Chapter 12
A large Garganta opened up just above Las Noches: Naruto stepped out of the portal along with his four shadow subordinates. He breathed in the cold air around the Hollow world. There was no sense of joy and happiness in this sand world. It only reeked of fear, and death. Power hungry fools were always running loose searching for weaker fools to devour.
This was the world of Hollows, his former home.
Naruto took a few steps forward within the air as the Garganta behind him closed up. He looked down at the place that he was about to crash party. This was something that he needed to do, something of utmost importance to his entire existence. It didn't matter if he had to go through hollows to achieve what he'd come here for. The fact is that he wasn't going to leave this place until his objective was complete.
If there was something that was stronger than his power - it was his will, his desire. Almighty or not, Kami had to awaken before he left this place to go to home. He was tired of living in this world without his glory shining over his head - he called for it to be like that. In his past life, everything always went according to plan; everything always went to his good. It was always perfection. But this time, perfection was eluding him.
Where are those days when he used to decimate his opponents regardless of who they were? Where are those days he could take on a full army and destroy it without even revealing all his cards? All he had to do was waste his energy while having some fun and testing some things. This world had wronged him. Amaya had wronged him. She'd robbed him of his perfection and left him with imperfection.
That was a sin.
''Scatter,'' Naruto said to his subordinates, who all disappeared into all fours without saying a word of response to their master. He had much work to do, and today, he was going to seriously battle someone. A pity only a half of the power of his eyes was only available to him.
''Well, I guess I should announce that I have arrived,'' Naruto said to himself before shaking his head with a small smile on his smile. 'Being explosive is a bit childish,' he thought before descending down at Las Noches.
He landed softly on the rooftop before blasting a hole through the roof to get through. He wasn't here on social calls, so it didn't matter how he entered and it wasn't like he was hiding from anyone.
Naruto walked calmly through the dark passages of the Las Noches with his hands folded across his chest. There was enough time to warn the residents that there was a visitor. If his Reiatsu could be sensed, then he would have directed all the attention towards him for his children to work.
It was no problem though. They were specialist in what they do.
Naruto finally reached the familiar room he once had a little scuffle with Yami. As predicted, Aizen was already present, but he didn't have his lackeys with him: he only had Gin and Kaname with him. Both were flanking his sides; Gin on the right while Tousen was on the left.
He was the first to speak while allowing his hands loosen on both his sides. ''I'm not here on a social call,'' Naruto said calmly, looking straight at Aizen.
Aizen never lost a smile on his face. He just smiled before nodding subtly. ''Although this isn't how expected things to play out, it still ends in the same line as I had thought, and I had imagined that you'd come back here a lot sooner after your show in Soul Society.''
Naruto was battling to regain his power after losing it. He had lost much and the only thing Aizen saw that could quickly 'heal' the man was the Hogyoku - that is what Naruto had come here for. But he was curious: how did Naruto know it would help him? As far as others were concerned, the orb was used to break the boundaries between hollow and Shinigami - nothing more nothing less.
He had not even told Gin of anything, and Naruto had never seen the Hogyoku in person or even come close to it. He knew he didn't speak to Urahara about it, either way, even if he had spoken to that man, he wouldn't have told him. Urahara would've guessed what the blond wanted to do with the Hogyoku; hence he wouldn't have told him if he'd asked. Even so, Urahara's knowledge of the Hogyoku was limited, it wouldn't help much.
As of now, Naruto was wanted by Soul Society, just as he was. They wanted to execute him for his actions and he held a bigger threat to their peace. But knowing of Naruto, he didn't threaten Soul Society, but his actions made him wanted for death in the spiritual world.
He wasn't concerned about the fact that Soul Society had a target mark on him - he had the power to shield himself from anything, after all. Perhaps Yamamoto would be a problem. In terms of pure power, that man was far stronger and Aizen was smart enough to realize. But with the Hogyoku, it wouldn't matter how strong the Sotaicho was.
It was a problem for Naruto since he didn't have all the power and an army like him. But the man didn't seem to mind the fact that he was wanted by the Gotei 13. Still, it didn't change the fact that he wasn't as powerful as he needed to be to fend them off. If he was all that powerful, he wouldn't have come here and he wouldn't be hiding from the sight of Yamamoto. Certainly, only that man was seen as a threat or an opponent if you could say.
''I see - then you're prepared,'' Naruto said. ''I don't wish any interference in your plans, Aizen and I'd rather avoid battling. For these reasons, I will say this: wouldn't it be better if you just let me do what I want?''
Aizen merely smiled. ''I'm afraid I can't do that.''
''It can't be helped them,'' Naruto turned away before taking a few steps forward. He then disappeared.
''Aizen-sama,'' Tousen started. ''You should allow us to handle him.'' He wouldn't allow his master to dirty his hands while he had the power to bend down on the ground and wipe the floor. In this stance, he was willing to fight Naruto in the stead of Aizen. He was positive and he and Gin could handle it.
