Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

The conversation with Jushiro Ukitake, Yoruichi's wary warning, and Aizen's "performance" at the captains' meeting just now...

The answer is obvious.

But what Sasuke wants now is not speculation, but the fact that Aizen admits it himself.

Aizen's smile faltered slightly upon hearing the question.

A glint of light flashed in the lens, but it was quickly replaced by a gentle glint.

"Oh?"

Aizen leaned back slightly in his chair, scrutinizing the boy before him with great interest.

"Why do you think that, Sasuke-kun? The judgment of the Central 46 is the highest law of the Seireitei. I am merely the captain of the Fifth Division. How could I possibly influence the decisions of the Sages?"

Sasuke looked at him quietly without saying a word.

Aizen seemed to suddenly remember something, and tapped the table lightly with his hand, adding seemingly casually.

Or perhaps...

He paused, testing Sasuke's reaction, "Sasuke-kun has already personally visited the Pure Tower Forest and paid respects to those sages?"

While the ability of "Mirror Flower Water Moon" is perfect, it is ultimately an illusion built upon "cognition".

But Sasuke in front of him hadn't witnessed the release of Kyoka Suigetsu. If he had actually been there, then it would be perfectly reasonable for him to discover all of this.

But instead of revealing this "truth" to the public, he came alone to confront himself...

Does this mean that this boy, to some extent, has already agreed with my ideas?

This thought made the curve of Aizen's lips even more meaningful.

However, Sasuke simply shook his head calmly, denying his guess.

"I don't need to go there."

Sasuke's voice was completely calm. "Because your previous actions have already told me everything."

He didn't explain any complicated reasoning process; he simply stated the final conclusion.

From Ukitake's powerless explanation to Yoruichi's unprecedented vigilance, and then to this man's performance at the captains' meeting.

All the clues had already pointed to the only answer.

"..."

Aizen Sousuke gazed quietly at the boy before him, and after a long while, he let out a soft chuckle of admiration.

"I see." He no longer probed and readily admitted it.

"Yes, I did it."

Aizen slowly stood up, walked to the desk, picked up the brush again, as if he were finishing an unfinished painting.

“It was I who, on behalf of those forty-six long-decayed sages, issued all the orders.”

He calmly acknowledged this colossal conspiracy that was capable of overturning the entire Soul Society.

His composure and confidence made it seem as if what he was doing was not a conspiracy, but a matter of course.

After acknowledging his "crime," Aizen slowly turned around and bowed slightly to Sasuke.

"So, in that case... my attempt to resonate with you on the bridge last time by using the phrase 'the decay of the 46th Chamber' seemed somewhat hypocritical."

"I apologize to you for this, Sasuke-kun."

However, Sasuke's response once again surprised him.

"apologize?"

Sasuke's face remained expressionless, only letting out a disdainful snort.

"no need."

He looked at Aizen, his eyes showing no anger at being "deceived," but rather a hint of mockery.

"The so-called supreme power of the Seireitei is so vulnerable."

Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile. "You could easily replace me, manipulate me at will, and no one would even notice until now."

He slowly stood up, facing Aizen from a distance.

"This only makes me more convinced of your previous theory that 'this world is old and corrupt'..."

"That's absolutely right."

Aizen's smile froze slightly at that moment.

Looking at Sasuke in front of him, he felt a sense of kinship with him.

He used dirty tricks to prove to him the corrupt nature of this world.

He accepted the result.

Then, Aizen let out a light, extremely pleasant laugh, which echoed in the deathly silent room, breaking the previous solemnity.

"Hehe... That's a remarkable answer, Sasuke-kun."

He slowly sat back down in the chair behind his desk, the smile on his face gradually fading, and his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, became deep and unfathomable.

"So, you've come all this way to see me not just to confirm this theory, right?"

Aizen placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and fixed his gaze on Sasuke with an inquisitive look.

"What is your purpose?"

Sasuke did not avoid his gaze and slowly opened his mouth to ask the second, and most important, question of the trip.

"What do you want from Rukia Kuchiki?"

This question caused Aizen's eyebrows to twitch almost imperceptibly.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead picked up the brush that was set aside and slowly made a dot of ink on the clean white Xuan paper in front of him.

"Ok?"

Aizen's voice carried a perfectly timed hint of confusion, as if he were surprised by Sasuke's keen insight, "Why would Sasuke-kun think that I did all this to get something from her?"

"Perhaps I simply want to manipulate the highest laws of Seireitei?"

Sasuke looked at him quietly without saying a word.

"Alright alright."

Aizen seemed to find the explanation somewhat uninteresting, put down his brush, and readily admitted it.

“That’s right, she has something I need.”

He slowly raised his head, and his eyes, which always carried a gentle smile, now shone with an almost divine calm.

"Something that could change the existing rules of the world..."

He paused, then uttered the word.

"key."

key.

Sasuke pondered the word in his mind, his eyes remaining completely unmoved; he had no interest in the so-called "key."

"I don't care what that is."

Sasuke's voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable resolve: "But I promised someone I would rescue her."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at Aizen, calmly stating his bottom line.

"This is the only and final prerequisite for whether you and I can walk side by side on the same path."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

All the expressions on Aizen's face vanished at that moment.

He stared silently at Sasuke, seemingly deep in thought.

After a long while, Aizen slowly leaned back in his chair, a troubled expression on his face.

He raised his hand and gently rubbed his brow with his fingertips, letting out a soft sigh.

"This is really a huge problem for me, Sasuke-kun."

His voice carried a clear hint of distress, “My entire plan requires the process of her ‘death’ as the trigger.”

"It can be said that her death was the most important part of my plan."

However, just as Aizen met Sasuke's gaze, he abruptly changed the subject.

The embarrassment on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle smile.

"but......"

"Since this is Sasuke-kun's first 'request' after acknowledging my ideals..."

He slowly stood up and walked to Sasuke, bowing slightly to him.

"I will do my best."

.........

Meanwhile, Ichigo defeats Ikkaku after it has been freed from its Zanpakuto and learns from it where Rukia is being held.

That afternoon, led by Hanatarou, Ichigo went to the Penitentiary to rescue Rukia.

After traversing a long underground passage, they arrived at the staircase leading to the Palace of Penitence.

However, at the end of the stairs, a figure had been waiting for a long time.

Her red hair was tied up in a bun at the back of her head, and she wore a familiar smile.

It was none other than the vice-captain of the Sixth Division, Renji Abarai.

"Hey, isn't this that kid with the orange haircut?"

Renji hoisted the massive snake-tailed mace onto his shoulder and looked down at Ichigo below the steps. "Looks like even Ikkaku couldn't stop you."

“You bastard…” Ichigo’s eyes instantly turned serious as he glanced at Hanatarou, who was trembling behind him.

"You may step back now."