024 Confident Konan
Book Artist: "The Six-Tails is... oh, that big slug?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Its name is Saiken, right? Its ability is 'Corrosive Gas,' meaning it can spray corrosive liquid and mist?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Yes, Ruiko-chan has a good memory."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Hehe, it was nothing."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Was it Aizen's intention for you to retrieve the Six-Tails?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Well, Aizen does want the Tailed Beasts."
Book Artist: "I'm a little confused. What does he want with them? Is he going to turn them into Hollows? Can beings like that even be 'hollowed'?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "According to Aizen, the Tailed Beasts can indeed be hollowed. However, he doesn't seem to have any plans to do so. He says they possess too many distorted emotions; once hollowed, they would become uncontrollable. Monsters that know only how to kill are of no use to him."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Does that mean he wants to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki instead?!"
Book Artist: "The possibility cannot be ruled out."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Tsk, isn't his current strength enough? If he becomes the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, will the Shinobi World even survive?"
This is an Actor: "Aizen will not choose the path of the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Why?"
This is an Actor: "Aizen only believes in himself; he does not trust others. These 'others' naturally include the Ten-Tails. He would never merge the power of another sentient being with his own."
Book Artist: "But didn't he fuse with the Hōgyoku in the end? That was made by Urahara Kisuke, wasn't it?"
This is an Actor: "The Ten-Tails is different from the Hōgyoku. The Hōgyoku is a tool that responds to will, while the Ten-Tails is a distinct living entity. In Aizen's words: to merge with such a thing would be like placing one's fate in the hands of another—how tragic."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wow, An Ran-san's analysis is amazing."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Ah!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "What happened, Konan-shijie?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "That cry... did the slug do something weird to you?"
Book Artist: "Your mind is hopelessly filthy! That's a slug, not a tentacle monster!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Haha. I'll return that sentence to you exactly as it was."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "I'm fine. It's just... what An Ran-san just said is almost word-for-word what Aizen told me before!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "It seems Master An truly understands Aizen's character."
Book Artist: "I'm a little panicked now. He actually predicted the thoughts of a man like Aizen! I don't know who is scarier, An Ran-san or Aizen!"
This is an Actor: "There is no need to be afraid. I am Aizen."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "??? An Ran-san is Aizen?! The Great Devil is right next to me?!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "There he goes again! That 'An Ran-style' joke... but the truth isn't funny!"
Book Artist: "Yes, yes. Lord Aizen, please spare us."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "If An Ran-san were truly Aizen, I would actually be relieved."
This is an Actor: "Relieved?"
An Ran didn't expect Konan to give such an answer. Shouldn't she feel fear, resentment, or anger?
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Yes. Because I believe in An Ran-san. The gentle and reliable An Ran-san would never hurt any of us."
Konan was unaware that the person she called gentle and reliable was currently standing in mid-air, looking down at her calmly. She was completely oblivious to his presence.
"What a fool. But, a fool pleasing enough to the eye," An Ran murmured softly, a slight smile touching his lips. It wasn't the cold smirk of Aizen Sōsuke; it was a smile that belonged only to An Ran.
Book Artist: "True, when we think of An Ran-san, we think 'gentle and reliable.' But when it comes to Gintoki, we just think..."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Bear panties?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "???"
Book Artist: "Pfft! Hahahaha! Ruiko-chan, you really are a finishing genius!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Ruiko speaks the truth."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "I've found my target. I'm going to take action."
As the message was sent, Konan stood before a small cabin in the woods, looking calmly at the young man with short, unruly hair standing a short distance away.
The young man, Utakata, was wearing a light blue kimono and holding a bubble pipe. He looked at Konan warily, his tone cold. "Who are you?"
"If possible, could you please hand over the Six-Tails?" Konan ignored his indifference, her voice gentle yet firm. "Don't worry, I have no intention of taking your life."
Compared to the brutal chakra extraction of the Gedō Mazō, Aizen had developed a safer, more efficient method to seal Tailed Beasts. However, it required the cooperation of the Jinchūriki—or for them to be rendered unconscious beforehand.
"I see. So your target is the beast?" Utakata understood her intentions instantly. Wisps of corrosive chakra began to leak from his body. "I don't know how you found me, but you've miscalculated."
Sensing a massive threat, he immediately began his Tailed Beast transformation.
"If possible, I didn't want to use force." Konan sighed softly, her right hand resting on the hilt of the blade at her waist. "But since negotiations have failed..."
Chink.
The silver blade was slowly unsheathed. Konan held the sword horizontally, her purple-painted lips parting slightly as she whispered, "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyōrinmaru!"
Boom!
The clear sky was suddenly engulfed by dark, swirling clouds. Lightning crackled and thunder roared across the landscape.
She can trigger celestial phenomena?
Utakata, mid-transformation, stared blankly at the sky in disbelief. What kind of power was this? Could a ninja truly do such a thing?
Konan didn't pause to explain. She raised her blade and slashed toward Utakata. A terrifying chill surged outward, and even the grass beneath her feet was instantly flash-frozen.
This... this is...
Utakata's eyes widened as a massive ice dragon, its maw wide open, was reflected in his pupils.
Book Artist: "I'm so worried. Is Konan-nee okay?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "She should be fine, right?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "I'm back. Hyōrinmaru's Shikai is still a bit much for me; my spiritual pressure can barely keep up with the output."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "So, did the retrieval fail?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "It doesn't matter if it failed, as long as Konan-san is safe."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "No, it was a success."
In front of Konan, Utakata's body was encased in a block of impenetrable ice. A black cube spun lazily in mid-air. On its surface, the kanji for "Six" was inscribed. The Tailed Beast's chakra was being drawn out of Utakata's frozen form and continuously pulled into the cube.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Wait, Shikai? Aren't you afraid of being discovered by Aizen if you use Hyōrinmaru's power?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Don't worry. I've confirmed this area isn't under Aizen's surveillance. Furthermore, my spiritual perception detected no other living creatures nearby."
This is an Actor: "Is that so?"
An Ran, having sent the message, looked down at Konan with a faint smile. A gentle breeze ruffled his brown hair as his white haori swayed in the wind.
At that moment, Konan didn't even notice the shark-faced man standing silently right beside her.