Uehara cut off the connection.
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but grit his teeth.
How can this little brat Uehara Naraku have the nerve to say he isn't petty? He can't even recognize what image he has in others' eyes!
However, Senju Tobirama's attention was more focused on Ishida Uryu and Yhwach, unwilling to bicker with Uehara Naraku.
As for Aizen Sousuke, who had just acquired the Hogyoku…
Senju Tobirama roughly understood in his heart that Aizen Sousuke was Uehara Naraku's prey, and they, the so-called Deadguard Seat Officers, were absolutely not allowed to interfere.
Within the Quiet Spirit Court.
Countless Shinigami were searching for the whereabouts of Aizen Sousuke.
Originally, the Shinigami wanted to continue capturing Kurosaki Ichigo and his group, but Uehara Naraku vouched for Kurosaki Ichigo, resolving their crisis.
Compared to Kurosaki Ichigo's bunch, it was obvious that Aizen Sousuke was the real menace to the Soul Society, and the entire Quiet Spirit Court was in a frenzy!
However, what they absolutely didn't expect was that Aizen Sousuke had not left the Quiet Spirit Court and was even in its most important location.
The entrance to the Quiet Spirit Court and the Soul King Palace.
Aizen Sousuke stood here quietly, watching the space in front of him slowly crack open, a voice falling into his ear.
"You're still not strong enough."
"It's okay, soon it will be enough."
Aizen Sousuke smiled and nodded, speaking with a grin: "Kabuto-san, so can I not yet have the key to the Soul King Palace?"
"Correct."
A calm voice came from the space crack: "Your power isn't enough... not nearly enough... to sit on the throne... you'd need a Spiritual Pressure that surprises even me..."
"Is that so?"
Aizen Sousuke nodded again, his eyes narrowed slightly, and continued softly: "It's okay, I just wanted to see if Kabuto-san had forgotten our agreement."
"No need to worry."
The voice of Yakushi Kabuto remained calm within the space crack, even a bit nostalgic: "I've waited for hundreds or even thousands of years... I've never been in a rush... I assumed you'd contact me again from a higher place."
"This time won't be long."
Aizen Sousuke slowly pulled out the Hogyoku he had gathered, speaking with a smile: "I just fused two Hogyokus... and discovered something very interesting, the Hogyoku is actually a living existence."
Yes.
The Hogyoku is actually a living thing!
Even Aizen Sousuke was a bit surprised after discovering this; how could an object like the Hogyoku be a living organism?
No, or rather, it's not surprising at all!
Before Urahara Kisuke created the Hogyoku, Aizen Sousuke had already made his own Hogyoku, even gaining the adjunct Black Zetsu. However, his Hogyoku never felt satisfied no matter what souls and Spiritual Particles it devoured, until the two Hogyokus fully fused was considered successful.
Moreover, the Hogyoku's effects are very interesting.
This Hogyoku can materialize by absorbing a person's inner thoughts.
In a certain sense, the ability of the Hogyoku is to grant people's wishes, to literally fulfill their desires, a frightening ability!
Therefore…
The first thought Aizen Sousuke had upon acquiring the Hogyoku was to find a way to enter the Soul King Palace, prompting him to contact Yakushi Kabuto without hesitation.
From this perspective…
The Hogyoku indeed granted his wish?
"Then why have you come?"
Yakushi Kabuto's voice remained steady, seemingly uninterested in the Hogyoku in Aizen Sousuke's hand; he simply continued: "Do you want information about the Hogyoku from me?"
"Perhaps I used to have that thought."
Aizen Sousuke's lips curled into a slight smile as he spoke: "But now, there's no need for that, we'll meet again soon."
Strictly speaking…
This is the world's first genuinely completed Hogyoku.
Aizen Sousuke came to see Yakushi Kabuto solely to learn how to enter the Soul King Palace, but the Hogyoku inadvertently guided him here.
Now Aizen Sousuke has discovered the Hogyoku's peculiarities…
The next step is to return to the Hollow World, using his power to subdue the Hogyoku, making himself the true master of the Hogyoku!
The space crack quietly closed.
Yakushi Kabuto's voice was no longer heard.
Aizen Sousuke's lips curled into a smile as he quietly left the Soul Society, having found the direction of his evolution.
As long as he gains the Hogyoku's approval…
Then his true plan can begin!
With Aizen Sousuke showing up and leaving, and the news of him taking the Hogyoku from within Kuchiki Rukia, the entire Quiet Spirit Court had to once again take this former traitor seriously.
According to the wishes of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads, they certainly hoped to invade the Hollow World, but just now they were slightly understaffed and could only wait for Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni to return and give instructions.
Kuchiki Rukia remained in the Soul Society for training.
Kurosaki Ichigo, Inoue Orihime, and Sado Yasutora received the understanding of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads; they were still searching within the Quiet Spirit Court for Ishida Uryu's whereabouts.
Unfortunately, there have been no clues.
The Shinigami responsible for hunting down Ishida Uryu also informed Kurosaki Ichigo and his group of the situation they encountered, believing Ishida Uryu must have allied with a powerful entity.
In this situation, Kurosaki Ichigo curiously brought out Uehara Naraku's statement, which was immediately accepted by the Shinigami of the Quiet Spirit Court.