Recognition and Return

Inside Aizen's Writing Room.

Since this was the first time he had encountered talent that had proactively asked to come discuss matters with him, Aizen did not put on his usual aloof demeanor. Instead, he warmly prepared a table of small dishes.

Tsunade, Dan Katō, and Hatake Sakumo were left outside to drink in the northwest wind, while Orochimaru was allowed into the Writing Room to speak freely with Aizen. Yet they had no major complaints. After all, Orochimaru was the first person thus far to actively seek contact with Aizen.

"Contact with Aizen" sounded like an incredible phrase. From common peddlers to the Hokage and Advisors, it seemed that anyone could strike up a conversation with Aizen. But they all understood that Aizen was merely taking the initiative to present the version of himself they wished to see. It was not true contact with the real Aizen.

So far, Orochimaru seemed to be the only one who had actively wanted to understand Aizen's shadows, his techniques, and his way of thinking.

Tsunade and Dan Katō could almost conclude that there was not even a trace of the Will of Fire left in Orochimaru's mind. He could be considered, like Aizen, a prospective rogue Ninja.

But honestly, after seeing what Konoha had been doing these past few years, no one felt much like pursuing the matter. After Tsunade got together with Dan Katō, she gradually seemed to have given up thinking as well, picking up some elegant hobbies while dealing with her hemophobia.

For instance, the three of them were currently squatting by a fish pond, watching with great interest as Hatake Sakumo used breadcrumbs to tease the fish. There was no real purpose or understanding behind it, but they were enjoying themselves well enough. If they did not want to see that horrifying, bizarre side, then they simply would not look at it.

In the end, Ninja matters were nothing more than that. Either turn a blind eye, or see it and fail to understand it. Aizen happened to embody both.

So they simply gave up and lazed around.

Compared to the three little goldfish in the backyard, however, Orochimaru was indeed far more shaken.

Especially when their conversation touched upon the terrifying matter he valued most—the boundary between life and death—the conclusion Aizen offered left him stunned and somewhat unable to accept it.

"Life and death... are an illusion?"

"Yes. That is what I believe."

Looking at the shocked Orochimaru before him, Aizen said with a smile.

"Because the concept of life and death is defined. In the face of current technology, there is no absolute view of life and death. You should understand that very well. That is why I asked whether you sought immortality for immortality itself, or whether you had no choice but to seek immortality in pursuit of greater truths."

"If you do not limit the definition, there are as many ways to achieve immortality as you could want. There are spiritual reincarnation techniques that transfer all of one's memories and knowledge; immortal techniques that combine one's consciousness with Chakra and merge it into the world for transformation; Shinigami techniques that replace the body while protecting the soul; and many more besides."

"A narrow view of life and death does not suit us, Orochimaru-kun. In fact, you should understand this as well. To researchers like us, life and death are merely definitions. Can a mass of cells that reproduces endlessly yet possesses no intelligence be called alive? Can a being with infinite wisdom that can divide itself, yet possesses no flesh-and-blood body, be called dead? Life and death, in the end, are merely a deception of morality."

"Ordinary people cannot face the death of friends and family, nor can they recall or trace the time that has passed. Thus, they define life and death as an insurmountable gulf. But is that truly so for us?"

"..."

Looking at Sosuke Aizen, who drank tea with a smile on his face, Orochimaru knew that, from a moral standpoint, he should be rebuking him for such heretical nonsense.

But honestly, deep within his heart, Orochimaru was applauding Sosuke Aizen's ideas.

In truth, the puzzle of life and death had taken root in Orochimaru's heart long ago, when the Second Hokage developed the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

He was one of the Sannin and excelled at developing ninjutsu, so he was qualified to examine all kinds of sealing scrolls and secret techniques. Among them, the most bizarre and unsettling was not something like Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, but the Impure World Reincarnation that accompanied it.

It summoned a soul from the Pure Land and attached it to a human corpse or a clay doll, allowing that person to display their original appearance from when they were alive. The question was, after being reincarnated through Impure World Reincarnation, was that person alive or dead? Everyone said that the dead should not have their rest disturbed, but paired with Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, could that really be called resting in peace?

The summoned soul truly belonged to the deceased person, and corresponding techniques could control it or directly release that control. Combined with Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique, the very nature of the soul had already begun to seem slightly distorted in Orochimaru's eyes.

As Sosuke Aizen's theories were fully laid out before Orochimaru, he finally realized where the essence of the problem lay. Life and death truly were a deception. For technicians like them, it all depended on how one defined them.

