Chapter 4: Kato Dan
If Hatake Sakumo's soul could see this scene, he would likely faint and ascend to the Pure Land instantly.
Kato Dan—his very name carried pain for many.
Like Nawaki, he was someone precious to Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha.
Yet here he was, this man who once shone like moonlight, walking side by side with Aizen Sosuke as if they were old acquaintances.
The two moved through an ancient stone corridor, the lights above flickering as their steps echoed softly.
"Does it really have to be this way?" Kato Dan asked calmly, his tone detached yet tinged with concern. "Using strong obsessions and emotions to stimulate the soul and body to maintain self-awareness?"
"Ah, there's no other choice," Aizen replied, hands tucked inside his sleeves. "Sakumo-kun's state is still unstable. He'll need at least twenty-one soul surgeries before reaching equilibrium. It would be a shame to abandon him now, wouldn't it?"
"Using his son as leverage is going too far."
Aizen smiled faintly. "The souls of those who commit suicide are fragile. They lack attachment to the world. Sometimes... a little manipulation through kind words is necessary."
Their voices carried down the corridor clearly—yet only one of them, Aizen, cast a shadow on the ground.
Under the flickering lights, the stone floor remained spotless, illuminated but empty where Kato Dan should have stood.
"Come to think of it," Kato Dan continued, walking alongside him, "you've always shown signs of being different from the rest of Konoha, haven't you?"
"How so?"
"You've never worn the Konoha forehead protector. You've never seen yourself as a ninja. You've always acted outside the norms of what a shinobi should do. The Sandaime himself was troubled by your behavior at first."
Aizen chuckled softly. "In a sense, that's true. I've never been good at disguises. It's... embarrassing, really."
"Haha. You see? If you would just speak plainly, everything would make more sense. Why not say what you truly believe, Aizen? I still don't understand you."
"Because forming a worldview isn't something that can be explained in a few words, Dan-kun."
They arrived at a reinforced door with a biometric seal. Aizen placed his hand on the scanner. The door slid open silently, the panels parting left and right.
Kato Dan followed, his ethereal body gliding through the entrance. When the door shut again, its edge sliced through his form—but he simply passed through the barrier effortlessly, as though the material world held no power over him.
Neither man appeared surprised. They continued forward, the corridor ahead lighting up in sequence as their footsteps echoed deeper into the facility.
Aizen's voice, low and rhythmic, resonated through the narrow hall, carrying an almost hypnotic allure.
"It takes time to shape a worldview. Only by witnessing firsthand how mediocrity distorts the world can one find the will to resist it."
"So, we must wait until after death to see clearly?" Kato Dan asked quietly. "The living can only speculate about your actions, while the dead finally understand?"
"Yes," Aizen answered without hesitation.
He continued, unbothered by Kato Dan's faint frustration.
"I don't blame you for your thoughts during life. It isn't your fault. Humans are molded by their surroundings—misled by information, trapped by perception. We can't see reality for what it truly is."
"Only after death, when one is freed from the hunger and desires of the flesh, can the soul perceive things clearly. Through emotions and actions, you finally see people's true selves... and the consequences of their existence."
"Is it love, or is it lust? Is it selflessness, or merely the pursuit of recognition? Are words genuine, or hollow without proof in action? Most people only understand these things after death. Some never do, even then. They willingly sink into the comfort of oblivion."
Aizen glanced at Kato Dan, his usual gentle smile returning.
"For instance, you once wished to become Hokage. Yet now, you've told no one the truth. You've matured, Dan-kun. I'm proud of you."
"...If I wanted to expose you, could I even hide it from you?"
"Whether it's Sakumo-kun or you, both of you are remarkable research subjects. It's wonderful that you can maintain your current states."
"No direct answer again," Kato Dan sighed. "So tell me, when will we truly emerge from this? When can we step out of the shadows and into the light?"
"Patience, Dan-kun. Don't rush. The time will come."
As they approached a massive collector gate, Aizen gestured with composed precision. The layered barriers opened one after another, metallic echoes filling the air.
Placing his hands back into his haori sleeves, he spoke in his usual soft tone.
"The soul materialization experiment has made progress. The next step is to replicate and condense the traces of the soul. The materials for forging the Zanpakutō have already been selected. Soon... we will use a medium to let the self within your soul bloom."
"...Why are you so afraid of chakra, Aizen?"
"Oh? Why do you think so?"
