Interesting.
Aizen shifted his attention away from the group chat, his mind drifting toward the occurrences in Eriri's world. The fact that such inexplicable changes could manifest in an ordinary, mundane world made for fascinating research material. What could be the catalyst?
A laboratory leak? A resurgence of latent spiritual energy? Or perhaps an encroachment from another dimension?
These unknown variables ignited Aizen's curiosity. He felt a genuine impulse to travel to Eriri's world to conduct a direct investigation. However, now was not the time. He needed to conclude his affairs in the Ninja World first. With that thought, Aizen turned his gaze back to the surveillance monitors arranged before him.
The sky was a heavy, uniform grey, and a fine mist of rain was falling.
A crowd had gathered before Konoha's Memorial Stone. Each person held a flower; every face was etched with solemnity and a quiet grief. Everyone present had interacted with Aizen to some degree, and all felt the weight of regret over the passing of such a brilliant Konoha prodigy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had finally made Danzo's actions public. The man had orchestrated the deaths of a gifted Jōnin and two Hokage advisors out of sheer selfishness; these crimes alone were enough to condemn his name to eternal infamy in the village. This said nothing of his secret sedition. He had colluded with Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure in a coordinated attempt to dismantle Konoha. Danzo was, quite simply, the greatest traitor since the village's founding—crimes that far eclipsed even those attributed to Uchiha Madara.
Such atrocities could not be buried; the people of Konoha demanded an accounting. Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen still struggled to understand how the Danzo he had known in his youth could have devolved into this.
Sigh.
Letting out a weary breath, Hiruzen looked toward the fresh grave. Nearby, Yuhi Kurenai stood dressed in plain mourning clothes, letting the raindrops track slowly through her hair. "Don't worry, Sosuke-kun," she whispered. "I will definitely, definitely avenge you."
"Me too!" Mitarashi Anko stood beside her, teeth gritted as she clenched her fists. "That bastard Danzo... I'm going to tear him to pieces!"
The girl felt a pang of sharp regret. She had initially tried to play matchmaker for her best friend and Aizen, burying her own feelings in the process. Now, she realized how foolish that was. If only she had been more forthright while he was still here.
As the two women stood lost in their own sorrow, Shisui stared at the headstone from a short distance away, his face a mask of guilt. "I'm sorry, my dear friend," he muttered under his breath.
"Hey. Are you alright?" A hand patted his shoulder, accompanied by a soft, comforting tone.
Shisui looked up, blinking through the rain at a familiar shock of silver hair. "Kakashi-kun?"
"If Aizen were still alive, he wouldn't want to see you like this." Kakashi glanced at Shisui with his characteristic tired eyes before looking toward the horizon. "We, the living, must carry the ideals of the dead, shouldn't we?"
"I'm not like you, Kakashi-kun." Shisui paused, then let out a hollow sigh. "Aizen's death was my fault. It was a tragedy born of my own naivety."
This was the rot hidden deep in Shisui's heart; every time the thought surfaced, the ache returned with renewed intensity.
"Then you must carry his legacy and live well for both of you, Shisui!" Might Guy strode over, offering a signature thumbs-up despite the somber mood. "If you've made a mistake, you must correct it! That is the essence of a man's youth!"
"What are you all doing?!" A high-pitched, childish voice suddenly pierced the air. "Aizen-sensei isn't dead at all!"
The crowd stiffened, eyes turning toward the source of the outburst. They found a young boy with bright yellow hair standing in the rain.
"He... he's..."
"That demon fox brat?"
"Damn it, why is he here?"
"Only heroes of Konoha are honored here. Does he think he's worthy of standing on this ground?"
A wave of disgust and disdain rippled through the gathered shinobi. Only Kakashi, privy to the underlying truths, let out an imperceptible sigh.
"Naruto, stop this at once!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's face hardened. Normally, he could tolerate the boy's antics, but this was no time for nonsense. To claim Aizen wasn't dead was an insult to everyone's intelligence. Aizen's body had been examined by Konoha's top medical specialists; the fatal wounds were unmistakable.
"Old man Hokage, I'm telling the truth!" Uzumaki Naruto shouted, ignoring the fact that he was soaked to the bone. "Aizen-sensei is really alive! He said he would take me to see my mother!"
"Take him away," Hiruzen ordered, his patience exhausted.
"Yes, sir!" Two Anbu stepped forward, roughly grabbing Naruto and dragging him away from the memorial.
"It hurts! Let me go! Why won't you believe me? Mom was right—you're all bad people! All of you! Aizen-sensei—!"
Even as Naruto was hauled out of sight, his desperate cries echoed back through the trees. A flicker of guilt crossed Hiruzen's eyes; he worried the child's mental state was deteriorating. But the feeling was fleeting.
"Very well," Hiruzen announced, his voice carrying over the crowd. "We have gathered today to offer our condolences to the souls of Aizen Sosuke, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, who have passed heroically. We must now discuss our defensive measures..."
As Hiruzen spoke, the leadership of Sunagakure and Kumogakure were already mobilizing their forces. Unlike Kumogakure, the Sand Village had decided to move after receiving a formal proposal from the Akatsuki. The one who had delivered the message was none other than the grandson of Lady Chiyo: Sasori of the Red Sands.
"It seems your preparations are nearly complete," Konan remarked tonelessly.
"No, there is still one piece missing." Aizen shook his head slightly, his eyes shifting to another monitor. The screen displayed the Tsuchikage's office, carved directly into the stone.
Inside, Ōnoki listened to a report from a female subordinate, a look of disdain crossing his aged features. "Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure are planning a joint raid on Konoha? Humph. I doubt they have the spine to pull it off. Besides, such a gamble is far too risky..."
The female ninja remained silent, a subtle look of relief passing over her face. Ōnoki caught the expression and his lips curled. "Fine. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!" She bowed and retreated.
As soon as the door closed, Ōnoki turned to the Anbu standing in the shadows. "Issue an immediate order. All shinobi of Chūnin rank and above are to assemble at the South Gate Square."
"Understood." The Anbu vanished.
Ōnoki looked through the window at the streets below. He had known for a long time that the girl was a Konoha spy. He hadn't eliminated her because she was more useful as a conduit for his own misinformation.
"This isn't treachery; it's wisdom," Ōnoki chuckled, quite pleased with himself. In his mind's eye, he could already see Konoha in ruins. The humiliations he had suffered in his youth would finally be avenged.
He had no idea that while he was calculating the downfall of others, he was already entangled in a web far more intricate than his own.
"With that, everyone is on the board." Aizen chuckled. The flickering light from the monitors cast deep shadows across his face, lending him a truly predatory air.