Free Web NovelChapter 837: Chapter 653: Aizen Sousuke and Uehara Naraku
Seireitei infirmary.
Aizen Sousuke had returned to his ward.
Right now Aizen Sousuke’s identity was still that of the 5th Squad captain who had been gravely injured in an attack, and this man would always play his assigned role to perfection.
Before entering the Hollow World, Aizen Sousuke had been constantly using Kyoka Suigetsu to tamper with the five senses of the infirmary shinigami so he wouldn’t show any flaws; however, now that Uehara Naraku was back, Aizen Sousuke felt that Kyoka Suigetsu might not work on the Uehara Race.
Moreover, Aizen Sousuke was very clear that the first thing Uehara Naraku should do upon returning to the Soul Society was come visit his captain; that was how he understood Uehara Naraku.
And obviously...
Aizen Sousuke had guessed right.
Because after Uehara Naraku had learned from Hueco Mundo that Aizen had returned to Seireitei, he also very appropriately went to visit the still-hospitalized Aizen Sousuke in line with his own persona.
This whole thing was a loop.
Uehara Naraku believed that as long as he returned to the Soul Society, Aizen Sousuke would also come back from the Hollow World, which would be just right to let Urahara Kisuke go to the Hollow World to investigate the truth.
As long as Urahara Kisuke got enough evidence to prove that Aizen Sousuke had secretly conducted Shinigami Hollowfication experiments and was manipulating the Hollow World, plus Tosen Kaname, whom Senju Tobirama had arranged as a potential backstabber ready to defect at any time, then Aizen’s true face could be exposed on the spot...
This kind of thing...
Uehara Naraku was especially practiced at it.
Back when Uehara Naraku was still a self-made newbie, he’d used a one-man-two-sides bullshit operation to have Uchiha Obito thoroughly dancing in the palm of his hand...
Seireitei infirmary.
When Uehara Naraku rushed over to visit Aizen Sousuke, the 5th Squad captain was sitting in the room leisurely practicing brush calligraphy, looking every bit the picture of gentle harmony.
Besides Aizen Sousuke, Hinamori Momo, who hadn’t yet graduated, also happened to be visiting him. She was standing beside the desk, watching Aizen wield the brush and quietly helping him grind ink. The scene looked downright idyllic.
It was just that...
In Uehara Naraku’s eyes, this scene looked like a little lamb throwing itself headfirst at a hungry wolf wrapped in sheepskin, even wanting to snuggle up to that fake fleece for warmth.
"Cough, cough..."
Aizen Sousuke heard footsteps, pressed a hand to his chest and couldn’t help a few light coughs. When he turned his head he saw Uehara Naraku standing at the door, and a slightly weak smile appeared on his face.
"Naraku, you’re back?"
Aizen Sousuke was still as gentle and refined as ever.
"..."
Hiss—this acting is something else.
This guy Aizen Sousuke had clearly gone to the Hollow World to pull off a whole flipping-clouds-and-turning-rain routine, even putting on full kingly airs over there...
And now here he was, playing the warm, paternal guardian again.
Compared to Aizen Sousuke, Hinamori Momo’s smile was obviously much more sincere. She waved her arm a bit excitedly and greeted Uehara Naraku: "Ah, Naraku, long time no see! Did Shiro-chan come back too?"
The "Shiro" Hinamori Momo mentioned was Hitsugaya Toshiro, who had grown up with her.
"Long time no see, Hinamori."
Uehara Naraku sighed inwardly, his face showing a hint of hesitation. He slowly nodded, then looked toward Aizen Sousuke, a trace of genuine guilt flickering in his eyes: "Captain, I’m really sorry..."
"What is there to apologize for?"
Aizen Sousuke shook his head and smiled, gently soothing Uehara Naraku’s emotions: "There’s no need to apologize to me, Naraku. We are comrades to each other. No matter what you’ve done, I will always be supporting you from behind..." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"...But..."
Uehara Naraku lowered his head and spoke a little dejectedly: "I didn’t find out the truth, and I didn’t catch the culprit who hurt you, Captain..."
When he said this, Uehara Naraku raised his head to look at Aizen Sousuke, the apology in his eyes growing deeper as he said self-reproachfully, "It seems Mr. Tobirama has other arrangements. Before I come of age, I can’t defy his will..." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Be at ease."
Aizen Sousuke patted Uehara Naraku on the shoulder and continued with a smile: "Although I don’t know what his plans are, I believe he must be doing it for your sake..."
After saying this, Aizen Sousuke’s voice softened even more: "Just as I hope you will inherit the position of Captain of Squad 5 in the future, I believe Mr. Tobirama’s actions are probably also in the hope that you will one day shoulder the responsibility of a Patriarch."
"Captain..."
There was a hint of disbelief on Uehara Naraku’s face.
This guy Aizen Sousuke could actually say something like that?
Man could he spin a story—swap in just about anyone else and they’d be moved to tears!
If the two of them could speak honestly, Uehara Naraku really wanted to tell Aizen Sousuke that what he wanted was hardly the captaincy of the 5th Squad, but the Celestial Throne that Aizen Sousuke was also coveting...
Unfortunately.
There happened to be someone present who wasn’t sticking to the script.
"Huh?"
Hinamori Momo’s face also showed some surprise. Hearing Aizen Sousuke’s words, she slowly raised a hand to cover her mouth: "Could it be that Naraku-kun is going to serve as a captain of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads in the future?"
Yet just as Hinamori Momo finished speaking, a faintly apologetic look surfaced on her face, and she hurriedly apologized to Uehara Naraku: "I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I know Naraku-kun would be very happy to become a captain.
And Naraku-kun will definitely be a captain someday. They all say your status is the most noble in the Soul Society; even our new student Kuchiki Rukia at the academy can’t compare to your standing. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I feel like I’ve said something wrong again..."
