Chapter 17: Drinking Alone Under the Moon
In the shinobi world, there existed countless ninjutsu and illusion techniques capable of manipulating the five senses.
Whether through bloodline limits, secret techniques, or forbidden arts, the ability to distort perception had always existed. A skilled user could twist sight, sound, touch, and even the sense of self into whatever reality they desired.
Yet, no matter the user, none could create a sense of dread as palpable as what Kato Dan and Uchiha Kagami now felt.
At first, they thought it was an illusion—a trick of the senses that could be dispelled by sheer will. But the sight before them—Aizen Sosuke calmly sipping sake under the moon, nibbling on snacks as if nothing else existed—made their palms slick with cold sweat.
Above them, Anbu and Root shinobi kept silent watch, hidden in the rooftops and underground shadows. To them, Aizen appeared peaceful—enjoying the quiet night, pouring himself sake and admiring the moonlight.
None of them noticed the two figures behind him, standing in the center of the writing room—both wearing Konoha forehead protectors, both glaring intensely at the man seated before them.
"You're still in your current bodies, aren't you?" Aizen asked suddenly, his voice soft yet carrying through the still night. "Struggling to suppress your instinct to refine chakra while searching for the imprint of your own souls. It must be difficult."
Leaning casually against the porch pillar, Aizen looked up at the pale-blue full moon and exhaled lightly.
"But the effort is worth it. Only through hardship can you find what truly belongs to you."
He raised his glass slightly, the moonlight reflecting off the surface of his sake.
"A blade that isn't sharpened will never cut. But one that spends too long pondering its own sharpness will rust. Seeing the enemy clearly—and seeing yourself clearly—are both equally vital qualities."
He turned his head, a faint smile on his lips.
"Honestly, I wouldn't mind if you both revealed your true power. Hiding your strength is admirable… if you can actually hide it. But in your case, you're like elephants trying to sneak through a porcelain shop. Even if I tried to pretend not to notice, it would test the limits of my acting ability."
"...You mean all of this was part of your plan?"
Suppressing the unease boiling inside him, Uchiha Kagami took a steadying breath and fixed his eyes on the man before him.
"You've known about our actions this entire time—our missions, our movements. Have you been monitoring us?"
"Not exactly."
Aizen's tone was calm, almost bored, as he gazed toward the dew-laden flowers in the garden.
"I used to enjoy observing people, but not anymore. These days, I prefer to look forward to surprises. It's just that your thoughts and behavior are far too predictable. Consider this a friendly reminder."
"Who would believe such nonsense?" Kagami snapped.
"But it's the truth," Aizen replied lightly. "If this were the old me, I wouldn't care what you thought. But now, things are different. People are capable of defying gods themselves. Some even climb cliffs just to touch the flowers at the edge. You're both famed shinobi—how could I not expect more from you?"
"...You're too arrogant, Aizen."
"Arrogant?" He chuckled softly. "If stating simple facts is arrogance, then the world must be full of fools."
Aizen's eyes gleamed faintly in the moonlight as he continued in a calm, deliberate tone.
"I genuinely hope you'll reveal another side of yourselves. Stepping into the unknown takes courage. But walking toward death without understanding yourself… that's just recklessness."
"…You think we wouldn't understand that?" Kagami muttered.
"You refuse to understand," Aizen corrected quietly. "And that's something I can't change. Comprehending courage itself might simply be beyond your reach."
He sighed, adjusted his glasses, and turned his gaze back to the moon.
The soft light traced the lines of his face, giving him an almost ethereal stillness. His voice, though calm, carried an undeniable weight.
"I despise those who mistake cynicism for wisdom," he said, his tone like silk hiding steel.
"Those who mock sacrifice and effort, who ridicule others' devotion as if they themselves have transcended it."
"They are the truly weak—the kind who follow the current because they lack the strength to resist it. They comfort themselves by tearing others down, calling it intelligence."
"The weak mistake evasion for courage. They accept convenient truths, mock those who suffer, and feed their egos by belittling others. I once believed all beings were like that… but I was wrong."
He took another sip of sake, eyes glimmering faintly beneath the moonlight.
"Humanity survives because it possesses courage—the will to keep walking even after recognizing how cruel the world truly is."
"The courage to accept suffering and live despite it, and the courage to face the root of despair—even through death—both deserve admiration."
"...Are you mocking us for not having the courage to die with you, Aizen?"
Kagami's voice trembled as he stood, glare sharp as his blade.
"You mock us for not understanding your ideals, for failing to share your vision. You mock Konoha's resolve. You mock our will to live. You mock us for lacking the courage to die beside you. Is that it?"
"Not quite," Aizen replied softly.
He looked up at Kagami, the reflection of the moon shimmering faintly in his glasses.
"On the contrary, I find your actions perfectly rational. You simply don't understand what I mean by courage."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes half-lidded.
"Choosing to die isn't difficult. Passion makes people reckless. They throw themselves into death without thought, calling it purpose. But that's not courage. That's ignorance—death brought about by others' will, not one's own heart."
