Chapter 65: Webs Within Webs
Leaving the shadowy confines of the Root headquarters, Aizen walked alone back onto the empty path, beginning his journey home.
Though he had agreed to Danzō's plan, it did not mean the outcome would be what the old warhawk envisioned. Aizen, whose ambitions soared higher than the heavens, had his own designs. Rather than eliminating Gaara, he intended to secretly ensure the boy's survival.
Anyone who dared to touch this crucial piece on his board would be met with swift and absolute death.
Gaara was an integral component of Aizen's grand scheme. The moment the One-Tailed Shukaku was unleashed upon Konoha, it would be a catastrophe of epic proportions. The village would be thrown into such chaos that Aizen's own defection might go unnoticed in the turmoil. Even if Konoha managed to reseal the beast, the cost would be devastating.
Furthermore, the events of the Chunin Exams had revealed to Aizen the presence of Orochimaru, lurking in the shadows like a venomous serpent. While Aizen hadn't yet deduced the Sannin's ultimate goal, he had marked the man as his primary potential rival—the only individual he had encountered in this world who posed a conceivable threat. If Orochimaru and Konoha could be made to bleed each other, Aizen would be perfectly positioned to play the fisherman and reap the rewards from their conflict.
Thus, this single month was not a period of rest, but a race against time. He needed to not only further restore his strength but also carefully manipulate the pieces on the board, ensuring events unfolded in a manner conducive to his rebellion.
His research into the Sharingan had also yielded a significant name: Uchiha Itachi. The prodigy who had single-handedly annihilated his own once-glorious clan and then defected from Konoha, reportedly joining a mysterious organization. This was a thread Aizen found deeply intriguing.
Through his constant inquiries, Aizen had come to realize he was only scratching the surface of this world's complexities. The Five Great Nations, the Nine Tailed Beasts, the hidden rebel organizations, the mysterious Kekkei Genkai—all of it captured his analytical interest. He was beginning to see that his transmigration to this era might not be a misfortune, but an opportunity. During his time lurking in Konoha, he had already begun to unravel the fundamental principles of ninjutsu.
Returning to his heavily monitored house, Aizen sat in a meditative pose and devoted himself to refining the seed of his spiritual power.
The strength he displayed publicly was merely the tip of the iceberg. In terms of chakra alone, leveraging the unique properties of his spiritual power seed, he had already reached chunin level. By his estimation, after a month of focused cultivation, his chakra reserves would swell to the level of a jōnin.
His progress in spiritual power was even more rapid. Having already comprehended the true essence of Reiatsu over centuries of practice in his previous life, his cultivation speed now was exponentially faster. It was this very foundation that was driving his chakra's meteoric rise.
He spent the entire night in deep meditation, and by dawn, the spiritual power within him had grown noticeably denser and more potent. Yet, even this rapid progress could not satisfy him. He had once stood at the very pinnacle, high above the clouds, looking down upon all of creation. This period of lurking was merely a temporary necessity, a prelude to ending this interlude and once again ascending to the heavens.
In the early morning, as life stirred and the scent of flowers filled the air under a gentle sun, Aizen strolled through the streets, observing the village's prosperity.
During his month here, he had been surrounded by burgeoning connections. The camaraderie of Team 8, Hinata's shy and budding affection, Kurenai's complex and fond regard, and the gradual acceptance from other Konoha shinobi—it seemed as though Aizen Sōsuke had been fully recognized and integrated into the great family of Konoha.
Yet, to Aizen, all of this was as transient as clouds, as fragile as an illusion cast by Kyōka Suigetsu, easily shattered. From beginning to end, his heart held only a single purpose: to obtain the ultimate power and become the god of this world.
As he walked, a particular figure caught his attention.
The man was tall and powerfully built. Though he seemed to be making an effort to restrain his presence, his body still exuded an aura of immense power. This feeling was even more profound than what he sensed from the Third Hokage, as if the man were in perfect harmony with nature itself, possessing a deep, wellspring of energy. The only other person who had given off such a potent fluctuation was Orochimaru.
This man, however, was youthful and vigorous, with striking white hair and two distinctive red marks running down from his eyes, like tears.
It was one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
Jiraiya.