Monitoring and Protection

In Sosuke Aizen's view, Konoha's administrative system was probably inferior even to Central 46.

Though the ninjas of the major clans were theoretically the core of the ninja village, these bloodline aristocrats had not formed a governing body comparable to Central 46.

The Hokage's family held sway, and even the position of Advisor had been specifically divided out by the Third Hokage. At other times, it was difficult to find any trace of such things. This left Sosuke Aizen deeply puzzled.

The clans had no channel to make their voices heard. The lower and upper classes knew nothing of one another, and the entire village was bound together solely by the Will of Fire. It sounded utterly bizarre, yet in the Naruto world, it was perfectly normal.

Because they had no time.

As if invisible hounds were chasing them, all ninjas lived at an accelerated pace. Children did what youths should do, youths did what adults should do, forcing their age and careers ahead at twice the speed.

Even war itself had begun to accelerate. Endless great wars, conflicts that continued year after year—human lives were like fine snowflakes, melting beneath the blazing sun into scattered, broken droplets of mist. No one even needed to touch them; they would melt away between heaven and earth.

Yet the saddest part was that although the people of this world recognized their pain, they could not find a way to solve it. The First Hokage had exhausted every effort to find a theoretically sound solution, but as the ninja villages developed, the once-unrivaled tailed beasts had ultimately become strategic weapons.

Thus, the balance did not last long before world wars followed one after another. Every nation seemed to have endless reasons, every nation seemed to have endless demands.

Hatred, geopolitics, economic needs, population, the natural environment—everyone had the right to seek a better life.

But in this world, that was merely a beautiful wish.

Aizen had once believed that a world without the Soul King would be a good world. Yet as his horizons broadened, his knowledge deepened, and he gained understanding from life in another world, he came to realize something.

People would always be people. No matter their thoughts, actions, or understanding, everyone was human. And as humans, they had demands for life. Those demands bred desire, which instinctively began to squeeze the living space of others.

So war appeared naturally.

Oppression appeared naturally.

Aizen had neither the ability nor the right to stop it. But he was glad to see this world trying to prevent such conflicts.

Dissatisfaction with war, taking action against something almost impossible to stop—this itself represented humanity's courage and determination. He had no reason to make cynical remarks.

On the contrary, he praised these warriors.

No one was braver than they were.

To recognize the ugliness of the world and strive to change it, unafraid even of being shattered to pieces—that was courage.

After bidding the Konoha gate ninja a friendly farewell, Sosuke Aizen looked at the gloomy, drizzly sky, opened a paper umbrella, and continued down Konoha's streets.

Though a misty rain veiled the village, it did nothing to dampen the people of Konoha's determination to live. Some vendors began putting up small rain shelters, while other shops extended awnings and called out to customers from inside.

And when they saw Aizen in his White Haori beneath an umbrella, the shopkeepers clearly became even more enthusiastic.

"Oh! Aizen-sama! Haven't you eaten yet? Come have a meal!"

"Ah, no need. I planned to buy groceries myself."

"Aizen-sama, you're buying groceries in person again?"

"Yes. On one hand, I need to inspect whether there are any issues with prices. On the other, I don't want to drift too far away from everyone."

"Even though you're already an Advisor, you still buy groceries yourself?"

"I have always believed that my relationship with everyone is like that of a family. If my negligence causes my family to suffer hardship, then that is my problem. That is why I have always insisted on buying groceries and cooking for myself."

"Amazing!"

"Ah, there's no need. Please just let me purchase them at normal prices."

"..."

Along the way, whether merchants or ninjas, everyone came over to chat for a few words. Some even gestured animatedly as they helped stuff a little extra into his bags.

The way people expressed goodwill was simple—give a little more, charge a little less.

Though such things meant nothing to Sosuke Aizen now, faced with the villagers' kindness, the bespectacled man who always wore a gentle expression still surrendered repeatedly in embarrassment. Almost fleeing, he carried his bags and umbrella home.

These common people might not know who treated them better, but it was undeniably true that in the month since Aizen had arrived, everyone's lives had begun to improve.

By using rotating ninjas to investigate prices, cracking down on unscrupulous merchants, and uprooting certain dark trade associations entrenched within Konoha, he had handed authority back to the Hokage. Then, by advocating mutual aid among ordinary people, he had begun gathering clan elders and respected figures in various places to help the poor and disabled.

Such things had been difficult to see in the old Konoha. It was not that they never happened, but ninjas had always been given top priority in the way matters were handled. Thus, whenever something involved a clan or other interests, ninjas usually chose to deal with it internally. Rarely had anyone been like Aizen, explaining matters directly and making public announcements.

