241-245

Chapter 241: Aizen's Daily Life and "Versailles"

When Tsunade heard that the Leaf Village team returned safely from the Sand Village, she finally relaxed, her heart at ease. She then asked, “Did Kakashi and the others, or anyone in the Sand Village, know what you were doing on this trip?”

Aizen responded with a rhetorical question instead of an answer: “I entrusted Karin with this task. Do you think I’d let anyone else know?”

Tsunade nodded. “True, but…is this really okay? This time, you didn’t do anything bad; you actually helped both Leaf and Sand. But in the end, you’re still hated and resented by both sides. Is that fair to you?”

Her gentle voice questioned him again, and as she looked at Aizen, an inexplicable sense of pity filled her eyes.

To her, he increasingly resembled the quiet, self-sacrificing ninja her grandfather, the First Hokage, had always spoken of—one who served his village without expecting praise or acknowledgment.

This was the true inheritor of the Will of Fire.

But Aizen had no idea what Tsunade was thinking. If he did, he’d probably burst out laughing—him, an inheritor of the Will of Fire? He was simply a father who didn’t want to see his daughter sad.

Casually, he answered in his usual carefree way, adding a bit of unexpected charm: “What they think is their business. I only need the people close to me to understand.”

Tsunade gave a bittersweet smile. “You really know how to act cool, don’t you?”

“I am cool,” Aizen replied with a grin.

Just when Tsunade thought he was going to start some flirtatious scene in her office, he suddenly stood up. “Well, I’ve passed along the message. Time to go.”

“Go? Where?” Tsunade blinked, surprised. Was the sun rising in the west today? For him to leave her office without causing any trouble was a rare sight.

“Back to the Akatsuki base, of course,” Aizen said, his gaze turning playful and dangerous as he glanced at her. “Unless, of course, you want to do something before I go?”

“Ugh, get serious! Can’t we ever have a conversation that’s not about that?” Tsunade turned her back to him, her nose slightly red, voice shaking.

Aizen knew her reaction came from a lack of security. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, speaking gently. “Of course, it’s not just about that. But the Akatsuki recently lost a member, so there’s a mandatory gathering. You wouldn’t want your man to be a suspect, right? I’ll be back tonight.”

“Okay.” Tsunade’s heart softened, and she nodded slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“See you tonight, then.” He gave her a gentle kiss on the ear and slipped his hand under her shirt for a quick squeeze.

By the time Tsunade turned around in surprise, he had already disappeared from the Hokage’s office, using the Flying Thunder God technique.

Standing there, cheeks flushed, Tsunade stomped her foot, muttering, “That rascal. Just when I thought he’d matured a little, he goes and acts like this!”

After leaving the Leaf Village, Aizen didn’t head back to Mikoto’s house. Instead, he went to Pakura’s residence.

As he expected, after Zetsu confirmed that Sasori had died, Pain quickly got the news and summoned all the Akatsuki members for an emergency meeting.

The meeting place was the same dark cave as always, filled with an eerie silence, only broken by the faint glow of a single meditation lamp at the center.

One by one, the holographic figures of the Akatsuki members appeared around the lamp.

This time, however, Sasori’s figure was absent, replaced by Obito’s alias, “Tobi.”

Deidara wasn’t present either; after his arm was twisted off by Kakashi’s Mangekyou Sharingan, he was unable to use his projection technique.

“Hello, everyone! From today onwards, I’m officially a full member of the Akatsuki! Looking forward to working with you!” Obito’s goofy voice echoed through the cave, paired with an awkward laugh.

His silly and sleazy appearance made everyone roll their eyes, with black lines practically visible on their foreheads.

“What’s going on? Where’s the ‘Art Duo’?” Kisame asked, looking at Pain.

“Sasori is dead. He was killed by his grandmother, Chiyo, along with Leaf Village girl. Deidara’s right arm was twisted off by Kakashi’s Sharingan technique, and his other arm was crushed while trying to capture the One-Tail Jinchuriki. He can’t use his projection right now,” Pain replied coolly.

“Oh, one dead and one maimed. Seems like the Art Duo suffered a major blow this time,” Kisame commented with a smirk, his small, round eyes glinting.

“Kisame, Sasori and Deidara were our comrades. Show some respect,” Pain frowned.

“Sorry about that. So Tobi is taking Sasori’s place now?” Kisame glanced at Obito, a look of doubt flashing across his eyes. Even though Obito’s appearance had changed, Kisame could still recognize him.