''I'm not really looking forward to it,'' Gin said. He would rather have Naruto fight Aizen just to see how the blond would fair against the former captain. Aizen was far stronger and he didn't believe that anyone could defeat him. But if everything about Naruto was true, then he should give the king of Hueco Mundo a match.
''Gin...'' Tousen warned. A subordinate must always be ready to dirty his hands for his master. Even if it was life costing.
''It is alright, Kaname,'' Aizen said smoothly. ''I'm sure Gin knows that I'm rather looking forward to the battle, and Captain Naruto won't allow himself to be disrespected by having to fight a ''child'' when the father is present. If I were to send you to him, he would probably kill someone out of sheer annoyance.''
''What of the Espada?''
''Leave them be,'' Aizen said. ''Didn't either of you notice something peculiar?'' the man asked before he too disappeared via Shunpo. His subordinates followed him as they weren't in search of Naruto. He did leave a trail behind for him to follow.
Once they arrive at a barren land, not far away from Las Noches, they found Naruto standing still on the ground. Gin was the first to respond to Aizen's question. ''You mean his lack of presence?'' This was the first time he was actually experiencing it, but he had heard of it before.
Aizen nodded. ''It truly is an interesting thing. My only guess is that despite losing his power, Captain Naruto is a being that has transcended beyond the boundaries of Shinigami and Hollows. Then again, he was never Shinigami or hollow to begin with.''
This is something of what he was aiming for. He wanted to be high above other beings and overthrow the Soul King. He guessed that they could probably never feel the heights of his power unless he brought it down to their level. He didn't for once think that this man had just discarded his spiritual pressure in favor of healing himself to have a stronger body, and it did trouble him that he was on a higher level than him.
But This only meant that he has something to aim.
''What is he if he isn't Shinigami or hollow?'' Gin asked particularly to no one. His eyes were strongly fixed on the man bellow them: he didn't seem to mind having them have their little talk, which got him curious - what if he had brought them here just to stall?
''I've come to the hypothesis that he was once a human who gained powers. I don't know how. But his human self simply transcended into what he is today. Unlike Shinigami and hollows, that man can be seen even by mere humans who are not spiritually aware, even without a gigai,'' Aizen said smoothly.
Gin raised a curious eye brow. ''How's that possible?''
''That is a mystery that eludes me,'' Aizen said as he started descending down the ground, leaving his subordinates to observe. Once he touched down he stood still before speaking to Naruto. ''You said you did not intend to interfere with my plans, can you explain that for me?''
Naruto held out his right hand, black reaitsu began to pour out of his hand, gathering into his palm. It then started to shape in the form of a large ball that was almost as half as big as Naruto. The ground beneath Naruto shattered like something heavy had crashed as Naruto reduced the size of the ball by compressing it. It became a small orb flouting above his hand.
Naruto lifted a single finger before flicking it. The orb sped towards Aizen in blinding speeds, but the former captain didn't bother to dodge as the orb blew just inches away from him. The orb hit the ground a distance away and exploded in a rather destructive force that shook the very ground they stood. Aizen didn't bother to shield himself from the gusts of wind and debris that had picked up because of the explosion - he'd merely narrowed his eyes to observe.
That was just some destructive power. He was positive a blast like that would have leveled a mountain. He looked back at Naruto who still had his finger raised, and floating above the small crater that was formed by the pressure of his technique.
''I don't have much Reiryoku inside my soul. But it is almost as thrice as potent as Yamamoto's. So, though I am weak, the power of my attacks is not reduced - what is reduced is that I can't keep it up for too long because I have limits. That explosion was nothing more than a compressed blitz of my reiatsu - this only confirms my superiority.
I am not one of you, never was and never will be. When I look at hollows, Shinigami, everything that breaths; I see things that are bellow my feet. There is nothing I cannot bend. Inside of my belly lies the rivers of living water - there is life in me, hence I can't be killed.
I have bested all those who claimed to have no equal, even without the full complements of my power. Yamamoto couldn't even cut me before I chose to go away.
The Soul King whom you seek to overthrow is a mere child before my eyes. I have seen so many things; I have experienced so many things. I have lived in all worlds, and have fought many battles. These hands of mine have crushed many who dared to oppose me. It comes to the point when Soul Society is engaged in war I merely wish to watch from afar - I have no interest in fighting the battles of Soul Society.
The years I have lived, the things I have seen, the power I once held, makes everything become trivial. If I involve myself, the conclusion is predictable, and that is no fun. Besides, I have relinquished my ''claim'' as Shinigami, and so I shall not involve myself in their spats.''
Aizen absorbed everything with a watchful eye. He came to this conclusion: this man had no interest in his war against soul society because it was a little thing. He has seen too much that even a war doesn't make him excited. He has enough power to put everything into order. He believed that if he got involved, then predictably, his side would win because no one was superior to him.
There was also the unspoken ''I am God and I don't really involve myself in 'human' matters''
''You're saying that even if Soul Society was to fall on her knees, you wouldn't do anything'' Aizen was certainly not asking a question. He already knew Naruto wouldn't be Soul Society's hero. But there still lied a problem: a god sits in the heavens, and so far, no one was sitting in the heavenly throne. If Naruto claimed all his power, then they would clash for heaven's throne.
