Late at night.
Sosuke returned to his little house.
He had put on another pair of thick, black-framed glasses, hiding the sharpness in his eyes.
He had become that modest, steady-looking boy again.
Standing inside, Sosuke carefully examined the dark green katana in his hand, excitement flickering in his eyes.
Kyoka Suigetsu... What a terrifying blade... To think it could give me this kind of power.
Sosuke carefully recalled his performance in the arena that day. He thought back to his battle with Uchiha Tokino, searching seriously for his own shortcomings.
He realized that without releasing Kyoka Suigetsu at the critical moment, he could never have defeated Uchiha Tokino!
That Uchiha fellow was probably close to Chunin level...
A genius raised in a clan like that... Of course he was far stronger than a commoner like me!
In every respect, from stamina to strength, he practically crushed me!
But from today on, with Kyoka Suigetsu, I probably won't fall behind them anymore!
Sosuke thought to himself.
Just then!
A cool, alluring voice suddenly sounded in the room.
"Sosuke, do you like my power?"
Kyoka Suigetsu had appeared at one side of the room without him noticing.
She had changed into a red-and-black mottled kimono. She looked at Sosuke with a hint of allure, an unusual light glimmering in her eyes.
Startled by Kyoka Suigetsu's voice, Sosuke turned to look at her!
He had thought Kyoka Suigetsu had lost her power and disappeared, just like the Hogyoku.
Seeing Kyoka Suigetsu's captivating beauty, Sosuke blushed again. Fortunately, his glasses hid it, allowing him to answer calmly.
"It's you, Kyoka Suigetsu. I like this power very much. Thank you."
Sosuke looked down at the dark green blade, a trace of longing for power in his eyes, and spoke without thinking.
Seeing Sosuke like this, Kyoka Suigetsu's alluring smile grew even more pronounced.
She suddenly vanished from where she stood!
When she appeared again, she was behind Sosuke.
She pressed herself close to him, leaning forward, her shapely figure outlined beneath her kimono.
Her rose-red lips parted beside Sosuke's ear as she whispered softly.
"You don't have to thank me. As long as you like it, Sosuke, you can use it as much as you want."
The close contact made it impossible for Sosuke to stay composed. After all, he was only eight or nine years old.
Sosuke hurriedly took a step forward to put some distance between them. Blushing, he asked,
"By the way, Kyoka Suigetsu, why does this blade have the same name as you? You didn't answer my question last time. Just what are you...?"
Kyoka Suigetsu paid no mind to Sosuke's slight resistance.
She held her alluring pose, still smiling at Sosuke's youthful face, her gaze seeming a little distant.
Lord Aizen like this seems even more captivating. I wonder if Lord Aizen will mind how disrespectful Suigetsu is being when you awaken. The more I think about it, the more amusing it seems...
"Because... I am the blade in your hand, Sosuke. Every time you stroke me, I feel it too."
Kyoka Suigetsu was like a blend of a girl's innocent face and a bewitching, seductive heart.
Her fine eyes narrowed as she looked at Sosuke. Her irresistibly tempting red lips parted as she said something that astonished him.
"What! You're this blade?"
Sosuke was stunned by her words.
A blade that could take human form!?
He had never heard of anything like it. He was astonished, because it completely defied everything he knew.
Like a lazy cat batting around a ball of yarn, Kyoka Suigetsu watched Sosuke, her smiling eyes narrowing.
"Mm. To be precise, I am the power within you, Sosuke. This blade is also an expression of your inner power, and that is how I came to exist!"
"So, Sosuke, I know everything on your mind."
That astonished Sosuke even more, and he felt a flush of embarrassment at having his privacy invaded.
He looked at Kyoka Suigetsu with a cold expression.
Across from him, Kyoka Suigetsu raised her sleeve to cover her quiet laugh, though her gaze remained perfectly clear.
Honestly... even though you've lost all your memories, that pride buried in your bones hasn't diminished in the slightest...
You still refuse to let anyone see into your heart, don't you, Lord Aizen?
"Sosuke, do you want to stand at the top of this world?"
Kyoka Suigetsu looked at Sosuke, still wearing that alluring smile.
Not dwelling on whether Kyoka Suigetsu's words were true, Sosuke asked,
"The top? You mean... the Kage?"
"The Kage? Hehe! Perhaps. So, Sosuke, do you want to reach that height?"
Kyoka Suigetsu seemed amused by his answer, but she kept smiling as she asked.
Sosuke thought about it for a long time.
If I had power like Lord Hokage, my village wouldn't have been destroyed by war!
If I had power like Lord Hokage... I could protect the people I hold dear! If I had power like Lord Hokage, I could punish those who recklessly steal the lives of others!
That's right!
If I could stand at the top of the world, with the power of a Kage, everything would be different.
At that thought, Sosuke's eyes began to shine.
At that moment, perhaps it was the village destroyed by war, perhaps the golden-haired figure disappearing into the distance, or perhaps Uchiha Tokino's words about geniuses and commoners. Whatever the reason, Sosuke felt a deep desire stirring within him.
He!
Perhaps he could try to stand at the top of this world, and change everything he wished were different!
"Yes. I want to stand at the top of this world."
Sosuke spoke softly, but the gaze behind his black-framed glasses was unwavering!
It had nothing to do with Kyoka Suigetsu. He had finally found the desire within himself: he wanted to stand at the top of this world!
He wanted to change everything he couldn't bear to see!
Perhaps she had sensed Sosuke's feelings.
Kyoka Suigetsu watched him quietly, an enchanting smile curling across her alluring face.
Lord Aizen, wherever you are, mediocrity has never been a word that applies to you!
This time, let Suigetsu be your most loyal aide and guide you toward the Throne of the Firmament.
We think the flowers on the cliff are beautiful
because we stop at the edge of the cliff,
rather than, like those fearless flowers,
taking a step toward the sky.
—Sosuke Aizen
Before you continue