Of course, he didn’t know the purpose behind Obito’s new persona.

In response, Obito gave Kisame a sleazy bow.

Pain cast a wary glance at Obito, his Rinnegan briefly showing a hint of caution. “Tobi, from today, you’re an official Akatsuki member and will partner with Deidara. Don’t disgrace the Akatsuki.”

“Aye-aye! Tobi will do his best!” Obito gave an exaggerated salute, promising confidently.

Ignoring him, Pain turned to Kakuzu. “Kakuzu, Zetsu will take Tobi and Deidara to your location later. We need you to reattach Deidara’s arm. Afterward, find the Two-Tails Jinchuriki as soon as possible and initiate the capture plan.”

“Understood,” Kakuzu replied calmly.

Looking around with his Rinnegan, Pain continued, “The rest of you, don’t get complacent. Find your assigned targets and wait for the right moment. We’ll capture them in order by their tails.”

Then he looked at Aizen. “Aizen—”

“Our target’s already taken care of. Just don’t expect us to go after the Eight-Tails or the Nine-Tails. Since the Fifth Hokage took office, Leaf Village has some serious talent. They’re no longer as weak as they were under Sarutobi. And the Hidden Cloud is an old military powerhouse. I’m not about to go barging into one of those villages alone.

“I’m confident in one-on-one fights, and I don’t mind facing dozens of elite ninjas. But even a tiger can be outnumbered by a pack of wolves, right?”

Before Pain could say another word, Aizen interrupted with an air of casual arrogance, which made Pakura chuckle beside him.

In the dim cave, a heavy silence filled the air.

All the Akatsuki members were left speechless, black lines forming on their foreheads. They were all thinking the same thing: This isn’t about being outnumbered by wolves. You just want to avoid the extra work, don’t you?

*Chapter 242: Encountering Kabuto Again*

After a brief silence, Pain finally spoke, breaking the tension in the room. "Relax, the Nine-Tails must be captured last. Now is not the time."

"And as for the Eight-Tails, its Jinchuriki is the Raikage’s brother. Capturing him now would likely enrage the Raikage, possibly leading to a Five Kage Summit and alerting the five great nations. This could disrupt our plans for capturing the remaining Tailed Beasts."

"So, I won’t assign you the mission to capture the Eight-Tails for now."

"For now, huh?" Aizen replied with a faint smile. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Pain answered, "Orochimaru is stirring again. He may be targeting the soon-to-be-resurrected Three-Tails. His subordinate, Kabuto, is a spy for Sasori."

"Ten days from now, on the Tenchi Bridge in the Land of Grass, Sasori had originally planned to meet Kabuto after his mission to capture the One-Tail to locate Orochimaru and put an end to him."

"But now that Sasori is dead, you and Pakura are the only Akatsuki members without a Tailed Beast capture mission. I’m assigning you the task of tracking down Orochimaru. You’ve dealt with him enough times that I can’t think of anyone more suitable."

"This mission sounds interesting." Aizen smiled lightly. It was time he checked in on his stepson, after all.

"That’s it, dismissed."

With that, Pain ended the projection.

Pakura opened her eyes but didn’t ask Aizen when he planned to go to the Tenchi Bridge. Instead, she inquired about the state of Sunagakure.

She knew Aizen had both the Purple Cloud Wings and Flying Thunder God technique, and he had secretly marked the second Jinchuriki with the Flying Thunder God. Either ability would allow him to find Orochimaru swiftly.

When Aizen told her about how cold-hearted village of Sunagakure did nothing to rescue Gaara after he was captured, preferring to hide in the village and defend their small patch of land, Pakura had felt a deep sense of disappointment.

But when she later heard Gaara had become the village's hero, her disappointment was replaced by surprise.

"It’s surprising, really, that kid ended up as the village hero."

The mention of a "hero" stirred a mix of sadness and bitterness in Pakura.

She had once been hailed as a hero of Sunagakure herself, only to be abandoned by her village.

"Hero, huh? More like they’re celebrating the fact his Tailed Beast is no longer inside him," Aizen said dismissively. "If he still had the Tailed Beast, do you think they’d truly regard him as a hero?"

"True enough." Pakura knew Aizen was trying to comfort her and leaned into his embrace.

Aizen placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled softly.

The two walked toward the bedroom in silent understanding.

For the next few days, Aizen’s life grew peaceful once again.

