At this very moment.
The immense underground laboratory had been completely packed with trees summoned by Deep Forest Emergence.
At the center of the site, the roots of a massive tree over a dozen meters thick coiled and twisted like sinuous dragons, layered atop one another in a spectacular sight.
Yet atop those densely packed trunks, four figures were tightly bound.
The lush leaves and branches appeared brimming with vitality.
Before this enormous mass resembling a small forest, Nawaki stood tall by himself, his slightly cold gaze studying the four bound people.
Orochimaru, however, seemed utterly unconcerned by his current predicament. His snake-like eyes glanced down at Nawaki's icy expression as he smiled hoarsely.
"Nawaki, after turning this place into such a mess, I imagine Aizen would be very disappointed in you if he saw it..."
It would have been better if Orochimaru had said nothing. The moment he finished speaking, Nawaki's previously calm face immediately twisted into an extremely ugly expression!
As though unable to suppress the fury in his heart, his body trembled slightly despite his usual composure and calm. Slowly raising his head, his eyes were now heavily bloodshot as he shouted angrily.
"Shut up, bastard! I won't allow someone like you to mention Brother Aizen again!"
At those words, Orochimaru's snake-like pupils contracted slightly.
The trunks that had bound him suddenly tightened fiercely.
"Crack... crack..."
Under Nawaki's furious gaze, Orochimaru's body produced bizarre, piercing sounds, as though it were being twisted. All manner of strange, pained expressions appeared on his pale face!
Then, as though calming down slightly, Nawaki took a heavy breath and looked coldly at Orochimaru.
"Brother Aizen's name... is not something a person like you can use as you please... no matter what purpose it may serve!"
As he said this, a trace