Aizen couldn't precisely grasp what specific impact his words to Uchiha Itachi would have.
Or rather, he hadn't expected to achieve such a goal in the first place.
Whether in his previous life or this one, strong or weak, his actions towards others had always been to guide them by presenting a 'partial truth,' rather than forcing them to meet certain demands.
Even if he could make some people physically fulfill his requirements, he couldn't truly perceive a person's completely free inner thoughts.
However, as long as the overall situation remained within his control, he didn't particularly care.
After all, the completely undefined unknown is often more interesting than the known, isn't it?
Although he had suffered many losses at the hands of Gin Ichimaru, Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo Kurosaki, and many others in his previous life, he felt it would still be difficult for him to get rid of this malicious pleasure, like a cat playing with a mouse.
However, just as the limiting condition of 'overall situation within his control' mentioned earlier, Aizen's attitude was always much more serious regarding a small number of things he had absolutely no control over.
For example, Orochimaru, whom he had eliminated in advance.
Or, a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan with special powers… "Whoosh—"
Several figures darted through with a faint rustling of wind, using the sparse moonlight filtering through the dense forest to shoot straight off in various directions.
It was the Root contingent.
Although there was no ripple in Konoha's peaceful environment, Root and the Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force had engaged in multiple skirmishes, both overt and covert, since the first surprise attack.
The Uchiha Clan's rage was not without reason, and Danzo Shimura's apprehension did not come out of nowhere.
In terms of recklessness, neither Root nor the Uchiha were fundamentally different.
This time, the Root squad had their sights set on an Uchiha scout team patrolling the edge of the Uchiha Clan Compound, north of Naka Shrine—the aggressive Uchiha would not tolerate Root's undisguised surveillance.
"Swish!"
It wasn't until the distance between the two sides closed to within a hundred meters that the Root Squad Leader, who had been at the forefront of the formation, suddenly stopped.
The entire squad behind him also immediately followed orders, concealing themselves behind various large tree trunks.
The Root Squad Leader looked at the Uchiha scout team ahead, who still showed no signs of awareness, and quickly made several tactical hand gestures in the darkness.
After that, the forest fell into a profound silence.
Through his mask, the Root Squad Leader's dull eyes watched the Uchiha squad ahead, while his peripheral vision constantly scanned the surroundings.
Unlike his squad members who had only received one command, as the Squad Leader, he knew very well that in addition to annihilating this squad, he had an even more important objective.
To lure out the fish hidden behind the scenes.
For this purpose, three other similarly configured teams were trailing far behind his squad.
At the same time, before they set out, Lord Danzo had given him a highly probable target candidate.
Uchiha Shisui.
Compared to completing the mission itself, whether he could lure out a truly significant fish was his most important concern.
"Who?!"
Suddenly, one of the Uchiha in the scout team ahead seemed to realize something, and immediately turned his head towards a direction where the chirping of insects was faint.
Hearing this, the Root Squad Leader's gaze darkened slightly, but his gestures were extremely decisive; after quickly giving the attack command, he immediately formed hand signs.
"Mind Body Switch Jutsu!"
The next moment, the Uchiha who had first given the warning suddenly paused.
"What's going on?"
His Uchiha comrade beside him had just turned to him when he saw his warning-issuing colleague suddenly draw his sword and fiercely stab at him with a cold, life-for-life demeanor.
"Clang!"
Sparks flew.
The dynamic vision provided by his Sharingan allowed him to barely block the strike in a hurry, but before his astonished expression could fully register, the opponent had already unhesitatingly lunged forward, impaling his chest on the blade's tip.
With a squelch, the blade instantly pierced through him.
His comrade was stunned on the spot.
But the other members of Root had no intention of giving him time to react.
Almost at the instant he began to feel bewildered, the other three had already attacked him simultaneously from different directions.
Steel wires and venomous insects intertwined under the cover of night, and this battle-hardened Uchiha Ninja had an arm severed, while the purple hue of potent venom rapidly climbed his face, his body immediately beginning to paralyze, bleed, and lose strength.
His proud Sharingan genjutsu didn't even have a chance to be cast.
"Enemy attack!"
The remaining two members of the scout team finally reacted, shouting as they lunged towards the battle formation, shuriken and kunai flew through the air with piercing wind, while the other quickly drew the blade from his waist, ready to engage.
However, for the Root elite who had wiped out half a squad in an instant, this was merely a desperate struggle.
In just a few rounds, these two Uchiha Chunin, who hadn't even awakened their Sharingan, were cut down by the combined efforts of four Root members.
Having swiftly annihilated an entire Uchiha scout team in such a short time, these four Root elites showed no trace of triumph, instead remaining as cold and silent as when they first appeared, not uttering a single superfluous sound.
The leading Root Squad Leader seemed to sense something from afar and made several gestures to his teammates.
Soon, the group departed.
It wasn't until a moment later that the angry curses of the Uchiha Clan members could be heard from the forest.
Counterintuitively, however, these Root members who had left after the killing did not run too far from the battlefield, but instead continuously patrolled around the scene of the killing, as if waiting for something.
It wasn't until the night gradually gave way to a hint of dawn, and the Root Squad Leader judged that this operation was likely coming to an end, that he silently set off back towards the Root base.
"Are you preparing to leave already?"
However, just as they were about to exit this patch of forest.
A gentle and warm voice suddenly echoed in their ears.
The Root Squad Leader first froze, then abruptly looked up in the direction of the voice.
And then, he saw a figure completely cloaked in a heavy black robe, standing silently on a tree branch ahead.
Despite his obvious position, they had not detected his presence at all before he spoke.
The Root Squad Leader's heart immediately tightened, and he felt a vague excitement.
'This person might be the target Lord Danzo is looking for.'
'The physique differs from the estimated target.'
'Further probing is needed.'
Almost at the instant this thought arose, without any eye contact, the battle-hardened and well-coordinated Root squad suddenly moved.
Flying venomous insects spread like a misty veil;
Coiling steel wires shot out like a spider web;
Hidden blades extended from the side of tree trunks;
The Root Squad Leader's hands came together in a seal.
'Just a moment.'
This thought flashed through the Root Squad Leader's mind.
But the next moment.
"Thump."
The sound of limbs falling onto humus and fallen leaves was somewhat crisp.
The Root Squad Leader was drawn by the sound and unconsciously lowered his head.
And then, his vision met a pair of hands clasped in a seal.
And… his own arms, severed at the wrist, gushing blood.
The other's perfectly coordinated attacks, honed through countless training sessions, all struck empty air, causing a needless commotion.
"Boom—"
As for the person who had been in front just now, he abruptly appeared behind him.
However, the Root Squad Leader showed no pain whatsoever from his severed arms; instead, his dull eyes gleamed with excitement.
"It's you!"
He leaped like a swallow, landing on another tree trunk, staring intently at the figure who remained as silent as he had been at first:
"Finally caught you!"
Almost at the instant his voice fell.
The dark forest, previously empty, suddenly gained the presence of several squads, densely surrounding the figure in the center, forming an impenetrable encirclement like an iron barrel.
They all drew their swords.
The Root Squad Leader, with his severed arm, stared at the still silent figure, his voice slightly hoarse from blood loss, but his tone incredibly calm:
"In this lineup, are you still not planning to give up resisting?"
"You are surrounded."
However, his words were met with a slightly mocking sneer.
The figure under the black cloak seemed to shake his head with a hint of helplessness, reaching up to adjust his heavy spectacles, then looked up at them and chuckled softly:
"Try to attack me."
"I'll show you just how arrogant that thought truly is."