Aizen is Forever My Big Brother!

If someone asked who Minato Namikaze loved most in this world, he might hesitate a little before choosing Spicy Red Pepper Kushina.

But if someone asked who Minato Namikaze respected most in this world, then without a doubt, it was Sosuke Aizen.

In Minato Namikaze's heart, there had always been, and would always be, only one big brother.

That was Aizen, who had helped him block all kinds of malice like a father back then and given him a peaceful haven.

From a very young age, he had hung around Sosuke Aizen. Or rather, Aizen had generously protected all the younger children, and Minato had merely been one of them.

As an upperclassman, Aizen never bullied the weak or acted like those reserve students, sticking his nose in the air and itching to tell everyone how impressive he was. He had always been gentle and courteous, using his upbringing and reason to persuade everyone.

In the eyes of Minato, who had been frail back then and barely resembled his current self, Sosuke Aizen had been a hero who protected everyone being bullied. Though he was an upperclassman, he never begrudged teaching the younger students how to conduct themselves. He showed them books, taught them to read, write, and do arithmetic, and made them realize that life contained more than just ninjas.

Konoha's Moon—while still young, that Pale Blue radiance had already warmed countless students who had nearly been bullied into lasting psychological scars.

Minato even suspected that if Brother Aizen had not stood at the front to shield them, the entire school environment in Konoha would probably have been terrible.

But no matter how one put it, the world was ultimately cruel and merciless.

Although Brother Aizen was everyone's model of virtue, his objective strength simply did not allow it. No matter how hard Brother Aizen worked, he was only at the level of a Chunin.

Though his development abilities were outstanding and he had created many ninjutsu, earning universal praise from everyone, a Kage could not do without sufficient strength. Brother Aizen could only serve as a mere Advisor in the village.

Minato Namikaze found that deeply difficult to accept. He had once sworn in his heart that if he became Hokage, he would definitely correct this flaw and eventually have Brother Aizen inherit Konoha's leadership. Though he also wanted to become Hokage, Minato Namikaze felt it would be better to trust his big brother.

Just looking at how prosperous the village was now made it obvious—if they did not trust Aizen, who else could they trust? If he did not become Hokage, then who could?

Minato Namikaze did not dare gamble on what his future self might become like, but right now, if he became Hokage, he would absolutely place Aizen in the position of supreme elder and regard him as his true leader.

Even now, when the Third Hokage had asked Minato Namikaze to write down his secret techniques and insights—things that could be treated as treasured inheritances—the moment he heard they were to be handed to Aizen, he had written them down without another word.

"...Minato-kun, in this world, do not place complete trust in anyone."

Watching Minato Namikaze openly copy his secret technique into a scroll and place it before him, Sosuke Aizen rubbed his brow with a slight headache.

"Trust and dependence are synonymous with weakness. Since you wish to become Hokage, you must abandon the notion that you need to trust someone. Otherwise, sooner or later, you will be betrayed."

"I know, but Brother Aizen is different."

Facing the stern-looking Aizen, Minato Namikaze scratched his golden hair and revealed an honest smile.

"After all, the fact that you can say something like that to me proves that you want me to be more vigilant, doesn't it? Besides, Big Brother has no reason to betray Konoha, right?"

"...What if I truly betrayed Konoha?"

Facing Minato Namikaze, who was as bright as sunlight, Sosuke Aizen's gaze suddenly darkened.

"In pursuit of a higher realm, in pursuit of a greater level, I might use Konoha as a stepping stone. Would you still trust me even then?"

"Eh? Big Brother, do you want to become Hokage? If so, couldn't you just discuss it with the Third Hokage?"

"How could such a matter be discussed?"

"Why not? Most of the Jonin and I support Big Brother, and the Chunin and Genin are all Brother Aizen's people too. A lot of the time, everyone thinks your words carry more weight than the Hokage's."

"..."

Is the Hokage the only thing in your sight? You should have a more far-reaching vision.

How could a strong person allow such admiration to blind his eyes? You should step out from my shadow and walk an even more outstanding path.

What meaning is there in imitating me? What meaning is there in admiring me? You are Minato Namikaze, not Sosuke Aizen. This world does not need two Sosuke Aizens, one big and one small.

Looking at Minato Namikaze, who seemed pleased with himself as if he had found a loophole in Aizen's words, Sosuke Aizen felt somewhat conflicted. Though he had known long ago that his ideas would not be validated quickly, he still felt a little saddened.

After all, only a small minority could break free from their cage.

Still, there was no point in saying such things to a young man.

Seeing that familiar look of admiration in Minato's eyes, Aizen sighed softly.

"Minato-kun, you are a ninja of Konoha. One day, you will surely become someone who can stand on his own. Do not say such things in front of others in the future."

