A sudden flash of insight illuminated the fog surrounding the Second Ninja War for Aizen. He now grasped the overall strategic landscape – Konohagakure's position, Sand Shinobi's predicament, Amegakure's limitations, and the Iron Country's involvement. Most importantly, he understood the potential hidden motives of Sand Shinobi and Amegakure's alliance.
Unraveling this conspiracy was paramount for Aizen. In the original story, Senju Nawaki's fate served as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of the war. Now, with this newfound understanding, a sense of calm settled over him.
"Conspiracies themselves aren't terrifying," Aizen concluded, "The real fear lies in ignorance. The unknown is the true enemy."
He subdued his excitement, opting for patience until the meeting's conclusion. As the gathering neared its end, Mitarashi Zashi exited the tent first, followed by a gradual exodus of others. Aizen readied himself to speak with Senju Nawaki, but an unexpected voice cut him off.
Senju Ryuken, accompanied by a man in his thirties, approached Aizen. With a disingenuous smile plastered on his face, the man spoke, "You must be Aizen, my cousin's student. I've heard much about you. I'm Senju Ryuken – please give me some advice!"!"
The man had an ordinary appearance, was tall and thin, and was wearing a dark green ninja suit. He stood quietly behind Senju Ryuken, his head slightly drooping, like a faithful guard.
Looking at Ryuken's strange smile, Aizen and the others all frowned in unison.
If this sentence came from the mouth of an ordinary ninja, then there is no problem. But who is Senju Ryuken? That is the Elite Jōnin famous in the ninja world, and it is also the strongest kind of Elite Jōnin.
He is asking about an advice, but he was actually sarcastic around the corner and looked down on Aizen.
"I don't dare, I've heard about Ryuken Jōnin's reputation, and I don't dare to give advice. It can only be said that it is mutual learning and progress!" Aizen smiled and returned a soft nail.
A tense silence hung in the air as Aizen spoke. His words, hinting at a balance of power, like the duality of yin and yang, bring out stifled laughter from Jiraiya and Senju Nawaki. But Senju Ryuken's expression darkened. The guard by his side mirrored the shift, his eyes blazing with undisguised fury.
Ryuken, a forced smile twisting his lips, addressed Aizen, "Spunky for a youngster. I admire that. However, such brashness often leads to a swift demise. Tread carefully in the times to come."
Aizen, taken aback, couldn't help but think, 'This fellow holds a deep grudge against my predecessor.' The veiled threat hung heavy in the air.
Jiraiya, unable to stomach the veiled animosity any longer, interjected. "Ryuken," he said sternly, "Aizen is but a child. He has no knowledge of past conflicts. Don't you think it's a bit harsh to burden him with the sins of his ancestor?" His words implied knowledge of a past shrouded in secrecy.
"Hold your horses, Jiraiya," Senju Ryuken scoffed. "This isn't your concern. The Senju clan handles its own affairs. As for this boy," he glared at Aizen, "consider this a warning. I won't bother you today, but tread carefully in the future." A murderous glint flickered in his eyes.
Aizen's face hardened. He lowered his head, a glint reflecting off his headband, concealing his eyes. Jiraiya frowned deeply at Senju Ryuken.
With a final cold snort, Senju Ryuken stormed off with his guards. As he reached the doorway, he turned back, his lips moving silently in a clear final insult: "Filthy bastard!"
A surge of unprecedented killing intent flared within Aizen, but subsided as quickly as it arose. He wasn't strong enough to confront Senju Ryuken directly, and a public assassination was out of the question. The power disparity was vast.
"Aizen," Jiraiya said earnestly, "be wary of him in the future. There's a lot you don't know, but trust me, it's not the right time. When you grow stronger, I'll explain everything."
Aizen nodded silently, though many questions swirled in his mind. Senju Nawaki held his tongue, sensing the tension.
Jiraiya, relieved that Aizen wasn't pressing for answers (the Senju situation was a touchy subject best left to Tsunade), offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about Ryuken's threats. With me around, he won't go overboard."
After this tense exchange, Aizen and the others returned to their camp. Regaining his composure, Aizen decided to resume his previous tasks.
Senju Nawaki raised an eyebrow. "A map of the Ninja Continent? We're fighting in the Land of Rain. A more detailed map of the region would be more helpful, wouldn't it?"
"Exactly," Aizen confirmed.
Despite the odd request, Senju Nawaki retrieved the map. Aizen scanned it intently, focusing on a specific location. The map wasn't very detailed, only showing the territorial borders of various countries, but it provided the crucial information he needed.
"Just as I thought," Aizen muttered, his eyes gleaming with newfound determination. A series of future events were now firmly within his control.
Days later, Konohagakure launched its full-scale assault. Led by Mitarashi Zashi, an army of eight thousand ninjas marched towards Suna's last stronghold in the Land of Rain: Chishui Castle!"