Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Matsumoto Rangiku followed behind him, watching her captain's sullen back, her smile widening.

"Oh dear, Captain, are you jealous?"

"Shut up, Matsumoto!"

"Even though I graduated so much earlier than others, I'm still shorter than them..."

"I told you to shut up!!!"

Hitsugaya's roar echoed through the corridor.

Chapter 101 Our First Formal Meeting: My Name is Aizen Sousuke

The night grew deeper.

A waning moon hung high in the sky above Seireitei, its soft light casting a silvery glow on the rows of rooftops and making the snow-white tower appear even more solitary and lofty.

The daytime hustle and bustle had long since faded away, with only the occasional sound of the patrolling Grim Reaper echoing through the empty streets, adding to the somber atmosphere.

Palace of Repentance.

Sasuke Uchiha appeared silently on the white path leading to the tower.

Without choosing any hidden paths, we simply walked step by step along the wide main road.

The footsteps were very light, but they sounded unusually clear in the dead of night.

The first to discover him were two members of the Sixth Division who were guarding the bridge outside the Palace of Penitence.

"Who goes there?! Stop right there!"

Two Grim Reapers emerged from the shadows of the towers on either side in a flash, their Zanpakuto already drawn, their blades reflecting a chilling light in the moonlight.

They stood in front of Sasuke, their expressions solemn, their spiritual pressure slowly emanating from their bodies.

"This is the sacred grounds of the Palace of Repentance. All unauthorized persons must stop immediately."

Sasuke didn't pause in his steps, as if he didn't see the two swords already pointed at him.

We simply continued moving forward, at a leisurely pace.

Those dark eyes slowly rose, meeting the wary gazes of the two people.

"Final warning! If you dare to take another step forward, you will be charged with trespassing and will be killed without exception!" the leading guard warned again.

However, Sasuke continued to move forward.

Just as the two were about to launch their attack, Sasuke's calm eyes were unexpectedly replaced by an eerie crimson.

Three jet-black tomoe slowly emerged from the depths of those blood-red eyes, then gently turned with an eerie rhythm.

The two members of the Sixth Division suddenly stiffened, their eyes instantly becoming unfocused.

The two of them simultaneously sheathed their swords, then bowed slightly and stepped aside to clear the way to the bridge for the slowly approaching figure.

Sasuke walked calmly between the two of them without pausing for a moment.

Only after the figure completely disappeared at the end of the white path did the two guards slowly straighten up.

They exchanged a puzzled look, seemingly wondering why they had suddenly performed such a grand gesture.

"What... just happened?" One of them rubbed his eyes, his voice filled with confusion.

The other person frowned and shook his head: "I don't know...it seems like nothing happened."

He looked up at the empty white path ahead, then sensed the steady flow of spiritual energy around him, and finally came to a conclusion.

"We're probably being too tense. Let's stay vigilant."

"Ah."

The two disappeared into the shadows of the tower once more, and the Palace of Penitence, under the cover of night, returned to its deathly silence.

It was as if nothing had happened.

……

Uchiha Sasuke walked through the long and oppressive corridors inside the Palace of Repentance.

Along the way, guards kept appearing from the shadows, trying to stop them.

But the result was the same as with the first two, failing to make Sasuke stop even for a second.

Those scarlet eyes appeared briefly in the instant their eyes met, then vanished silently in the next moment.

Illusion.

A single glance is enough to alter the perception of the weak.

His Sharingan evolved in the Soul Society, an environment filled with spiritual particles.

For ninjas in the ninja world, it can create genjutsu by disrupting the chakra in the meridian system.

As for the Grim Reaper in this world, it can achieve the same, or even more perfect, effect by interfering with the flow of spiritual energy within the soul.

In essence, there is no difference.

Both are about the control of "energy" and "spirit".

The entire security network of the Confession Palace was rendered useless in front of Sasuke.

He walked along, through the corridor, and up the steps of the tower.

Finally, he stopped in front of the door of the cell on the top floor.

There is no lock.

Or rather, for him, there is no lock.

Uchiha Sasuke simply placed his hand lightly on the cold fence, and after a surge of lightning chakra, the lock on the door, made of killing intent stones and strong enough to seal the spiritual pressure of a captain, quietly crumbled.

The heavy iron gate was slowly pushed open.

Inside the cell, that familiar figure was curled up on the cold stone bed, his back to the door, his thin shoulders trembling slightly.

She seemed to hear the door open, and her body stiffened abruptly.

"Has the execution time been brought forward? It's earlier than I expected."

Rukia Kuchiki's voice was soft, with a resigned hoarseness, but she didn't turn around.

She paused, as if talking to herself, her voice filled with lingering weariness.

"Well... it's good to end it sooner rather than later; it's a relief."

Sasuke did not answer.

She simply stood quietly at the doorway, watching that figure from behind. The moonlight stretched his shadow long and long, all the way to Rukia's feet.

The cell was deathly silent.

After a long while, Rukia Kuchiki finally realized that something was wrong.

There was no urging as expected, nor the sound of chains.

With a hint of confusion, she slowly turned around.

Moonlight streamed through the high window, casting a narrow strip of light on the cold stone floor and illuminating the figure at the doorway.

He was a boy.

She has a tall and slender figure, and has long since shed the thin and childish appearance she remembered.

With short black hair, dark eyes, and sharply defined, cold features, he wore a standard Shinigami uniform, which made him appear calm yet powerful.

Familiar, yet strange.

"You are......"

Rukia Kuchiki's voice was hoarse as she abruptly stood up in disbelief, "Uchiha Sasuke?"

She couldn't understand it.

This is the Palace of Repentance; how could an ordinary official possibly sneak in so quietly?

Sasuke Uchiha calmly looked at her, slowly raised his hand, and drew the black "Indra" sword from his waist.

"W-what..." Rukia Kuchiki's movements suddenly stopped.

She stared at the black sword that exuded an ominous aura, at Sasuke's eyes, and her mind went blank.

Was he... here to kill me?

"How ugly, Rukia Kuchiki."

Sasuke's voice was soft as he slowly stepped forward, the black blade gently pressed against Rukia's neck.

"Having been locked up for just a few days, you've turned into this groveling, begging creature?"

The icy touch made Rukia's blood freeze.

"Rather than waiting here for that ridiculous execution..."

Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile. "How about I finish you off now?"

“You…” Rukia Kuchiki’s lips trembled, completely unable to comprehend the meaning behind his words.

"In that case..."

Sasuke's eyes were eerily calm as he coldly said, "That idiot wouldn't be so foolish as to come here to die again, would he?"

"...That idiot."

Rukia's voice became urgent, "Who are you talking about?"

Sasuke's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

At a time like this, this is what this woman is concerned about?

Is that Ichigo?

Ignoring the blade pressed against her skin, Rukia leaned forward slightly and asked, "Ichigo Kurosaki is still alive, isn't he? How is he?"

This question caused a ripple to appear in Sasuke's calm eyes.

"He is still alive, and not only alive, he has regained the power of death."