"Yes, I understand. I only say these things to Big Brother."

"..."

Forget it. There was no need to bother with him.

Setting aside certain memories from the past, Aizen briefly examined the secret technique scroll Minato Namikaze had provided.

As the two sat in Aizen's small courtyard and began preliminarily organizing the markings and techniques related to Space-Time Ninjutsu, Aizen became certain that Minato Namikaze truly was a rare Genius.

The scroll recorded extremely detailed plans regarding Space-Time Ninjutsu, with every kind of method included. But somehow, it was filled with metaphors and turns of phrase that only Minato Namikaze himself could understand.

Looking at those flashy names, Aizen suspected that without Minato Namikaze translating at his side, he might not even recognize what any of them referred to.

Under Minato Namikaze's somewhat regretful gaze, Aizen calmly changed those strange and bizarre names into normal ones.

And as he watched Aizen sitting upright in the Writing Room, rewriting the scroll, Minato Namikaze suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"...By the way, Brother Aizen. Do you really not want to become Hokage?"

"Hm? Why would I become Hokage? Since I can do suitable work in a position I excel at, there is no need to waste everyone's resources."

As he copied down material that could be considered the closely guarded secrets of the major ninja villages, Aizen pushed up his glasses and said softly:

"I am only an ordinary Chunin. If it truly came to a fight, every one of you would have the power to kill me. Compared to me, you are the ones truly exposed to danger. And only people like that can become Hokage. Rather than sending you here to protect me, there should be better choices."

"That was the theory, but Big Brother Aizen, the Third Hokage isn't worrying over nothing. Someone has already put a bounty on your head in the underground black market, and it's been accepted by a ninja who claims to always complete his missions."

"...Oh? How interesting. The black market is getting involved in conflicts between ninja villages now? Rogue ninja these days really do have ideas of their own."

"This is no joke. It's a real crisis. Those black-market ninja often have very strange channels, so protecting you, Big Brother, is only right."

"Using so many jonin to protect a chunin like me seems rather inappropriate."

"Big Brother!"

"Minato, back to what we were discussing. Let me ask you something."

Sitting in the Writing Room and revising Minato Namikaze's Space Ninjutsu, Aizen asked quietly without looking up:

"If one day I were to walk down a path you believed was wrong, what would you do? An enemy's attack might not exist in reality at all. It might even be slander, like what happened to White Fang. How would you treat me?"

"...I don't know."

Faced with Aizen's question, which seemed laden with some deeper meaning, Minato Namikaze lowered his head and thought for a long while before finally shaking it honestly.

"But no matter what Big Brother did, I think I'd still follow you when that time came. Yeah, because you've never done anything wrong. You're actually the big brother I admire most."

"However, if one day Big Brother really did betray Konoha and become Konoha's enemy, then I believe I would immediately capture you and ask who forced you to make that choice."

"Because the Big Brother I know has always been the kindest, the best big brother who bears the greatest goodwill toward this world. So whether it's Konoha or Big Brother, I want both. And no matter what happens or what the reason is, Sosuke Aizen will always be my big brother."

He looked at Aizen with utter seriousness, as though he meant to distill the most sincere feelings from all the kindness of the past.

Without the slightest hesitation, Minato Namikaze stared at Sosuke Aizen before him and voiced the most heartfelt thoughts in his heart.

This was Konoha's Little Sun's promise.

If it had been an ordinary Konoha ninja, they would probably have been moved beyond words by now.

Even the Third Hokage would have applauded this sentiment, calling it a great friendship and the Will of Fire.

But.

It was also the answer farthest from what Aizen desired.

If someone had never done anything wrong, did that mean everything they did was necessarily right?

Did other people's words necessarily represent the truth? Did what one saw necessarily have to be accepted and understood by others?

Completely wrong.

Even if they understood one another, they would still rightly remain enemies. That was reality.

"...Don't forget your answer today. As a ninja of Konoha, you've passed."

Watching Minato Namikaze smile as though he had finally passed a political review, Aizen adjusted his glasses, his voice gentle.

Minato Namikaze could not help scratching his head and giving a somewhat simple-minded laugh. At that moment, a white-haired boy vaulted over the wall and exchanged a glance with the smiling Minato Namikaze in the Writing Room.

A strange feeling suddenly rose in both their minds.

So this is Kakashi Hatake? Big Brother Aizen's adopted son?

So this is Minato Namikaze? The guy who calls himself Sosuke Aizen's little brother?

"..."

After one look at each other, both felt a strange sensation emerge in their hearts.

It was as though... they had seen someone they instinctively looked down on. All at once, the other person seemed rather unpleasant to the eye.