Naruto: God Reborn

Chapter 38

Senju Clan Estate

Aizen sat cross-legged on the porch, his lone eye closed in meditation. His expression was serene, almost disarming, but the stillness of his form belied the potent aura surrounding him.

Footsteps crunched softly against the gravel as Hiruzen Sarutobi approached. Without opening his eye, Aizen addressed him in his usual smooth tone.

"So, I take it you know everything now, Lord Third?"

Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "Yes."

Aizen's eye opened slowly, a faint gleam of amusement shining within. "Have you come to question my motives, then?"

The Hokage nodded.

Standing gracefully, Aizen stretched his arms slightly before responding, "If you must know, I have no grand schemes or hidden agendas. No lofty plans for world domination. I'm simply… going with the flow, taking one mission at a time."

Despite Aizen's calm demeanor, Hiruzen could feel the deliberate vagueness in his words. He wasn't convinced.

Aizen turned fully to face him, the moonlight casting sharp shadows over his features. "Though, if I were to have a goal…" he said, his tone shifting to something far more ambitious, "...it would be to ascend to the heavens and challenge this world's deities."

Hiruzen's breath caught, but before he could respond, Aizen strode past him, leaving behind an air of finality.

As the Hokage watched Aizen disappear into the night, he couldn't stop his mind from weighing the implications of Aizen's existence. The potential he possessed, both for greatness and destruction, was unparalleled. He thought of the pros and cons, considering what Aizen's presence meant for the future of the ninja world.

---

In a secluded meeting room, Kurenai, Kakashi, and Asuma gathered, their expressions ranging from confusion to disbelief. Kurenai was the one to break the news.

"I'm sure you've all suspected that there's something… different about Aizen," she began. "But what I'm about to tell you will sound unbelievable."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "We're listening."

Kurenai recounted everything, the truth about Aizen being the reincarnation of a Shinigami, his previous life's schemes and betrayals, and his immense power. Asuma leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"So, the kid," Asuma said slowly, "is essentially a reborn godlike being who's betrayed an entire dimension before. And we've been letting him roam free in the village?"

Kurenai nodded grimly. "It's… complicated."

Kakashi's voice was quieter, more reflective. "Minato-sensei would have been heartbroken to see his son tied to such darkness."

The silence in the room said more than any words could.

---

In a training field, Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Sakura, Shino, Choji, and Hinata sat in a loose circle. Ino fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.

"Alright," she began, "I don't even know how to say this, but… there's something you all need to know about Aizen."

Kiba scoffed. "What now? He's secretly a prince or something?"

"Close," Ino said dryly. She took a deep breath and launched into the truth about Aizen. By the time she was done, the group was stunned into silence.

Shikamaru leaned back, his expression unreadable. "So, Aizen's a reincarnated spirit with godlike powers, and in his past life, he betrayed his entire world? What a drag…"

Kiba's fists clenched. "Why the hell is someone like that even here? What if he decides to betray us, too?"

Shino adjusted his glasses. "If he wanted to, Kiba, he could have done so already. The fact that he hasn't is… telling."

Sakura frowned. "But how are we supposed to trust him? The guy's a master manipulator "

Hinata, unusually firm, spoke up. "Aizen may not have told us everything, but… he's never been anything but honest about his abilities. He's helped us so far. That means something."

The group fell into uneasy silence, unsure how to reconcile their fears with the reality of Aizen's actions.

---

Two months passed, and the awkward atmosphere whenever Aizen was around became the norm. Yet Aizen seemed unbothered, focusing solely on completing missions that weren't D-rank.

Now, under the cover of night, Aizen entered Danzo's hideout. The air was thick with his reiatsu, suffocating the Root ANBU who tried to charge him. Each one fell to their knees, powerless under his overwhelming presence.

Aizen strolled through the base, his expression calm but his intentions clear. He finally encountered a boy around his age, Sai. The boy was pale and emotionless, his brush and ink ready in his hand.

Aizen tilted his head slightly. "And who might you be?"

"Sai," the boy replied flatly, summoning an ink tiger to lunge at Aizen.

Aizen didn't flinch he lifted his hand, swatting the tiger aside with a dismissive hand.

With a simple step of Shunpo, he disappeared, reappearing behind Sai.

Sai spun, unleashing a flurry of ink creatures. Aizen dodged each attack effortlessly.

"You have skill," Aizen remarked, swatting another ink beast away, "but it's… crude."

Sai narrowed his eyes, channeling chakra into a larger, more intricate ink creation. The beast roared, lunging at Aizen with impressive speed.

Aizen smirked, stepping forward as his reiatsu surged. Sai froze, his body unable to move under the oppressive force.

"It's over," Aizen said, his tone cold as a sudden illusion overtook Sai's senses. The boy's world turned upside down, his ink beasts attacking him instead of Aizen.

Sai collapsed to the ground, trembling. When the illusion lifted, Aizen stood over him, his gaze unreadable.

"You have potential," Aizen said, turning to leave. "But don't get in my way again."

As he walked deeper into the hideout, Aizen's smirk returned. Tonight, Danzo would learn what it meant to cross Sosuke Aizen.