Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

But now...

What exactly happened in that room?

Sasuke's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Stark, who was not far away.

Stark seemed to notice his gaze, but simply shrugged helplessly and slowly shook his head without offering any explanation.

Sasuke's heart sank.

Without further hesitation, he moved swiftly and prepared to follow and see what was going on.

He couldn't let anything happen to Yoruichi here.

However, he had only just begun.

"Sasuke-kun, please wait."

Aizen's gentle voice, however, was like an inescapable shackle, binding him to the spot.

"I happen to have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

"..."

Sasuke slowly turned around, his eyes fixed on Aizen, the anxiety in his eyes almost tangible.

But reason told him that he couldn't act impulsively.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his worry, and asked in an icy voice, "What are you going to do?"

"hehe......"

Aizen let out a soft, enigmatic chuckle. "You'll find out soon enough."

Sasuke fell silent, his mind in turmoil.

In the end, I forced that anxiety back down into my heart.

He knew Yoruichi's strength very well. Even in Soul Society, she was strong enough to contend with most captains and handle most situations. Even if she was no match for Harribel, she was more than capable of protecting herself.

But Aizen's side...

Sasuke knew that if he insisted on leaving now, this man probably wouldn't allow it.

Rather than engaging in pointless conflict here, it would be better to...

"......it is good."

Sasuke nodded and agreed.

He could only pray in his heart that the woman was indeed as powerful as she boasted.

At the same time, he was also extremely curious about what Aizen wanted to do by leaving him alone at this moment.

"Hehe...it seems we've reached an agreement."

Aizen seemed quite pleased with Sasuke's actions, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Well then, Sasuke-kun, let's go."

He strode past Sasuke with ease and walked straight out of the hall.

Sasuke followed silently behind him, his mind racing.

Just as the two were about to step out of the huge palace gate, Aizen suddenly stopped.

He turned his head to look at the remaining Espada.

"All of you, step back and return to your respective palaces to await my orders."

This order caused the already varied reactions of the Espada to become even more subtle.

A hint of impatience flashed across Neutra's face, and Grimmjow clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Only Stark remained as lazy as ever.

"Lord Aizen."

A rough voice rang out; it belonged to the newly promoted Tenth Espada, Yammy.

He took a step forward with his massive frame and asked in a deep, gruff voice, "Don't we need to deal with those invading Death Gods?"

Yammie's voice was filled with longing.

Upon hearing this, Aizen slowly turned around.

"No need. Of course, I don't mean to belittle them."

"Among the Grim Reapers, there are also beings who are comparable to you, or even surpass you."

These words elicited a hint of disapproval from most of the Espada present, and some even began to stir with agitation.

Aizen saw all of this, but he didn't offer any further explanation.

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"While we shouldn't underestimate them, but..."

Aizen's tone shifted, and a sense of absolute confidence gradually seeped out from his gentle demeanor.

"There is no need to be proud or anxious about this. Please continue to do as usual."

His steps finally led him out of the massive palace gate, his back to the crowd.

Moonlight streamed through the crack in the door, outlining his white robes as if he were a god.

"remember."

Aizen's voice was calm, echoing in everyone's hearts like the tolling of a destiny bell.

"No matter what happens, no matter who you are going to face."

"Just stand here with me..."

He slowly turned his head to the side, his brown eyes reflecting the submissive figures in the hall, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"We have no rivals ahead of us."

Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly.

Looking at the figure bathed in the pale moonlight of Hueco Mundo, the anxiety he felt because of Yoruichi was replaced by an even stronger emotion.

It is an indescribable feeling of identification.

I must admit, this man is very charismatic and a natural leader.

Thinking of this, Sasuke shook his head violently.

Something's not right. Why would I have such a thought?!

He forced down all his thoughts, took a step, and followed Aizen's departing figure.

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

Meanwhile, outside the Hueco Mundo, in the endless desert.

The pale moonlight cast long shadows on the four figures.

Helibel ran ahead silently, her steps steady, but her heart was far from as calm as it appeared.

"Lady Harribel."

Behind them, Apache, the most impatient of them all, finally couldn't hold back any longer and quickly caught up, his voice full of confusion.

"Excuse my bluntness, but why did you address Aizen as 'sir' just now?"

She glanced at the increasingly distant pure white palace behind her, her tone filled with undisguised hostility, "Haven't we already pledged our loyalty to Lord Sasuke?"

"That guy named Aizen is just Sasuke-sama's comrade-in-arms. You don't need to be so respectful to him at all!"

Mira Rose followed suit, echoing, "Yes, Lady Harribel, didn't you say before that Aizen is no good?"

Halibel paused for a moment.

She didn't answer immediately; her eyes reflected the boundless sea of ​​sand ahead, and also a lingering fear that no one could understand.

The images of that room flashed uncontrollably through my mind.

A glimpse of Aizen's gentle eyes and the Zanpakuto named "Kyoka Suigetsu" silently being released before my eyes.

Immediately following was a sense of naturalness and familiarity.

[From the very beginning, you were created by the great Lord Aizen.]

Offering him absolute loyalty is the sole purpose of your existence.

The memory was so vivid that she could even recall every detail of swearing allegiance before the throne.

In that memory, Uchiha Sasuke was merely a precious experimental subject lured there by Aizen.

The reason why I feel close to him and am even willing to follow him is simply because Aizen-sama implanted a program called "closeness" deep in my soul beforehand.

The purpose was to better observe and monitor him.

As she left that room, and even before this mission began, she remained convinced of the memory in her mind.

If not...

If it weren't for the fact that she subconsciously looked up at the back of the black-haired boy as she left the main hall, she would have been fine.

Eyes facing each other.

In that instant, she sensed a strange power deep within those dark eyes.

Then, he saw his own reflection kneeling before that dark figure.

The false memory that Aizen forcibly implanted instantly cracked under the gaze of those eyes.

She remembered.

She remembered why she had come to this palace, and how the boy had made a promise to her about a "future without sacrifice."

"Lady Harribel, what's wrong?" Apache's voice pulled her back from her chaotic thoughts.

"......nothing."

Heribel took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions within her, and her voice regained its usual calmness.

She offered no further explanation, but she knew very well that Sasuke's eyes seemed to possess the ability to break Aizen's Zanpakuto.

Just then, Halibel stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she stared intently at a massive skeleton not far ahead.