Inside the Hollow Night Palace.
A secret chamber only Aizen can enter.
Aizen Sousuke slowly raised the Hogyoku in his hand, a look of obsession flashing in his eyes. It was as if he was gazing upon the truth of the world, for he alone knew the true power of the Hogyoku.
The Hogyoku is not about breaking limits.
It is about manifesting people's thoughts to fulfill their desires.
Aizen Sousuke clasped the Hogyoku in his palm, slowly closing his eyes, recalling the true intentions in his heart—he wanted to stand at the pinnacle of the world!
The Hogyoku's light flickered slightly.
Aizen Sousuke gradually sensed the power the Hogyoku granted him. This Hogyoku could grant him an undying body, capable of healing from any injury.
Whenever he finds himself unable to defeat an enemy, it could further evolve his power, thus gaining the strength to surpass them.
Aizen Sousuke slowly opened his eyes, a slight smile forming at the corner of his lips: "Perhaps next time we meet, I can see what level of power that Mr. Madara is at... Just thinking about it makes me excited, every time I think of him, I can feel my nerves trembling..."
That Uchiha Madara is too powerful!
Yet after acquiring the evolutionary power bestowed by the Hogyoku, Aizen Sousuke indeed wanted to try fighting Uchiha Madara, thereby gaining a higher dimension of strength!
Moreover, according to the information once provided by Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto, as long as he believed his strength would eventually surpass his enemies, the Hogyoku would allow him to continually evolve, granting him the potential to overcome any formidable opponent...
So long as he maintained his confidence and retained the power recognized by the Hogyoku, otherwise, should his spirit collapse or retreat, the Hogyoku would cease its evolution!
"But is that chief officer really the strongest person?"
Aizen Sousuke smiled at the Hogyoku, continuing to speak to himself: "To be serious, as the patriarch of Mr. Madara's race, that little fellow Naraku surely possesses power surpassing him..."
Aizen Sousuke's words came to an abrupt halt.
Because Aizen Sousuke distinctly felt the disturbance of the Hogyoku!
All of Aizen Sousuke's attention was focused on communicating with the Hogyoku, as he clearly sensed the Hogyoku's light growing somewhat dim...
"You are afraid."
Aizen Sousuke slightly narrowed his eyes.
"But not afraid of me."
The power in Aizen Sousuke's palm increased.
"Is the person I mentioned causing you fear?"
Aizen Sousuke's voice was subtly beguiling, though he did not receive an answer from the Hogyoku. The Hogyoku does not speak; it only has its own emotions.
Uehara Naraku!
Why would Uehara Naraku evoke fear in the Hogyoku!
Is it because Uehara Naraku bears the spiritual power of thirteen patriarchs of the Uehara Race? Could the existence of those spiritual powers cause fear even in the Hogyoku?
Or perhaps...
Does Uehara Naraku himself possess power that frightens the Hogyoku?
Aizen Sousuke put the Hogyoku away again, beginning to ponder piece by piece about his encounters with Uehara Naraku, that little fellow had always been very respectful to him...
This respect...
Now that he thought carefully, it seemed subtly off.
Aizen Sousuke's fingers slowly curled, clearly remembering that at the time, Uehara Naraku showed no flaws, his demeanor was that of a pure and kind child...
That feeling...
Felt increasingly familiar to Aizen Sousuke.
Someone who appeared benign and harmless, wielding a considerable position, made everyone in the Quiet Spirit Court believe he would absolutely not harm the Quiet Spirit Court...
That feeling...
Aizen Sousuke's finger suddenly descended!
Isn't what Uehara Naraku is doing now exactly the same as what he did when he was the Captain of Squad 5 of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads!
They are such similar individuals!
Aizen Sousuke was once regarded as the most genius shinigami, even though he consistently concealed his brilliance, hid his power that surpassed the other Captains of the Shinigami, kept his Kyoka Suigetsu Zanpakuto under wraps, and acted like an ordinary Captain of the Shinigami.
Even so...
He couldn't hide from Orochimaru's sight.
What about that Uehara Naraku guy?
Orochimaru never denied Uehara Naraku's talent and terrifying nature!
Compared to himself, Orochimaru seemed to appreciate Uehara Naraku's talent even more!
Then again...
Why hasn't Uehara Naraku's power surpassed his own?
Uehara Naraku possesses the spiritual power of thirteen ancestral predecessors, thirteen Zanpakuto formidable in any era, the resources and secret techniques of the entire Uehara Race spanning thousands of years, and the influence over the Quiet Spirit Court and even the Soul Society!
Then again...
Why assume Uehara Naraku won't surpass him?
Aizen Sousuke once calculated his own power, with his talent, he had quickly ascended to the zenith of the Shinigami, with remaining progress only accumulating spiritual power over time.
Neglected though...
This Uehara Naraku, of whom others speak more highly of in terms of talent, why hasn't he displayed power comparable to his own!
If it were due to Uehara Naraku respecting Aizen Sousuke himself too much to act, Aizen Sousuke wouldn't believe such words in the slightest!
There must be a flaw here.
Once Aizen Sousuke thought he had pierced through Uehara Naraku's true nature, he began to reverse deduce through the things Uehara Naraku had done...