In the evenings, he visited Pakura’s house, Mrs. Mikoto’s room, Izumi’s room, Lady Tsunade’s room, and Kurenai’s room in turn.

Occasionally, he’d visit Hinata’s room to check on her mood.

During the day, he trained, traveling between Amegakure and Konoha to spend time with his two daughters.

Life was blissful.

On the tenth day, Konan could no longer hold back. Early in the morning, she knocked on Aizen’s door.

Only then did Aizen suddenly remember the matter of the Tenchi Bridge.

By the time he and Pakura arrived at the bridge, Naruto in his Four-Tails form was already engaged in a fierce battle with Orochimaru.

On the opposite side of the bridge stood Kabuto, Karin, Sakura, and Team 7’s temporary captain, Yamato, watching the fight.

"Hey, Kabuto, long time no see," Aizen greeted, appearing silently beside Kabuto and patting his shoulder.

Kabuto jumped, reflexively retreating and gripping three kunai, throwing them at the intruder.

Kabuto’s reaction was understandable, as the sudden voice sent a chill down his spine.

For a ninja, allowing someone to get so close undetected was as good as being dead.

"Kabuto, attacking me isn’t the smartest move," Aizen’s calm voice rang out again. He caught the three kunai in his hand and casually toyed with them.

"Lord Aizen," Kabuto broke into a cold sweat, his voice trembling. Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee. "I apologize, Lord Aizen. I thought I was being ambushed by Konoha. If I have offended you, please forgive me."

Kabuto knew the man before him possessed power and cunning beyond comprehension.

Orochimaru himself regarded Aizen as one of the most formidable members of the Akatsuki, even more so than Pain.

If Aizen wanted him dead, even his esteemed master Orochimaru might not escape.

Meanwhile, Yamato, Karin, and Sakura noticed Aizen’s presence as well.

Sakura and Yamato, both aware of Aizen’s terrifying abilities, paled with fear and broke into a cold sweat.

Karin nearly drooled at the sight of Aizen. If not for the people around, she might have rushed forward to cling to him.

"Don’t worry, I’m not blaming you. I know you were just defending yourself," Aizen said with a calm smile. He glanced over at Yamato and the others, wearing his usual "harmless" smile. "Seems like we have quite a few familiar faces today."

"Captain Yamato, this is Fujiwara Aizen," Sakura whispered to Yamato with a trembling voice, her gaze meeting Aizen’s.

"I know." Yamato, who had once been Aizen’s mentor in the ANBU, recognized him instantly, though he could hardly believe that such an outstanding ninja had become a rogue from Konoha.

He began to worry internally, as Naruto was currently locked in battle with Orochimaru, preventing their retreat.

With two Akatsuki members on the scene, it was likely they had come for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

And one of them was said to be more powerful than even Orochimaru. Would they really be able to escape safely as they had during the Kazekage rescue mission?

Aizen, understanding Yamato’s concern, greeted him with a faint smile. "Hey, Tenzo… or rather, Captain Yamato. Long time no see. It’s been seven or eight years since the Uchiha massacre, right?"

"Yes, it has been a long time." Yamato feigned calmness and cautiously asked, "Since we once knew each other, could you perhaps spare the Konoha shinobi today?"

"Of course. The Nine-Tails isn’t my mission. I’m here for Orochimaru. And it seems like this fight is nearly over," Aizen replied calmly.

As they spoke, Naruto, in his Four-Tails form, was sent flying by Orochimaru’s Kusanagi sword.

end

*Chapter 243: Orochimaru Gets Blackmailed One Last Time*

Boom!

Naruto, in his Four-Tails form, was launched across the bridge by Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword, extended to several hundred meters, crashing into a giant pit.

As the dust cleared, Naruto's figure emerged.

Orochimaru’s Kusanagi sword was lodged in Naruto’s chest, but thanks to the protective cloak of Tailed Beast Chakra, the sword hadn’t caused a scratch.

Orochimaru's neck also extended hundreds of meters, with his head hovering in the sky, hair floating, and surveying everything below.

"Even the Kusanagi can’t pierce Naruto's high-density chakra. This body is close to its limit; there's no point in fighting much longer," Orochimaru thought, glancing to the side.

He froze in shock when he saw Aizen appear beside Naruto. "Damn, what is Aizen doing here? I need to get out of here—getting tangled up with that troublesome guy is not smart."

As Orochimaru tried to retract the Kusanagi sword, the Tailed Beast Naruto moved.

