difficult question, but no matter—when the power meant for you arrives, you will understand how intoxicating it truly is."
Zetsu replayed Aizen's words repeatedly in his mind, a faint smile forming on his lips. He shook his head lightly and murmured,
"Only Lord Aizen would place such importance on someone like me."
"If one day it really does…"
A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes before fading. He chuckled bitterly and whispered,
"For now, I'll wait for Lord Aizen's orders."
Just then, the ground quivered slightly. Zetsu's eyes narrowed as he glanced behind him, murmuring,
"Could it be… it's complete?"
In the open valley, a blazing blue light illuminated the area, radiating for an unknown length of time.
Suspended in mid-air was the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail. The chakra that had once flowed torrentially from his seven orifices had dwindled to mere threads.
It was evident that his energy had nearly been entirely absorbed by the Hōgyoku.
With a sudden snap, the blazing blue light ceased. The unconscious Jinchūriki fell to the ground, devoid of strength.
At the edge of the valley, Aizen's deep eyes gleamed with anticipation as a faint smile graced his lips.
"Is it complete?"
"Hōgyoku, use the power of the One-Tail to summon it forth."
As he spoke, a radiant blue crystal emerged from his chest, a perfect diamond shimmering with an eerie, otherworldly glow.
Before long, the humanoid figure had gradually formed, becoming lifelike as if materialized directly from a mythical tale. A tangible presence slowly appeared in the open clearing of the valley.
Soon after, the intense azure glow began to fade, and the Hōgyoku returned to Aizen's body.
Aizen, along with Kyōka Suigetsu, calmly stepped forward, their gaze carrying a faint trace of amusement as they observed the figure that had emerged.
On a quiet rock within the valley, a young man dressed in a black-and-white haori lay peacefully on a stone slab.
His skin had an almost unhealthy pallor, his mid-length silver hair cascading like silk onto the slab beneath him. The bangs partially veiled his eyes.
"Hmm…"
A soft groan escaped him as he slowly opened his narrow eyes. From the slits, a sapphire-like gleam, clear and radiant, flickered to life.
"Out from that darkness, have I? What an exhausting experience…"
The young man stirred awake, lightly draping a pale arm across his forehead as if shielding his eyes from the glaring sunlight—or perhaps calming the subtle unrest within his heart.
At that moment, a deep, magnetic voice reached his ears.
"Gin, remaining so languid might cost you your life."
The man named Gin froze slightly upon hearing the voice. A sharp glint flashed from the corners of his narrow eyes as he turned toward the source of the sound.
When his gaze landed on Aizen, his pupils contracted, and he spoke in a voice laden with gravity.
"Aizen."
Noticing Gin's tense posture, Aizen's lips curved into a faint smile as he replied gently.
"Gin, you're too tense. Take a closer look. This is no longer the Soul Society."
At Aizen's words, Gin squinted his narrow eyes slightly, scanning the surroundings. His brows furrowed tightly, and his tone carried a hint of confusion.
"As expected… this place is…?"
Without concealing the truth, Aizen approached him step by step, speaking softly.
"This is another world—a world completely unlike the Soul Society."
Gin's pupils contracted slightly at his words, and a look of disbelief crossed his pale face.
At this, Aizen cast a glance at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His eyes brimmed with amusement as he spoke softly.
"I was the one who summoned you to this world. As for the reason… you're a clever man. Conversations with clever people are always more pleasant."
Gin fell silent for a moment, lowering his head thoughtfully.
Aizen didn't rush him, standing alongside Kyōka Suigetsu as they quietly observed him.
After a long pause, Gin slowly raised his head, his eyes narrowing further. His lips curled into a faintly sinister smile, like a venomous serpent, as he chuckled lightly.
"So, this time, I'll be working with you again, Lord Aizen. And this time, it will be a truly wholehearted collaboration."
From Aizen's words, Gin quickly grasped the current situation. He also understood that, in this world so different from the Soul Society, the greatest rift between himself and Aizen no longer existed. That was likely one of the reasons Aizen had summoned him here.
Hearing Gin's address, Aizen's face lit with a smile. His deep eyes focused on Gin as he spoke softly.
"As I said, I enjoy conversing with clever individuals."
"Welcome, Gin."
Gin slowly rose to his feet, a poppy-like smile gracing his pale face as he spoke in a lighthearted tone.
"Oh dear, such courtesy from you feels a bit unsettling, Captain Aizen."
In response, Aizen smiled faintly.