Hi everyone! I just want to point out a few things:
First of all, this is not my work. It's a fan translation that I'm doing because I'm bored, and, well, this fiction kind of deserves a proper translation. I'll do my best!
Secondly, Aizen here has lost his memories. But don't worry, he won't stay like that forever. His personality will go back to his original one from Bleach.
Last thing, this installment covers chapter 1-3. Simply because each chapter is stupidly short.
On with the story!
In the 26th year of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded the position of Hokage. The First Shinobi World War had just ended, and the village was now entering a period of rapid growth. The young Hokage still had plenty of energy, and as he observed the developing village, a trace of reminiscence flickered in his eyes.
'Sensei, the Will of Fire will be carried forward. Wherever the leaves dance, a mighty fire will burn. The flames will illuminate the village, and the leaves will sprout again.'
At that moment, he noticed a group of kids coming out of the Ninja Academy's gate.
"Is that Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya? Such talented kids. They are all seeds who have inherited the Will of Fire. Maybe I could take them as my disciples. Hmm? Who's that other child?"
Inside the room, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into deep thought.
...
On the street.
A child with spiky white hair was bragging to a boy with glasses and shabby bangs.
"Hey, Sōsuke! I was awesome today! I scored full marks on shuriken throwing! How about that? Way better than Orochimaru, right? Tsunade, you agree, don't you?"
The boy named Sōsuke only smiled awkwardly without offering any comment, while the boy with black hair sneered and said, "Idiot!" before turning to leave.
"Jiraiya, is it really fun to always brag like that? Did you forget when Orochimaru knocked you flat during taijutsu class last time? I really don't get what's going on in your head. Sōsuke, don't hang out with Jiraiya; stupidity is contagious. Let's go!" Tsunade, the ponytailed girl with golden hair, grabbed the shabby-haired boy by the arm and dragged him away.
"Bragging... knocked flat... Tsunade! I'll prove to you that I'm stronger than Orochimaru!" Jiraiya shouted, determined to make his point. But by that time, Tsunade and Sōsuke had already walked far ahead. A crow flew over Jiraiya's head, cawing as it went.
...
Walking down the street, Tsunade leaned toward Sōsuke and asked, "So, how's life in Konoha treating you?"
Caught off guard by the sudden closeness, Sōsuke stepped back and blushed a bit.
Seeing this, Tsunade teased him, "Hey, are you blushing? Haha, are you shy? Do you like me or something?"
"No, life in the village is great. I really like it here," he replied, regaining his composure and flashing a polite smile.
"Is that so? I like it here too. I want to be a female Hokage someday, just like my grandpa!" Tsunade exclaimed as she looked at the river, shouting her aspirations into the sunset. Sōsuke stood quietly behind her, watching the scene.
...
That night, Sōsuke returned home. It was a simple room with neatly arranged furniture. He cooked himself a modest dinner, and after eating and cleaning up, he sat down to meditate and refine his chakra. The village he came from was destroyed in the war, and he remembered how kind-hearted people were killed by shinobi.
Among them were his parents.
Just when he was about to be killed, Konoha shinobi arrived and saved him. He later found out that the man who saved him was Sarutobi Hiruzen, now known as the Third Hokage. This made him feel grateful to Konoha, and he loved the village.
He enrolled in the Ninja Academy and met three unique friends. Although they often quarreled, their bond was strong. Sōsuke, however, preferred to observe from a distance. Training in the Ninja Academy was rigorous. The complex seals, and learning to control chakra, made it exhausting. But he was determined to get stronger because he remembered the day his village was destroyed. He didn't want to be weak and rely on others for protection.
Late at night, after his training, Sōsuke finally decided to go to sleep. He lay down and quickly drifted into a deep slumber.
...
A voice woke him up in the middle of the night. It said, "Aizen-sama, I can finally communicate with you."
"Who's there?"
In a groggy haze, Sōsuke instinctively asked.
"I'm the Hōgyoku! Don't you remember?" the voice replied.
"The Hōgyoku? What is that? Where are you speaking to me from? Why can't I see you?"
"Aizen-sama, I brought you to this world. My power is limited here, and I need enough souls to restore it."
"What do you mean by 'souls'? Are you asking me to kill people?" Sōsuke responded, alarmed by the request.
"Yes, but not only human souls. Any soul will do. What's wrong with you, Aizen-sama? It seems you've lost your memory."
"I don't want your power! I'm not Aizen! Get out of my body!" Sōsuke shouted.
The voice fell silent for a moment before it spoke again.
"You are Aizen-sama, and you will awaken me again. Remember, I am the Hōgyoku. I will fulfill your desires. You used to love me."