Nonetheless, if Naruto had the power, he would have someone who could test his power once he fuses with the Hogyoku. If Aizen were to be honest with himself, he was really curious to see how Naruto was powerful in all his glory. If his desire was to aim for a higher level than Naruto's, then the Hogyoku could make it happen. For this reason, he didn't fear a clash with Naruto.
''Not at all - That thing is the sworn protector of the spirit world, and the one who holds it together. I am bit curious to see how he will defend it while keeping the balance so that it doesn't collapse. I'd even be willing to ''tie'' the royal guard,'' Naruto stated rather calmly.
This man was actually serious. Aizen couldn't help but chuckle. This was just priceless; he never really thought such a man would exist and be able to speak to him like this. This man wasn't stupid, and he was a worthy foe. For the first time felt like he met an equal, he met someone who could actually understand, and this only made him a bit excited.
''You came here for the Hogyoku, but you still pushed away from it. You could've chosen to battle in Las Noches where it is closer, but you chose here. You've also made light of the fact that you can't last long in battle, so even if you did defeat me, you'd still have to go through two Captain-class Shinigami, and my Espada. I doubt those odds favor you, but you're here,'' Aizen stated. ''This leads me to conclude that you didn't come here alone...''
Naruto didn't bother to hide or deny it. ''Yes, I didn't come here alone. But have no fears - I do not wish to take the Hogyoku away from you. I simply wish to use it then return it back.''
''You sound confident that it will help you. But so far the Hogyoku has been used to break the boundaries that exist between Hollows and Shinigami. When used on Shinigami, it causes them to go through a Hollowfication process which gives them hollow powers. Hollows go through Arrancarification to become more like my Espada.'' Aizen responded, trying to draw out the knowledge of the man on the Hogyoku because he certainly didn't know what he knew.
''There are those who you've used the Hogyoku on, Hollows I mean, but they aren't within the Espada. In fact, they are nothing more than outcasts in your army,'' Naruto started a bit calmly. ''The power awakened by the Hogyoku depends on the power within the soul of the subject. The Espada were all strong Vasto Lordes, I presume. Also, the one using the Hogyoku must also be very strong.''
Aizen didn't confirm nor deny it, ''you have already crossed between the lines of Hollow and Shinigami, do you still think it will work on you?''
''When I first came here, I felt its presence. I must admit, it was a bit overwhelming to feel something of its nature, even though it was sleeping. So, I had this question, how was I able to attract its attention? I felt that it was trying to get inside of me, but I do not like things trying to sneak into my mind. And so I blocked its path.
Still, I was curious. What kind of thing was it that calls for me? I am not a lost child, human or Shinigami. My existence far surpasses that of the starved hollows that surrounds it, so what kind of thing was it? Soul Society only knows what Kisuke told them, but his information though sound, wasn't satisfying to me.
The Hogyoku was buried inside Rukia's soul, by Urahara. She had contact with humans in the form of Chad, and Inoue. I don't count much of Kurosaki because he was already spiritually aware since birth. But before that, I had to ask myself this question, what gave those humans power? It isn't possible for humans to desire the strength to protect what they wish and have it unless some God grants the wish.
When I looked at the situation that led to the birth of those powers, I realize that someone was manipulating the events that happened. First of all, Hollows of that magnitude shouldn't have appeared that day, unless someone was sending them. These humans were in dire situations, helpless against things they couldn't see. In that situation you birth the desire to be strong enough to see and fight.
This is when those powers manifested, and at that time, Rukia was present in the human world. She already had contact with Ichigo, she had already transferred her powers to him. In all my years, I can tell you without doubt that humans don't just manifest powers without another force driving the manifestation. There was nothing else that could've made those powers, appear, well, except for one thing.
When Urahara created his Hogyoku, he thought to break the boundary between Hollows and Shinigami. Eventually, this would lead to Hollowfication, which you had been experimenting on before he did. Hollows desire nothing more than power for survival. The hunger of a hollow is only satisfied by power - this is their strongest desire. Without power in this kind of world, you become food, hence the mentality.
If the Hogyoku is used to break the boundary that lies between Hollow and Shinigami, why haven't you done it yourself? One of those has already gone through the Hollowfication and your Espada are not experiments - they are finished products, so why?
I have realized this - that things' existence is much more mysterious, and one thing that assures me that it will offer me a hand with what I want is that it is able to create life. The Hollow spirits that these Shinigami who have gone through the Hollowfication process are a new life force, but they share the same body as the ''master," however,'' Naruto held our his right hand and muttered a few words before in invisible force pulled Tousen towards Naruto.
'What..?' Tousen thought as he tried to resist being pulled, but he couldn't. The force was just too powerful, and Gin nor did Aizen make an attempt to rescue him before he was pulled closer to Naruto. The blond placed his left hand on Tousen's chest and markings spread across his body, restraining him.
