Chapter 72: A Blade in the Night
Hidden within the deepening shadows, Aizen observed a scene of profound foolishness.
Dosu, one of the Sound Ninja trio, had actually taken the initiative to challenge Gaara to a one-on-one fight. It was as if he believed he could prove his strength by eliminating the Sand's strongest genin ahead of the finals.
"Confidence is a good thing," Aizen mused silently from the darkness. "But blind confidence only leads to one's own demise." In his eyes, Dosu was already a dead man.
While Gaara was little more than an ant in Aizen's grand view, he had at least granted the boy a measure of recognition for his unique talent. In comparison, Dosu was nothing but insignificant dust, utterly unworthy of notice.
As he observed, Aizen's sharp senses picked up on another, more intriguing scene. Not far from his own hiding spot, several figures were whispering in the gloom. One of them immediately drew his attention: Yakushi Kabuto, the very ninja he had defeated in the preliminaries.
Aizen had harbored suspicions about Kabuto since their encounter in the Forest of Death. His discerning eyes had easily seen through the boy's facade, recognizing that he was concealing his true purpose. Their match in the preliminaries had only confirmed it—Kabuto was hiding a significant portion of his strength, making him a person of great interest to Aizen.
Aizen focused his will. An imperceptible wave of spiritual power radiated out, silently enveloping the group of whisperers. Through this spiritual sense, he easily intercepted the contents of their conversation. What he learned made the corner of his mouth curl into a faint, cold smile.
The conversation revealed Kabuto's true identity: he was an undercover agent from Otogakure. But what was most interesting to Aizen was the alliance being discussed—a collaboration between the Sand and the Sound. Their goal was nothing less than the destruction of Konoha.
While a mad ambition, it aligned perfectly with the essential thrust of Aizen's own plans. As a once and future king, he could not abide remaining under Konoha's control. The so-called "Will of Fire" was, to him, a pathetic and foolish ideology. Only power was paramount, superseding all other wills.
For his defection plan to unfold flawlessly, Aizen needed to sow chaos, ensuring he could reap the maximum reward for the minimum personal cost. This alliance between Suna and Oto was an unexpected boon, a significant new piece to be moved across his board.
BOOM!
A harsh, grating sound tore through the air from the main confrontation. The sky filled with swirling, crushing yellow sand, pouring down like a deadly waterfall, dazzling in its ferocity.
Dosu, caught in the deluge, was instantly overwhelmed and slain. His body was tossed aside like rubbish, hitting the ground with a sickening, final thud.
Aizen watched from a distance, his expression unmoved. The outcome was exactly as he had predicted. The gap between Dosu and Gaara was an unbridgeable chasm.
"It seems the main event is about to begin," Aizen murmured, his gaze shifting calmly to the wall behind where Yakushi Kabuto stood. A faint, playful sneer touched his lips.
Another familiar figure was there: the proctor of the third exam's preliminaries, Moonlight Hayate.
Aizen had detected Hayate's presence from the very beginning. He was certain that someone with Kabuto's keen perception would have discovered the proctor as well.
Sure enough, as the conspirators' conversation concluded, a surge of killing intent erupted from them. Moonlight Hayate's position was compromised.
"Kill that sneaky rat! We cannot allow our plans to leak!" Kabuto's voice was laced with cold venom as he ordered the Sand ninja to intercept and eliminate the proctor.
Swish!
Moonlight Hayate used the Body Flicker Technique, fleeing in a desperate, ragged blur. The Sand ninja immediately gave chase.
Just as Hayate managed to put a short distance between himself and his pursuers, Aizen smiled. His body vanished, employing a Shunpo of the highest caliber, and reappeared directly in the proctor's path.
"You... Aizen?" Moonlight Hayate gasped in surprise, his chest heaving. He was panting heavily, his chakra depleted from the frantic escape. "Run! I'm being chased by Sand ninja!" he urged, his face etched with anxiety.
"Run?" Aizen's voice was calm, almost gentle. "No, Moonlight Hayate. Your fate is already sealed."
His hand fell to the simple katana at his waist, his fingers closing firmly around the hilt.
Shing!
A single, flawless arc of steel flickered in the moonlight.
Moonlight Hayate's eyes widened in shock for a fraction of a second before his body was cleanly bisected.
Without a moment's hesitation, Aizen sheathed Kyōka Suigetsu with his left hand and raised his right.
"Hadō #54: Haien."
A disc of incandescent, purifying flame erupted from his fingertip, engulfing the two halves of the proctor's body. The fire burned with an intense, focused heat, consuming the evidence utterly and completely in seconds.
All traces were erased. The night held its silence once more.