Training

In the Konoha Forest, sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground.

A figure stood there, his small body upright and his hands held straight out in front of him.

It was Sosuke, working hard to master Kido. His eyes were fixed on a large boulder ahead as he murmured,

"Hadō #1: Strike!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible wave of force shot from his hands and sped forward!

"Boom!"

The enormous boulder shattered under the impact of the wave, as though it had taken a mighty blow!

But he wasn't finished!

Sosuke watched the fragments of stone fly in every direction. His gaze beneath his glasses was calm and focused as his outstretched hands abruptly shifted position!

"Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden!"

Arcs of electricity suddenly burst from his palms!

Like tiny lightning serpents, the arcs seemed to follow his direction as they swiftly shot toward the scattering fragments!

"Boom!" "Boom!"

The sounds of the stone fragments shattering rang out one after another!

The fragments that had been flying in all directions were struck by the arcs and reduced to dust. A gust of wind scattered it away.

After releasing those two Kido spells, Sosuke was drenched in sweat. He gazed at his handiwork, breathing slightly hard, his eyes alight with excitement.

It was this powerful?

His efforts over the past few days hadn't been wasted. As it turned out, chakra could be used to control Kido, just like the Reiryoku that Suigetsu had told him about.

Behind him, Kyoka Suigetsu watched with keen interest as Sosuke finished casting the two Hado spells.

A broad smile spread across her delicate face.

As expected of Lord Aizen... Even after losing all his memories, he could learn and master Kido so skillfully in just a few short days.

To wield this world's power so proficiently... Compared to those useless souls in the Soul Society, you truly have the makings of a king...

After seeing the destruction caused by the two Kido spells, Sosuke couldn't help but feel reassured.

Although he hadn't seen any more advanced ninjutsu, there was no doubt that the power of these two low-level Hado spells could easily be considered B-rank ninjutsu!

And there were as many as ninety-nine levels of Kido!

Sosuke couldn't help feeling excited. The highest-level spells had power that surpassed even S-rank ninjutsu!

If he could master them... he would surely be one step closer to his goal!

Unfortunately, he was still too young. Although he had been refining chakra day and night ever since he began learning ninjutsu, he currently had only enough chakra to cast a few low-level Kido spells.

Sosuke didn't rush himself. He gently adjusted his glasses, looking pleased. He was already very satisfied with how things were going.

Besides, only by taking each step steadily could he move forward without hesitation and reach the top.

Just then, Kyoka Suigetsu slowly walked over to him, a slight smile on her lips. Her graceful figure and gorgeous kimono gave her an unusual beauty.

"Sosuke, as expected of you. You mastered these two Kido spells so quickly. I suppose this is what one should expect from Lord Aizen..."

At her words, Sosuke frowned and looked at the beautiful Kyoka Suigetsu. He spoke earnestly.

"Suigetsu, I don't know what kind of relationship I have with the Lord Aizen you keep talking about, but you need to understand that I am me. You must keep that distinction clear."

Without another word, he turned away from Kyoka Suigetsu and walked deeper into the forest on his own.

Dappled sunlight fell across him, and his white robes fluttered softly, revealing the spirited confidence of a young man.

"Come on. Show me what kind of techniques this Zan-Ken-So-Kido you mentioned involves. I'm starting to get more and more interested in what you're hiding."

Sosuke's warm, gentle voice reached Kyoka Suigetsu's ears.

She stared blankly at his retreating figure. Something in her eyes, something she couldn't name, grew brighter and more captivated by the moment...

Yes, Lord Aizen—no! I should say, Sosuke!

Perhaps you have never sought out the things you failed to achieve in the past. Someone as powerful as you has always measured yourself by your successes...

To follow you and support you, to overturn everything that once ended in failure—that is the meaning of my existence, Sosuke!

The two of them arrived deep in the Konoha Forest. After Kyoka Suigetsu briefly explained the Slash Path and Hakuda to Sosuke, he furrowed his brows slightly and spoke.

"Taijutsu? With Kido giving me such powerful abilities, what can physical attacks like these even accomplish?"

Hearing him, Kyoka Suigetsu's delicate face curled into a smile.

She lightly covered her mouth with her sleeve and looked at Sosuke with a playful grin.

"Do you really consider Kido a powerful ability? Sosuke, haven't you realized that I am your greatest power?"

At her words, Sosuke couldn't help but pause.

After all, he was only an eight- or nine-year-old boy. He didn't have enough information to analyze and judge many questions about power.

It was like giving a boy a nuclear bomb: even then, he couldn't imagine the world-shaking force it could unleash.

In Sosuke's eyes, power meant something like ninjutsu or Kido—an ability capable of causing destruction on a massive scale!

But he still hadn't realized just how overwhelming Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai and Complete Hypnosis were.

Kyoka Suigetsu smiled at Sosuke. Her lovely, delicate face was flawless, yet her words sent a chill through anyone who heard them.

"Sosuke, how much effort do you think it takes to kill someone—to erase their very existence?"

Hearing her say that, Sosuke's brows knitted slightly.

At this point, he was still uneasy and resistant to the idea of killing and taking another person's life.

Still, he thought carefully. When he considered Kyoka Suigetsu's abilities, his mind suddenly went blank.

Complete Hypnosis... Complete Hypnosis... Complete Hypnosis...

The words played over and over in his mind, like a recording on repeat.

That was right. With Kyoka Suigetsu, all he had to do to kill someone was walk up to them and lightly draw a blade across them. It would take no effort at all. It would be easy...

At the thought, he looked deeply at Kyoka Suigetsu.

She smiled like a flower in bloom, beautiful and captivating, standing quietly as she gazed at him with a smile. She was like an angel dancing in Hell, light and shadow meeting on her form as she embodied the divide between right and wrong, cause and effect.

She simply stood there, smiling quietly at him.

If the throne was what you desired, I would stay by your side forever. Even if I had to give up everything, I would help you ascend to the divine throne.

Lord Aizen...

"So that's how it is... Suigetsu, now I'm truly curious. Are you my power, or someone else's?"

He looked at her and spoke softly, his tone calm.

Kyoka Suigetsu's smile faded. She slowly walked up to Sosuke and knelt before him.

She looked like a holy angel who had been stained by the dirt of the mortal world.

Her clean kimono fell onto the dusty ground, but she paid it no mind. She simply bowed her head and spoke softly.

"I will never betray you. I never have, and I never will. My power will always belong to you, Sosuke..."

At her words, the corners of Sosuke's mouth lifted slightly beneath his glasses.

"Then... I accept your power, Kyoka Suigetsu."