As a result, Aizen's reputation among lower-ranking ninjas and ordinary people rose steadily. It had reached the point where people knew Aizen but not Sarutobi.

People left food for him, gifted him books, or even placed treasures directly in his gatehouse before turning and running away.

Such incidents kept happening one after another, so much so that even the ninjas protecting him in secret could not help marveling at Aizen's influence in the village.

Why did they indulge Sosuke Aizen so much? Why did they trust him so deeply? It was because of these Konoha villagers, who had surrounded him so completely that they made him reveal a troubled expression. Not even the Third Hokage could achieve such affinity.

And as they watched Aizen flee into the small courtyard in slight disarray amid the cheers and blessings of Konoha's commoners, the expressions of the two people secretly watching him changed as well.

One looked ashamed, while the other was filled with mockery.

"You really brought this humiliation upon yourself, Hiruzen."

Shimura Danzō, his face covered by a mocking smile, spoke sharply to his old friend.

"You know perfectly well that if he were to rebel, there's an eighty percent chance you'd be the one he overthrows. If he really did it, I advise you to abdicate the position of Hokage immediately."

"...His strength isn't sufficient."

"If he truly had that kind of ability and secretly commanded such powerful forces, how could Sosuke Aizen's strength possibly be that of a Chunin?"

"I do not wish to suspect Sosuke either. It is simply that everything seems too coincidental."

Watching Aizen enter the house and head toward the kitchen, preparing to cook with his own hands, the hidden Third Hokage spoke with some concern.

"The same haori and inner garments, and that attitude and manner of speaking—all of it points toward Sosuke. If Sosuke truly is a traitor, then he may be the greatest traitor in history. I do not wish for that either."

"Hiruzen, you're getting senile. Have you forgotten that one of the two men who created Konoha was that Uchiha?"

"..."

That actually made sense.

After all, Uchiha Madara could be considered a rogue ninja to some extent.

Looking at his disdainful friend, who revered strength and realism, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought it over and found that he truly had no rebuttal.

One of the village's two founding partners had already left. Now the Uchiha no longer even hid the fact that they stared at the Hokage's position every day. With one more Aizen, would that really count as anything in Konoha's history?

But saying that would make it seem as though he coveted power and was deliberately framing a good man.

The Third Hokage quickly changed the subject.

"So, Danzō, who do you think did it?"

"Hmph. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura are not worth worrying about. Their minds contain nothing now but their own little bit of authority. They have even forgotten the basics of being ninjas."

As a small concession to his old friend's feelings, Shimura Danzō snorted at the Third Hokage's stiff change of subject and casually offered his assessment.

"I still believe it was the Uchiha Clan. That clan's desire for the position of Konoha Hokage has already become madness. Yet to this day, they have made no effort to integrate into the village. Asking them to go among the common people more often would be like killing them. They are not of one mind with the village."

"Then why would it appear in this form?"

"Because that clan has always been twisted. Even the Second Hokage found the Uchiha Clan troublesome."

Recalling the various deeds of the Uchiha Clan, Danzō darkened his face and spoke quietly.

"Most importantly, those eyes—you know it. If there is no mark of research, then the most likely possibility is a secret technique of the Uchiha Clan's eyes. I know many Uchiha are innocent, and many sincerely wish to integrate into the village, like Kagami. But there is a problem. Why do they claim to sincerely wish to integrate, yet still refuse to sever themselves from the Uchiha?"

"..."

"To abandon the identity of Uchiha and become a Konoha ninja is unacceptable to members of the Uchiha Clan. What they want is an Uchiha Hokage, not a Konoha Hokage."

"Enough. Let us leave it there. Go."

"..."

Silence gradually spread.

But in the end, Danzō was the one who stepped aside.

After one final glance at Aizen, who had prepared some small dishes and fine wine in the kitchen, then placed them beneath the eaves of the Writing Room and drank alone while watching the rain and moonlight, the two silently left the area around the house.

Yet neither the Hokage nor the elder expected that after they left, two figures wearing White Haori silently appeared in the Writing Room.

"...Doesn't it bother you? Being watched by Hiruzen and Danzō?"

"Why would it bother me? The night is lovely today. If someone carries sorrow in his heart, watching the bright moon and drinking alone is not a bad thing, is it?"

Looking at Kagami Uchiha's gloomy face behind him, Aizen smiled, adjusted his glasses, and looked toward the taller trees around them.

"And am I not sitting here to put the ANBU gentlemen at ease? They have worked hard for a long time as well. If I sit here openly, they need not keep their nerves so tightly wound."

"..."

Faced with the vacant-eyed Konoha ANBU, who seemed to be trapped in an illusion, Kagami Uchiha took a breath and slowly clenched his fists.