''This hollow inside of him is a little different from a Zanpakutou spirit - it can exist on its own despite being created from his soul. Why, simply because it is a hollow. I can pull it out of his soul,'' Naruto said he removed his left hand from Tousen's chest. His right moved towards the man's chest with intent to pierce through his chest, but before he could do any damage, Aizen blocked his hand with his palm.
''That won't be necessary,'' the man said ever so calmly. ''I imagine it would either cripple him or kill him if something like that happens.''
Naruto merely snapped his fingers and the markings on Tousen disappeared. The former captain didn't need to be told twice to make his distance. Naruto looked straight into the eyes of Aizen, he smiled. The blond exposed the right side of his face which was hidden under his hair. Aizen noticed that he didn't have a right eye.
''My right eye is needed, and since the Hogyoku is capable of creating life, it can recreate it. This is something that is within my DNA. So I am not looking forward to gain any power from the Hogyoku, I simply wish to restore that which has been ''stolen,'' Naruto paused for a moment. ''But it appears that you're not going to make it easy for me. Well, it can't be helped.''
Naruto opened his left palm, facing Aizen. ''Let us see if you can make me draw out my blade when my body is perfect.'' The blond stated, but before he could release a Shinra Tensei, Aizen blurred out of his sight.
The man took out his Zanpakutou and held it in front of him. ''Many do not know the true power of my Zanpakutou. I don't believe you have, would you like me to show you?''
''When you have grown strong, and unrivalled for many years, you tend to underestimate things, and those around you. But I have learned that even a God can be brought down to his knees by a simple tactic,'' Naruto stated, staring straight at Aizen. ''You asked me if I wish to see the power of your Zanpakutou - this is my answer; do you wish to see the power of my left eye?''
Although it was a simple question, Naruto went on to do it anyway. He didn't wait for Aizen to respond; he merely ensnared the man under the world of Tsukuyomi. Aizen found himself in an unfamiliar world; it was like a deep hole of darkness that he found himself in. Everything was just dark. The lights went on when Naruto spoke; they were in the form of stars dazzling just above him, illuminating the ground beneath his feet.
''You say the power of your blade is complete hypnosis. But what it does is merely create an illusion that can't be escaped. Unfortunately for you, whether you ''baptize'' me or not, my eyes see all the truth,'' Naruto stated walking over to Aizen.
Well, it was technically true that his blade created an illusion that couldn't be escaped. But why does this man say that and nevertheless says that his eyes can see through it? He had always known that there was something special about those eyes, but he never expected to be able to create a tangible world. He could feel that despite the fact that it looked like an illusion, it felt real.
''What-'' Aizen never got to finish as Naruto cut him off.
''-is this place,'' the blond finished for the former fifth division captain. Aizen was greatly surprised; it was like he read his mind. Naruto smiled. ''This is my world, although we're inside your head. I am God here, I control everything and all your thoughts are broadcasted to me. This is how I can defeat you and make you tell me whatever I can, without touching you on the outside.''
'This is impossible,' Aizen thought, trying to test if Naruto was being truthful or not.
'It is possible,'' Naruto said. ''Now does that satisfy your curiosity?''
''I am surprised,'' Aizen simply said. Though, no surprise was evident in his expression or tone. He looked perfectly fine on the outside. ''I didn't think that you had this kind of power. I suspect that this kind of power is the one that enable you to see the Hollow living inside Kaname's inner world.''
''It is not the same thing,'' Naruto said but didn't elaborate. ''Aizen, you cannot escape from this world, no matter what happens, no matter how strong you are. I've already told you, there is no Shinigami whose Reiatsu's potency can match mine.''
''I see,'' Aizen didn't lose his smile despite the situation he found himself in. ''So the strength of this illusion is determined by the how potent your reiatsu is. I guess this means that if one possess greater reaitsu than yours, then there is a way to break free.''
That wasn't exactly right. But Naruto wasn't going to correct the man. He already got what he wanted. ''I will show you that this isn't just an illusion,'' he held out his right hand at Aizen. A beam of black energy shot out from his palm and sped towards Aizen, who couldn't move a muscle. The beam shot through his left shoulder, piercing through, and left behind a gaping hole.
Again, Aizen was surprised - he still didn't show it. The pain was real, his mind registered it. He looked at the wound on his shoulder; he was bleeding. Normally, a blast like that shouldn't have pierced him, but it did. He guessed that since Naruto says he controls everything in this world, then everything must work on his favor.
Naruto snapped his finger and everything return to normal. Aizen looked at his shoulder; nothing, but he could still remember the pain quite well. It also appeared that despite spending a few minutes in that illusion, no time had passed here. So, Naruto could speak to someone without anyone even realizing it.
Aizen looked at Naruto carefully before coming to a conclusion. ''While my ability targets the five senses, your ability targets the mind. I assume that if you inflict enough damage to the target, the mind will eventually collapse, being unable to handle the pain.''
Naruto nodded. ''That is about right,'' he said.
''What a frightening ability,'' Aizen said smiling.
