Chapter 26: This Is My Way of Relaxing
The Third Hokage's sudden order didn't just stir unrest among Konoha's senior shinobi—it sent shockwaves through Aizen's Seireitei.
Though the organization he built could hardly be called structured, every member had once been a shinobi of Konoha. No matter how far they strayed, the village still lingered in their hearts. And so, when the news spread, Seireitei immediately split into two opposing factions.
One faction argued that Sarutobi Hiruzen's indecision would doom Konoha. They believed that killing him and installing Aizen as Hokage was the only path to true prosperity. It was a dangerous sentiment—and though this faction was the larger of the two, Aizen himself firmly denied any intention of ruling Konoha. Thus, their rebellion remained nothing more than talk.
The other faction held a more cautious optimism. They believed the Hokage's decision, however reckless it appeared, must conceal some deeper purpose. After all, Hiruzen was still the Hokage—the man who had mastered all five elemental natures and survived since the death of the Second Hokage. To raise a hand against him was treason of the highest order.
But these optimists were young. They had not seen the horrors of the Second Great Ninja War.
Aizen's subordinates were not united by strength, but by diversity. Every member had their own ideals, their own scars, and their own reasons for following him.
Yet none of that mattered now. All fell silent beneath Aizen's shadow, uncertain of what he truly thought. The entire Seireitei watched quietly from the hidden corners of Konoha, sighing at the state of the world.
---
"…The Third Hokage is taking a very dangerous political gamble this time."
In the courtyard granted to Aizen by the Hokage himself, Kato Dan stood beside a tranquil pond. The gentle wind rustled the leaves as he watched the carp gliding beneath the covered bridge.
He wore the haori of the Second Division's Elite Army, while beside him, Hatake Sakumo, draped in the haori of the Eleventh Division's Combat Unit, stared at the water with his usual calm detachment.
Both men held small bowls filled with medicinal food, occasionally tossing bits into the pond. The koi surged forward greedily, mouths gaping as they fought for the bait.
The fish were large and well-fed, their scales gleaming under the sunlight. Yet they continued to shove one another aside, desperate for more.
Even creatures without reason fought for dominance. How could humans be any different?
Emptying the rest of his bait, Kato Dan turned toward Sakumo, worry flickering across his face.
"You understand, don't you, Sakumo? I know there's resentment in your heart because of what happened in the past. But Konoha itself is innocent. The Hokage's decision this time—it's a dangerous gamble."
"He's betting that the Rock, Sand, Cloud, and Mist won't cooperate—that each will move on its own. Now the defense lines at the borders of the Land of Rain, the Land of Water Trap, and the Land of Hot Springs are being pulled back. Decades of effort are being thrown away."
"Can you really accept that all our sacrifices were meaningless? Even after everything, this is still our home. Even if we've become… like this, when something goes wrong, we should still try to fix it."
"…."
Hatake Sakumo didn't answer. He simply watched the koi devour each other's food, their rippling reflections twisting across the pond.
Working under Aizen was easy.
His leadership was lenient—almost too lenient. Since many of Aizen's technologies were still in their early stages, the workload was light. Most of the time, they simply waited for Aizen's breakthroughs.
Many found ways to pass the time.
Some read.
Some wrote.
Others played chess.
Kato Dan preferred books and quiet meditation.
Sakumo's pastime was stranger.
He liked to watch.
People, animals—anything that moved. He could sit on a rooftop from dawn till dusk, observing the bustling crowds below as if studying an unknown species.
It made others wonder if his title as Captain of the Eleventh Division was more symbolic than earned.
"Other than Kakashi," he said flatly, scattering the last of his bait, "I don't care about anyone else anymore."
Still staring at the pond, Sakumo didn't even glance at Kato Dan's troubled expression.
"What the Third Hokage thinks or does has nothing to do with me. After watching Konoha for so long, I've realized something—the village's prosperity has nothing to do with him."
Kato Dan frowned. "How can you say that, Sakumo? Isn't it because of the Hokage's leadership that Konoha stands as the greatest village in the world?"
"When the First Hokage was alive," Sakumo replied, his tone calm but cutting, "Konoha commanded the entire ninja world. During the Second Hokage's era, we fought four great villages and won every war."
He paused, tossing one last handful of bait into the pond. The largest fish devoured it lazily, pushing aside the smaller ones with sheer bulk.
"But what about now? Under the Third, we've traded strength for diplomacy—given our enemies time to recover, to conspire, to grow bolder. And now, after years of blood and effort, he's gambling everything on a single, foolish hope."
He finally looked up, his expression unreadable.
"You tell me the Hokage has made contributions, and I'll agree. But those achievements were built on the foundations laid by the First and Second Hokage. The peace we have today—the stability, the power, the influence—it all exists because of Aizen."
