Thank you to Miguel razo, Chamar Ellis, Isk0, WhiteBeard for their support and becoming a patron on p@treon.
You can read 40+ chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
Check Out My Other works: Omniscient Reader: Different Way to Live
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Above the sky, dark clouds gathered, blocking the sunlight. The gloomy atmosphere made everything appear exceedingly dark.
With the sudden arrival of a torrential downpour, the entire sky was shrouded in a curtain of rain.
Shino hung his head, letting the rain drench his body without moving a muscle. Beneath his black bangs, a fleeting, intensely red glow flashed.
On the chaotic battlefield, Sōsuke, standing in the distance, casually glanced at the pale blue radiance slowly dissipating in the rain. A faint smile played on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with an eerie light.
"Bury the guy's soul, perhaps it will come in handy in the future..."
"Understood, Lord Aizen!"
With this unknown conversation in his mind, Sōsuke slowly walked towards Shino.
Upon hearing the footsteps behind him, Shino turned around, his face respectful yet expressionless as he looked at Sōsuke.
"So... what are your plans next?"
Sōsuke glanced at his expressionless face, smiled slightly, and spoke gently.
"I will go to the Rain Village to renegotiate the terms of the ceasefire with Konoha. If everything goes as expected, this war is about to come to an end."
Upon hearing this, Shino's face, now pale from the rain, expressed a hint of sarcasm.
"Konoha actually sent you to negotiate this matter. How ironic..."
Sōsuke smiled faintly, paying no attention to his words. He raised his head slightly, looked at the gloomy sky, and said softly,
"End the battlefield with Suna as soon as possible. This war, which has lasted for years, needs to come to a close."
Shino nodded in response.
Seeing him nod, Sōsuke slowly walked away towards the edge of the forest. Suddenly, he turned his head, a smile playing on his face as he spoke softly.
"Oh, by the way, when I was in the Rain Village, I encountered a strange guy named Zetsu. If you happen to meet him, you can consider joining his organization. I am very interested in his master behind the scenes."
Upon hearing this, Shino's face changed slightly. Suppressing the urge to ask why Sōsuke didn't handle it himself, he nodded solemnly.
Watching this scene, Sōsuke's lips curled up slightly, and he slowly disappeared into the ripples of the heavy rain.
Throughout, neither of them mentioned what to do with Dan Kato.
After watching him leave, Shino lowered his head, sitting weakly next to Dan's lifeless body.
His face showed no emotion as he glanced at Dan's already cold body. Without knowing what he was thinking, he looked in the direction Sōsuke left, and a pair of black eyes suddenly turned into crimson pupils deeper than before.
Whether you're Sōsuke or Aizen...!!
I must... kill you... with my own hands...!!
The heavy rain continued to pour down, swiftly covering both the living and the dead in a vast expanse of white mist between heaven and earth.
...
Within the borders of the Land of Rain.
"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!"...
In a dense forest, two dark figures were weaving through towering trees.
Although the sky was slightly overcast, the brooding dark clouds seemed to have no intention of releasing rain. Judging by the moist air, perhaps it was already raining in the distance.
"Drip!"
When the two figures leaped onto a large tree again, the slender figure with purple hair hesitated slightly when glancing at the tall figure beside her. She made a soft sound.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, the tall figure walking alongside her also slowed down, standing on a tree trunk with a puzzled expression. He asked softly,
"What's wrong?"
Himiko, strange-eyed, gave Sōsuke a curious look, shook her head gently, and spoke in a cool tone.
"Nothing... maybe I've been tired from traveling all along. It doesn't matter; let's continue."
Upon hearing her words, Sōsuke showed a caring smile. He spoke gently,
"How about taking a break? We can also think about how to persuade the leader of the Rain Village when we meet him, to agree to Konoha's conditions."
Himiko hesitated for a moment but did not refuse. She descended slowly with Sōsuke to the ground.
However, in her heart, she felt something strange about the moment before...
Was it an illusion...?
.....
Within the borders of the Land of Rain.
At the center perpetually shrouded in rain curtains.
In the Rain Village.
Inside a towering black rock-constructed building.
Two figures, one tall and one short, were slowly making their way to the top of the towering structure.
"Creak!"
As the door slowly opened, a somewhat modest office appeared before Nawaki's eyes.
Everything he witnessed upon reaching this village was entirely different from what he knew in Konoha.
He stared with wide eyes into the office and saw the supposed new leader of the Rain Village.
In the simple office, he reclined near the window, leaning against the wall, a sly smile on his lips as he gazed down at the village below.
Seemingly indifferent to Nawaki and Saki's arrival.
At this moment, the tall Saki, with his pale eyes, glanced at him and calmly said, "Jinnai, this is the grandson of the First Hokage, brought here by Captain Aizen's specific orders. You should at least greet him."
Hearing Saki's words, Jinnai reluctantly shifted his gaze from the village below, slowly walking over.
There was nothing more interesting than witnessing the place that once fueled his hatred gradually changing under his own hands.
His narrow eyes glanced at Nawaki, squinting slightly, and a light smile appeared on his face as he chuckled.
"Hello, young one from Konoha. I am Jinnai, currently serving as the leader of the Rain Village."
Under the gaze of Jinnai's narrow eyes, Nawaki's body trembled slightly. After all, not long ago, Rain Village was an enemy of Konoha, and Jinnai was its supreme ruler.
"Hello, I am Senju Nawaki. Nice to meet you."
Nawaki breathed slowly, his small face slightly tense, maintaining politeness.
Seeing him like this, Jinnai smiled slightly and nodded.
At this moment,
It seemed like Nawaki made a decision.
He took a deep breath, clenched his small fists tightly, and with a pair of big eyes, he looked directly at Jinnai, nervously asking.
"Um, I want to ask, Lord Jinnai, according to what Saki told me, you are a follower of Sōsuke, and your goal is to create a beautiful new world without war, right!?"
Suddenly hearing his words, Jinnai's face froze for a moment, and then he burst into laughter.
Saki said nothing, standing there with no expression.
Hearing his laughter, Nawaki felt a little angry and asked again.
"Please answer my question, Lord Jinnai."
In response, Jinnai slightly squinted his narrow eyes, his face carrying a light smile, and said softly.
"Sorry, sorry, just call me Jinnai. Yes, as Saki said, I am also one of Captain Aizen's followers."
Saying this, he chuckled lightly, walked slowly towards the window, and continued softly.
"Similarly, I completely agree with Captain Aizen's philosophy... to establish that beautiful world."
"Come and take a look from here. Look at the changes happening in this village. All of this is thanks to Captain Aizen."
Hearing his words, Nawaki obediently walked over and looked out of the window at the desolate and broken village of Rain.
Jinnai continued speaking.
"Do you see it? The smiles on the faces of the villagers... This is... smiles that haven't been seen in this village for decades."
"Under Captain Aizen's changes, this village has gained hope, and the war has ceased... the future will be even more beautiful."
"I firmly believe that only Captain Aizen can lead this world into a new era."
Jinnai murmured slowly.
At this point, he looked down at Nawaki, who was tilting his head with a puzzled look, and smiled slightly, saying softly.
"Wondering why?"
"Because... that Captain... is like a divine being."