As Uchiha Tokino, hidden in Kirigakure, turned his attention to Yagura.
At a cliffside in the Land of Rain, dark clouds crowded the sky. Thunder rumbled within the heavy cloud cover, as if heralding a torrential downpour.
The air was thick with the scent of rain. A cool breeze swept across every corner of the cliff.
And within Las Noches, built into the cliff face as if by divine hands...
"Tap!" "Tap!" "Tap!"...
Soft footsteps echoed through the pale, weathered hall. From the darkness of the spacious chamber, two figures, one tall and one short, slowly emerged.
At the sound, the people inside the palace froze for a moment and turned to look.
Aizen, dressed in a black-and-white uniform, walked in front with a faint smile on his lips. At his side followed Ulquiorra, who looked like a young boy.
Quite a few people had gathered in Las Noches' main hall.
Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, and Minato, Kakuzu, and Nawaki, who had been outside earlier.
Even Kinnara, the leader of Amegakure, had arrived.
The people reacted in different ways when they saw the two.
Konan and Nagato both froze briefly, then their expressions tightened.
Konan clenched the small hand at her side. Her wide eyes were full of worry, afraid that Aizen would blame her and Nagato for rashly defying his order.
Nagato's expression was stern as he fixed his Rinnegan on the expressionless Ulquiorra beside Aizen.
He had not only disobeyed Lord Aizen's order, but had also fought the boy before him and damaged the buildings in Las Noches.
At the thought, he couldn't help suspecting that Aizen and Ulquiorra had come to punish him and Konan.
He clenched his fists, already prepared to step forward and take full responsibility as soon as Lord Aizen brought up the matter.
Yahiko,