Naruto raised a claw, grabbed the Kusanagi blade, and flung it, sending the bright white blade sweeping toward Aizen and the others.

Everything in its path—trees, rubble, and the broken bridge—was split in two.

"Get down, Karin!" Yamato shouted, quickly covering Sakura.

Trained by Tsunade over the years, Karin, who had reached Jōnin level with heightened perception, dodged the instant Yamato shouted.

The Kusanagi sword didn’t slow, heading straight for Aizen and his group.

Just as it was about to reach Aizen, he raised his right hand, extended one finger, and with a "ding" stopped the Kusanagi sword.

"Stopped it… with just a finger…" muttered Kabuto in awe, his intention to dodge now redundant.

Sakura and Yamato, lying on the ground, were equally stunned, witnessing Aizen’s strength yet again.

As for Karin, she looked at Aizen with adoration, hands pressed against her flushed face, eyes sparkling. In her mind, she whispered, "So cool, Lord Aizen."

To Pakura, however, this was nothing unusual.

"It looks like your Lord Orochimaru is running out of tricks against Naruto in his Tailed Beast form," Aizen remarked with a grin to Kabuto, pinching the Kusanagi sword blade between his thumb and index finger, rendering Orochimaru’s attempts to retrieve it futile.

"Lord Aizen, what business do you have with Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked, smiling slightly, neither admitting nor denying anything, as both Orochimaru and Aizen were beyond him.

"Of course, I wouldn't be here if it weren’t important. My mission this time is to kill Orochimaru—he’s after the Three-Tails," Aizen replied.

Kabuto's face darkened, his suspicions confirmed. Recalling Orochimaru's opinion of Aizen, Kabuto quickly flashed a flattering smile, "Oh, Lord Aizen, you’re quite the joker. Surely you wouldn’t go against your own principles for the likes of Akatsuki. Besides, wouldn’t you miss seeing how Sasuke and Orochimaru’s story ends if Orochimaru were to die here?”

"True." Aizen shrugged, releasing the Kusanagi sword, allowing Orochimaru to retract it. He then added, "But I think you know my rules, right?"

Kabuto blinked. “Rules?”

Recalling Orochimaru’s history of being blackmailed, Kabuto quickly caught on, “Ah, of course. Please, this way."

Kabuto gestured politely toward Orochimaru's direction.

At that moment, the Tailed Beast Naruto, fully losing control, roared and aimed his rage at Aizen. Inside Naruto, the Nine-Tails sensed a detested energy from Aizen.

Before Naruto’s giant claw reached Aizen, it was bound by a golden chain.

Four more chains extended, completely restraining Naruto.

"Hurry, Captain Yamato! Get Naruto to exit Tailed Beast mode!" Karin shouted urgently.

"I’m on it," Yamato quickly formed hand seals to perform Wood Release.

Kabuto looked at the chains in shock, realizing they were extending from Karin. He was intrigued. Why would one of Tsunade’s disciples stop Naruto from attacking Aizen? Was there a hidden relationship between them, or was she aware of the consequences of attacking Aizen?

Before Kabuto could ponder further, Aizen provided the "answer." "Smart move, young lady. If you’d let him attack me, there wouldn’t be a single Konoha shinobi leaving alive today except for Naruto."

With that, Aizen nodded at Karin, then headed in Orochimaru’s direction with Yakura.

Kabuto followed closely, thinking, "Must be the second reason."

Hearing Aizen’s words, Karin blushed and clasped her hands over her flushed face, smiling dreamily as she repeated in her mind, "Lord Aizen praised me! Lord Aizen praised me!"

Yamato, exhausted from containing the Nine-Tails, sighed in frustration, "Karin, seriously! If you keep this up, Naruto will break free!"

But Karin didn’t respond to his calls, still immersed in Aizen’s compliment.

Yamato ended up worn out like a dog.

Meanwhile, Aizen and Pakura reached Orochimaru.

Seeing Orochimaru slither out of his own mouth, Aizen grimaced in open disgust. "Still the same, huh? Spitting up snakes, and snakes that spit up you… Can’t you do anything less revolting?"

"Or are you still without your hands? I even told you how to get them back, remember?"

Orochimaru’s face twitched as he clenched his hands in frustration.

But the situation forced him to tolerate Aizen, who had tricked, humiliated, and extorted him repeatedly. Until he secured Sasuke’s body, he didn’t want to burn any bridges.

