Naruto: God Reborn

After the test

Shino approaches his father, Shibi, in the secluded garden of the Aburame compound.

"Father, I need to ask you something," Shino begins, his voice barely above a murmur.

Shibi glances up, intrigued by his son's tone. "Go ahead, Shino."

Shino hesitates, then continues, "Did you know... that Naruto was imprisoned?"

The name catches Shibi off-guard. His head tilts slightly, eyes narrowing behind dark glasses, as he studies Shino's face. "Naruto?" Shibi repeats, a flicker of surprise in his voice. "Why do you ask about him?"

Shino adjusts his posture, as though considering his words carefully. "Naruto has been freed. He's... my teammate."

For a long moment, Shibi is silent, absorbing this revelation. He lets out a sigh, his tone subdued. "So, Hokage-sama finally released the boy," he murmurs to himself.

Shino's curiosity sharpens. "Why was Naruto imprisoned in the first place?"

Shibi glances away, his gaze distant as he recalls a piece of Konoha's past. "Naruto's abilities… they were unlike any seen before. He could reach into the minds of others, weaving illusions that could paralyze even experienced shinobi with fear. He terrorized the villagers. The boy refused to stop, even after the Hokage requested it."

A faint frown appears on Shino's face as he absorbs the information. "So the Hokage made the choice to imprison him?"

Shibi nods. "It was the only way to protect the village from his influence."

Shino pauses, glancing down thoughtfully. "But then why would Hokage-sama release him, knowing what Naruto is capable of?"

Shibi folds his arms, his expression unreadable. "Because Naruto's presence in the village is… crucial."

Shino's brows knit together, struggling to understand. "Crucial how?"

"Naruto is a war deterrent," Shibi explains, his voice somber. "His power is so immense that if he were to die, or if he left the village, the other nations would waste no time in launching an attack on Konoha. As long as Naruto remains here, he acts as a silent threat, a force the other villages dare not provoke."

Shino's eyes widen subtly behind his glasses. The weight of his father's words sinks in, a sense of awe mingling with unease. His gaze drifts towards the horizon, a newfound respect for his enigmatic teammate settling within him. "To think… Naruto's presence alone is enough to keep other nations in check."

Shibi places a steady hand on Shino's shoulder. "Be careful around him, Shino. Naruto may be your teammate, but his loyalty lies only with himself."

---

Meanwhile, Hinata stands alone in the grand hall of the Hyuga compound, her hands clasped in front of her as she waits for her father to acknowledge her presence. When Hiashi finally turns his gaze towards her, his expression is one of indifference.

"You have something to say, Hinata?" he asks, his tone curt.

"Yes, Father." She hesitates but gathers her courage. "I… I passed Kakashi-sensei's test. I am officially a genin now."

Hiashi's expression remains cold, unimpressed. "And did you contribute to your team's success, or were you simply fortunate to have been carried through?"

Hinata's gaze falters for a moment, but she nods. "I did contribute. We… we worked as a team."

Hiashi barely acknowledges her response, his eyes starting to drift away. But then, Hinata mentions her teammates' names. "My teammates are Shino Aburame and Naruto..."

The mere mention of Aizen halts Hiashi in his tracks, his entire posture stiffening as his gaze snaps back to her, sharper than before. A tense silence fills the room, and Hinata fidgets slightly, wondering what she may have said wrong.

"Naruto?" Hiashi's voice is low, laced with a harsh edge. His expression darkens, a glint of disapproval hardening his gaze. "So… Hokage-sama has chosen to release him. Foolish."

Hinata's voice is barely a whisper. "Father… why was Naruto imprisoned?"

Hiashi's face tightens, as though repelled by the very idea of discussing Aizen. "That is not a matter you need concern yourself with."

She lowers her head, confused but unwilling to press further.

Without another word, Hiashi turns and exits, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he strides off, clearly intent on confronting the Hokage about this decision.

