"Did you manage to dodge slightly at the last second?"
Aizen gently flicked the blood off his blade and remarked calmly, "It seems Kakashi-kun's crisis response has improved once again. I am truly relieved."
So fast!
Kakashi looked down at the gash on his arm, his pupils dilating. His Sharingan hadn't tracked the other man's movements at all. It was clear that Aizen was far more powerful than he usually appeared, and given Aizen's intimate understanding of his own abilities, ordinary tactics would likely be ineffective.
Do I have to catch him by surprise?
Staring warily at Aizen, Kakashi's mind raced at high speed.
"Are you considering tactics during this brief intermission?" Aizen seemed to see through his thoughts instantly. He smiled. "It is a commendable combat habit. However, I advise you not to push yourself too hard. After all..." Before he could finish, his figure vanished again.
Puff!
Blood spurted from Kakashi's back. Aizen's voice rang in his ear with perfect timing. "It is quite difficult to master the precise strength needed to crush an ant without actually killing it."
"Damn it!"
Kakashi's expression twisted in pain, but he did not loosen his protective grip on Naruto.
"Oh? You won't let go even if it means your death?" Aizen mused, noting the defiance. "No matter. I shall indulge you. Go and fulfill your final wish." He raised his right hand, the silver blade reflecting the cold sunlight.
Clang!
The blade fell without hesitation, only to be intercepted by another sword. The newcomer was Shisui, who looked on in total shock. "Aizen?! What on earth is going on?"
"Ah, Shisui." Aizen's expression remained unchanged, his smile as calm and composed as ever. "Since you were able to make it here, it seems you have gradually mastered the use of spiritual power."
"What are you talking about?" Shisui looked bewildered. Mastering spiritual power? What even is that?
"Shisui, be careful!" Kakashi shouted, his voice strained. "Aizen Sosuke is the real mastermind! He faked his death and colluded with outsiders to attack Konoha!"
What?
Shisui's eyes widened as he stared at Aizen in disbelief. "Is this true?"
"Kakashi-kun, the word you used—'colluded'—is a bit imprecise," Aizen corrected with a slight smile. "It should be called exploitation. Whether it is Kirigakure, the Sand, the Cloud, the Rock, or even the Akatsuki... they are all merely tools to me."
Shisui stood paralyzed, staring blankly at the man before him. Aizen's words left no room for doubt; he was indeed the architect of the entire catastrophe.
The sun shone down, illuminating the brown-haired youth, but the warmth Shisui once saw in him had evaporated. The sharp outlines of Aizen's face, cast in shadow, now appeared particularly predatory.
"Aizen... you are no longer the man I knew."
"The man you knew?" Aizen smiled softly. "I'm terribly sorry, but the Aizen you 'knew' never existed to begin with."
"Never existed?" Shisui's brow furrowed, his expression darkening.
"Indeed." Aizen nodded slightly and asked leisurely, "Do you truly believe I was unaware of why you approached me five years ago, Shisui?"
Shisui's heart skipped a beat.
"Under the orders of Uchiha Fugaku, you approached me—someone valued by Danzo—in an attempt to help the Uchiha change Danzo's negative impression of the clan. Am I correct?"
"Aizen, back then I—"
"Do not worry, I have no intention of blaming you," Aizen interrupted gently. "On the contrary, I am quite grateful to you, Shisui. If it weren't for your deliberate approach, my plan might not have been implemented so perfectly."
"Plan? What plan?"
"The plan to break away from Root, of course. For an asset to move from the dark depths of Konoha to other departments without the Hokage's direct intervention, the consequences are usually disastrous. To avoid an open conflict with Danzo, I required the Hokage's personal approval. Your appearance allowed me to complete that task."
Aizen paused, his smile widening. "In Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, the 'bond' between people is the perfect embodiment of the Will of Fire. And you, attempting to bridge the gap between our factions, were the perfect candidate to establish that bond."
After a long, heavy silence, Shisui's expression turned grim. "So, it was all a pretense? You've orchestrated all this cruelty, and you can still smile?"
"Cruel?" Aizen tilted his head calmly. "I simply wished for a homeless boy to return to his mother. It was Konoha that bullied him. By comparison, which of us is truly cruel?"
Taking a deep breath, Shisui gripped his blade tightly with both hands. "You speak of capturing the Nine-Tails as if it were some grand act of mercy. You definitely aren't the Aizen I knew! That being the case, I won't hesitate for another second!"
Swish!
Shisui blurred, closing the distance to Aizen as if he had teleported.
That speed...
Kakashi's expression froze. He realized his Sharingan had failed him yet again. Both Aizen and Shisui were moving at velocities that exceeded the eye's ability to track.
At this moment, Shisui felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. The unknown force rising within him had not only freed him from the suppression of the black rods earlier but seemed to be elevating his physical form to a higher dimension.
It must be because of that thing!
Shisui thought of the dark figure that haunted his consciousness. The word "Hollowfication" hovered at the edge of his mind. But there was no time for contemplation. His only goal now was to defeat the man in front of him and set Konoha back on its path.
As if sensing its master's resolve, the blade in Shisui's hand erupted with a searing, dark-red flame.
Boom!
The flaming blade descended toward Aizen's head, unleashing a dazzling burst of fire.