Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Sasuke paused, the corners of his mouth curving even wider, and said slowly in a tone that was tinged with malice, "I have absolutely no interest in it."

"hehe......"

Aizen let out a light, ambiguous chuckle, seemingly completely unconcerned about the offensive teasing in Sasuke's words.

His gaze swept subtly over the two swords at Sasuke's waist, as if he could see in them a power deep within Sasuke's soul that was completely different from that of the Grim Reaper.

"A power system I've never seen before, capable of coexisting perfectly with spiritual power..."

Aizen's voice was filled with scholarly appreciation and admiration: "Uchiha Sasuke, you are like a completely new 'species,' possessing the 'potential' to break the limitations of the Shinigami."

He slowly raised his head, his eyes sparkling with a captivating light in the moonlight.

"I'm curious, what do you intend to do with this power?"

“None of your business,” Sasuke replied crisply.

"is it?"

Aizen was unfazed by Sasuke's coldness; instead, his smile widened.

But they didn't press the matter further, instead subtly steer the conversation in another direction.

"You infiltrated the Palace of Penitence to save that girl named Kuchiki Rukia, didn't you?"

Sasuke gripped the hilt of his sword even tighter.

Aizen seemed oblivious to Sasuke's sudden change in expression and continued narrating in a casual tone.

"They broke through the entire Sixth Division's defenses without a sound, and even opened the cell door made of killing intent stones."

He nodded slightly, his tone full of sincere approval.

"That's a truly remarkable tactic."

These words made Sasuke's heart sink completely.

All of this shows that her actions were completely exposed to this man's gaze from the very beginning.

"but......"

Looking at Sasuke's increasingly serious face, Aizen finally asked the most crucial question.

"Have you ever thought about why you did this?"

“It was just a promise.” Sasuke’s voice was deep; this was the only reason he could give.

"Whether it's a promise or a bond, it doesn't matter."

Aizen slowly shook his head, rejecting Sasuke's answer. His eyes behind his glasses became unfathomable at that moment.

"The important thing is, have you ever thought about...?"

"How did she end up in such a state?"

Without waiting for Sasuke's reply, Aizen continued talking to himself.

"She was charged with a serious crime."

Aizen's voice echoed across the silent bridge, "He is about to be subjected to the most extreme punishment that has not been used for hundreds of years."

He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the very center of Seireitei, an area shrouded in layers of buildings and mist.

"And the ones who delivered this verdict were those forty-six old people whose edges had long been worn down by the years and who only knew how to stick to the old ways."

Central Room 46.

Upon hearing this, Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"They consider themselves the highest wisdom in Soul Society, hiding in the secluded Tower Forest where no one can reach them, establishing so-called 'laws' and judging everything."

Aizen's tone remained gentle, like... a teacher answering a student's questions.

"A flawed judgment can decide the life or death of a nobleman."

Aizen seemed to find this somewhat amusing, letting out a sarcastic sneer.

"A group of sages who have long been corrupt can manipulate the course of the entire world at will."

Aizen's tone remained calm, but Sasuke detected a sharp edge beneath that composed demeanor.

"Whether it's the seemingly unshakeable laws of the Seireitei, or that higher 'Throne of Heaven' that binds all souls to reincarnation..."

Aizen slowly raised his head, gazing up at the crescent moon, his eyes flashing with an almost fanatical light.

He turned his gaze back to Sasuke and asked one last question.

"Uchiha Sixth Seat, don't you think this kind of 'order' and 'justice' is ridiculous?"

"Don't you think they're all too old, and too..."

"Arrogant?"

These words stirred up a great deal of emotion in Sasuke's heart, and even the hand holding "Indra" began to tremble slightly.

Those equally decaying images from another world flashed uncontrollably through his mind.

He remembered Kakashi's face, which was filled with pain and helplessness.

"A hero whose achievements overshadow those of his master and who is out of control... to some people, he is probably more of a nuisance than an enemy."

He recalled the performance of the two advisors and elders at the Third Hokage's funeral, where they twisted the truth.

"Elder Danzo is also a hero of Konoha!"

A blood-stained executioner who slaughtered his fellow countrymen and orchestrated numerous tragedies is casually portrayed as a hero who protects the village...

Sasuke's breathing became somewhat difficult at this moment, and the veins on his head bulged almost imperceptibly.

This man...

Although he was unaware of his own past, everything he criticized precisely struck at the deepest memories within his own heart.

Whether it's this world or that world.

What makes those lofty "sages" any different?

Sasuke's subtle emotional fluctuations did not escape Aizen Sousuke's eyes.

He knew that a resonance had been created.

Aizen's smile appeared even gentler in the moonlight as he continued speaking, his voice carrying an almost compassionate lament.

"And what about us? The Gotei 13, the so-called 'Guardians'."

His gaze passed over Sasuke, looking towards the desolate Seireitei in the distance, a self-deprecating smile curving his lips. "What we are protecting is a group of ignorant puppets shrouded in false authority, and this ugly order."

"This 'protection' is itself a sin."

He said those words softly, yet they struck Sasuke's heart like an invisible hammer.

"The entire Soul Society is built on a kind of 'balance'."

Aizen's voice echoed across the silent bridge, "Shinigami guide souls, souls are reincarnated as humans, in the mortal world and the Soul Society, life and death..."

"Everything operates under this precise 'balance,' seemingly perfectly."

He paused, then his tone shifted abruptly, revealing undisguised contempt: "But this balance is such a fragile and uninteresting 'stillness'."

"A stagnant pool."

Aizen's tone turned cold, and his voice rose, "There has never been a real change, never a real 'evolution' in the past thousand years."

"Everyone is firmly bound by this shackle called 'balance,' content with the status quo, afraid of change, and euphemistically calling stagnation 'peace.'"

He slowly turned around and opened his arms to the night sky.

"And you, Sasuke, your appearance has shown me the possibility of breaking this 'stillness'."

Aizen slowly turned around, his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, gleaming with an almost fanatical desire.

"The power within you is not bound by any rules of this world; it is itself a symbol of 'change'."

He took half a step forward, closing the distance between himself and Sasuke, his voice softening again and filled with intimacy.

"You and I may be the same kind of people."

"They have all seen through the hypocrisy of this world and cannot tolerate the so-called light built on sacrifice."

Sasuke remained silent for a long time, his Sharingan slowly rotating, seemingly digesting Aizen's world-shaking words.

Finally, he slowly spoke: "What do you want to do?"

What do I want to do?

Aizen Sousuke seemed to have heard an interesting question, and turned to look at the deathly still night sky.

"The sky was empty from the very beginning."

His voice was soft, yet carried a heavy weight: "Neither gods nor kings ever existed."

Aizen slowly lowered his arm and looked at Sasuke again, his eyes filled with almost godlike confidence.

"But this unbearable gap is about to end."

"I will shatter this corrupt order and reshape the world."

"And you, Uchiha Sasuke, your unique power should not be buried in this rotten soil."

He extended his hand to Sasuke, offering a sincere invitation.

Come to my side.

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed sharply; he had anticipated this question.

"You mean, you want me to pledge allegiance to you?"

"Loyalty?"

Aizen seemed to have heard a ridiculous word and let out a laugh that was hard to decipher.

"No, Sasuke-kun, that's too narrow-minded."

He shook his head. "We are not about submitting to anyone, but about taking our own paths and working together to fight against this hypocritical world."

The air fell into a brief silence.

After a long while, Sasuke slowly shook his head.