"Konoha's shinobi must always remain loyal to Konoha and must not harbor other thoughts. Otherwise, they are branded as traitors. Because of that, we instinctively avoid questioning certain matters—we don't compare, and we don't reflect on the past. But tell me, compared to the First and Second Hokage… do you really think the Third measures up?"
Hatake Sakumo's tone was calm, yet his words cut sharper than any blade.
"Even from a family perspective," he continued, "we've all witnessed the rise of the Sarutobi clan. Have you ever wondered how many ninja soldiers their family will command twenty years from now? Is it truly because the Uchiha and other clans refuse to integrate into the village… or because someone is deliberately preventing them from doing so?"
He glanced toward the pond, watching the largest koi push the smaller ones aside as it devoured the remaining food.
"The Uchiha aren't blind. Their eyes see more than just light—they see the soul. Everyone can perceive what's happening. So tell me, if you were Uchiha, would you still choose to integrate into this village?"
"Th-This…"
Kato Dan faltered. The conviction in Sakumo's voice left him speechless.
His dream had always been simple—to become Hokage, and to stand proudly beside Tsunade, the strongest woman in Konoha. For him, Konoha was a sacred place. He could not allow himself to question it.
Even if that meant denying uncomfortable truths, even if it meant twisting his own logic, he would do it—for her.
Tsunade was not just Konoha's princess; she was his princess. And he wanted to give her a world without cracks.
But the castle he dreamed of was already crumbling, its walls creeping with vines of corruption. And Kato Dan was dead—what could a dead man do except convince himself to look away?
He was a shinobi. And for a shinobi, this contradiction was unsolvable.
---
"You two over there," came a calm but slightly exasperated voice. "If you're going to chat, could you please take it outside? I'm still working here."
Sitting within the writing room, Aizen looked helplessly at the two men by his fish pond, who seemed to have forgotten the concept of personal space.
"I have plenty of administrative matters to deal with," he sighed. "If you want to discuss philosophy, I suggest a teahouse—or a tavern. Anywhere but my courtyard."
"You're not even the real one, are you? What does it matter if we talk here?" Kato Dan asked flatly.
"Of course I'm not," Aizen replied easily. "But even if this isn't my true body, I am still Aizen Sosuke."
The clone sitting behind the desk smiled faintly and adjusted his glasses.
"Chakra is the refined energy produced by life itself. Everyone can cultivate it. But its most fascinating property is its duality—division and unification. Under the right source of induction, it can reconstruct into a complete whole. So even if I'm just a chakra construct, I'm still authentically me."
Kato Dan blinked. "…I feel like that was profound, but I have no idea what you just said."
"I haven't said anything, Dan-kun." Aizen's smile deepened, his tone calm but commanding. "But I can share my stance on the current situation."
He leaned back slightly, the faint light reflecting off his glasses.
"I look forward to seeing those who dare to step beyond the edge—to carve their own path. My way isn't meant for everyone, nor do I seek to become a savior of this world. True salvation lies in the courage of those who live within it."
His tone softened, almost as if he were speaking to himself.
"If people lack even the courage to seek peace… if, when faced with hardship, they think only of retreat or self-preservation—then naturally, they are destined to be despised. What moves this world is not profit alone, but the willingness to make sacrifices worthy of one's position."
"Though the world may be driven by self-interest," he said quietly, "its most captivating trait is that it isn't completely bound by it. Courage and sacrifice—those are the sparks that ignite true change."
Kato Dan frowned, struggling to follow Aizen's abstract words. "Then why don't you intervene? Konoha's current situation fits exactly what you're describing."
Aizen turned a page on his desk, his expression tranquil.
"Because I have no attachment to Konoha," he said simply. "Its fate has nothing to do with me. Whether it flourishes or burns, it makes no difference."
"…You claim to have no emotions," Kato Dan pressed, "yet you still do so many things."
"Well," Aizen said with an almost amused smile, "this kind of thing is like calligraphy to me—it cultivates my mood. I don't view my work as a burden; on the contrary, it's a form of relaxation. Handling your affairs doesn't require much thought. I simply write a few suggestions and wait to see what grows from them. It's quite enjoyable."
He looked up and smiled faintly at Kato Dan, whose expression had darkened.
"Oh, by the way," Aizen added casually, "the Legendary Sannin have nearly returned to the village. Would you like to go and see them?"
"…."
Kato Dan stared at Hatake Sakumo, who stood silently beside the pond, his sleeves tucked as he watched the koi circle lazily in the water. Then he glanced back at Aizen, still calmly working behind the desk.
Without another word, he turned and vanished into the open courtyard.
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