"There's also another one here. Now that I'm regaining my power, they might also awaken. Don't be soft; they might not be friendly towards you."
"My power is fading, I need to rest. Goodbye for now, Aizen-sama."
After uttering those words, the voice went silent.
Sōsuke woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath.
He looked down at his chest, where a faint blue glow was fading. Was that just a dream? Or was it real? What is the Hōgyoku? And who is the 'other one' the voice mentioned?
-Break-
Sōsuke awoke to find the sun already high in the sky, which was surprising for someone who usually adhered to a strict schedule.
"Damn, I'm late!" he thought to himself as he quickly got dressed and rushed to school.
At the ninja academy, Onoki Kimura-sensei was teaching a ninjutsu class. Down below, a young Tsunade anxiously looked at the empty seat where Sōsuke was supposed to be sitting.
"What's going on? Where is that guy? He's known for being punctual, and now he's skipping class?! Could he be at the Noki family's bathhouse? Everyone's in there bathing right now! How could he go without inviting me?"
Jiraiya lay on the desk with a bored expression, glancing at Sōsuke's empty seat with a pout.
Thud!
His words were interrupted by Tsunade's fist hitting his head.
"Do you think everyone is like you? Idiot!" she snapped.
Orochimaru, another student, just stared at the empty seat, deep in thought.
Bang!
The classroom door swung open as Sōsuke burst in, slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, I'm late!" he exclaimed.
"Sōsuke, it's fine, but try not to be late again. We're discussing basic ninjutsu practice techniques today, and it's an important class for you graduates," Onoki Kimura replied warmly, clearly fond of Sōsuke, one of his top students.
"Understood, I'm sorry for interrupting, Kimura-sensei." Sōsuke replied politely, then took his seat.
As soon as he sat down, Tsunade passed him a note.
"What happened?"
He turned to her concerned face and smiled, indicating that everything was fine.
However, Jiraiya had no such reservations and immediately leaned over to whisper to Sōsuke.
"Sōsuke, did you go to the bathhouse? Come on, be honest!"
Sōsuke shook his head, chuckling.
"That's impossible. Jiraiya, your imagination is way too active. You could be a writer!"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up.
"Really? You think so? You know, every time I walk by the bathhouse, I feel inspired. I, Jiraiya, am destined to be a writer!"
"Jiraiya! This is a ninja class! If you want to be a writer, the door is to the left. Now, listen to the class!" Kimura-sensei shouted, clearly irritated.
"Yes, Kimura-sensei," Jiraiya replied, his enthusiasm deflated.
The classroom erupted in laughter, while Sōsuke paid close attention to the lesson.
Suddenly, Sōsuke's eyes narrowed as he saw a girl standing by Kimura-sensei. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, confirming that there was indeed a girl in a floral kimono standing by the teacher. He jumped up.
"Kimura-sensei! Look beside you!" he shouted, pointing at the spot.
"Beside me? What's the matter, Sōsuke?" Kimura-sensei looked at the empty space where Sōsuke was pointing, confused.
"Nothing... I'm sorry for the interruption, Kimura-sensei." Sōsuke said, sitting back down. His mind raced—why couldn't anyone else see the girl? He watched as she glanced at him, her expression cold, then dissipated into mist and vanished.
His heart raced. Could this be the one that the Hōgyoku mentioned? Everything had been strange since the previous night. Who was she? What did this all mean? His mind was filled with questions and uncertainty.
After class, Tsunade approached him, her brown eyes filled with concern. She spoke softly, "Sōsuke, are you okay? You don't look well. Did something happen?"
"It's nothing, Tsunade, I just didn't sleep well last night. Thank you for asking." Sōsuke replied quietly, unwilling to burden anyone with his problems.
Orochimaru then came over, his voice slightly raspy.
"That doesn't sound like you, Sōsuke. If anything's wrong, you should tell us," he said before walking away.
Sōsuke couldn't help but smile at the care from his classmates, but he knew he couldn't share the truth. If the Hōgyoku had any power left, it might be using the souls' energy, something forbidden and dangerous in the ninja world.
At the end of the day, Sōsuke declined Jiraiya's invitation to eat barbeque and returned home. The bizarre occurrences from the class still weighed heavily on his mind. During his physical training, he vented his frustration, his fists covered in calluses, and even a bit of blood, indicating just how much the strange events had disturbed him.
Lying in bed, exhausted, he recalled the events of the previous night. Suddenly, he sat up and looked at his chest, shouting,
"Hōgyoku? Are you there? If you are, let's talk!"
There was no response, and he felt a bit disappointed.
Looks like the Hōgyoku's power might be gone, he thought to himself. But just as he was about to give up, a blue light suddenly appeared on his chest.
"Aizen-sama! Are you calling me?"
