In a hidden underground laboratory within the eastern forests of Konoha, Hiruko tinkered with test tubes, a crazed grin on his face.
"Almost there! The first stage of my Chimera Technique is nearing completion!"
He gazed at the writhing brown mass within the test tube, his excitement growing. Once this jutsu was complete, he could transcend his limitations and become a powerhouse on par with the Sannin.
"No... no! As long as I continue to steal the bloodlines of other ninjas with this technique, I'll surpass the Sannin, surpass the Third Hokage, even surpass the White Fang of Konoha! I will become a legend, a shinobi as great as the First Hokage!"
Lost in his ambitious fantasies, Hiruko raised his hands triumphantly, envisioning his future dominance over the ninja world.
Clap clap!
A series of claps echoed through the lab, jolting Hiruko from his reverie.
"Such lofty ambitions! But do you, a mere pawn, possess the capability to realize them?"
A mocking voice accompanied the clapping, dripping with amusement and disdain.
"Who's there?!"
Hiruko frantically searched for the source of the voice, his eyes landing on a figure lurking in the shadows.
Fear gripped his heart. The Chimera Technique wasn't just a bloodline-stealing jutsu; it was a forbidden technique that involved human experimentation during its development. If this secret were exposed, he would be ostracized from Konoha.
As Hiruko trembled with anxiety, the figure emerged from the darkness.
"Aizen?!"
Hiruko's pupils constricted as he recognized the familiar face, a cold sweat breaking out on his skin.
Over the past year, with Tsunade's struggles, Aizen had taken on a more prominent role in the medical department. Combined with his impressive performance during the Second Shinobi World War, Hiruko knew that he, a Jonin-level medical ninja, was no match for him.
Given Aizen's seemingly righteous nature, he would undoubtedly take action upon discovering his secret.
"Damn it! Just as my ambitions were about to blossom, just as my experiment was nearing completion, Aizen finds out. Is this... my fate?"
Hiruko's heart sank into despair as he stood there, resigned to his capture.
However, consumed by despair and anger, Hiruko failed to notice the unusual change in Aizen's demeanor.
"Oh? So you've simply resigned yourself to your fate? As expected of someone so insignificant. Is that all you aspire to? Becoming the next God of Shinobi?" Aizen's handsome face twisted into a mocking sneer.
These words struck a nerve with Hiruko, igniting his fury in the depths of his despair.
"What do you know?! You, born with everything! How can you understand the pain of us ordinary ninja?
When I see my former teammates surpass me, reaching heights I could never dream of. While I'm left behind, unable to even see their backs. Do you know how much that hurts? How much it gnaws at me?
Do you know how much effort and perseverance I've poured into this jutsu? How much danger and hardship I've endured?
No! You couldn't possibly understand! How could you people ever know?!"
Hiruko's voice was a tortured shriek as he trembled with rage. He formed a chakra scalpel in his hand and lunged at Aizen with wild abandon.
Aizen remained motionless, his expression unchanged, even as Hiruko charged towards him like a madman.
Boom!
In the next instant, a terrifying pressure descended upon Hiruko, pinning him to the ground, utterly immobilized.
It wasn't merely an aura; it was a Shinigami technique that utilized Reiatsu. Aizen had borrowed this technique from the main antagonist of Bleach, who had used it to suppress an Espada member.
While Aizen's current strength was nowhere near that of the villain, it was more than enough to subdue Hiruko.
"This, how is this possible?!"
Hiruko, who had been consumed by rage, finally regained his senses when he saw Aizen effortlessly subdue him with a strange method.
Feeling the immense pressure weighing him down like a mountain, he looked at the calm Aizen before him with disbelief.
Even though he was considered a weak Jonin, he was still a Jonin nonetheless. Even an elite Jonin would require some effort and time to subdue him.
But Aizen had subdued him effortlessly, in an instant, without moving or forming any hand seals. It was simply impossible, no matter how talented he was.
Hiruko felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. The scene before him was surreal.
"What? Are you in disbelief? Do you feel that everything you're witnessing is unreal? That's normal. The world is full of unbelievable things, just like how you've now seen my true power, and have the opportunity to obtain it for yourself."
Aizen slowly approached Hiruko, his words laced with manipulation.
Having made Hiruko acutely aware of the vast gap between them, Aizen then released the Reiatsu suppression, freeing him.
"Gasp..."
The moment the pressure was lifted, Hiruko scrambled to his feet, gasping for air.
As he regained his composure and recalled Aizen's words, Hiruko looked up, his face covered in sweat and a mix of emotions.
The Aizen standing before him was a stark contrast to the one he knew. His tall, imposing figure radiated a chakra aura that made Hiruko tremble. His handsome face bore a condescending smirk, and his eyes, behind the glasses, held an infinite coldness and indifference. It seemed that nothing in the world held any significance for him.
Powerful, indifferent, arrogant, mysterious.
This was Hiruko's new, comprehensive assessment of Aizen.
As he gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure, Hiruko realized that only now did he truly know Aizen.