*Chapter 130: Self-Destruction of Identity*

Upon hearing this, Gaara’s rage finally subsided slightly. Like Orochimaru, he extended his not-too-long tongue and licked his lips, a sickly smile appearing on his face as he muttered, "Let him live a little longer then."

"That's seriously edgy," Aizen thought, shrugging indifferently as Gaara once again fell into his melodramatic persona.

Naturally, Aizen had no interest in participating in this fight.

Even if he won, it wouldn't bring him any satisfaction.

His true goal was to plant Kyōka Suigetsu into those like Might Guy who had yet to witness its release.

He wondered how Asuma Sarutobi, that eunuch, would react upon seeing this familiar Zanpakutō.

At that moment, the referee, Hayate Gekkō, walked over.

"For the first round," Hayate Gekkō coughed lightly and pointed to the spectator stands by the wall, "everyone except the two combatants, please move over there."

Hearing this, the crowd followed and moved to the viewing platform, gathering with their respective mentors.

*Team 7 – Kakashi's Team*

"You guys really had it rough, especially you, Sakura, getting beat up pretty badly," were the first words Kakashi said when he saw Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei, how could you!" Sakura glared at Kakashi with frustration, revealing her two front teeth as she grimaced.

Holding back his laughter, Kakashi said, "My bad, my bad, I shouldn't have made fun of you. But take this as a lesson—work hard to get stronger. Right now, you're far behind Naruto and Sasuke."

Turning serious, he looked over at Sasuke, who had a pained expression on his face, and asked, "Sasuke, how are you feeling?"

"No... no problem," Sasuke forced out, struggling to hide his pain.

Kakashi saw through his act and frowned. "Do your best, but if you use your Sharingan in the upcoming match, I will stop the fight."

"Damn it..." Sasuke cursed inwardly, picturing scenes of hiding from the rain, Gaara, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and even Naruto.

Using the Sharingan meant using chakra.

And chakra would trigger a reaction with the curse mark, causing it to erupt.

Sasuke knew this well.

But even so...

He had to keep pushing forward.

Not to become a Chūnin, nor to gain the Hokage’s recognition.

But to see just how far his current strength had come. Whether he was still wasting his time.

*Team 8 – Kurenai’s Team*

"Kurenai-sensei, do you know that bandaged guy?" Kiba asked, standing next to Kurenai as he eyed Aizen.

Kurenai blinked. "Why do you ask?"

"At the start of the second exam, we ran into him in the Forest of Death. My bugs and Akamaru smelled the same scent on him that we noticed on you that day," Shino spoke up quietly.

Kurenai’s eyes flickered with panic.

She certainly couldn’t tell her students that the scent on Aizen came from spending a wild night with her.

Luckily, the scent had long dissipated, even to the point where neither Akamaru nor Shino’s bugs could detect it anymore.

"Did you really know him, sensei?" Hinata asked hopefully.

If she did, then maybe he was who she thought he was.

(PS: Byakugan has a bug. While it can see through objects, it can’t see through tight clothing—at most, it’s useful for peeking into a bathhouse. Referencing the Kazekage Rescue Mission, where Neji uses Byakugan to see the Gedo Statue inside the cave while Deidara and Sasori were fully clothed.)

"You’re overthinking it. How could I know a Rain ninja? It’s probably because he had a conflict with his teammates during the exam, and I had to intervene. That’s likely how the scent got on him."

Kurenai lied with a straight face.

*Team 10 – Asuma’s Team*

"Asuma-sensei, do you think Ino can win?" Chōji asked offhandedly, glancing at Sarutobi Asuma, who was casually reapplying his makeup.

"Not a chance."

Before Asuma could respond, Shikamaru cut in, making a snarky comment.

Asuma paused, putting away his mirror and cosmetics. Surprised, he asked, "Shikamaru, have you met that Rain ninja?"

Shikamaru nodded and recounted the encounter with Aizen and Pakura.

"I see. It seems this Rain ninja isn’t just an ordinary Genin," Asuma realized but didn’t pay it much mind.

For elite Jōnin like them, deflecting an attack from a Genin’s kunai and counterattacking was child’s play.

*Team 3 – Might Guy’s Team*

Neji Hyuga shared his findings from the Forest of Death.

"You’re saying that bandaged man had chakra greater than all of us?" Guy asked in surprise.

"Yes, Guy-sensei," Neji nodded.

"Could he be Orochimaru in disguise?" Guy stroked his chin and mused. Then, with a serious expression, he said, "I understand. This is a serious matter. I’ll consult with Kakashi and then decide whether to report this to the Hokage."

"Now, let the first round begin!" Hayate Gekkō’s voice echoed just as Guy was about to approach Kakashi, stopping him in his tracks.

*In the Center of the Arena*

Aizen stood calmly, his demeanor composed.

Thirty paces away, Ino was visibly anxious, cold sweat dripping from her forehead as she slowly raised her right hand.

"Are you giving up, Ino-pig?" Sakura’s mocking voice called out from the stands just as Ino was about to concede.

"Bald Sakura! I’m not giving up!" Fueled by her rival's taunt, Ino’s fighting spirit ignited.

But she knew she couldn’t win, so she immediately formed hand seals, preparing to use her Mind Transfer Jutsu to make her opponent surrender.

Aizen made no effort to resist.

In the next moment, Ino’s spirit successfully entered his body.

Her physical body collapsed to the ground.

But before Ino could celebrate, she sensed the immense chakra within Aizen, shocking her.

Instinctively, she tried to escape his body, only to find her spirit trapped, unable to leave.

Just then, Aizen’s voice echoed in her ear, "Don’t worry, little girl. I won’t harm you."

Unlike his previous raspy voice, this one was clear and refreshing, giving off a soothing vibe.

Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Aizen theatrically reached into his sleeve and pulled out his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, whispering to himself, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."

"This is..." Seeing the familiar Zanpakutō, Asuma Sarutobi and Kakashi’s pupils contracted simultaneously.

Asuma would never forget the blade that had slaughtered his clan and destroyed his future heirs.

Looking back at the bandaged man, comparing him with Aizen, he noticed that the uncovered eyes were uncannily similar.

This man had returned.