Sosuke Aizen smiled warmly at Ichigo, robes flowing behind him like a black waterfall.

Ichigo dropped his head and kneeled while pounding his fist into his chest. "Master...you have arrived."

Aizen glanced around, surveying the area, eyes skipping over the enormous fox monster of a canine in the center of the arena as if it wasn't even there, like it was a matter of little importance. "Where is Orochimaru?" He softly asked.

Ichigo scowled, then quickly fixed it into a genial, servile expression. "He has betrayed us."

Aizen nodded knowingly. "I was counting down the time myself. That was to be expected. When I first recruited him our military power was much smaller, so he was of use back then. Now, we have added to our ranks, and with the addition of Konoha's forces, I suppose we can take over both the Soul Society and the known ninja world."

The Kyuubi roared, almost as if Naruto was still somewhere in its consciousness. It swiped its claws at Aizen.

"Hado #100 - Heavenly Incarceration."

Clouds whisked down from the sky and transformed into oddly bulky chains, curling around the Kyuubi's limbs.

Then they glowed bright with an unbearably white light and exploded.

The smoke cleared just before the Kyuubi collapsed to the ground, shaking the entire stadium.

As if nothing happened, Ichigo questioned him in a troubled manner, "What do you mean, sir? Who has joined us? Surely not Yamamoto."

"He will be subdued soon enough. But no." Aizen stepped to the side of the still open gargantua, motioning and drawing attention to it. "I am speaking of these new servants of mine."

A red eye gleamed in the darkness, motionless.

A different, sandal-covered foot stepped out. Samehada was heaved onto a heavily robed figure's shoulder.

"Ooh, looks like fun!"

A whack and then a weeze of pain exited the gargantua.

"That hurt, you idiot of an artist!"

"Shut up, Tobi!"

A puppet exited the gargantua as that exchange took place. Kankurō's eyes widened as he looked on.

Sasori, along with Itachi and Kisame, stood at the ready, as Tobi and Deidara also took their places along side them.

Kakuzu was propping up a heavily injured Hidan, threads protruding from the devilish man's neck as they sewed his skin up.

Paper fell to the floor of the arena. Konan hovered in the air, wings flapping lightly, their width as large as the gargantua.

The gargantua began to close, screeching. It almost came to a halt when a pale hand stopped their motion, grip cracking the very fabric of space.

Pain slid the door open and stepped out, stark orange hair being blown in the breeze.

With that, the entirety of Akatsuki was assembled. Their strength was enough to cause the five nations in the ninja world to tremble in fear.

And they all bowed at Aizen's feet.