"Manipulating natural energy to suppress an enemy's spiritual pressure... forging a Shinigami body by merging the liberated soul with nature... using a medium to guide the three forces of natural power, the soul, and the self—that's your plan, isn't it? Then why abandon chakra? I could understand if it were Konoha's choice, but you—why reject it?"
"I'm simply being cautious. When one seeks a new path, it's only natural to discard old ways of thinking."
"It seems... we're still not trusted."
"Trust and reliance are just different words for the same weakness," Aizen replied softly. "I have no need to impose my ideals on others. But more importantly..."
He stopped and adjusted his glasses, his calm eyes glinting as they landed on Kato Dan. The final section of the corridor was lined with sealing tags, the air heavy with power.
"I can create a Death Contract—enough to monitor and influence you to a certain extent. But tell me, Dan-kun... is the one who created chakra still watching us? What do you think he sees when he looks upon this broken world?"
"…"
The stillness that followed pressed against the air. Kato Dan's expression froze, the question hanging between them like a weight.
"Are you certain of that?" he finally asked.
"Just some friendly advice."
Aizen's smile glowed under the pale light—warm, pure, and terrifyingly composed.
"I'm neither confirming nor denying. I merely hope everyone remains at peace. I'd hate for my precious test subjects to come to harm. Concepts like tracing chakra's origin are too far-fetched for now. My current goal is... quite small."
"Small?" Kato Dan gave a quiet laugh. "You call resurrecting the dead and letting us see all this small, Aizen? Forgive me if I find that hard to believe."
"No, truly, it's insignificant for now, Dan-kun. I only wish to loosen this rotten system a little."
Reaching the end of the corridor, Aizen placed a hand on the door before them and pushed it open.
Inside was a vast chamber lined with black coffins, each embedded with countless tubes pulsing faintly with light. The air was cold, thick with the scent of chemicals and metal.
Kato Dan's gaze froze when he saw one coffin marked with his own name.
Aizen turned toward him, smiling with quiet satisfaction.
"If the tank is too small, the big fish suffocate. So you either expand the tank... or remove the others. I simply can't bring myself to kill the fish."
"That... is very much like you," Kato Dan muttered, shaking his head.
He raised his hand as if to say more—but when he did, he noticed a pitch-black shadow spreading from his fingertips. It crawled down his arm, staining the floor beneath him.
"The time's almost up," he murmured. His expression softened into something sorrowful. "I still can't understand your reasoning, but... I hope you don't go too far. Many lives are innocent in all of this."
"I wouldn't harm anyone I don't understand, Dan-kun," Aizen replied gently. "You'll continue to exist within Konoha's shadows."
As Kato Dan's form began to dissolve, his body melting into dark vapor that flowed toward the coffin, Aizen adjusted his glasses again.
"Besides," he added, smiling faintly, "I look forward to the day you betray me—the gentlemen of Konoha always do. But until then, please continue studying. Curiosity is a virtue, after all."
"If you ever have questions, ask me directly. I'll gladly answer. New knowledge must be shared and tested... how much you learn depends entirely on you."
He stepped back, his tone softening into something almost lonely.
"After all, it's always a one-man show. A world where no one truly understands you... can be very lonely."
Kato Dan hesitated. Half of his form had already merged into the coffin, yet he paused—perhaps wanting to speak, perhaps to protest—but no words came. Within seconds, he was gone.
Aizen Sosuke remained where he was.
A man shrouded in mystery—sincere in appearance, yet perpetually reserved. Even when dealing with the dead, he spoke as though he were their confidant.
Beneath his white haori lay the darkness of its black inner lining. Though a Konoha ninja by title, he wore neither forehead protector nor vest.
And yet... everyone in the village admired him.
But perhaps not a single living soul truly knew the man behind that gentle smile.
Even the dead had seen only fragments of his true nature.
"I wish you a pleasant dream, Dan-kun," Aizen murmured. "And to the rest of you as well—rest well, and take care. We all have loved ones, after all. Let's not act irrationally."
As the last of the black shadow vanished into the coffin, Aizen observed the quiet chamber. His expression never changed—composed, refined, tranquil.
After verifying that all the instruments were functioning properly, he turned and walked out. His white haori swayed softly behind him as his figure disappeared into the darkness.
The coffins remained silent, untouched. It was as though nothing had ever been alive inside.
Hours passed in silence.
Then, from the depths of the pitch-black room, a faint sigh echoed.
"Aizen Sosuke... What did I see in your eyes... that made you become like this?"
The voice was gentle, sorrowful—yet it did not belong to Kato Dan.
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