Slash.
A streak of bright blue lightning flashed between Aizen and Konan. Ay reached out, catching his brother in mid-air. "Bee!"
Killer Bee, breathing shallowly and completely unconscious, gave no response.
"I'm so sorry that Lord Ay found us out." Aizen's lips curled into a tranquil smile. His calm tone only served to stoke the Fourth Raikage's fury. "Had I known, I would have made sure to mince him properly."
"Aizen Sōsuke!" Ay lowered his brother gently to the ground and slowly stood up. His dark features were contorted with ferocity. "I will kill you!"
Rage—pure, unadulterated rage—swelled within his chest. His rational mind was slipping away; he didn't have the capacity to wonder how a mere brat had managed to critically wound his brother. He had only one objective: to tear the boy in front of him to pieces.
Zzzt!
The Fourth Raikage immediately surged into his Lightning Chakra Mode. Arcs of azure electricity danced around him, making him look like a god of thunder descending into the darkness.
Aizen, however, remained entirely unimpressed by the display. He offered a frivolous smile. "Oh. I'd advise against such blustering. It only makes you appear weak."
"Go to hell!"
Ay's eyes snapped wide. He raised his right hand, flattening it into a spear-like "Hell Stab." His entire form became a blur of blue light as he charged.
Puff.
The Raikage's hand, wreathed in electricity, pierced Aizen's heart without resistance. He hadn't even tried to react. But to Ay's horror, the Aizen he had skewered simply smiled at him. A moment later, the brown-haired boy vanished like a cloud of dust.
What?
Ay sensed the trap, but before his muscles could pivot, a flash of steel erupted from his blind spot.
Squelch.
Bright red blood sprayed across the clearing. Ay collapsed slowly to the ground, his face frozen in an expression of absolute disbelief.
Chink.
Aizen, who had materialized behind him, calmly sheathed his blade. He walked past the fallen Raikage without a second glance. "Let's go, Konan-senpai. Konoha no longer needs to reclaim that empty shell."
Konan nodded. She paused just long enough to take a photograph of the Fourth Raikage—whose life now hung by a thread—before turning to follow Aizen. Only after their figures had completely vanished did Ay's fingers twitch.
Back at her temporary base, Konan opened the chat group to share the memory. The group erupted instantly.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "The Fourth Raikage... he isn't dead, right?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "No. Aizen chose to spare him on purpose."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "What a terrifying scheme! This Aizen truly thinks of everything. Not only has he secured the Tailed Beasts, but he's framed Konoha for the deed. It's the perfect double-play."
Even the ruthless Li Mochou had to admit that Aizen's tactical depth was staggering.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "So insidious."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "It goes deeper. Even the Akatsuki has been ensnared. The letter the Raikage found was sent by Aizen using the Akatsuki's name. And I have a second letter in my hand right now—Aizen wants me to deliver it to him tomorrow morning."
This is an Actor: "I assume the letter invites the Raikage, in the name of the Akatsuki, to launch a joint raid on Konoha?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Exactly."
Book Artist: "Hiss! Now it all connects. The Akatsuki will be forced to move. With every major power converging on the Leaf, Konoha is in serious trouble."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "One move leads to the next. Aizen Sōsuke is a formidable man."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "He is."
As the person currently closest to Aizen, Konan's sigh was genuine. The more time she spent with him, the more she understood his terrifying reach.
Book Artist: "But given the situation, isn't it better that Aizen is strong? Konan-neesan has already decided to side with him, right?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "True enough."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Even so, I can't fully trust a guy like that. Just remember what happened to the Arrancars."
This is an Actor: "Indeed. It is vital to learn how to protect oneself."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Thank you for the concern, An Ran-san. I understand."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Why? Why only thank An Ran? Gin-san, am I being ignored, or is he the only one you have eyes for?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "You understand perfectly."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Yeah, I understand... Wait, what?! Gin-san doesn't understand anything! Explain yourself!"
Book Artist: "Does she really need to? It's both! Konan-neesan is ignoring you because she only has eyes for An Ran-san. There's no contradiction."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Damn it, I refuse to accept this!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "But it's the truth."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Gin-san will never acknowledge this tragic reality!"
Book Artist: "Who cares? Go cry in a corner."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Stop bickering and go to sleep. I have to wake up early to deliver that letter to the Hidden Cloud."
This is an Actor: "Good night, Konan-senpai."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Hahaha, I like that. Good night, Lord Aizen!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "You two, stop right there! Don't bring that cosplay into the group chat!"
Book Artist: "Having a boss like Aizen who works you to the bone sounds like such a chore. And you have to wake up early? Waking up early is my greatest enemy."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Look at it this way: if he ever stops finding a use for Konan, that would be truly terrifying."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wait, it's already evening over there, Konan-neesan?"
Book Artist: "Yeah, the time difference is caused by the different universes. An Ran-san explained this—you'll get used to it."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Amazing! I actually just woke up. I'm supposed to meet a friend today to be introduced to someone important. I need to get ready."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Huh? What 'important person' is a middle-schooler visiting?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "A Level 5. One of the seven people at the very top of Academy City."
This is an Actor: "Misaka Mikoto?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Uh, I don't actually know her name yet."
This is an Actor: "Is the introduction through Shirai Kuroko?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Yeah! Wait, how does An Ran-san know Shirai-san?"
This is an Actor: "I see. So, this is how a certain 'Railgun' begins?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "???"
Book Artist: "An Ran-san, what are you talking about?"
[System Hint: 'This is an Actor' has uploaded memories regarding 'A Certain Magical Index / A Certain Scientific Railgun'.]
The group fell into a long silence as they processed the data. When the chat finally resumed, the messages flew by.
Book Artist: "No way... you're kidding! Ruiko-chan, is your world really that dangerous?!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Espers, magicians, angels, demons, and researchers with dark agendas... it's chaos."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I... I didn't know any of that!"
After seeing the "memories," Saten Ruiko began to seriously question her life. She was just an ordinary Level 0; why was she living in a world where the Earth could be destroyed on a whim?
Curly-Haired Boy: "Listen to me! Don't panic! Just find a time machine first!"