"People who feel no attachment to life—no love, no hatred for existence—will view death the same way," Aizen said quietly. "Their deaths are not acts of courage. They're simply escapes—either their own desire to flee suffering, or the hope of others who wish to see them gone."
He swirled the sake in his cup, the reflection of the moon shimmering on its surface.
"So, courage isn't about believing that death can free you from your burdens. True courage is recognizing your place in the world—knowing who you love, what you hope for, understanding both the sweetness and the bitterness of life—and still choosing to face death head-on to resolve your struggles and protect what matters. That is the courage to walk toward your destiny."
He looked at the two before him—Kato Dan and Uchiha Kagami—his voice calm, but each word cut deep.
"And most shinobi lack that kind of courage. They rush toward death out of pride, blinded by their so-called justice and duty. They don't think about the future, their clans, or the village. They simply follow status, position, and others' commands into the grave—as if dying can solve anything."
Aizen's tone grew colder.
"That's escapism. Death may end your pain, but it can't end the problem. Just like the thought that crossed your minds moments ago. If you die here, yes—you'll stop me. But what then? Who will deal with what comes after? Have either of you even considered how to erase me completely?"
"…"
The question hung in the air.
It was humiliating to be lectured by the enemy, but Aizen's words pierced straight through them.
Even now, as he sat there drinking under the moonlight, speaking in that calm, almost casual tone, surrounded by Anbu and Root operatives who all seemed indifferent—Aizen exuded an authority that suffocated them.
They wanted to end it—to strike, to silence him—but the realization gnawed at them. Aizen was no longer just a man. He represented the will of Konoha itself.
To strike at him would be to strike at the village.
Uchiha Kagami clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
"You didn't think of that, did you?" Aizen said softly, almost pitying them. "That's only natural. Your education, your missions, your lives—they never taught you how to think beyond survival."
He let out a faint sigh.
"You don't even understand what it means to truly live, so how can you understand courage? I only hope you both find your own reason to live in this Konoha."
He looked between them, his eyes gleaming faintly behind his glasses.
"Only when the questions in your hearts are answered will you find the clarity—and the courage—to face me. Until then, your Bankai and Shikai are nothing more than mimicries, imitations of real power."
"If your hearts are clouded, how can you awaken your true Bankai? What you have now is the false hatred and hollow hope I gave you. Only by awakening through life itself—by confronting your own truth—can you manifest your real strength."
He smiled faintly.
"That truth is your soul."
"…"
There was no sudden enlightenment. No revelation like in the tales of heroes.
Kato Dan and Uchiha Kagami stared at Aizen with wary eyes—eyes filled with correct, controlled, but ultimately hollow hostility. His words entered one ear and left the other.
To understand the enemy was to be swayed by them. To be swayed meant death.
That was the shinobi creed—cold, simple, and absolute.
To Aizen, however, that mindset was tragic.
"Don't you see?" he said softly, smiling without warmth. "That's why I drink alone."
He raised his glass toward the moon.
"You haven't truly lived. Only the living can appreciate life's beauty. The dead can never grasp it."
He glanced toward the mist-drenched garden, where the faint glow of the moon reflected off the damp grass.
"No matter how vividly I describe how beautiful this night is, or how enchanting the drizzle feels—you'll only take it as mockery. That's no fun at all."
Then, without looking back, he added:
"By the way, Sakumo will regain consciousness tomorrow. I'll temporarily assume command of the Eleventh Division. I trust you two will accept that."
"…Understood."
Their voices overlapped quietly—dull and emotionless.
And in the next heartbeat, the two figures in white haori vanished, leaving the room empty once more.
Though they were still bound to him, still manipulated, they no longer wished to hear his words.
"You still don't understand..."
Aizen's sigh was almost weary.
The shinobi of Konoha would always be shinobi—bound by mission and duty, untouched by grace or art. Their world was one of necessity, not beauty. That was their origin and their curse.
But no soul could remain bound forever. Sooner or later, someone would break free of that silence—tear away the veil of illusion—and reach toward the truth.
Perhaps not today. Perhaps not here. But one day.
"I understand," Aizen murmured, "but it still saddens me. After all, I'm only a Shinigami... and now, just a human."
He poured himself another cup of sake and stared into the moonlight, his reflection rippling faintly in the drink.
Then, footsteps echoed outside.
Hatake Kakashi entered, wearing his mask as always, his silver hair catching the dim light. He passed silently toward the training ground.
Aizen raised his cup in greeting.
"Kakashi, would you like something to eat?"
"Eh? No."
"Hahaha, what a shame. It's a beautiful night."
"If I have time to admire the scenery, I'd rather train," Kakashi said bluntly.
"Fair enough."
As Kakashi disappeared into the courtyard to begin his training, Aizen smiled faintly and shook his head.
He lifted his gaze once more to the misty full moon.
It was beautiful—so beautiful he couldn't help but raise his cup again.
Though several cups sat beside him, he drank alone.
"Lonely..." he whispered, leaning against the porch pillar as he poured another drink beneath the moonlight.
He took a slow sip, savoring the silence.
Drinking alone with the moon as his only companion.
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