Chapter 4

If Hatake Sakumo's soul saw this scene, he might be so shocked that he'd pass directly into the Pure Land on the spot. Kato Dan — just the existence of this man alone could reopen old wounds for many people. Like Nawaki, he was an important person to Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha. But here he was, a man whose presence shone like moonlight, walking side by side with Aizen Sōsuke, as if they had known each other for a long time.

The sight of them walking together down the ancient-looking brick and stone corridor, lit by the flickering lights, seemed surreal. Kato Dan, his expression calm and casual, turned to Aizen as they moved along.

"Is it really necessary to use this method? Stimulating the soul and body through strong obsession and emotion just to maintain one's existence?"

"Ah, there's no other way," Aizen replied smoothly, his voice calm, almost nonchalant. "Mr. Sakumo is still in an unstable state. He'll need at least 21 soul surgeries before he reaches stability. It would be a shame if he gave up at this stage, don't you think?"

Kato's gaze softened, though a trace of tension lingered. "It's too much, using his son to threaten him."

"The soul of a suicide is fragile and lacks the obsessions that tie it to this world. Sometimes, kind words are necessary," Aizen said with his hands tucked calmly into his sleeves as he continued to walk forward, his voice reaching Kato Dan clearly. What was unsettling, however, was the fact that, despite the two of them walking together, only Aizen's shadow stretched out on the ground. Kato Dan, illuminated by the same lights, cast no shadow at all. The ground where he walked remained clear and bright, as though he were not fully present.

"Now that I think about it," Kato Dan, still shadowless, spoke as if continuing an ordinary conversation, "you've always quietly distanced yourself from Konoha, haven't you? From childhood, even. Wearing a haori that differs from Konoha's standard ninja gear, never putting on a forehead protector, and never truly viewing yourself as one of them. Even the Third Hokage had a headache dealing with you back in the day."

Aizen chuckled lightly, his expression remaining warm. "Ah, in a sense, that might be true. I suppose I was never very good at disguising myself. Quite embarrassing, really."

The two continued walking side by side, their conversation seeming so ordinary, yet with layers of darkness just beneath the surface. Aizen's words and actions, though gentle, held a sharpness that could cut through the fabric of reality itself.

"Haha, if you just speak your mind, many things would be clear. Why don't you just say it? I really don't understand you, Aizen."

"The shaping of a worldview cannot be accomplished in a few words, Kato-kun," Aizen replied smoothly. As they approached a biometric verification gate, Aizen extended his hand and pressed a button. The multi-layered gates slid silently open, parting to the left and right, allowing Aizen to walk through. Kato Dan followed behind him closely.

Once Aizen had passed, the doors slid shut quickly, closing on Kato Dan's figure. Yet, without any delay, his body slipped effortlessly through the door frame, as though material objects had no effect on him—like he wasn't fully bound to the physical world at all. Neither man reacted to the abnormal phenomenon; it was as if this kind of occurrence had long since ceased to surprise either of them.

They continued their walk, unperturbed, while the corridor's lights flickered to life one by one ahead of them. Aizen's voice was low, filled with a magnetic pull that seemed to reverberate through the narrow hallway. His words carried an almost demonic allure as they echoed around them.

"It takes time to shape a worldview. Only by witnessing how the world is distorted by the hands of the vulgar will you develop the awareness necessary to resist."

"So, do you have to wait until after death? The living can only guess at your actions and hints, and only after death will they see clearly?" Kato Dan asked, his tone filled with a quiet complexity.

"Yes," Aizen replied simply and decisively, with no regard for Kato's delicate emotions. His answer was as sharp as ever.

"After all, I don't blame you for your thoughts when you were alive. I don't hold anything against you; in fact, I sympathize with you. Human beings are creatures shaped by their environment, constantly misled by the information around them. They can't see what the real world is like."

Aizen continued, his words cutting through the silence. "It is only after death that you can truly see the nature of each person and how the environment shapes them, through the feelings and actions of others. Once no longer bound by the hunger, thirst, and desires of the body, from the perspective of the soul, you can finally see what has been looming over you."

"Is it love, or mere carnal desire? Is it self-satisfaction, or a need for recognition? Are the words spoken by others just empty phrases, or are they backed by real actions? For most people, these truths can only be recognized after death. Some never realize it, even after they've died, while others willingly remain ignorant."

Aizen's gentle face softened even further into a serene smile as he observed Kato Dan, who remained calm and collected despite the weight of the conversation.

"For example, you once wanted to be Hokage, but now you haven't told anyone about that. You've really grown up, Dan-kun. I'm quite pleased."

"...If I wanted to give them a heads-up, could I really hide it from you?" Kato Dan asked, his tone resigned.

"Whether it's Sakumo or you, both of you are excellent experimental material. It's best to leave things as they are," Aizen replied, avoiding a direct answer.

