Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

The release of the blade just now may have simply been a way to reunite the two forces and form a kind of combat coordination, but it was not a true unification.

If my guess is correct, then the true final form of this power should be to completely merge these two souls into one, leaving only a unified will.

How powerful must the Starks have been back then?

This thought caused an indescribable complexity to flash in Sasuke's eyes.

Just as he was about to speak, wanting to say something more.

A golden figure appeared instantly, landing silently beside them; it was Heribel.

"Sasuke-sama."

She bowed slightly to Sasuke, her voice tinged with confusion: "Aizen just sent someone to find you."

"Aizen..."

Sasuke silently repeated the name in his heart, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Why is he contacting me at this time?

Could it be that they wanted to see how I am now, or...?

Does he want to get the Hogyoku back?

The thought seized his heart like a venomous snake.

The power of the Hogyoku is undeniable, and that is precisely why Sasuke does not want to return it.

Soon, a strong possessiveness grew wildly from the bottom of his heart.

If Aizen really wants to take back the Hogyoku right now, what should I do?

Forcibly seizing it?

With his current strength, plus Halibel, and that powerful Stark who has no desire to fight...

What are the chances of winning?

In an instant, a cold killing intent flashed in Sasuke's eyes.

"!!!"

The moment the thought formed, Sasuke's heart clenched, and a chill from the depths of his soul instantly jolted him awake from that dangerous reverie.

He looked down in horror at the faintly glowing purple crystal in his palm.

wrong......

What was I thinking?! To become Aizen's enemy?

With just the few of us? Are you kidding me!

Although he hadn't used his full strength, he knew that Stark had definitely held back.

Aizen, who could reign supreme in the dog-eat-dog world of Hueco Mundo and bring powerful figures like the former ruler of Hueco Mundo under his command, must be far more terrifying than Stark.

My current strength is simply not enough in front of him.

But why did I have such an arrogant and almost foolish thought just now?

That illusion that "I could kill it on a whim"...

Sasuke's expression turned somewhat ugly at this moment, and he suddenly raised his hand.

It's this stone.

He snapped out of his daze, his eyes instantly turning icy cold.

It's a Hogyoku!

It's subtly influencing my judgment!

It's responding to its own thirst for power; it's a dangerous thing...

"Sasuke-sama?"

Harribel looked at Sasuke's constantly changing expression, her voice tinged with worry.

"......nothing."

Sasuke took a deep breath, suppressing all his emotions, and stood up from the sand.

"Let's go."

He took one last look at the man who was still feigning sleep and the girl beside him, then turned and walked toward Hueco Mundo.

Halibel and Neel followed silently behind him, while Stark, supported by Lilynette, reluctantly stood up and joined the group.

The group once again embarked on their journey back to the pure white palace.

But Lilynette was clearly not going to stay put. She glanced at the lazy Stark beside her, but eventually set her sights on the dark-haired boy at the front.

"Hey, I'm talking to you." In a few leaps, she appeared beside Sasuke.

Sasuke ignored her.

"Who exactly are you? Why are you hanging out with Aizen?"

Lillianette asked without any hesitation, "You don't look like the kind of person who would willingly submit to someone else."

"..."

"Tch, pretending to be mute again." Lilynette curled her lip. "Are you always this quiet? You're so boring."

Sasuke paused slightly, then turned his head and looked at her calmly.

"You're noisy."

Those three simple words instantly made Lilynette's cheeks turn bright red.

"What...what did you say?! You brat, believe me, I'll...!"

She was about to lash out when she was interrupted by a lazy voice behind her.

"Alright, Lilynette, stop causing him trouble."

Stark had somehow appeared beside them, still looking like he hadn't slept properly. "Can't you tell? He's got a real problem on his mind right now."

After saying that, he subtly glanced at the Hogyoku at Sasuke's waist.

"Oh......"

Lilynette shut her mouth in annoyance, but still made a face at Sasuke's back with a hint of resentment.

The group fell silent again, and the outline of the pure white palace was now clearly visible in the distance.

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

The massive gates of the Hueco Mundo Palace slowly opened.

As the light streamed in, it cast long shadows of Sasuke and his group.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was completely different from when they left.

Besides the three familiar figures—Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tosen—eight more figures appeared on either side of the throne.

They all have different appearances and different spiritual pressures, but without exception, they all exude a powerful aura.

Sasuke's gaze swept over the newly appeared faces. He recognized some of them, such as Grimmjow and Szayelaporro, whom he had met a few times before.

It seems that this is Aizen's most elite fighting force.

Sasuke didn't stop, walking straight forward and stopping in the center of the hall with its white-tiled floor, calmly meeting the gaze of the man on the throne.

"Is there something you need, Aizen?" His voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

On the throne, Aizen's gaze swept over Stark, Harribel, and the others, finally settling on Sasuke's face.

"I just sensed two extremely powerful spiritual pressures colliding outside Las Noches."

A playful smile curved his lips. "I thought some fool had recklessly trespassed into our territory."

“I was just practicing with Stark,” Sasuke replied crisply.

"Practice?"

Aizen raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the answer, and chuckled, "Can you unleash that level of power? Sasuke-kun, your so-called practice is truly beyond my imagination."

"Speaking of which, Sasuke-kun, how do you feel about the Hogyoku I gave you before?"

Upon hearing the words "Hogyoku," Sasuke's heart skipped a beat, and the arrogance amplified by his desires surged back into his mind.

But the expression on his face did not change at all.

He simply raised his hand calmly, took the crystal that emitted an eerie purple light from his bosom, and held it in his palm.

"A very nice toy." Sasuke's voice was flat, as if he were commenting on an ordinary item.

"Just a toy?"

Aizen smiled and stood up, slowly walking down the steps of the throne. "So, Sasuke-kun, did you feel that sense of evolution from it—a sublimation of the soul and a leap in the level of life?"

evolution......

Sasuke fell silent, as if he had remembered something. He subconsciously raised his hand to gently wipe his eyes, then shook his head.

"not yet."

"hehe......"

Aizen let out a soft, enigmatic laugh and walked up to Sasuke, seemingly already knowing the answer.

"It seems the time is not quite right yet, but there's no need to rush, Sasuke-kun."

His voice carried a reassuring tone: "The path of evolution is long and interesting. Reaching the end too quickly will cause you to miss the scenery along the way."

"Then please continue to keep this Hogyoku in your care."

These words caused the breathing of the several broken-faced figures below the hall to quicken almost imperceptibly.

A hint of barely concealed jealousy flashed in Szayelaporro's eyes behind his glasses, while Neutra clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Aizen took in all of this, but he didn't continue the topic. Instead, he turned to the side, opened his arms, and introduced the new figures in the hall to Sasuke, and even to Stark and Halibel behind Sasuke.

"Oh right, I haven't had a chance to introduce you yet."

Aizen's voice echoed in the empty hall, "They are the other eight companions in Hueco Mundo who possess the most outstanding strength, besides you."