Chapter 52: A Timely Intervention
The two massive trees crashed to the forest floor, the impact sending tremors through the earth. It was late autumn, and the violent disturbance shook countless golden and crimson leaves from the canopy, filling the air with a swirling, tragic beauty that contrasted sharply with the tense confrontation.
Kin, Zaku, and Dosu fanned out, their approach menacing and deliberate, cutting off every possible escape route.
"We went through all that trouble to find you, Aizen Sōsuke," Dosu's voice was a low, muffled threat from behind his bandages, his murderous intent a palpable force.
"D-Damn it... you're... the Sound ninja?" Aizen stammered, his brow furrowed in apparent vigilance. Though he held his ground, a flicker of panic in his eyes did not escape the keen observation of his three opponents.
"Hmph," Zaku snorted, crossing his arms with arrogant disdain. "Hand over both of your scrolls now, and we might consider letting you live." By his reading of Aizen's feigned calm, the boy was putting on a brave face. It was pathetic.
They had him. A turtle in a jar.
"Even though I'm alone... I won't go down without a fight!" Aizen declared, putting on a show of desperate resistance. Before the Sound trio could react, his hands flew through a series of seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A colossal sphere of fire erupted from his mouth, the scorching heat causing the air to waver. The temperature around them spiked dramatically. After a month of covert training, the power and scale of his Great Fireball had indeed grown significantly, making for an impressive, if expected, display of a prodigy's talent.
"Such power... we can't be careless," Kin muttered, though the initial frowns on their faces soon smoothed into confident smirks. They recognized this. It was the last, desperate flare of potential from a cornered animal. They believed Aizen, trapped and isolated, was lashing out with everything he had.
As elite genin personally selected by Orochimaru, their skills were far beyond the ordinary.
In a synchronized motion, all three performed the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing and reappearing in three different directions around the blazing fireball.
BOOM!
The Great Fireball struck the ground where they had been standing, erupting into a wave of searing heat and flame. For all its power, it had failed to touch a single one of them.
"Tch. So this is the famous 'genius'?" Zaku sneered, his contempt now absolute. "It seems Lord Orochimaru overestimated you."
Lord Orochimaru? So, they are here to test me, Aizen thought, his internal calm a stark contrast to his outward display of panic. He had sensed their probing attacks. Now, their purpose was confirmed. And so, he leaned further into his disguise, deliberately showing weakness to draw out their true intentions. His panicked flight and now his 'desperate' attack had successfully lulled them into believing he was nothing more than a slightly talented rookie.
"If this is all the strength you have," Zaku spat, his face twisting into a wicked grin, "then you insult Lord Orochimaru's judgment by merely existing. Just die!"
He raised his arms, the devices on his palms aimed directly at Aizen.
"Decapitating Airwaves!"
This time, the attack was a full-powered blast—100% concussive force mixed with 100% disorienting ultrasonic waves. It roared toward Aizen like an invisible tsunami of destruction.
Aizen's face 'contorted in shock.' At the critical moment, he used the Body Flicker Technique again, his body blurring as he narrowly, almost clumsily, evaded the scything waves of force.
CRACK!
The attack shredded the trees behind him, but Aizen remained unharmed.
Zaku's eyes widened in fury. He clenched his fists. "You're not completely useless, I see. At least your speed is beyond that of a normal genin." The killing intent around him intensified as he prepared for another, final assault.
But just as he was about to strike, a familiar voice cut through the tense atmosphere, ringing out from a nearby rise.
"Aizen! We finally found you!"
The three Sound ninja spun around, their attention snapping toward the new arrivals.
Standing on a small hillock were three figures: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyūga Hinata.
Team 8 had arrived.