Chapter 104: The Emperor's Departure
The mighty toad Gamaken lay broken, his immense form sprawled across the rubble. His breath was shallow, his body a canvas of grievous, piercing wounds. Blood, dark and thick, welled from the injuries in shocking quantities.
The sight of the once-indomitable summon in such a state was nothing short of brutal.
Defeated in a single move!
Hadō #90, when invoked with its full incantation, had been enough to critically wound the great Toad of Mount Myōboku.
A profound silence fell over the battlefield. Countless eyes were locked onto Gamaken's fallen form, disbelief warring with horror in every gaze.
Who was Gamaken? One of the three great toads of Mount Myōboku, renowned for his immense physical strength and durability. His power was such that, among all summoning beasts, he stood as a pillar of defensive might.
Yet, this unshakable entity, this legend in the eyes of ordinary shinobi, had been brought to the brink of death by a single, fully-chanted technique from Aizen.
The outcome defied all reason and shattered their understanding of power.
Gulp.
The sound of dozens of throats swallowing in unison was audible in the stillness.
Shinobi who had been locked in bloody combat, civilians fleeing for their lives—all of them stopped and stared, their minds struggling to process the sight of the colossal toad brought so low.
To see such a mighty summon laid waste so effortlessly sent shockwaves through every heart and mind. For many, the scene was simply beyond comprehension. This level of power transcended ninjutsu as they knew it.
Just who is he?
This single thought echoed in the mind of every person whose gaze fell upon Aizen.
His transcendent elegance, his domineering arrogance, his absolute confidence in controlling the very flow of battle—it all served to stupefy the onlookers.
Aizen seemed a perfect being, flawless in both presence and power.
He stood quietly in the air above the ruins of Konoha, the focus of thousands of stares, like an emperor upon his heavenly throne, receiving the awestruck reverence of his subjects.
The man who had once stood at the pinnacle of all Shinigami, who had ruled over Hueco Mundo, had, after his inexplicable journey to this new world, now embarked upon a path to surpass the very heavens.
"To think it survived a direct hit. How... unexpected," Aizen mused, his voice calm as he looked down at the grievously wounded toad, a slight frown touching his brow. Though the power of the fully-chanted Black Coffin was beyond the comprehension of everyone present, it still fell short of his own expectations.
By his calculations, the incanted spell should have ended the toad's life instantly. It seemed he had slightly overestimated its durability.
After all, in the Soul Society, a peak-strength Aizen had used a non-incanted Black Coffin to instantly defeat Captain Komamura Sajin, rendering the formidable Shinigami combat-ineffective in a single blow.
"What?! You arrogant—!" Jiraiya, close enough to hear Aizen's remark, was incensed. He hadn't imagined that Aizen's true intent had been to obliterate Gamaken completely with that one technique.
"While I admit your strength is formidable, to think you could kill Gamaken in one move is pure fantasy! He is one of the famed Toad Trio!" Jiraiya's hands remained clasped together, his body rigid as he continued to gather natural energy.
The process of entering Sage Mode required absolute stillness, leaving him completely vulnerable. He had summoned Gamaken precisely to buy himself this crucial time.
Yet, even Jiraiya had not anticipated that Gamaken would be so utterly overwhelmed by Aizen's fully-incanted Kidō.
"This tedious battle has gone on long enough," Aizen stated, a note of genuine disappointment in his voice. "It is a pity. I overestimated your collective strength. I did not expect that so many of you combined would still be inferior to me alone."
Though Jiraiya was immobilized, gathering the energy for his ultimate technique, Aizen made no move to finish him. Another, far more interesting target had captured his attention.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Earlier, Aizen had allowed his Reiatsu to radiate outwards, transforming it into invisible tendrils of spiritual power that probed every corner of Konoha.
From the main thoroughfares to the narrowest alleyways, Aizen's senses reached everywhere unimpeded.
Since revealing his true nature and slaying the Third Hokage, Aizen had not been idle. A part of his consciousness had been dedicated to a single task: locating the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The rampage of the One-Tail, Shukaku, had shown him the cataclysmic potential of the Tailed Beasts.
If a single tail could wreak such havoc, what glorious destruction would the Nine-Tails unleash upon Konoha?
The very thought filled Aizen with a profound sense of anticipation.
And as he had searched, he had found him. The trace of Uzumaki Naruto, fleeing through the outskirts of the village.
Aizen stood at the epicenter of Konoha's destruction, where the great watchtower had once stood. Now, it was just another part of the ruins.
Uzumaki Naruto's trail led to the very edge of the village, to a vast, dense forest and the endless hills beyond.
And on one of those distant hills, two figures stood observing, their presence causing the very air to tremble.
Uchiha Itachi. Hoshigaki Kisame.
"Dammit! I only need a little more time to complete Sage Mode! I can't let him get away!" Jiraiya thought, his mind racing as he saw the direction of Aizen's gaze. He understood immediately. Aizen's goal was the Nine-Tails.
With the Third Hokage dead and the One-Tail on a rampage, Jiraiya was caught in an impossible dilemma. If he didn't achieve Sage Mode, he stood no chance against Aizen. But to achieve it, he had to remain still, allowing Aizen to move freely across Konoha, unopposed.
Looking around at the devastation, Jiraiya knew the bitter truth: aside from himself, no one in Konoha could stand against Aizen.
"The so-called rules exist for those who cannot survive without following them," Aizen declared, his voice carrying across the ruins. "And so, Jiraiya... farewell. This farce is over. Allow me to take my leave of Konoha and journey to the place where rules themselves come to an end."
Seizing the window of opportunity presented by Jiraiya's immobility, Aizen took a single, fluid step.
In the next instant, he was simply gone, having moved with a Shunpo of such sublime mastery that he seemed to have vanished from existence itself.
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