Zashi's voice was cold and filled with irritation as he glared at Aizen. "You've been spying on me while I worked in Anbu, and I've let that slide. But now, watching me in my private time? Isn't that going too far?"
Aizen looked momentarily taken aback, as if he hadn't expected Zashi to catch on so easily to his surveillance.
But Aizen, ever composed, quickly recovered and smiled calmly. "Captain Zashi, you misunderstand. The Intelligence Division received word that shinobi from neighboring countries may be plotting against you. Lord Hokage specifically asked me to ensure your protection."
Zashi's expression twisted into one of disgust, as if he had swallowed something vile. "Enough with your lies! You and I both know we've already crossed paths too many times. Just admit you're spying! The thing I despise most about Sarutobi Hiruzen is that same hypocritical facade!"
Zashi's voice dripped with disdain, and his eyes remained fixed on Aizen as his aura slowly intensified. His presence became ominous, dark energy crackling in the air as he spoke in a low, menacing voice, "Now, leave. Immediately."
But Aizen remained completely unfazed by Zashi's building aura. Instead, he simply smiled gently, ignoring the hostility in the air. "It seems Captain Zashi has a great deal of misunderstanding toward us. Truly, it saddens me. But since you seem so unwelcome, I'll take my leave."
Aizen's voice remained soft, almost pitiful, as he feigned innocence. He sighed dramatically as he turned to leave, his demeanor that of someone who believed themselves the victim.
Zashi, however, was taken aback. Aizen wasn't fazed in the slightest by his intimidating aura. The veins on Zashi's forehead bulged as his anger reached its peak. His entire body trembled like a beast ready to pounce. "Aizen! You're just like Hiruzen—another scheming coward! I know exactly why you're watching me, but I warn you—cross the line, and I won't hesitate to kill you myself!"
Zashi roared like an enraged lion, his voice echoing through the courtyard as his killing intent filled the air. The ground seemed to tremble beneath the sheer weight of his murderous intent as it surged toward Aizen.
But even as Zashi's aura bore down on him like a storm, Aizen, now approaching the exit, merely clasped his hands behind his back and smirked. He didn't even bother looking back. His stride remained slow, calm, and composed.
As the suffocating pressure from Zashi's aura closed in on Aizen, something extraordinary happened. Just as it came within a meter of him, it dissipated like snow falling into boiling water—melting away into nothingness.
Aizen continued walking, his movements unhurried, never once turning to face Zashi.
Zashi's pupils contracted in disbelief. His fierce expression became rigid, his fury momentarily frozen.
"Zashi!"
At that moment, Gekkou Yoru, sensing Zashi's turmoil, rushed out from inside the house. He had been watching from the sidelines, anticipating that Zashi would give Aizen a harsh lesson.
But the reality of what he saw left Yoru just as stunned as Zashi.
Aizen had simply walked away, untouched by Zashi's murderous aura, completely unbothered, as if nothing in the world could shake his serene confidence.
Even Yoru, who had seen much in his time, couldn't help but be startled by how effortlessly Aizen had handled the entire situation.
"You know, even for someone as strong as me—a peak-level quasi-Kage—there's no way I could walk so casually through the aura of a peak Kage-level powerhouse!"
Yoru shook his head in disbelief, watching Aizen depart with such ease.
"That Aizen," Zashi sighed, his expression a mix of frustration and unease. "I haven't seen him in just a few years, and he's grown so strong. Even if I go all out, I doubt I could bring him down quickly. The strength of the Hokage faction just keeps increasing."
Yoru nodded solemnly. "Yeah. And I've heard Minato has mastered the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique. That guy might be even more troublesome than Aizen!"
The rising talents within the Hokage line were becoming more formidable by the day. It was impossible not to feel the pressure.
"Sannin, Aizen, Minato. The Hokage lineage keeps churning out prodigies," Zashi muttered, clearly weighed down by the situation.
The new faction he belonged to was becoming increasingly marginalized as the Hokage's influence grew stronger. The shadow of uncertainty loomed large over Zashi's heart, especially when it came to Minato. As a former subordinate of the Second Hokage, Zashi understood the terrifying potential of the Flying Thunder God Technique all too well.
"Minato might not be at my level yet," Zashi admitted, his voice grave. "But once he reaches Kage-level, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up. And then there's Aizen. His talent in kenjutsu is rivaling even Hatake Sakumo. Add his intelligence and ambition, and we're facing serious threats."
The thought sent a wave of urgency through Zashi, his eyes darkening with resolve.
"Ye, we need to accelerate our plans. How are things progressing in the Land of Thunder?" Zashi asked, his voice tight with the weight of the situation.
Yoru, aware of the gravity of the situation, replied quickly. "Zashi, don't worry. Everything is progressing smoothly. The 'Wood Worm'—our spy—will soon be in a top position within Cloud Shinobi. Once he's secured that role, we can set our plan into motion."
"Good," Zashi said with a nod. "We need to keep a close watch. This mission is critical, and we can't afford any mistakes. Everyone—every one of our agents—must be fully committed. Failure is not an option."
The code name "Wood Worm" hung heavily in the air, a reminder that everything hinged on their spy's success. Their hopes, their future, and the balance of power in Konoha rested on this one mission.
"Understood!" Yoru nodded firmly.
"And... intensify the surveillance on the Hokage line! Especially Sarutobi Hiruzen and Aizen. Those two are master manipulators, so we can't afford to let our guard down for a second!"
Zashi's voice was laced with caution, his distrust of the Hokage faction evident as he quickly issued his orders.
While Zashi and his faction were troubled by Aizen's schemes, the man himself had already returned home, seemingly unconcerned.
However, it wasn't long before Aizen sensed something.
More Anbu ninjas had arrived around his home, and among them was an old acquaintance—Yoru, the Vice-Captain of Anbu, personally leading the surveillance.
Such attention made it clear how wary Zashi had become of Aizen. The fact that they had deployed one of their top agents to monitor him showed just how much they feared him.
Aizen, on the other hand, merely smiled—a cold, mocking smile that revealed his disdain for Zashi's futile efforts.
Without wasting any time, Aizen activated Kyōka Suigetsu, casting an illusion over Yoru and the other Anbu agents, making them perceive a false reality.
While they continued their surveillance on what they believed to be Aizen, the real Aizen slipped out of Konoha Village undetected, his movements masked entirely by the power of his Zanpakutō.