Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Sasuke was the first to emerge from the light.

He was still wearing that black shihachi uniform, his steps were steady, and his face was expressionless.

The figure that followed immediately surprised everyone present.

Stark, Halibel, Neel... and those other seemingly different, noisy "burdens".

A team of such a complex and somewhat comical composition appeared in the center of Hueco Mundo.

“This, this is…” Grimmjow’s impatience was instantly replaced by vigilance.

He could clearly sense that the newcomers were emanating a spiritual pressure no less than his own.

"It seems our hunting party has returned."

On the throne, Aizen Sousuke's voice rang out slowly, still as gentle as ever, revealing no emotion whatsoever, "Moreover, he also brought back some interesting companions."

"companion?"

Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses sparkling with curiosity.

Neutra, upon seeing Harribel's tall figure, revealed a malicious grin.

"Oh? Aren't these those female Hollows out there who only know how to huddle together for warmth?" His voice was hoarse and grating. "What, you can't make it out there anymore, so you've finally figured it out and decided to come and offer your loyalty to Lord Aizen?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his narrow eyes suddenly narrowed, and the sinister smile on his face vanished abruptly.

His gaze was fixed on the small green figure on her shoulder.

That disproportionately large skull mask, that tattered green robe, and that faint yet incredibly familiar aura...

The mockery on Neutra's face froze instantly.

Instead, there was a moment of astonishment, followed by a furious rage that could burn away all reason.

“Nelliel…” Nnoitra practically spat out the name through clenched teeth, his already long and narrow face instantly contorted with murderous intent.

He recognized the figure.

The former Third Espada, who once looked down on him with pity, was ultimately betrayed by him, had his mask torn off, and fell from his position as one of the Espada.

"You bastard..."

Neutra's voice twisted, emitting a roar that sounded inhuman, "How dare you show your face before me!!!"

Without even asking Aizen for permission, he left an afterimage behind and activated the Resonance.

The enormous crescent-shaped scythe was raised high, carrying pure killing intent, and slashed down towards Harribel and the still bewildered green figure on her shoulder.

He wanted to crush this humiliating entity right here and now!

Stark, standing behind Sasuke, almost instinctively took half a step forward the instant the killing intent erupted, preparing to intervene.

However, there was a figure who was faster than him.

"Clang—!!!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing resounded throughout the empty hall.

Sasuke Uchiha had appeared in front of Harribel without anyone noticing, holding a sword in one hand and steadily blocking Nnoitra's powerful attack.

"Huh?!" Neutra's single eye suddenly contracted.

Sasuke Uchiha calmly turned his head to the side, his eyes meeting Nnoitra's for a moment in mid-air.

Crimson crimson quietly emerges.

Are you looking for death?

Sasuke's voice was soft, yet it sent chills down Nnoitra's spine.

The moment the words left his mouth, black flames erupted from Sasuke's blade.

Neutra was terrified. Without thinking, he quickly retreated, avoiding the black flames that were enough to engulf him.

"You bastard!"

Being forced to retreat by an unknown brat fueled Nnoitra's fury to its peak.

He roared again, ready to charge forward regardless of everything.

"—Go to hell!!!"

Neutra's roar still echoed within the temple.

In his field of vision, Sasuke's astonished face was inches away, and he could even see the brat's terrified eyes reflected on the edge of his own blade.

Immediately... immediately we'll crush this eyesore!

Just as the blade was about to touch his head—

"Neutra".

A gentle voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"What are you doing?"

"Ok?"

The sound made Neutra freeze in his tracks, and the madness in his eyes was instantly replaced by a chilling fear.

The scene before my eyes shattered like a broken mirror.

Herribel's figure, the black-haired brat, and everything around her receded into the distance as quickly as the tide receded.

What appeared before my eyes was a face with a gentle smile.

He lowered his head stiffly.

He saw his crescent-shaped Zanpakuto, held high, its blade gleaming with a chilling light.

And where the blade pointed...

It was on Aizen Sousuke's brow, as he sat upright on the throne.

They were less than an inch apart.

"..."

Neutra's breathing stopped completely at that moment, his mind went blank, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his white uniform.

"thump."

A muffled thud.

The Zanpakuto in his hand flew out and slammed heavily onto the pristine white floor.

Neutra's legs buckled, and he uncontrollably collapsed to his knees, his forehead slamming heavily against the cold floor tiles, his body trembling like a leaf.

"Lord Aizen, I...I..."

His voice was filled with fear, incoherent, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence. "I swear, I absolutely didn't, I clearly did just now..."

“Stand up, Neutra.”

Aizen's voice remained gentle, revealing no emotion.

He slowly descended from the throne and stopped in front of Nnoitra, looking down at the Broken Face groveling at his feet.

"There's no need for companions to be so anxious about small misunderstandings."

He paused, and the curve of his lips became meaningful.

"not to mention......"

Aizen's gaze passed over Nnoitra and landed on the black-haired boy in the distance who had remained silent throughout.

"You didn't actually swing your knife at me, did you?"

"Yes, yes! You're right!" Neutra felt as if he had been granted a pardon and continued to kneel on the ground, nodding frantically.

"An interesting phenomenon."

Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses gleaming with research. "This guy's spiritual pressure showed no abnormal fluctuations, yet he could cause such a huge deviation in Nnoitra's perception in an instant..."

"Is it some kind of mental interference ability I've never seen before, or is his Zanpakuto also a type of illusion?"

On the other side, Nel's three subordinates finally breathed a sigh of relief after witnessing Sasuke's strength.

Aizen ignored Nnoitra, who was still kneeling on the ground, and walked back to the throne.

He looked at Sasuke with a satisfied smile on his face.

"It seems that Sasuke-kun has had a very fruitful hunt this time."

Aizen's gaze slowly swept over Stark and Harribel, finally settling on Sasuke's face.

"Well then, welcome back."

Sasuke's gaze met Aizen's, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He broke his illusion with just a sound? Just how powerful is he?

However, before he could think it through, Aizen's next move once again surprised him and all the Arrancar present.

Aizen slowly raised his right hand, and a crystal emitting an eerie purple light slowly emerged from his palm once again.

Then, he casually tossed it lightly towards Sasuke.

The Hogyoku traced a gentle arc in the air before finally hovering in front of Sasuke. With each pulse, it emanated a power powerful enough to make one's soul tremble.

"..."

Sasuke frowned.

"Lord Aizen?!"

A suppressed, sharp scream came from the side.

Szayelaporro could no longer maintain his elegance. He looked at the Hogyoku so close to him, then at Aizen, his eyes filled with unbelievable jealousy and incomprehension.

Hōgyoku...

This creation, which Aizen regarded as his greatest masterpiece and which even he himself was only allowed to observe from afar a few times...

Lord Aizen just handed it over to an outsider so easily?!

What right does this brat have?!