Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

“But,” Sasuke changed the subject, his dark eyes staring directly at Stark, “if you just don’t want to be alone anymore, I might have another way.”

Stark's breath hitched.

Sasuke turned his head and glanced at the several figures in the distance who were watching them nervously.

"companion."

Sasuke's voice was soft, "If you can't walk with the weak, then go find someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you."

"Those guys you're talking about who will disappear are nothing but small fry who can't keep up with you. They're not even worthy of being called companions."

Stark remained silent.

"Who exactly are your so-called companions?" he asked hoarsely after a moment.

"Someone who can witness the world's scenery with you, and also someone who can stab you in the back," Sasuke replied softly.

"...That doesn't sound very appealing."

"But at least it won't disappear."

Sasuke's gaze swept over Harribel and Nel. "Haven't you already seen it? I'm not the only one who can withstand your power."

Stark followed his gaze and saw the blond Hollow and the unharmed green-haired little girl.

"They can all become your companions."

He looked at Stark and extended the invitation.

"..."

Inside the cave, all was deathly silent.

For a long, long time.

"Hey, Lilynette."

The man slowly lowered his head, looking at the sleeping girl beside him, and asked softly, "How do you feel?"

Lilynette's eyelids twitched slightly, and she groggily opened her eyes.

"Hmm? Stark..."

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, looked at the unfamiliar black-haired boy in front of her, and muttered with some dissatisfaction, "What's wrong...?"

“He said he could find us many companions,” Stark said softly.

"companion?"

Lilynette snapped back to reality, abruptly sitting up and eyeing Sasuke warily. "Really? You're not a liar, are you?"

Sasuke didn't answer, but calmly looked at them.

Stark walked up to Sasuke and extended his hand.

“Koyatai Stark.” He paused, then pointed to the haughty-looking girl beside him, “This is Lilynette Gingerback.”

Sasuke did not shake the outstretched hand, but nodded slightly and gave his name.

"Uchiha Sasuke."

He turned around and started walking.

"gone."

Stark and Lilynette exchanged a glance and followed.

.............

The desert stretches endlessly.

A group of people of such a mixed and somewhat comical composition is slowly making its way across this desolate white desert.

Leading the way was still the boy in the black shihaka uniform, his steps steady.

Following closely behind was Tia Heribel, who walked quietly behind him.

In the center of the group, the man who should have been the strongest fighter seemed somewhat out of place.

Koyat Stark put his hands behind his head, yawned lazily, and looked like he might fall asleep on the spot.

Lilynette, on the other hand, was like an energetic little animal, running around him and complaining from time to time about how boring the journey was.

Herribel's three subordinates, along with the three Voids following Nel, trailed far behind at the rear of the procession.

Their faces all bore a faint trace of pain.

Only Nil seemed completely unaffected, still curiously looking around.

"Hey! You green-haired one!" Lilynette appeared beside Nel in a few leaps, pointed her finger and poked the skull mask on her head without any politeness, "You, your mask is really stupid."

"Huh?" Nilu was taken aback by the sudden provocation and subconsciously took a half step back, her big eyes instantly filling with tears.

Just as an internal conflict among the "children" was about to erupt, a lazy voice broke the momentary farce.

"Where are we going?" Stark asked softly.

Sasuke turned his gaze to the pure white palace in the distance, which reflected the clear moonlight.

Stark followed his gaze, his eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly understood.

“Go to him…” he murmured, his voice devoid of emotion.

After a moment, Stark seemed to remember something, and his voice lowered, "I also saw that man once from afar."

"He's very strong, but there's something about him that makes me very uncomfortable."

"Different from you."

Stark added, "You may look cold, but your soul is alive."

"And that man..."

Stark frowned. "He's not someone worth following."

He had seen too many souls drawn to that power, and he didn't want the boy who had just given himself a companion to suffer the same fate.

Sasuke turned his head to the side, his eyes calm and undisturbed.

“I did not follow him.”

This answer surprised Stark slightly.

"then you......"

“I already said that,” Sasuke said softly, “comrades.”

Someone who can witness the world's scenery with you, but also someone who can stab you in the back.

Stark stared blankly at the boy before him for a long time before letting out a soft laugh.

"I see......"

He said no more and simply followed Sasuke in silence.

Sasuke turned his head and calmly said, "Your Arrancar seem to be somewhat different from theirs."

Sasuke's gaze swept over Nel without leaving a trace.

"Hmm?" Stark was somewhat surprised that he would ask this.

“Aizen uses a special tool that allows him to forcibly break the boundary between Hollows and Shinigami,” Sasuke explained succinctly. “But you… don’t seem to be like that.”

Nilu and her three "abnormal" companions all retained an aura that had been forcibly altered by external forces.

Stark, on the other hand, was as pure as a naturally formed piece of jade.

"Ah, that..."

Stark scratched his head, a troubled look on his face. "When I was still a Void, I suddenly wanted to see what I looked like under the mask."

As he recalled this, a somewhat helpless smile appeared on his face.

"Then, the mask cracked open on its own."

"..."

Sasuke remained silent.

Self-breaking surface?

Without relying on any external force, he broke the boundary between Hollows and Shinigami solely through his own will...

Aizen once said that this was almost impossible.

He looked at Stark and gained a clearer understanding of the power he perceived as a curse.

"What's wrong?" Stark asked, puzzled, looking at his serious expression.

Sasuke shook his head and didn't continue the topic.

"nothing."

This newly recruited companion is far more valuable than I had anticipated.

This gave Sasuke even more confidence in what he was about to do.

Chapter 148 Nnoitra: Aizen? Just a victim of his blade.

Hueco Mundo, between the thrones.

The atmosphere was as somber as ever.

Grimmjow stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a huge white pillar, his face full of impatience.

"Tch, how much longer are we going to have to wait?" He clicked his tongue, his azure eyes glancing unfriendly toward the doorway. "The report should have been over long ago."

Not far from him, Szayelaporro simply adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses, without saying a word.

Nnoitra, on the other hand, leaned against another pillar, his massive crescent-shaped Zanpakuto resting on his shoulder, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

Just then, a series of unhurried footsteps came from outside the huge palace gate, growing louder as they approached.

All sounds inside the hall fell silent.

All the Arrancars simultaneously turned their gaze to the entrance where light and shadow intertwined.