457.Rōran

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Several days had passed since the ninja war came to a halt.

After the ninjas from the five great villages experienced the battle that night, it seemed that war was no longer the main focus for the ninjas.

Especially after witnessing Aizen, who wielded godlike power, nearly destroy the world with a single strike, the deeply ingrained notions of war in people's minds began to waver.

Moreover, the events of that night were still shrouded in too many mysteries and left too many lingering questions.

The mysterious appearance of Uchiha Shino, who managed to perish alongside the immensely powerful Aizen!

Where had he come from? That was another huge question!

And then there was the unseen Hueco Mundo under Aizen's command, as well as the disappearance of the man known as Gin Ichimaru from the battlefield.

All of this would require further investigation by the five great villages in the future.

This battle made all the ninjas suddenly realize that the world they had always lived in was far more complex than they had ever imagined.

And now, whether it was the calm after the storm in the villages, the reconstruction of Konoha, or the uproar caused by the disappearance of Lady Yuko in the Land of Fire...

None of these events affected the mysterious and little-known nation of Rōran, located in a remote corner of the Land of Wind.

Within the Land of Wind.

"Whoosh— Whoosh—"

The sky was covered with swirling yellow sand, and the howling wind roared through the sandstorm like the wailing of demons, sending chills down one's spine!

And at that moment!

A tall figure slowly emerged from the amidst the flying yellow sand.

As he appeared,

Suddenly, the roaring sandstorm that had been raging between heaven and earth became docile, as if a ferocious beast had instantly turned into a tame pet, leaving people astonished.

"Crunch... crunch..."

His footsteps lightly tread on the soft sand, his posture upright, a faint smile always lingering at the corners of his mouth. His deep eyes calmly scanned the surroundings.

Finally, his gaze settled on a cluster of towering buildings in the distance, and he murmured softly.

"Is this the place? That powerful energy fluctuation?"

As he spoke, he gently took a step forward, walking steadily toward that direction.

The sunlight was blinding, shining on the man's body. His black-and-white uniform accentuated his tall and slender figure, and the dark green hilt of the katana at his waist gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

After he left, the once-docile sandstorm began to dance and roar once more!

Through the gaps in the fine sand, only his tall figure gradually blurred into the sandstorm.

Within the Land of Rain, beneath a massive, knife-cut cliff.

The pale, enormous Hueco Mundo was located here.

At this moment, in the wide, bone-like hall, a long stone table stood in the center, exuding a heavy, pale feeling.

On the mirror-like floor tiles, many people dressed in uniform were gathered.

However, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that a few of them wore slightly different attire.

The people gathered in the hall each had their own seats, but they were not seated. Instead, they were sizing each other up.

At this moment, a hoarse, arrogant voice rang out heavily in the hall!

"In my opinion, you brats should just follow me. I'm in need of a few subordinates, so let's not waste any more time discussing this!"

With a fierce and menacing expression, Baraggan slammed his hands on the table, leaning slightly forward. His arrogant, turbid eyes swept over the young men in black standing opposite him.

Before the young men in black could respond, Ulquiorra, standing beside Baraggan, glanced at him lightly and said calmly,

"Step back, Baraggan. Their departure has already been decided by Lord Aizen. If you interfere, you will disrupt Lord Aizen's plans."

Hearing Ulquiorra's words, Baraggan's white eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Letting these brats go out is only going to cause more trouble!"

Baraggan said in a deep voice, though somewhat reluctantly, he still stepped back, letting out a dissatisfied grunt.

"Pfft!"

Seeing this, a young man standing far from the long stone table couldn't help but laugh.

Hearing the mocking sound, Baraggan's eyes narrowed, the scar on his right eye making him look even more intimidating. He glared at the young man and growled in a hoarse voice,

"Gin, are you provoking me!?"

In response, Gin, who was leaning against a thick stone pillar in the hall, curled his lips into a wide grin.

His narrow eyes opened slightly, revealing a glimpse of his sapphire-blue eyes from beneath his silver bangs. He chuckled lightly,

"You're just the same as ever, Baraggan. Your temper hasn't changed a bit! Seeing your usual demeanor again in such a peculiar world made me laugh. My apologies~"

Though he said this, the teasing smile on Gin's face showed no sincerity.

"You bastard..."

Seeing this, Baraggan's eyes narrowed, his breathing growing heavier, as if he was about to lose control at any moment.

At that moment.

Ulquiorra's cold voice broke the tense atmosphere that seemed ready to ignite.

"I have been entrusted by Lord Aizen to oversee all matters in Hueco Mundo..."

As he spoke, his emerald-green eyes swept indifferently over Baraggan and Gin, then continued.

"If anyone dares to violate the rules set by Lord Aizen during his absence, I have the authority to execute them on the spot!"

As Ulquiorra's words fell, the atmosphere in the hall instantly grew tense.

None of those present were weak.

In an instant, powerful auras were released by everyone.

In a dark corner, Uchiha Shino, who had been standing silently with his head down, slowly opened his eyes, which instantly turned into crimson Sharingan!

An ominous, evil aura emanated from his body in the dark corner, making everyone wary!

Standing among the crowd, Saki crossed his arms over his chest, calmly listening to the conversation. His expression was serene.

He gently closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the veins around his eyes bulged, his pale eyes appearing eerie and penetrating.

Those standing around him felt as if they had been completely exposed, their expressions stiffening!

Sasori, hidden within his puppet Hiruko, and Kakuzu, standing beside him, watched all of this calmly, unaffected.

At that moment, a strange power suddenly emanated from one of the young men in black robes, enveloping the hall and surprising everyone!

This action also caused the momentary clash among the crowd to cease.

Baraggan, who had not taken action, glared fiercely at Gin, then snorted coldly and turned away.

Gin, however, still wore a playful smile on his face, his eyes narrowed as if he didn't care at all. He chuckled lightly,

"I would never go against Captain's orders, so don't look at me like that."

Ulquiorra glanced at the two of them, then slowly turned his gaze to the young men in black robes standing opposite him. He said calmly,

"Lord Aizen has already informed me of your arrangements. However, are you truly certain you wish to leave now? Regardless, under the protection of Hueco Mundo, you may have more time to prepare."

Hearing his words, the three young men slowly removed their black hoods and exchanged glances.

Then, with a calm expression, Yahiko stepped forward, looked at Ulquiorra, and said calmly,

"We are ready, don't worry. From today onward, we will appear in the ninja world under a new identity..."

As he spoke, he exchanged glances with Nagato and Konan beside him, then turned back to Ulquiorra with determination and said firmly,

"To welcome a new world, we will be the dawn that breaks through the darkness, illuminating a brand-new world!"

Hearing Yahiko's words, everyone present was slightly stunned.

Gin, standing in the distance, glanced at them imperceptibly, a smile on his face as he murmured softly,

"Interesting..."

In the dark corner, Shino also expressionlessly looked at the three of them, his eyes flickering slightly, remaining silent.

Ulquiorra looked at them, his emerald-green eyes filled with calmness, and said indifferently,

"The Akatsuki organization..."