Chapter 4: A Foundation of Two Powers
A familiar chime resonated in the depths of his consciousness.
Side Mission Complete.
Reward: Zanpakutō - Kyōka Suigetsu - has been integrated.
In that moment, it was as if a missing piece of his soul had clicked back into place. The essence of Kyōka Suigetsu, the very core of its power, flowed back into him. Along with it came the foundational knowledge of a Shinigami's basic abilities, reminiscent of the early days of his training at the Shin'ō Academy.
Even the first fifteen levels of Kidō feel significant now, he mused, a wry thought crossing his mind. The Aizen of old would have dismissed such low-level demon arts as garbage, believing only spells above the 90th level were worthy of his attention. But that Aizen was gone. Stripped of his overwhelming power, he was now a vulnerable youth in a dangerous world. He had not yet begun to cultivate this world's Chakra; these basic Kidō techniques were his only means of self-preservation, and he accepted their necessity with cold pragmatism.
"Hinata," the Third Hokage's voice broke through his thoughts, "take him to the empty residence in the northern sector. He will reside there from now on."
Aizen noted the strategic choice. The Hokage, ever the shrewd leader, was placing him in a location undoubtedly saturated with surveillance. It was a logical move. A boy of unknown origin appearing out of nowhere was a potential security risk, a possible infiltrator from a rival nation. Such paranoia was standard in the shinobi world.
Seeing Aizen's silent, stoic face, Hinata gently tugged on his sleeve. "You should thank Lord Third Hokage," she whispered.
Aizen immediately bowed his head, his expression the picture of humble gratitude. "Thank you, Lord Third Hokage," he said, his voice infused with a youthful earnestness that perfectly masked his true nature.
"You are welcome, my boy. This is the least an old man can do," Hiruzen replied, his wrinkled face forming a kind smile. "Tomorrow, I will arrange for you to enroll in the Ninja Academy. For tonight, rest well and recover your strength."
"We will take our leave now, Lord Third," Hinata said with a timid bow, once again pulling Aizen by the sleeve to guide him out of the office.
The moment the door closed behind them, the kindly expression vanished from the Third Hokage's face, replaced by a hardened, calculating look.
"Yū, come out."
Two figures clad in the standard armor and animal masks of the Anbu dropped soundlessly from the shadows above.
"You will observe him," Hiruzen commanded, his voice low and serious. "This youth of unknown origins is most likely a plant from another village. Ensure he does not disturb the peace of Konoha. If he makes a move... you know what to do." A glint of cold steel flashed in his eyes, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.
"Hai, Lord Hokage!" The two Anbu operatives vanished as silently as they had appeared.
Later, in the northern district, Hinata stopped in front of a modest but clean house. "This is where you'll live," she said softly.
Aizen gave a simple nod. The physical conditions were irrelevant to him; all that mattered was the reclamation of his power.
"I'll be going now," Hinata said, turning to leave. She found this strange, cold boy unsettling.
"Girl," Aizen's voice stopped her. "What is your name?"
"Hinata. Hyūga Hinata. I am the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan," she replied, clasping her hands shyly, her innate timidity showing.
"Very well. You may go." He offered no further pleasantries.
With one last curious glance, Hinata departed.
As Aizen stepped across the threshold, his senses, still keen despite his diminished power, immediately detected them—the subtle chakra signatures and the faint, almost imperceptible hum of monitoring seals placed in several corners of the main room.
A house full of surveillance. It seems the old man is indeed wary of me, he thought, a faint, contemptuous smile touching his lips. But what can you possibly learn?
He was an outsider to this world, a fact no surveillance could uncover. And more importantly, he now held the key to subverting all observation. In the face of Kyōka Suigetsu, the very concept of "truth" was his to define.
He walked calmly into a side room and sat cross-legged on a cushion. Closing his eyes, he focused his will. The newly integrated power of Kyōka Suigetsu stirred within him, a familiar energy that flowed through his pathways, nourishing his body from within. Under its influence, the dormant seed of his spiritual power began to pulse with a soft, pale light.
A familiar sensation. My spiritual power is returning.
He focused deeper, savoring the feeling of his foundational energy restoring itself. Then, his concentration sharpened. There was something else. Interwoven with the familiar flow of spiritual power was another energy, distinct yet potent. It felt more physical, more rooted in the body.
This is... Chakra?
A wave of realization washed over him. Through the system's integration and his own unique nature, the refinement of his spiritual power was simultaneously generating this world's native energy. The two powers coexisted within him, not conflicting, but complementing each other, one fueling the growth of the other.
So, it took away my empire but granted me even greater potential, he reflected, a genuine, dark amusement rising within him. With two foundations of power to build upon, the path to the pinnacle is clear once more.
A quiet, confident laugh escaped his lips. The arrogance of the one who had stood above the sky, who had looked down upon all of creation from the dome of Las Noches, burned once again in his eyes.
The game was afoot, and he held a better hand than anyone could possibly imagine.