''It is nothing, really,'' Naruto said. He wasn't being modest. He could do so much more. ''Sate...'' he held out both his hands and formed a pyramid between his fingers. ''Byakurai...'' a beam of black lightning shot straight Aizen in some incredible speed. The spell was a modified version of the normal Pale Lightning. The spell packed some incredible power, and was capable of piercing through almost anything.
Aizen reacted quickly, ''Bakudo 44: Sekisho!'' A thin wall of light grey energy quickly formed in front of him before the fast coming spell reached him. The black lightning hit his fast-formed barrier before piercing right through it. The barrier was broken like glass, and the black lightning reared towards Aizen. The man did enough to move his upper body a bit to the right to avoid being cut.
When the spell whizzed through him, Aizen had no doubt it could've pierced through him like a bullet.
''Ara, are you trying to disappoint me, Aizen?'' Naruto suddenly spoke behind the former captain. Aizen refused to widen his eyes; it was impossible for him to allow anyone to get behind him without noticing it. How could he have moved so fast? He never for once took his eyes off the man, let alone blink.
He quickly spun around to face the blond, but he was forced to curse because the blond was holding his hands in the same sign as he did when he fired the first spell. ''Byakurai.'' The spell pierced through his right shoulder in bliss of electrical shocks that went through his spine.
Aizen flashed away from Naruto and appeared a distance away. He looked at his wound; it was damaging, if it had hit his hand, it could've cut it. The man narrowed his eyes. This was just too easy. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to feel his reaitsu. He opened them before shaking his head. He looked at Gin; he looked amused, while Tousen seemed to be confused.
He looked at Naruto; he was in the same sport as before and had the same amused look as Gin. He noticed that he no longer felt pain on his shoulder, and when he looked; there was nothing, just like last time.
It didn't take long for him to understand why Gin looked amused and why Tousen looked confused. Yes, he'd been running around like a circus freak, trapped under an illusion while they watched. No doubt Gin made a cheeky comment about it. Tousen probably didn't understand the situation, hence his confusion.
He, Sosuke Aizen, had been caught under an illusion. Impossible. Impossible. Truly impossible. He couldn't comprehend how that had happened. This was the sort of thing he did to those pawns he used as a means to an end. He was the one who manipulated things, he was the one who stood still and watched while his opponents play in his palm, not the other way around. That man had made him taste his own medicine without he even realizing it.
Aizen looked at the man who had made a fool out of him. This man was dangerous after all. He hadn't moved, and yet something has happened. He had been beat at his own game. Even without power, this man could still use his eyes to make up for it, and his strong reiatsu made his attacks far stronger.
''I underestimated you,'' Aizen said, a small smile, but narrowed eyes. ''Though I knew you were powerful, I certainly wasn't expecting this much,'' that was the complete truth. There wasn't anything he left.
''Everyone does that,'' Naruto said. It has been long since he was so amused. ''I guess this means that we can see other things now,'' the blond finished.
''Yes,'' Aizen stated, as his heavy spiritual pressure begun to pour out in all his fullness. His curiosity was piqued further; he wanted to see more of what this man can do.
Gin merely smiled under the weight of Aizen's spiritual pressure. The hollows were certainly not going to come anywhere near this place, and since Aizen had said Naruto hadn't come alone, it meant that the Espada would be busy in Las Noches to come here. 'Capt' Aizen ain't happy,' he thought a bit gleefully than he should be.
Naruto held out his hand getting a feeling of Aizen's reiatsu. ''So this is your Reiatsu,'' he said, still smiling the same smile Aizen usually wore. ''It is quite impressive given your age. A few more years and Yamamoto would be a child to you.'' Yamamoto wasn't getting any younger, and his power, though still great, as the years add on, it will only weaken. Aizen on the other hand was still young and had the chance of surpassing that old fool.
Shunsui had the potential to at least match Yamamoto on his own. Not to say Ukitake was by any means lower than that. But both of them didn't like fighting, hence their powers were limited and never improved much. They were still the strongest aside from Yamamoto, but their lack of hunger - hunger for power that is - has hindered their growth. It was such a waste.
A black mist began to gather around Naruto, reaching just below his knees. Aizen couldn't feel anything from the mist; it was just like being unable to sense Naruto's power. The mist suddenly became flames, lighting up around the blond.
Aizen didn't make the first move; he waited for Naruto.
''Oh, you want Uchiha Naruto to make the first move?'' Naruto asked before taking a few steps towards Aizen; the flames followed him as he walked. He then completely disappeared in a sound of static before appearing in front of Aizen, just above him. The right hand was outstretched; a mean punch was aimed at the man's face.
Aizen brought up the side of his Zanpakutou to block the punch. He was almost overwhelmed by the power of the punch as it forced his feet to burrow down the sandy ground due to its immense force. He had even made the mistake of using only one hand to block the mean punch.
Aizen allowed the force to push him back a little before pushing back in one quick bust of power. His right foot was swung in a high kick towards Naruto, but the Uchiha made his distance before the kick could connect with him.