Objectively speaking, life and death in the Ninja World were nothing more than the death of the Physical Body causing the soul to break free of its restraints, then travel to the Pure Land in another form.

But did the will truly dissipate? Probably not. Impure World Reincarnation made that plain enough.

Then, could transforming from one state into another unknown state truly be considered death?

"From a certain perspective, if you view it from a higher level, it is more like a butterfly. Once it breaks free from the shell of its Physical Body, it can soar through the skies. That is something a caterpillar can never accomplish, no matter what it does."

Seeing Orochimaru seemingly wanting to say something before suppressing his thoughts and lowering his head to think, Sosuke Aizen wore a rare expression of approval.

"If you are not constrained by humanity's view of life and death, you will discover that death in this world may simply be the process of forming a cocoon and becoming a butterfly. We cannot deny the existence of the Pure Land, yet we know nothing about it. Just as Insects cannot understand butterflies in flight."

"That is why I asked whether you pursued immortality for immortality itself, or in pursuit of greater truths. From the former perspective, you only need to break free from your Physical Body to obtain the immortality you understand. By definition, that might be a more convenient and efficient course of action. But I do not think you are such a shallow person."

"Life and death are terrifying. People always fear what they do not understand. But once you realize it is not some crisis or danger, your true thoughts will emerge in your mind. So, Orochimaru-kun, what is your truest thought now? I believe you have already reached a definite conclusion."

"Yes. Thank you very much for clearing up my confusion, Mr. Aizen."

Orochimaru looked at the man before him and spoke with wholehearted conviction.

In truth, if there had been no real evidence, Orochimaru would have dismissed Sosuke Aizen's words as bullshit.

But now, the Results of his techniques were unquestionably perfect. Dan Katō, who had already died, stood before him with both a complete Physical Body and soul. There was also Hatake Sakumo, who had been slacking off.

Both men had complete bodies and full souls, no different from ordinary Ninja. To some extent, Orochimaru could even sense that they might be far stronger than they had been in life as Ninja.

And Sosuke Aizen's many research reports showed that his research truly had no flaws. He possessed techniques to strengthen souls, as well as techniques to intercept people from the Pure Land and drag them back midway. Combined with Orochimaru's own research, the answer was obvious.

His worries and his suffering had, from the very beginning, merely been an illusion born of remaining constrained by the individual human life form.

As long as he thought from a truly higher perspective, perhaps there would not be so much torment and pain. Once he stopped limiting his thinking, dozens of methods for achieving immortality instantly Emerged in Orochimaru's mind.

Yet before this, he had rejected them all for one reason or another. The risks of existence, the unclear path, uncertainty over whether he would still be himself—but now, it seemed that humans themselves were lives in a process of replacement, and true maturity perhaps resembled the Pure Land.

Souls that emerged from the Pure Land possessed infinite Chakra, complete memories and rationality, as well as bodies at their peak and mature combat systems. No matter how one looked at it, souls from the Pure Land were the most mature Results. But Orochimaru did not need such a thing. What he wanted to see was not the endpoint of the Pure Land.

"What I want to pursue is the truth of this world. I want to research more things."

"Then we are companions, Orochimaru-kun."

Seeing Orochimaru finally speak what was in his heart, Aizen nodded with great satisfaction.

"I know you have your own ideas, so I will not recruit you as my subordinate. We only need to exchange techniques and knowledge when the time comes, and keep in touch more often."

"Oh? You do not intend to recruit me? I thought you would be eager to bring me under your command."

"Of course I do not intend to recruit you."

Aizen said with a smile.

"Geniuses often cannot submit to others. If guided by mediocrities, a Genius will be tarnished. If guided by another Genius, he will sadly become that person's shadow. Only unobstructed sunlight can let a true sapling grow strong. So I look forward to your future, Orochimaru-kun. I will not recruit you. This is my recognition of you."

"This truly is... more than I can thank you for, Aizen."

The two exchanged glances and smiled at each other. In each other's eyes, they saw sincere emotion.

In some ways, they truly were the same kind of people. Although Aizen had already walked ahead, Orochimaru did not necessarily have to remain beneath another.

Guided geniuses often walked down paths of conformity, but geniuses raised in the wild could always bloom in different colors. Orochimaru looked at the smiling Aizen before him, his heart filled with emotion.

But before that emotion could become words, everyone's hearts suddenly jolted.

As if sensing something, they instinctively raised their eyes.

"...You came back looking quite accomplished, didn't you, Kagami."

I'm very pleased.

Looking at the godlike white figure standing in the dim sky, Aizen's lips curled into a faint smile.