The Hogyoku Awakens

Elsewhere, Sosuke had already returned to his room.

Having traveled for two consecutive days, he couldn't help but feel a bit exhausted, yet he did not rest immediately because there was still one matter left unresolved.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, closing his eyes to focus his spirit.

"Hogyoku, have you awakened?"

He spoke softly. Earlier, he had sensed a strange feeling within his body, and throughout the journey back, he had been pondering the cause.

Connecting it to the many people he had killed, the word "soul" immediately rushed into his mind.

Then, Sosuke thought of the Hogyoku hidden within his body.

Sure enough, as his voice faded, a voice as immature as a child's suddenly rang out in Sosuke's mind in a panic.

"You discovered me, Lord Aizen!!"

This left Sosuke speechless. You have been sneaking around inside my body for the past two days absorbing my chakra; did you really think I wouldn't notice something so obvious?

However, Sosuke did not hold it against the entity, as the Hogyoku was just like a child.

He asked patiently and gently, "Hogyoku, when did you wake up? Why are you absorbing my chakra?"

Hearing Sosuke's question, the Hogyoku replied in a crisp, baby-like voice.

"When you killed those people two days ago, their souls were just enough to wake me up. But the quality of those souls was truly terrible. Compared to those, the Hogyoku prefers the power within you, Lord Aizen."

Sosuke had no doubts about this, as the thing had been clamoring to eat souls ever since it first awakened inside him.

Thinking about how it not only ate souls but also drained his chakra, Sosuke couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

Even he himself was currently feeling a severe shortage of chakra; there was simply never enough!

Now that this little thing had awakened from its slumber, if he had to specifically set aside a portion of his energy to feed it in the future, it would be far too extravagant.

As for souls, that went without saying—he couldn't just go out and kill people to keep it fed!

Although he had killed many bandit ninjas with his own hands, they were all damned people stained with the blood of others; Sosuke felt not a shred of psychological burden in killing them.

If he were to kill many innocent people for the sake of the Hogyoku, it would neither align with Sosuke's ninja way nor be practical.

Seemingly sensing Sosuke's trouble, the Hogyoku said with a grievance-filled, pitiful tone.

"Has the Hogyoku caused you trouble, Lord Aizen? If you do not wish for it, the Hogyoku will not absorb your power anymore."

Hearing its pathetic voice, how could Sosuke say no? He replied softly.

"It's alright, Hogyoku. If you like my chakra, then enjoy it to your heart's content. I will find a way."

Hearing Sosuke's agreement, the Hogyoku's voice was clearly filled with joy and excitement.

"Really!? The Hogyoku likes such a gentle Lord Aizen the most, so I won't be polite then."

Immediately, Sosuke felt another portion of his chakra drain away.

The sudden loss of chakra made his heart ache. No! He had to find a way to increase his chakra capacity!

Then, he heard the Hogyoku's satisfied voice.

"Lord Aizen, power stained with your aura is the most delicious! In the past, you always made me eat the spiritual power of Shinigami. Although it was of high quality, it didn't suit my taste at all. But it doesn't matter; this time, the Hogyoku will grow up quickly and then help you just like before."

"I'm so full from eating this power, Lord Aizen. The Hogyoku is going back to sleep."

With that, the voice vanished, presumably having fallen back into a deep slumber.

Sosuke, sitting in the room after having a large chunk of his power devoured, wore a helpless expression. Feeling that only half of his chakra remained, he couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

Although his chakra would recover after a night's rest, no one could stand being suddenly drained like this!!

Sosuke thought for a moment, but with no other options for the time being, he could only take things one step at a time.

It seemed that Kyoka Suigetsu had no way to solve this problem either.

Immediately, he fell into deep meditation.

Outside, the night was still and quiet.

It was still that lush, vibrant palace.

Soft greenery covered the floor of the grand hall; stepping on it must have been soft and comfortable.

High upon a stone dais, on a throne surrounded by fresh flowers, a figure lay reclined, as lazy as a cat. Her clothes were thin, and her skin was as fair as fine jade, yet she paid no mind to the beauty of her exposed skin.

Her delicate brow furrowed slightly, and her beautiful eyes opened.

The sharp gaze hidden in the depths of her eyes, however, ruined that sense of laziness!

"Awake again!! That thing, even now, dares to shamelessly demand Sosuke's power!!!"

Her face was gloomy, and a bone-chilling voice spilled slowly from her lips!

With her fury, the entire palace seemed to experience the change of four seasons in the blink of an eye, as if time itself were rushing by!!

Every trace of vitality was extinguished along with it!

Flowers withered, and the green grass fell into a slumber.

The once vibrant world appeared as if it had been overlaid with a vintage, desaturated filter.

Desolation and silence permeated the entire great hall!

High upon the stone throne, the young girl Kyoka Suigetsu sat with a rigid posture and a cold expression. Her kimono was worn in a dignified and taut manner, and her fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest. Her brows were furrowed, as if she were lost in thought.

Outside.

Following a night of rest, Sosuke had already fully recovered.

Although he now had the Hogyoku embedded within him, which might occasionally take a sudden bite out of him, Sosuke harbored no resentment toward it.

For some reason, he seemed to grant the Hogyoku the utmost patience.

Right now, finding a way to increase his chakra reserves was Sosuke's most pressing concern; otherwise, with his current levels, he feared he wouldn't even be able to complete the incantations for those high-level Kido, let alone cast them.

There was simply no way around it—his chakra reserves were currently far too thin.

Having just completed a mission for the Root, he was relatively free today.

Early in the morning, he headed to the Konoha Forest!

No one's strength came from nothing. Whether it was innate talent or exceptional natural ability, without the perseverance of diligent practice, any achievements one might reach would be no different from the masses, destined to be buried in the dust of time.

Sosuke maintained a rigorous daily routine, never slacking for a moment!

He was here, training his taijutsu with great intensity!

If the Hakuda techniques taught by Kyoka Suigetsu were the most refined form of martial combat, then the taijutsu practiced by ninjas was the raw, heavy-hitting power!

Without physical fitness that surpassed the average person, even the most refined Hakuda techniques would be nothing more than a castle in the air.

Sosuke understood this clearly, and therefore, he dared not relax his efforts in the slightest!

Just as he was drenched in sweat, fully immersed in honing the most fundamental movements of his Hakuda.

"...If you don't complete 10,000 steps of walking on your hands!! Then do 5,000 squats while carrying a log!!..."

ps: If you feel this book is decent, please add it to your favorites. If possible, I would appreciate it if you could help promote the book. Thank you!