With the sound of footsteps splashing through water, a tall figure slowly appeared on the scene as though peeling back ripples in space, emerging from nothing.
He wore a fitted black-and-white uniform, along with a bone helmet that seemed to have grown from his body.
His skin was unnaturally pale, and those emotionless emerald eyes unmistakably belonged to Ulquiorra, who had traveled alongside Aizen.
The instant Ulquiorra appeared, both Kisame and Itachi frowned slightly, the same word flashing through their minds.
Las Noches!
At that moment, faced with the expressionless Ulquiorra standing before them, the smile on Kisame's face faded somewhat.
His gaze narrowed as he chuckled hoarsely.
"What a rare guest... Why has a member of Las Noches stepped into Akatsuki territory?"
Itachi had also landed on the ground by then, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kisame as he coldly watched Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra ignored Kisame's words.
Instead, he slowly turned his head. His emotionless emerald eyes fixed coldly on Itachi from his pale face as he spoke indifferently.
"You are Uchiha Itachi."
At Ulquiorra's words, both Kisame and Itachi's expressions darkened.
Kisame thought to himself.
Well, well, he called him out by name. Looks like... they came prepared...
Itachi merely stared coldly at Ulquiorra, his voice calm yet heavy with silence.
"That's right. What do you want with me?"
As though he had confirmed Itachi's identity, Ulquiorra slowly raised his pale hand and pointed a finger at him, speaking in an indifferent voice.
"By the orders of a certain lord, I have come to assess your strength."
Seeing Ulquiorra's utterly disrespectful gesture, Kisame wore a grin, yet a trace of killing intent surfaced uncontrollably in his eyes.
Itachi, meanwhile, remained expressionless, his deep eyes carefully examining the other party.
Behind a ripple invisible to everyone present, Gin narrowed his