Suppressing his irritation, Orochimaru deflected, "Ah, Aizen-kun, always joking. So what brings you here this time? I doubt I have anything left that could interest you."

"Oh, don’t be so sure. Don’t you still have that Edo Tensei? Seems like a fun jutsu, and you’ve been gathering strong bodies, haven’t you?” Aizen narrowed his eyes.

Orochimaru paused, then laughed, “Surely you’re joking, Aizen-kun. You, of all people, who believe only in your own strength, wouldn’t be interested in corpses."

*Chapter 244: Meeting Aizen and Catching Him Fighting Sasuke*

"It seems you really know me well, Orochimaru," Aizen replied without denial, glancing toward the forest depths where a Wood Clone of Yamato lay hidden. He got straight to the point:

"Let me be clear: I want the training method for the Dust Release, the original cells of the First Hokage, and a chance to meet with Sasuke."

"Meet these three conditions, and you can keep your life today. I’ll even promise not to hunt you down again in the future—as long as you don't provoke me."

A sinister smile spread across Orochimaru's face. "Aizen-kun, your appetite is as insatiable as ever. Seeing Sasuke isn’t a problem, and I can give you the First's cells as well."

"But Dust Release is the only Bloodline Selection in the current Shinobi World. Am I to assume that Aizen-kun has already fused Fire, Wind, and Earth chakra attributes?"

"Of course," Aizen nodded without denying it.

Hearing this, Orochimaru’s calm demeanor cracked. He licked his lips, his eerie smile hiding his growing greed. "How marvelous! Absolutely marvelous. I never imagined Aizen-kun could achieve something like this."

"You haven’t answered my question yet. And stop looking at me like that, or I might just kill you," Aizen threatened with a smile.

"Apologies, apologies. I can’t help myself whenever I see something beautiful; I just have to have it, even though I can’t," Orochimaru said with an embarrassed smile. "Unfortunately, Dust Release is the highest-level secret of the Stone Village. Only the Tsuchikages and their successors have access to it. So even if you kill me, I can’t give it to you."

"That's not for you to worry about. Just do as I say, and I’ll find a way. Let’s go; back to your base," Aizen said as he spread his chakra senses, locating Sasuke’s chakra.

He and Pakura started moving toward Sasuke’s direction.

"Orochimaru-sama, it seems Aizen-sama has located Sasuke through his sensory abilities. What should we do?" Kabuto asked Orochimaru hesitantly.

"Let’s see what he's up to," Orochimaru responded, his face turning sour as he clicked his tongue and followed after Aizen and Pakura.

Kabuto followed closely behind.

Orochimaru thought to himself, I just need to be patient. I still have Sasuke. Once I get his body, I’ll be unstoppable.

"I can’t believe even Orochimaru fears Aizen this much. He’s a dangerous one," Yamato’s Wood Clone muttered from behind a tree, still reeling from the intense encounter.

"Why does he want the First Hokage’s cells? And what does he mean by 'my Sasuke'?"

"And he's even after the Rock Village’s Bloodline Selection."

"On top of that, the Akatsuki seems to have sent Aizen to kill Orochimaru, but he's taking this chance to extort him instead."

"What is he really after? There are just too many unanswered questions," the clone thought, finally sighing before contacting the original.

---

Several hours later.

The group of four arrived at a remote, rugged mountain area.

With a rumbling sound, a cliff wall opened up, revealing a dimly lit tunnel covered in paper talismans.

"Orochimaru, you still like living in these dark, damp places, don’t you? Can’t you pick a normal place to live?" Aizen said, sensing Naruto and Karin’s locations nearby as he shot a disdainful look at Orochimaru.

"Go on in. Sasuke is inside. I’ll give you the First's cells later," Orochimaru retorted, rolling his eyes as he stepped inside, thinking to himself, You think I actually enjoy these creepy places? If it weren't for hiding from the Leaf and the Akatsuki, I'd never live here!

The four walked through the dim corridor, the only sounds being their footsteps and the faint flicker of the candles mounted on the walls, casting an eerie glow.

Soon enough, they arrived at a dark stone hall.

In the center of the hall, a stone serpent head with an open mouth loomed overhead. Sasuke, with the Kusanagi sword at his waist, sat confidently beneath it, exuding a bold aura that commanded attention.

