Trust and Aspiration

With the Hogyoku's help, Sosuke had successfully and permanently opened the Opening Gate and Gate of Healing of the Eight Inner Gates.

For him, this was undoubtedly wonderful news.

Sosuke's strength had once again risen to an unimaginable level, and he was only nine years old.

Sosuke stood in the middle of the room with his eyes closed. The place around him was in shambles.

His expression was perfectly calm as he carefully controlled the chakra that had been raging restlessly inside him, guiding it through his body's meridians again and again until it finally settled.

Only then did Sosuke slowly open his eyes. A sharp glint flashed beneath the black frames of his glasses.

A faint smile slowly appeared on his face as he murmured, "The Hogyoku's power... It's truly astonishing. With it, reaching Kage Level wouldn't take much effort."

There was no doubt about it: he had gained an incredible amount this time!

Sosuke now had at least ten times as much chakra as before, and his once somewhat frail body had grown much stronger as well!

At that thought, a glimmer passed through his eyes, as if concealing some unknown secret.

Standing where he was, he called softly, "Suigetsu, come out for a moment."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a beautiful, exquisite figure slowly appeared amid the scattered floorboards around him.

Her snug kimono draped delicately over her curvaceous figure. Her fair skin and vivid red lips accentuated a face as flawless as a god's.

Kyoka Suigetsu gazed quietly at Sosuke without saying a word. Yet her lovely eyes held an unspoken emotion, and a trace of resentment lingered in her gaze.

Seeing her look at him so reproachfully, Sosuke's usually calm face took on an awkward, helpless smile. He asked softly, "What's wrong, Suigetsu? Did I do something you're unhappy with? Why are you looking at me like that?"

At his words, Kyoka Suigetsu's eyes shifted slightly, as if she were weighing whether to speak. After a moment, she said softly, "Sosuke, why did you use its power again?"

Her voice was sweet and melodious, yet tinged with such grievance that it was impossible not to feel for her.

Only then did Sosuke understand. The Hogyoku was the cause of this.

Come to think of it, the Hogyoku had warned him to be wary of Kyoka Suigetsu as soon as it had appeared. But after spending this time with her, Sosuke understood that she would never betray him.

At first, Kyoka Suigetsu had also spoken ill of the Hogyoku's power, urging him not to rely on it and insisting that her own power was enough to take Sosuke to the top.

But this time, Sosuke had to be grateful for the Hogyoku's power. The successful opening of the Eight Inner Gates and the explosive increase in his chakra had saved him years of effort!

Now it seemed that both of them had been lying, each disparaging the other's very existence.

"Suigetsu, you're upset that I used the Hogyoku's power, aren't you? But as you can see, with its help, my chakra has increased more than several times over. That's very important to me."

"I don't know what kind of conflict you two have, but I still hope you can forgive it for my sake."

Sosuke looked at Kyoka Suigetsu tenderly and spoke gently. He didn't want her and the Hogyoku to keep quarreling. That would undoubtedly work against him.

"Lord Aizen... I wouldn't dare blame you. It's just that thing! That thing can't be trusted. At a critical moment, it might be the greatest danger to you, Lord Aizen! Before, you—"

Kyoka Suigetsu's cheeks flushed as she spoke anxiously. She had even changed the way she addressed him, calling him Aizen. But when she got to "before," her clear voice suddenly cut off.

She looked at Sosuke with hesitation and regret, seeming to blame herself for what she had said.

But Sosuke only smiled at her, then spoke in his deep, magnetic voice.

"Suigetsu, whatever happened in the past, I trust you now. And I trust the Hogyoku just as much. As for the danger you mentioned, with you here, I'm sure your abilities will keep that from happening again. Don't you agree, Suigetsu?"

Then he turned away and began tidying the messy room. With his back to Kyoka Suigetsu, he said gently, "Also, Suigetsu, I prefer you to call me Sosuke rather than Aizen."

After hearing Sosuke's words, Kyoka Suigetsu's cheeks flushed. Her chest rose and fell gently, and her soft lips could barely hold back her faint, quick breaths.

Her dark eyes gazed at Sosuke's back with infatuation, as if they held a ripple of spring water.

Her voice trembling slightly, she said, "Y-yes... You're right. I'll never let that happen again. Hah... Sosuke."

That's right... I let you slip away once before. This time, I'll protect you, even if it means working with that detestable thing. I'll make sure you achieve your ideal... Sosuke... You really are so gentle.

Hearing her words, Sosuke didn't turn around. He continued tidying the room, but a happy smile had appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Whether you're Aizen or Sosuke, to the real me, both you and the Hogyoku are the most important people in my life. Leave the heavy burden of ascending the throne to me...

Night fell, silent and still.

Unbeknownst to the sleeping Sosuke, that beautiful figure had been standing by his bedside the whole time, gazing at his face as if she could never tire of looking at him.

The smile playing on her lips seemed to be her entire happiness, her whole life.

Morning.

A ray of sunlight fell upon Sosuke, heralding the start of a new day.

The beautiful figure had vanished from the room.

Sosuke slowly opened his eyes. Feeling his abundant chakra and vigorous body, he smiled.

Life felt so unreal. He had gone from a child who'd been picked up by the village and only survived by sheer luck to someone who had grown so much in just a few short weeks, after years of gradual progress!

He had met several dependable friends, taken a mysterious and influential figure from the village as his teacher, rapidly increased his strength, and experienced a brutal killing. Perhaps this eventful life was exactly what he had wanted.

At that thought, the smile on Sosuke's lips grew even wider.

The Hokage... If I get the chance, I'd love to hold that position, too.

From there, the sky would look even wider.