Naruto dashed at Aizen again, debris picking up as he rocketed towards the former captain. Once he reached the man, a black rod formed on his right hand, and he made a motion to strike the man straight at his chest. But he suddenly disappeared, appearing behind Aizen. The man was able to follow his movements, and he quickly spun around to slice through the rod that would have pierced his back.
Aizen didn't let up, he twisted again and aimed a high right footed kick at Naruto's temple. The kick was block by both Naruto's hands which were held in a crossed formation. The kick did manage to send the Uchiha back a bit.
His opponent seized the chance to use kido and swapped his blade to his left before holding out his right hand. ''Bakudo 4: Hainawa,'' a crackling yellow energy rope formed on his hand, and the former captain threw it straight at Naruto. The reishi rope bound Naruto's hands and the rest of his body, robbing him of his mobility.
''Shinra Tensei,'' Naruto uttered, shattering through the Bakudo which held him in place. Aizen had already covered the distance between them; the man's blade was swung diagonal downward slash from his right shoulder. Naruto held out his left hand to block the slash. He actually caught Aizen's blade, before flicking one of his right hand finger, hitting Aizen with a wind bullet straight at his chest.
The wind bullet sent the man sailing away, but he recovered quickly and landed gracefully on the ground. He stared at Naruto for a moment; to think that he could actually catch his blade just like that. He looked at his Katana and saw some blood; he flicked it drawing the blood away.
Naruto raised a curious brow, holding out his right hand. ''I've been cut,'' he said, some surprise on his face. ''My body is not perfect as I thought it was,'' he stated, watching the gash on his hand close rather quickly due to his high-speed regeneration. ''It seems that I also underestimated you.''
Aizen knew he felt something when he cut the blond, ''I felt a bit of your reaitsu when I cut you,'' he said. It didn't matter much though. ''Hado 33: Soukatsui!'' Aizen shot a stream of blue flames that sped towards Naruto from the palm of his hand. He didn't need incarnations for Kido of this level. Besides, he wasn't expecting it to do anything to his opponent.
Naruto merely deflected the blast with the back of his right hand towards his right side, changing its path. He narrowed his eyes behind as Aizen suddenly appeared behind him. ''Hado 54: Haien!'' Aizen fired a blast of purple energy at Naruto. The blond quickly twisted around to face the spell. He wasn't too late to see it collide with him. When it connected with him, it exploded into a heap of red flames that surrounded him.
When the flames died down, Naruto was standing with his hands crossed in an x position in front of him. A thick smoke was pouring out of his body like he had been cooked by them flames. But there was no damage done by the spell. Naruto looked up, as Aizen was looking down at him before he returned to ground level.
''Not even a scratch,'' the rogue Shinigami said. ''I guess Kido of this level will not work on you,'' he said.
Naruto didn't respond: he held out his left hand; a circle of white energy formed just in front of him, and whiter energy begun to gather at the center. ''Pale Bullet,'' the blond muttered before a thick stream of white energy blasted towards Aizen in some insane speed that not even he was expecting. He brought out his blade and held it in front of him to block the kido. When it connected with the side of his blade, it pushed him back due to its tremendous power.
Naruto snapped his fingers and everything just went boom in front of Aizen. A cloud of debris quickly formed, surrounding the former captain. But he shot out of the debris a second later, with only his right sleeve burned by the blast.
He was also quick to attack though because Naruto was merely standing still, waiting to see the result of his spell. ''You who is crowned with the name of man. Wearing a mask of blood and flesh, flying on ten thousand fluttering wings, with Thunder's carriage and an empty spinning wheel, break the light into six pierces, carve a twin lotus on a wall of pale blue flames, and await the blazing fires to reach the distant heavens!''
Bakudo 61: Rikujokoro!
Six thin, wide, beams of light slammed into Naruto's midsection, all around his body, holding him down. Before Aizen could follow this with anything, Naruto spoke. ''I guess the warm up is over them,'' he said. ''Shinra Tensei.'' A huge blast occurred around him, drawing dust to pick up around them. What followed then was a wave of black flames that spread around the barren field.
''Come, Amaterasu,'' Naruto called out holding out his right hand. His blade then appeared in a swirl of flames, before he grasped it firmly. He slashed it through the air around him, clearing the dust that had picked up. ''Here I come, Aizen,'' Naruto announced before he rocketed towards the former captain like a bullet.
The blond was right in front of Aizen in an instant. Flames were pouring out of his blade with intense heat. The heat the flames produced was the only thing that Aizen could actually say he was sensing and feeling. Aside from that, there was nothing that he could feel, in terms of power.
Naruto swung his blade from the left towards Aizen right upper body, while holding it with his right hand. Aizen parried the slash with his own swing. A sound of swords clashing echoed throughout the clearing. Kyoka Suigetsu trembled under the absolute power of Naruto's Zanpakutou. The clash of their swords, produced a shockwave crushed the ground beneath them.
Naruto brought back his blade before swing it from his right, a downward slash above Aizen's head. The man held his blade above him in a horizontal position to block the slash. Again, his Zanpakutou cringed when the blades clashed. A wave of black flames poured out of the blade. Aizen made the distance to avoid getting burned by the flames that would've no doubt put a mark on him.
