Amegakure Village's Angel: Hiss... You guys won't believe what I just saw!
Konan sounded excited, like a kid eager to share a secret.
Doujin Artist: What? What happened?
Curly-haired Guy: Judging by that tone... don't tell me you just saw Aizen's golden mushroom?
This is an Actor: ...?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: ?
Doujin Artist: Gin-san, you really need to get your head checked. Also, why enoki mushrooms? Shouldn't it be something like matsutake?
This is an Actor: ...
Curly-haired Guy: Hmph, foolish Eriri. Have you forgotten Aizen's current age? That guy is still just a kid—there's no way he's reached the level of a matsutake.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: What are you guys even talking about?
Doujin Artist: Ahem! Nothing, we got sidetracked. More importantly, what exactly did Konan see?
Amegakure Village's Angel: Soul resurrection! I saw Aizen awaken a sleeping soul with my own eyes!
Curly-haired Guy: Uh. That's not really surprising coming from Aizen, is it?
Doujin Artist: Yeah, I mean, all those Arrancars in his army were originally dead, right?
Amegakure Village's Angel: It's different! I didn't see him create the Arrancars firsthand, but this time, I actually watched him awaken a soul. The feeling was... beyond words!
This is an Actor: I get what you mean.
Konan said it was beyond words, but Aizen knew the truth. The whole time, she had kept a completely blank expression.
It seemed her acting skills had improved again—she could now hide her inner thoughts even better.
Aizen's lips curled slightly, feeling rather pleased.
But then, a curse rang out in the distance, making him frown.
He looked over and saw a scruffy blond-haired boy. The kid looked no older than five or six, with light blue eyes and a round face that still carried a hint of childishness. His skin was pale and a bit yellowish, as if he wasn't eating properly.
A child like that would usually make people feel sympathy.
But instead, all he heard around him were curses and insults.
"That damn fox again!"
"He's the one who killed my parents!"
"Damn brat, why don't you just drop dead?!"
The boy didn't say a word in response.
He simply picked up the rice ball that had fallen to the ground, now covered in dust and dirt, and silently walked away.
From somewhere behind him, he could feel waves of hostility. Of course, it wasn't directed at him—it was aimed at the people cursing the boy, as well as those lurking in the shadows.
Those people were the Anbu that Sarutobi Hiruzen had stationed around the boy.
Their job was to keep him safe from "danger."
But clearly, the villagers' hatred didn't count as "danger" in their book.
"Do you see it now? This is the reality you wanted to confirm."
Aizen seemed to be speaking to himself, yet at the same time, it felt like he was talking to someone else.
"I wonder... does this reality satisfy you, Kushina?"
A low hum echoed in response.
As if answering him, the hostility in the air grew even stronger.
"No need to be impatient."
Aizen stepped forward casually, as if taking a leisurely stroll, and walked in the same direction as the boy.
"The long night may seem endless, but dawn will always come. Try to keep up with me—I will become the new sun."
Doujin Artist: Kushina! Aizen actually brought Kushina's soul back?! What's he trying to do? Is he going to turn her into an Arrancar too?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Kushina... as in Uzumaki Naruto's mother?
Doujin Artist: Yeah, and she was also the Fourth Hokage's wife.
That's why I don't get it—wouldn't making someone like her his subordinate be too risky?
Curly-haired Guy: Not necessarily. Maybe he just wants to collect her.
Doujin Artist: What do you mean by "collect"?
Curly-haired Guy: You know exactly what I mean.
Doujin Artist: Hey, where are you even getting that idea from?
Curly-haired Guy: It's simple.
From what we saw in Bleach, Aizen has zero interest in young girls. He had Momo Hinamori practically worshiping him, and he still stabbed her without hesitation—what a waste!
So, what if... he's actually into mature women instead?
Amegakure Village's Angel: No way... Is Aizen really like that?
Doujin Artist: This is all just your own wild guess. There's no real proof.
Curly-haired Guy: Hah! Behind that refined and elegant image, there's a wild and untamed soul. People like that... you can never be too sure.
Doujin Artist: Ugh... Anzen, what do you think?
This is an Actor: Let's put Aizen's preferences aside for now. I just don't think he's bringing Kushina back just for "collecting" her.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: What do you mean?
Doujin Artist: No way... is he actually planning to make Kushina his subordinate? That... there's no way that would work, right?!
This is an Actor: If you find the right method and weaknesses, shaking someone's resolve is actually pretty easy. Based on the timeline of the Naruto world, Uzumaki Naruto should still be in the stage where he's being discriminated against, right?
Doujin Artist: Ah! I get it! Aizen wants to use Uzumaki Naruto as a key point to guide Kushina!
Amegakure Village's Angel: No wonder Aizen took Kushina's soul to seek the truth—Naruto was his real target all along!
This is an Actor: The dark side of the ninja world isn't as simple as what's shown in the manga. The amount of discrimination and abuse Naruto suffered can't be fully expressed with just a few images. As a mother who deeply loves her child, there's no way she could stay indifferent after seeing all that.
Curly-haired Guy: So that's how it is... This Aizen guy really can't be underestimated.
This is an Actor: And that's not all. Don't forget—the essence of Hollows is the result of human obsession, hatred, and twisted emotions. If Kushina sees her child treated like that by the village, and her negative emotions are amplified, do you really think she'll still believe in the Will of Fire?
Silence. Everyone in the group chat fell into silence.
It was as if they could already see a monster, personally created by Aizen, about to be born—a monster filled with hatred and rage toward Konohagakure. The most ironic part? That monster's name was Uzumaki Kushina, the wife of the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure.
Read 30 advanced Chapters on my