High in the night sky, brilliant stars glittered densely across the heavens, creating a breathtaking sight.
Beneath that dark, sparkling beauty, a crisp voice tinged with concern slowly rang out.
"Lord Aizen, are you alright...?"
Hearing the words of the elf-like, flawless woman beside him, Aizen merely glanced at her and replied in an exceptionally calm voice.
"I'm fine, Suigetsu. What are you worried about...?"
Even Kyoka Suigetsu hesitated slightly. After raising her small head to look at the expressionless Aizen, she swallowed the words she had intended to say.
Then, she lightly drew back her arm, her kimono sleeve swaying gently as she gave Aizen a slight bow and said softly.
"I have overstepped..."
Aizen said nothing more. After giving her a brief glance, he slowly shifted his gaze toward the vast, dark forest below.
Only after a long while did he speak again in an utterly calm voice.
"I can alter what a person sees and touches... but I can never alter a person's thoughts..."
As he said this, Kyoka Suigetsu seemed to see Aizen—who had always remained confident and composed—slightly hunch over.
Yet in the next instant, everything from before seemed like an illusion. Before her still stood that imposing man who faced everything with calm composure.
Just as Kyoka Suigetsu was momentarily lost in thought, Aizen's calm, magnetic voice slowly reached her ears.
"Let's go, Suigetsu."
"Once Kimimaro and the others' test results are in, we'll begin a full-scale invasion of this world..."
The instant his words fell, his figure abruptly vanished from the sky.
Kyoka Suigetsu, who remained where she was, had a cold gleam flash through her beautiful eyes. From her delicate lips came an icy voice utterly at odds with her appearance.
"Tsunade...?"
The slightly frigid voice slowly dispersed into the night wind,