At this moment, Orochimaru no longer had the luxury to be shocked.
The strange, annihilating force was rapidly closing in on him.
From it, he could sense the overwhelming breath of death.
Just the backlash from Aizen's defensive abilities had brought Orochimaru to the brink of death.
In a state of panic, Orochimaru quickly severed the connection with his summoned serpents, effectively sacrificing the jutsu to save himself. He narrowly escaped the deadly energy, though he was left shaken and drenched in sweat.
"…"
Aizen sneered at the sight of Orochimaru, who was visibly shaken, his cold eyes reflecting amusement.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Aizen gripped the hilt of Kyōka Suigetsu.
Clang!
A sharp, clear sound echoed through the room as Aizen unsheathed his sword. In the blink of an eye, his figure flashed behind Orochimaru.
Time seemed to stand still.
Aizen stood tall, his back to Orochimaru, with his sword poised in hand.
Drip… drip..
Blood began to drip from Kyōka Suigetsu, though Orochimaru had not even realized he'd been struck.
Then came the puff of flesh tearing.
Orochimaru's body convulsed as blood sprayed from a deep wound at his waist, splattering the air with crimson.
"Is… is this some kind of joke?" Orochimaru muttered, disbelief etched across his pale face.
But the searing pain soon overwhelmed him. The sensation spread from his waist, rapidly consuming his entire body. His legs gave out beneath him, and Orochimaru collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated.
"Impossible… this is impossible. This has to be an illusion."
The fear in Orochimaru's eyes was palpable. How could he, a Sannin, be brought to his knees so easily?
He was one of the most feared shinobi, a man who stood above thousands of ninjas.
Yet, Aizen had felled him with a single move.
Orochimaru hadn't even seen the strike. It was as though he had been cut down by a force too fast, too powerful to comprehend.
At that moment, Orochimaru realized the truth. Despite his ambitions and strength, he was nothing more than an insect compared to the overwhelming power of Aizen.
He sank into self-doubt, questioning everything. Was this all just a dream? A nightmare?
"Ohoho." Aizen's lips curled into a sinister smile as he laughed softly.
For someone like Orochimaru, who had not yet perfected his body modifications, Aizen hadn't even needed to exert his full strength. Kyōka Suigetsu hadn't even reached its full potential.
With nothing more than a single flash step and a basic sword slash, Orochimaru—one of a named shinobi of the ninja world—was brought to his knees.
Had it not been for Aizen's current interest in keeping Orochimaru alive, that sword would have cleaved him in two.
There would have been no escape from death.
Aizen began walking toward Orochimaru, his footsteps deliberate and slow, each step echoing in the dimly lit lab.
Tap… tap… tap…
The sound of Aizen's footsteps snapped Orochimaru out of his daze.
Shaking with effort, Orochimaru struggled to lift his body from the ground, his hands trembling as he tried to push himself up.
Orochimaru gritted his teeth and slowly forced himself into a half-squatting position, turning to face Aizen as he approached.
Aizen stood above him, his expression calm, looking down as if he were a god observing a mere mortal. Orochimaru's face was filled with raw terror, his usual confidence shattered.
"You, who are you?" Orochimaru asked, his voice trembling with fear and disbelief. This man, who had effortlessly brought him to his knees with a single strike, was far beyond anything Orochimaru had imagined.
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly, a glimmer of amusement dancing in them. "Who am I?" he repeated, almost mockingly. "As you can see, I'm Aizen. Orochimaru, don't you recognize me?"
Aizen casually flicked the blood from Kyōka Suigetsu before sheathing it with a smooth motion.
Orochimaru's lips moved, but no words came out at first. He knew, deep down, that there was no point in denying the situation. Aizen's power was undeniable, and Orochimaru, for the first time in a long while, found himself helpless.
He had seen Aizen grow up, watched him rise through the ranks of Konoha. But how had his power become so immense? How had he gained such terrifying strength? And what was Aizen's true goal? Orochimaru had always prided himself on his cunning, his ability to see through people, but now... this was beyond him.
Aizen wasn't just powerful—his intellect, his scheming, and his plans were as terrifying as his strength.
As Orochimaru looked up at Aizen, seeing the cold, calculating gaze in his eyes, he realized that he had never truly known Aizen at all. The Aizen he had known was merely a façade, a mask hiding something far more dangerous.
"Heh," Orochimaru let out a bitter laugh. "To think, I was once hailed as a genius by Lord Hiruzen. But compared to you, Aizen... I'm nothing. Now I understand what true genius is."
Orochimaru's gaze remained on Aizen, filled with a complex mix of emotions—fear, admiration, and frustration. He had prided himself on his intellect and power, but before Aizen, all of that seemed insignificant.
After a moment, Orochimaru took a deep breath and steadied himself, regaining some of his former composure. His mind began to work again, calculating.
"Tell me, Aizen," Orochimaru said, his voice steadier now, though still tinged with caution. "You've hidden your true self for so long. Why show it to me now? What do you want?"
Aizen smiled faintly, the same chilling smile that never quite reached his eyes. "It's refreshing to deal with someone smart," he said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll, tossing it to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru caught it and unrolled the scroll. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized its contents. "This is... the Forbidden Technique, Reanimation Jutsu from the Book of Seals!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," Aizen replied calmly. "This is the forbidden ninjutsu developed in secret by Senju Tobirama. However, it's incomplete—flawed. I need you to perfect it."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and suspicion. "Heh… Reanimation Jutsu, one of the most dangerous techniques. Lord Hiruzen has kept it tightly guarded. Even I've only heard rumors of it. But you, Aizen, with your power, it's no surprise you managed to obtain it."
Aizen's expression remained unreadable as he responded, "Don't concern yourself with how I acquired it. The only thing I want to know is: can you improve it?"
Orochimaru smirked, his mind racing with possibilities. "Of course I can. But, what's in it for me?"
Even though Orochimaru knew he was no match for Aizen in strength, he wasn't someone to be used so easily. He wasn't a subordinate who could be commanded at will. If Aizen wanted something from him, there would have to be a benefit in return.
Aizen's eyes gleamed with amusement, his lips curling into that same cryptic smile. He had anticipated this.
...
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