"You're late. Weren't we supposed to practice new jutsu this afternoon, Orochimaru?" Sasuke lifted his gaze, revealing his eerie, crimson Sharingan as he spoke in a nearly commanding tone to Orochimaru.

Hearing this, Kabuto frowned in dissatisfaction.

Orochimaru, however, was not offended; instead, he patiently explained.

This scene was too much for Aizen, who burst out laughing.

"Is something funny, Aizen-kun?" Orochimaru asked, slightly annoyed.

"Yes, quite funny," Aizen nodded, his gaze settling on Sasuke as they locked eyes. "Years ago, when Sasuke begged me to make him stronger, he was willing to call me ‘father.’ But here, you’ve practically made him your boss. Isn’t that hilarious?"

"Did that really happen?" Orochimaru looked at Sasuke in surprise. The same person who was so prideful and arrogant here actually once called Aizen "father"?

Images of his younger self calling Aizen "father" flooded Sasuke’s mind, and he felt his face grow hot with embarrassment, a sense of social humiliation washing over him.

Humiliated and angry, he abruptly opened his eyes and launched a genjutsu attack on Aizen.

"Stop, Sasuke!" Kabuto shouted urgently, watching Sasuke attack Aizen. He wasn't worried about Aizen or Sasuke himself; he was concerned about Orochimaru's potential vessel.

After all, in the Shinobi World, Aizen was known as the “Illusion God,” whose prowess in genjutsu was even more formidable than the man who had once defeated Orochimaru, Uchiha Itachi. Using genjutsu on the “Illusion God” was akin to a death wish.

But Sasuke ignored Kabuto and continued pressing the attack on Aizen.

Inside Sasuke's illusionary space, Aizen looked unfazed, smiling as he gazed up at the massive Sharingan symbol looming overhead. "Genjutsu, huh? It’s a decent trick, but it's nothing compared to Itachi’s Tsukuyomi."

"Sasuke, you think I didn't teach you anything after calling me 'father' back then, right? Today, I’ll give you a lesson in genjutsu."

"Listen closely—genjutsu battles are all about mental energy. The Uchiha clan's so-called 'eye power' is just one part of it."

"And just as a three-tomoe Sharingan can never defeat the Mangekyo, your mental energy alone isn’t enough. I don't even need to disturb my own chakra; just releasing a burst of my own mental energy is enough to break your illusion."

As he spoke, a surge of mental energy burst from Aizen, shattering the illusion like paper.

"Ah!" Sasuke screamed as the genjutsu world collapsed around him. Blood trickled from his eyes as he clutched them, his body shaking violently.

---

Chapter 245: Sasuke's Crisis of Confidence

"Sasuke.... Kabuto, hurry."

Orochimaru’s heart sank as he saw Sasuke’s eyes begin to bleed. He quickly ordered Kabuto to go check on him. If Sasuke went blind, all Orochimaru's efforts over the past three years would be wasted.

"Get lost!" Sasuke shoved Kabuto away and forced his blood-blurred eyes open just enough to make out Aizen’s figure. In an instant, he drew the Kusanagi Sword and lunged forward.

"Stop, Sasuke!" Orochimaru yelled sharply, seeing Sasuke's foolish attempt to attack Aizen. But Sasuke ignored him and charged ahead, undeterred.

"Relax, Orochimaru. I won’t kill Sasuke." Aizen didn’t even glance at Sasuke. When Sasuke slashed at him, Aizen simply raised his right hand.

A metallic clang echoed.

Aizen had stopped the Kusanagi Sword with just his index finger.

"How is this possible? With just one finger...?" Sasuke’s eyes widened in shock.

Though Orochimaru and Kabuto had seen Aizen catch the Kusanagi Sword with a single finger at Tenchi Bridge, they couldn’t hide their amazement. Aizen’s strength had clearly grown since three years ago, reaching a level beyond any ninja—a whole new realm.

For Pakura, however, this was old news; she stood behind Aizen, unfazed.

"You’ve improved a lot compared to three years ago, but you haven’t shaken that impulsiveness. Attacking like this—do you have a death wish?"

Still holding Sasuke’s Kusanagi Sword between his index finger and thumb, Aizen smiled and added, "With your skill level, if you faced Itachi, you’d be defeated by a single genjutsu—if he doesn’t go easy on you. Let’s make this Lesson Two."

"Taijutsu: never try to engage in close combat with someone stronger, especially if they excel in swordsmanship. You've only played around with swords for three years; to a true master, your technique is like a child’s game."

