At Aizen's words, a slight hesitation flickered across Ulquiorra's usually placid face, as if he wasn't sure what to make of the emotions stirring inside him.
Aizen's lips curled faintly. He spoke softly to Minato.
"Let's go. Back to Las Noches."
"This time, Las Noches will welcome another new companion."
With that, he turned and strode away without hesitation.
The others behind him wore different expressions. Ulquiorra looked somewhat melancholy, though he didn't seem troubled by the companion who was about to appear.
Sasori and Minato quietly watched Ulquiorra, especially Minato, whose pale eyes held a trace of curiosity.
After all, if Aizen's words were anything to go by, the one who appeared next would likely be much like Ulquiorra.
Minato had been responsible for making all the arrangements, so he knew the details well. Back when he was gathering all kinds of intelligence in the dark underworld of the Ninja World, the information he cared about most was the information about the Tailed Beasts that Lord Aizen had once instructed him to collect.
That was why, when he learned that Seven-Tails Chomei had been sighted near Takigakure, he immediately passed the information along to Aizen.
As expected, Aizen went to Takigakure and subdued Seven-Tails Chomei with ease.
What surprised Minato, though, was that for some reason, Aizen hadn't sealed Seven-Tails Chomei inside a Jinchuriki. Instead, he had extracted Seven-Tails Chomei's Yin Release Chakra by some bizarre method.
Afterward, he released Seven-Tails Chomei back into the forest.
Though even half the chakra of a Tailed Beast was enough for their purposes, given the immense reserves they possessed, Minato still wondered why Aizen hadn't extracted all of Seven-Tails' chakra.
Of course, it was only a flicker of curiosity. Minato had always carried out Aizen's decisions without question. In his heart, he