Looking at Sosuke, whose body was covered in horrific wounds, Minato's worry was plain to see.
"Captain Aizen... Let's go find Tsunade right away... Your injuries are too severe..."
Minato stared at Sosuke with his pale eyes and spoke, his gaze full of concern.
Hearing him, Sosuke shook his head slightly. Despite his severe injuries, he still smiled faintly and said softly,
"It's all right. These injuries... will heal soon..."
Hearing Sosuke's words, Minato looked confused, but out of trust in him, he didn't try to persuade him further.
He simply stood to one side, watching Sosuke with a worried gaze.
But Sosuke was now silently speaking to the Hogyoku deep within him.
"Hogyoku, it's time for you to put in some work."
"Lord Aizen... You're injured..."
"W-wait a moment... The Hogyoku is eating... eating this guy... Om nom!!"
Meanwhile,
inside a vast, spacious palace of ancient design,
countless grotesque statues of monsters, their faces twisted and their forms terrifying, knelt vividly across the palace's broad hall.
Within this mottled, desolate palace,
a tall throne stood at the very center of the hall!
Upon the throne sat a voluptuous figure. Her face was as exquisite as an angel's, with tender red lips, while a broad-sleeved kimono revealed the faint outline of a crescent moon beneath it.
Every movement she made held unparalleled charm, as if drawing the gaze of countless living beings.
At that moment, she rested her head lightly on one slender, pale arm, dozing slightly.
Suddenly!
Her lovely eyes snapped open!
Her deep, beautiful black eyes seemed to hold a sky full of stars, yet now they brimmed with endless fury!
"Bam!"
Her lovely face was as cold as ice. She slammed a delicate hand against the stone throne!
Gritting her teeth, she spat cold words through her