"No clear response, as always?" Kato Dan sighed, continuing to follow Aizen. "So, when will we actually step forward? When will we emerge from the shadows and stand in the sunlight?"

"Don't be impatient. Don't rush. Just wait for the right moment," Aizen said, making a few deliberate gestures towards a nearby collector, triggering the gates to open one after another.

With his hands tucked into the sleeves of his haori, Aizen continued in his usual calm manner: "The experiment on soul materialization has already begun. The next step is to compress and refine the traces of the soul. The forging of the Zanpakuto has started, and soon, you'll be able to use a medium to let the essence of your soul bloom."

"...Why are you so afraid of Chakra, Aizen?" Kato Dan asked, his voice calm yet probing.

"Oh? How did you figure that out?" Aizen responded with mild amusement.

"Reiatsu manipulates natural energy to oppress enemies, the body of death is created by liberating the soul and natural energy, and the Zanpakuto uses a medium to indirectly guide natural power, the soul, and the self. Isn't this your plan? Why give up on Chakra? I can understand Konoha, but why refuse Chakra?"

"It's simply a matter of caution. If you want to embark on a new path, isn't it only natural to abandon your inherent ways of thinking first?" Aizen explained.

"So, we're still not trusted," Kato remarked.

"Trust and reliance are similar. They are the behaviors of the weak, putting one's ideals and hopes in the hands of others. I don't need that. Moreover..." Aizen paused as they reached the final area covered with seals. He adjusted his glasses and cast a meaningful glance at Kato Dan. "I can create a death contract to monitor and manipulate you to some extent. Is the creator of Chakra still watching us? In the face of this ruined world, what could they be thinking?"

Kato Dan's expression froze as he listened to Aizen's calm explanation. "Are you certain?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"It's just a suggestion," Aizen replied with his usual warm smile. "I neither confirm nor deny. I simply want everything to proceed smoothly. I don't want any issues with my precious experimental materials. Tracing Chakra is a distant goal; my current aim is much smaller."

"Summoning the dead, showing us all of this... Aizen, your 'small' goal doesn't seem very small at all," Kato countered with a faint smile.

"No, for now, it's truly insignificant, Dan-kun. I just hope to loosen the grip of this decaying system a little."

At the end of the corridor, Aizen extended his hand and pushed open the final door. Inside the sealed room were several pitch-black coffins, each pierced by countless pipes.

As Aizen gazed at one of the coffins with "Kato Dan" inscribed on it, the smile on his face became more sincere and warm. "If the fish tank is only this big, it will be difficult to provide space for the big fish to live. So, we either expand the size of the fish tank or kill the other fish. I just happen to be the one who can't bear to kill the fish."

"It's so typical of you to say that..." Kato Dan shook his head, about to respond. But when he raised his hand, he noticed a pitch-black shadow falling from it. In the blink of an eye, the ground beneath him was stained with darkness.

"The time is coming," Kato Dan said, his voice tinged with resignation. "I really don't understand your methods, but I hope you don't cause too much trouble. Many people are innocent."

"I have no interest in harming those who know nothing, Dan-kun. After all, like this, you can continue to thrive under the shadow of Konoha." Aizen watched calmly as Kato Dan's body gradually disintegrated, melting into the coffin. Adjusting his glasses, Aizen smiled again. "And also, I look forward to the day you choose to betray me, along with the lords of Konoha. But before that, I hope you'll continue to learn and grow."

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me directly. I'm always happy to provide answers. When new things are born, they need to be understood and utilized. How much you learn depends on your own efforts."

"After all, I've always sung a one-man show. A world that no one understands can be very lonely."

Hearing this, Kato Dan—now mostly absorbed into the coffin—paused, as if wanting to say something. But in the end, he melted completely into the shadows.

Aizen Sōsuke was indeed a mysterious figure. He seemed sincere, even warm, but there were always hidden reservations behind his words. Even when dealing with the dead, like Kato Dan. Under his pure white haori lay a dark, enigmatic core. Though a ninja of Konoha, Aizen never wore a forehead protector or vest, yet everyone admired him.

However, it's likely that no living person truly knew his real face. Even the dead, like Kato Dan, had only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.

"I wish you a good dream, Mr. Dan. The same goes for everyone—I hope you can take care of your health in peace. Everyone has someone they love, so please don't act irrationally."

As Aizen spoke, his calm, elegant smile remained fixed on his face while he watched Kato Dan's soul slowly dissolve into a black shadow, merging with the coffin. He observed the process in silence, ensuring everything proceeded smoothly. Once he was certain that all the instruments were functioning normally, he turned and left the room, his white haori gradually fading into the darkness.

The coffins remained still, as if there was nothing inside them. No response came, no sign of life—or death.

Several hours passed before a gentle, pained sigh broke the infinite darkness.

"Aizen Sōsuke... what did you see with those eyes of yours to become like this..."

The voice was soft, filled with sorrow—but it wasn't Kato's voice.