While he was still airborne, Naruto appeared above him; another downward slash aimed at his right shoulder. Aizen blocked the slash with his blade. But, Naruto had put way more power than before. He was sent sailing downwards the sandy ground. He hit the ground with his knees, and Naruto was in front of him again palm facing him head on.
''Shinra Tensei,'' a focused blast was sent straight at the downed captain. Aizen couldn't resist against the invisible force that was pushing him. After going airborne for some distance, he was finally able to control his movements and landed safely on the ground.
Naruto held his right hand as a dense black energy begun to gather on his palm. ''Death Beam,'' a beam of dark energy didn't smile when it roared straight towards Aizen in a blitz of speed. The kido was strong enough to peel the sand beneath it as it sped towards the former captain.
Bakudo 81: Danku!'' Aizen shouted as he formed a barrier of energy right in front of him to shield himself from the dangerous looking attack. The attack collided with his barrier, but failed to break through. Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, Naruto was again, behind him, having used the distraction his jutsu caused.
''Death Beam,'' but this time, it was a little less powerful than last time. The technique hit the rogue Shinigami head on straight on his back, sending him pummeling towards the barrier he had created to block the first death beam.
Things cleared down and Aizen looked calmly at Naruto - hands sporting burn marks, sleeves all missing. He still smiled though. ''In terms of pure physical power, you are as overwhelming is Yamamoto,'' he stated calmly.
''You, think..?'' Naruto asked holding out his left hand. ''Cero,'' he shot a black beam of energy straight Aizen, who deflected to his side with his blade.
''I guess it is my turn to attack now,'' he said. Aizen blurred out of sight, moving towards Naruto. The speed was improved, not only that, his swing also packed more power. Naruto felt it when the man swung his blade in a diagonal slash that passed through his chest - he had evaded it by leaning back.
While he was still in that position, Aizen held out his right hand, ''Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness. Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky. The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired! Hado 91: Senju Koten Taiho!''
Purple beams of energy formed the former captain as he chanted before they shot straight at Naruto and hit him dead on. A large explosion rocked through the clearing picking a large amount of sand into the air. Gin and Tousen had to hide their eyes by their hands to shield from dusting blinding them.
It took several moments for the debris to die down, but when it did, Aizen saw Naruto standing still, head facing above; his blade wasn't on his hand and the black flames had disappeared. More importantly, there wasn't even a scratch on him.
''Our little time is over,'' Naruto stated, before taking a thoughtful look. ''I have used much more of my reiatsu than I'd thought. But if you persist...'' he held out his right hand and a force of gravity first force Tousen, and Gin down the ground on their knees, Aizen followed shortly. ''I have no problem in continuing, but your survival is not guaranteed,'' the blond stopped the technique before it affected him too.
Aizen got up from the ground; it wasn't the power of his reaitsu that brought him down. No, it was the force of gravity. With all that he has seen, he could assume that the blond could manipulate gravity.
A shadowy figure then appeared in front of Naruto holding something that didn't surprise him at all: the Hogyoku.
As though reading Aizen's mind, Naruto responded. ''When I took you out on a ride to my world, I told you that all your thoughts are not hidden from me. I also told you that I could also make you tell me anything I wanted. Although there was a fake, hidden, the real one was also hidden as well. If I hadn't gotten to your head, I wouldn't have found it.
Your Espada are all trapped inside a barrier that is surrounding Las Noches, so they can't come here.
You wonder how he was able to get into your secret lair without being caught... I will tell you this; these subordinates of mine are special. Unless you see them, you can't feel their presence. That is what I mean...'' Naruto had his index finger pointed behind Aizen.
The man narrowed his eyes behind him: there were two shadow figures behind him. He hadn't sensed them, and that only proved what Naruto said to be correct. It was something for him to ''allow'' someone behind him like this. Aizen looked back at Naruto. ''That is too bad,'' he said. ''Even though the Hogyoku isn't in my hands, it belongs to me and how can you even say that my thoughts were just what I wanted you to hear?''
''I don't need to prove anything, Aizen,'' Naruto said taking the glowing orb from his subordinate. He looked at it before he crushed it. ''It is a fake...'' he said. ''The real one is with you, and has been with you all along.''
''How do you figure?''
''I told you that my eyes can see through everything; I told you that the world you were in was under my control. What do you think those two are doing behind you if I had the real thing with me? Did you think that they just appeared behind your and stood still?''
Aizen narrowed his eyes, when he felt the Hogyoku coming to life inside his pocket. He didn't know if Naruto knew all along or he was just finding about it now. He did also say that he felt its presence back then, but he couldn't have felt it now since he was suppressing it.
''That thing belongs to you, but it isn't fully under your control, and I have explained some things I've concluded about it. I don't need it to be in my possession for my wish to be granted. It wouldn't be possible if it was a part of you. But it isn't a part of you,'' Naruto said holding clasping both his hands together. A high wall of flames sprouted from the ground, surrounded them. Naruto took a few steps towards Aizen before coming to a halt at a good distance.
