"Welcome back to Konoha, Madara-san," Aizen said softly, not bothering to turn around. "You're a little later than I expected."
Uchiha Obito was slightly startled, and his expression beneath the mask soured. If anyone else had called him "Madara," he would have considered it natural. But the boy in front of him clearly knew his secrets inside and out; hearing him use that name always felt like a pointed irony.
"You don't seem to like that name." Aizen seemed to see right through his thoughts, asking with his head slightly tilted, "Or perhaps, should I call you Obito-kun?"
"I am Uchiha Madara, and I will be known only as Uchiha Madara!" the masked man snapped in a cold tone, his gaze shifting toward the battle in the arena. "Is that your ability? Kyoka Suigetsu?"
"Ah, it is merely a small trick," Aizen said smoothly, his voice perfectly level. "Such an ability is ineffective against the Mangekyō Sharingan. You are well aware of that, Madara-san."
Obito could tell that the "Madara-san" Aizen referred to this time was not him, but the real Uchiha Madara. This brown-haired boy had known of the legend even longer than he had.
However, was it truly ineffective against the Mangekyō?
The masked man looked at Shisui, who was currently fighting some kind of humanoid puppet in the arena, and then at the crowd cheering for the strange spectacle. Deep doubt took root in his heart. At the same time, Obito's vigilance toward Aizen rose several levels. He decided that whenever he was with this boy, he would keep his Mangekyō Sharingan active and never let his guard down for a single moment.
"Madara-san, shall we depart?" The gentle voice sounded again, interrupting Obito's thoughts.
Looking at Aizen standing so close to him, Obito instinctively took two steps back. Feigning composure, he asked, "Before that, I want to know your purpose. Why did you join the Akatsuki?"
Obito didn't believe for a second that someone like Aizen would be interested in "world peace." He had to have other intentions for participating in the Eye of the Moon Plan. The real Uchiha Madara had claimed he could control Aizen, but Obito privately scoffed at the notion. After a long period of observation, he had come to understand that this young man was not someone anyone could control. He was too dangerous; the way he manipulated the hearts of others sent a chill down even Obito's spine.
"Purpose?" Aizen pondered for a moment, then said gently, "Perhaps it is to understand the truth of this world."
"The truth of the world?"
"I wonder if Madara-san has ever heard the legend of Yomotsu Hirasaka. It is said that all the dead take up residence there. If the living could find a way to enter, could they bring the dead back to their homeland?"
Bring them back? Resurrection of the dead?
Hearing Aizen's words, Obito's eyes suddenly narrowed. If he could really do it, could Rin also...
For a moment, Obito, who usually remained calm, became visibly shaken. Aizen, seeing his reaction clearly, allowed the corners of his mouth to curl slightly into an intriguing smile.
The Hidden Rain Village, headquarters of the Akatsuki.
"Newcomer, Aizen Sosuke." With a polite smile on his delicate, youthful face, Aizen's gentle voice echoed throughout the room. "It is a pleasure to meet you all."
The current Akatsuki was not as full of talent as it would be later in the story, but the members were familiar. Aside from the two leaders, Pain and Konan, there were Sasori, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and Biwa Juzo—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"What? Just a brat?" Sasori muttered, sounding dissatisfied.
"He is no ordinary brat." Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice a raspy hiss. "I didn't expect to meet you here, Sosuke-kun."
"Indeed. Long time no see, Orochimaru-senpai." Aizen didn't seem surprised; his smile remained gentle.
"I never imagined that you, one of the 'Twin Stars of Konoha,' would betray the village." Orochimaru smiled sinisterly. "That is truly interesting."
"The Twin Stars of Konoha? Your head is worth six million taels." Kakuzu stared at Aizen with a predatory gaze.
"Twin Stars? Aizen Sosuke?" Biwa Juzo seemed to recall something and grinned. "Oh, so you're the one who killed Mangetsu. You're pretty impressive."
Aizen glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "If we use Hozuki Mangetsu as the benchmark, that shouldn't be considered very impressive, should it?"
"To that extent?" Juzo raised his eyebrows. "Boy, you are arrogant."
"No, I am simply stating facts," Aizen said, shaking his head slightly. "Because he was called a hunter who treated the Seven Swords of the Mist as prey, people paid attention to him. I didn't expect that the 'once-in-a-century genius' of Kirigakure was merely a boast. Or perhaps... are you Kirigakure ninja only at this level?"
"Kid, are you trying to provoke me?" Biwa Juzo pulled the Kubikiribōchō from his back, his voice turning cold.
Though he had defected from Kirigakure, he still possessed some pride for his village. Moreover, he realized that this brat was deliberately targeting him.
Aizen said softly, "There is no need to be so angry. In truth, you also want to try it out—to see just how strong the boy who could kill your village's genius actually is."
"You..." Juzo felt as though his thoughts had been read, and his face twisted with annoyance.
"Are you not going to attack?" Despite his words, Aizen kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, clearly looking down on his opponent.
Juzo finally snapped. "Kid, you will pay for that!" He lunged forward, swinging the Executioner's Blade in a heavy vertical strike toward Aizen's shoulder.
Facing the whistling blade, Aizen simply raised his left hand.
Clang.
The Executioner's Blade, which could easily shatter solid rock, was halted by a single, slender hand. The scene caused Juzo to freeze, and even Pain's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
"This is the Kubikiribōchō? It doesn't seem very sharp." As Aizen spoke, his right hand finally moved, drawing the Zanpakutō from his waist. "Now, please... have a look at my sword."
A silver flash of light erupted.
Squelch.
With the sound of steel cutting through flesh, bright red blood splattered across the floor.