Sōsuke was shocked to see the blue light glow from his chest, and he quickly asked, "Why are you inside me? And who was that girl?"
"Aizen-sama, have you met her? It seems like you've forgotten a lot," Hōgyoku said with a hint of melancholy. "Aizen-sama, the annoying fellow, is called Kyōka Suigetsu. She's quite a bothersome character," Hōgyoku continued, sounding exasperated.
Hearing this, Sōsuke was taken aback. "Kyōka Suigetsu? That name sounds familiar," he muttered. "Why are you inside my body? Who exactly are you?" Sōsuke asked, his confusion evident.
"Hōgyoku is just Hōgyoku. We've merged into one, so of course I'm in your body, Aizen-sama," Hōgyoku replied without much additional context.
Sōsuke's eyes narrowed, looking at the glowing light on his chest. "Then why do you call me Aizen-sama? My name is Sōsuke, not whatever you're saying," he challenged.
"You are Aizen-sama. It was you who awakened Hōgyoku, and since then, I've been with you," Hōgyoku's answer further bewildered Sōsuke.
Rubbing his temples in frustration, Sōsuke sighed. "Alright, then can you tell me what you plan to do in my body? There's nothing here that's of any interest to you," he inquired.
"Hōgyoku wants to destroy the world with Aizen-sama; it's your dream. Oh, Hōgyoku's energy is fading. Aizen-sama, remember to use soul power to replenish it, and be wary of Kyōka Suigetsu!" Hōgyoku said before the light suddenly disappeared as if it had exhausted all its energy, leaving Sōsuke in the dark.
"Destroy the world? That's impossible," Sōsuke whispered to himself. It seemed Hōgyoku was a dangerous entity, and if possible, he needed to ensure it didn't reappear. But what about Kyōka Suigetsu? How could they be inside his body? He wondered about all this as he drifted off to sleep.
In a vast darkness, Sōsuke found himself in a massive, ancient palace, like a relic of a bygone era. Where was he? Suddenly, several lights ignited around him, and he saw a lone chair on a high platform. This unexpected development made him nervous. He turned to see a girl in a floral kimono reclining on the seat, looking seductive. Her demeanor was entirely different from before, where she'd been expressionless.
The girl's exquisite features complemented the vibrant kimono, and her pale, slender leg peeked through the slit. She watched Sōsuke with a coy smile. Her soft lips parted, and she spoke. "Aizen, it's been a long time," she said.
Despite his typically calm demeanor, Sōsuke felt his face flush slightly. Her voice was enchanting, but he maintained his composure. "You're Kyōka Suigetsu, right? Could you tell me where we are and who you and Hōgyoku are? Why are you inside my body?" he asked.
Her seductive expression froze, and her eyes narrowed, hinting at anger. She flickered and vanished from the seat, reappearing beside Sōsuke, her kimono now neat and proper. She stepped closer to him, her delicate hand brushing against his cheek.
"Why did you choose to believe in Hōgyoku? I was your true power, Aizen. But now, you belong to me," she whispered, holding his face in her hands and then kissing him suddenly. The unexpected kiss left Sōsuke stunned, and he gently pushed her away. "Who are you, and why are you doing this?" he asked, baffled.
Kyōka Suigetsu only smiled seductively, her voice soft and soothing. "This feels wonderful. I've never experienced this before, Aizen," she said, then leaned in and embraced him. The darkness started to envelop the grand palace, but Sōsuke felt a comforting warmth in her embrace.
"I'm your power, your deepest strength, Aizen. Don't believe anyone else. Only me. I'll always be by your side, no matter what happens," her voice echoed in his ear as he grew increasingly sleepy. Just before falling asleep, he heard faint words: "…Kyōka Suigetsu," and then everything went dark.
The girl in the floral kimono stood alone in the grand, desolate palace, her fingers tracing the cold stone throne. Her eyes held a nostalgic look. "Aizen, will you regret choosing Hōgyoku over me? Maybe not. You never regret your choices, but that's fine. This time, I'll protect you, and I'll clear the path for you to claim the throne," she said.
With a wave of her slender hand, the entire palace seemed to come to life, shifting from desolate to vibrant. She stood silently beside the throne, as if waiting for someone.
Back in reality, Sōsuke awoke to his alarm clock. As he got up, an object slipped from his side and caught his attention—a sword with a jade green hilt. The blade was polished and sharp, almost gleaming with a life of its own.
"What is this? Where did it come from?" Sōsuke exclaimed as he gripped the sword, feeling a strange connection. It was as if the blade had a soul of its own.
The sky, really, is colorless. It doesn't deceive you. It's your own eyes deceiving yourself. —Aizen Sōsuke.