"You bastard..." Sasuke gritted his teeth. This time, he didn’t scream or get easily provoked. Impressed by Aizen’s strength, he tightened his grip on the Kusanagi Sword. A powerful electric current burst from his palm, coursing down the blade instantly.

It was Chidori Blade: chakra with a lightning nature infused into the sword. Powerful enough to slice through kunai easily, it would paralyze any opponent struck by it.

Yet it didn’t affect Aizen at all.

The Chidori Blade, which should have been able to slice through metal, was no more effective than a piece of kindling against Aizen’s fingers. Chuckling, he said, "So you’re channeling lightning chakra into your blade? Nice idea, but too bad—it still doesn’t work. Lesson Three: never try to use Lightning Release against someone whose mastery of it far surpasses yours. Or you’ll suffer."

As he spoke, a surge of electricity, far stronger than Sasuke’s, erupted from Aizen’s hand and traveled down the Kusanagi Sword, enveloping Sasuke in an instant.

"Ahhhh!" Sasuke screamed as the lightning coursed through him.

At the last second, he released the Kusanagi Sword and quickly backed away from Aizen. Forming hand signs with both hands, he placed his right hand on his left wrist.

In the next moment, lightning sparked in his left palm.

Meanwhile, a curse mark ignited on the left side of Sasuke’s neck, spreading dark, intricate patterns across his body.

His body began to transform, his hair growing longer, a pair of strange "wings" sprouting from his back, and a cross-shaped mark appearing on his face.

Even the Chidori in his left hand had turned jet-black.

In that instant, Aizen could clearly sense that Sasuke's chakra had multiplied several times over.

"Is this the power of curse mark? As a party trick, it’s not bad," Aizen commented lightly, giving Orochimaru a quick glance. As he stepped forward, Sasuke instinctively retreated, widening the gap between them.

Aizen stopped and smiled. "Why are you backing away? If you want to defeat me, you should close in and use that Chidori you’re so proud of. Or are you afraid that when you get close, any part of my body could slip out of your line of sight?"

"You damn..."

The shame—overwhelming, stinging shame.

Sasuke’s mental defenses were on the brink of collapse. Barely keeping his terror in check, he spat out his response through gritted teeth.

Aizen continued, undeterred, "If that’s the case, you’re only tormenting yourself with unnecessary worries. The distance between us matters only if our power levels are equal. For you and me, there’s no such thing as ‘fighting distance.’"

As he said this, Aizen had already closed the gap and placed his left hand on Sasuke’s chest. "See? Just like that, I’m already touching your heart."

"No way..." Sasuke’s gaze wavered as sweat trickled down his forehead, his pupils trembling. Frozen in place for a few moments, he finally snapped out of it, swinging the Chidori in his left hand toward Aizen.

Of course, his attack missed entirely.

In a flash, Aizen reappeared beside Pakura.

Orochimaru and Kabuto both felt a surge of dread. They looked from Sasuke to Aizen, exchanging grave glances.

No one present had seen how Aizen moved to Sasuke so suddenly—not even the hand signs.

An illusion? This thought echoed in the minds of Sasuke, Orochimaru, and Kabuto.

"This is no illusion; it’s only basic skill of Lord Aizen. His power..." Pakura, reading their minds, spoke with a chilly tone.

"Enough, Pakura—no more words," Aizen interrupted her, and she promptly fell silent.

Aizen turned to the stone hall’s exit, his back to Sasuke. "Sasuke, since you once called me ‘father,’ I’ll give you one last lesson."

"If you want to use Lightning Release, then use Lightning Release. If you want genjutsu, then use genjutsu. If you want swordsmanship, then use swordsmanship."

"But if you use Lightning Release against a Lightning Release master, genjutsu against a genjutsu master, or swordsmanship against a sword master, unless they’re holding back like I am, you’ll be lucky to make it out alive."

With that, Aizen glanced at Orochimaru and Kabuto. "Orochimaru, Kabuto, show me around your lab and hand over the items I asked for."

Aizen then walked out, Pakura following closely behind.

"Sasuke seems pretty shaken up by this," Orochimaru remarked, glancing back at him. "Oh well, let him have some time alone." He gave Sasuke a lingering look, then left the stone hall.

As for Kabuto, he’d borne the brunt of Sasuke’s temper countless times over the past three years. Seeing him finally brought low filled Kabuto with satisfaction. Chuckling softly, he followed Orochimaru out.