Aizen looked at the flames; he couldn't escape from here, and he was sure if he tried to take flight, the gap up there would close. ''It can't be helped,'' he said to himself. There was no escape him here, and despite all the theories Naruto threw at him, he wasn't too sure about anything, hence this prison.
''It can't,'' Naruto stated. ''These flames are my will, nothing can break through, just as nothing can triumph my will.''
He still had the Hogyoku in his possession. Nothing was absolute other than it. Whether be it Naruto or Yamamoto, nothing could stand in the way if he was one with the orb. The power of Hogyoku was eternal after all. If he wished to stand above all Shinigami, even Naruto, then the Hogyoku could make it happen.
As long as he fused with it, he would be the ultimate transcendent being. It may be true that Naruto has already transcended, but he would surpass it all. He had created the Hogyoku with this thought. It wasn't that he hadn't known that Naruto wasn't powerful - he had always known. The fact that he was sealed in the Soul King's dimension instead of facing execution meant that they couldn't kill him, not even the Soul King.
Yamamoto had been defeated by this man, and during those days, the old man was a lot stronger than he was now. He had known all along that this man was absolute when it came to power. He had admitted, after all, that it was Naruto's existence that led him to think of creating the Hogyoku. He wanted to surpass a man like this, and he believed he would do it.
Aizen took a few steps forward towards Naruto until he was just a just a little closer. He took out the Hogyoku from his right pocket and held it firmly for a moment. He couldn't suppress its glow any more, perhaps it was because it was really close to this man and he had already used some of his reaitsu while fighting him.
He held out the Hogyoku and placed in on Naruto's forehead. He connected with Hogyoku to activate its power, while applying his reiatsu. A bright light showered around the fire prison, blinding everyone. Aizen took a step back with the Hogyoku still on his right hand: Naruto's flames had bust out in a heap. The flames surrounded him, forming like a black dome.
A large explosion tore through the large walls of flames, but it didn't break it. The explosion was so great it blew Aizen away from Naruto, sending him crashing towards the wall of flames. The man hit the wall with his back, but quickly recovered to move away from the wall because the flames were starting to burn his back. He nearly widened his eyes when he saw that the inside of the flame prison had a rather large crater, and that made his landing awkward because he wasn't expecting it.
The walls of flames disappeared allowing Aizen to see the outside. Naruto was still surrounded by the dome of black flames. The dome crumbled down, revealing Uchiha Naruto. He didn't look any different than before, other than the Shakujo that was floating on his right side, and 12 small black balls that were floating on his back. The shadowy figures had also disappeared his view.
Still, Aizen couldn't feel anything from Naruto. Not a damn thing.
''Ah, it is so good to feel this lively again,'' Naruto Exclaimed with a smile, but it completely vanished only to be replaced by a blank look.
'Hello Naruto,' a deep voice said inside his mind. 'Should I perhaps call you ''Ni-sama?''' the voice questioned.
'Raiden,' Naruto growled. 'Who gave you permission to enter my head?'
'You were never going to give the permission, and I needed to speak to you - we haven't spoken in many years since you locked your mind and refused to speak to me when you were in my dimension.'
'Disappear, Raiden: I am busy with something.'
'I can see that now. The fact that I can now speak through telepathy means that you have restored much of your strength. For this reason, I really m-' Naruto cut ''him'' off.
'Damare: I told you to go away, Raiden.'
Naruto then looked at Aizen for a moment before speaking. ''You can't sense my power because it is immeasurable, hence I cannot bring it down for your level of understanding. But, I can break the barriers that stand between me and you, only for a second though.''
Just then, a monstrous spiritual pressure hit the terrain. Gin and Tousen were the first to fall down the ground on the knees. They didn't keep much on their knees; they were forced to lie down by their front. Aizen was also forced down on his knees in a second, he used his hands to avoid going down on the same position as Gin and Tousen.
The spiritual pressure disappeared.
Bakana!
Bakana!
Bakana!
Even in this state of power, he shouldn't have been brought to his knees so simply. He couldn't even resist one bit under the pressure. No even Yamamoto could do this to him. There was no Shinigami nor a hollow who could do this to him. This is why it just seemed impossible for someone to force him to his knees. That is something only tools dream of doing. It wasn't possible. Yet it had happened.
What was even more possible was that it had happened in an second. He couldn't even put up a resistance for a second?
Bakana!
A large black portal opened behind Naruto, and the blond turned away from Aizen, who was still trying to comprehend everything. ''Gin, let us go,'' the blond said.
''Gin...'' Kaname growled, staring at the former captain. ''Are you betraying, Aizen-sama?''
Gin merely smiled and looked at Aizen. ''See you around, Aizen taicho,'' he said behind flashing right behind Naruto. They both walked into the portal before it closed behind them. The moment it closed, the heavy atmosphere of the dimension forced Gin to drop down on his knees within the black passage way they were walking - everything else around, up and beneath the passageway was just like a black night filled with shining stars.
Gin found it really hard to breath within this world, and the atmosphere was just crushing his body.