___

The morning sun was just beginning to peek through the trees at Training Ground 7 when Hinata and Shino arrived, only to find Aizen already there, seated in perfect stillness, his legs crossed in a meditative stance. His eyes remained closed, and his breath was so steady that he seemed like part of the landscape. They exchanged glances, choosing not to disturb him, and quietly settled in nearby to wait for Kakashi.

Three hours later, Kakashi finally appeared, strolling in with his usual nonchalance. But Aizen's left eye opened the moment Kakashi entered, and an unmistakable look of disapproval flashed across it. There was no need for words to convey the displeasure.

"You'll refrain from being late again," Aizen's voice was calm, but cold enough to raise the hair on Kakashi's neck, "or I will personally make sure you face... consequences."

Kakashi's usual easygoing demeanor faltered for a split second as he felt an invisible pressure settle over him. He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head as though to brush off the threat. "Right, right… punctuality, understood." But his unease lingered, knowing that for Aizen, such words weren't spoken lightly.

---

The team made their way to the Hokage's office, with Kakashi leading and Aizen walking at a measured, almost regal pace behind him, Hinata and Shino following. When they entered, Hiruzen looked up, his gaze landing on Aizen. Though the Third Hokage's face remained composed, an unmistakable flicker of unease passed over his features. Iruka, standing beside him, shifted uncomfortably as well, unable to shake the unsettling aura that Aizen exuded, even when he was simply standing there in silence.

Hiruzen gathered himself, clearing his throat. "Today, Team 7 will undertake a D-rank mission," he announced, "a basic assignment. You'll be helping with local chores and,"

Aizen didn't wait to hear the rest of the details. Without a word, he turned his back on the Hokage and strode out of the office, leaving the others in stunned silence. Shino and Hinata looked at Kakashi for direction, but he only sighed, scratching his head.

"Well, I figured this might happen," Kakashi muttered. "With an ego like his, he'd never be satisfied with mundane tasks." He waved for the others to follow, prepared to carry on as best they could without Aizen.

---

Next day

In the council chambers, a heavy silence hung over the room as Konoha's advisors gathered. The meeting had been called to discuss Aizen's recent release, and tension was already high. Koharu's face was set in a frown as she leaned forward.

"This is a mistake," she began, her voice thick with disapproval. "His presence here… It's dangerous, Hiruzen. After everything, how could you risk allowing that boy to walk freely again?"

Homura nodded in agreement. "The villagers have not forgotten. Many still fear him."

Across the table, Hiashi and Choza sat silently, their expressions grim. Finally, Hiashi spoke, his tone cold. "I don't see how freeing him benefits the village. If the boy tries again, it won't just be villagers who suffer; it will be all of Konoha."

Shikaku, who had remained quiet until now, sighed, rubbing his temples as he glanced at his peers. "We may not like it, but we need him," he said, his tone measured. "With Naruto, back in the village, we regain something that we've lost."

Hiruzen nodded in agreement, leaning forward as he shared Jiraiya's latest report. "The intelligence Jiraiya gathered points to a troubling reality. Naruto's absence, his… containment… has emboldened the other nations. They've been weighing the possibility of war, looking for signs of weakness in Konoha." He glanced around the room, ensuring each council member understood the gravity of the situation. "With his return, we are no longer defenseless."

Danzo leaned forward, his lone visible eye narrowed. "Can we be certain that he won't turn against us, Hiruzen?" His voice was low, cutting through the quiet like a blade. "That boy has no loyalty to the village. How can we be sure he won't decide to betray us the moment it suits him?"

Hiruzen's gaze hardened slightly. "We can't be sure. But consider this," he replied, "if Naruto wanted to leave, he would have escaped years ago. Every layer of security we placed around him… he overcame them all. He stayed only because he chose to. That speaks for itself."

A tense silence settled over the council, and Shikaku shifted uncomfortably, understanding that there was no simple solution. Koharu's lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at Hiruzen. "We're playing a dangerous game, Hiruzen. We may end up paying dearly for this decision."

But Hiruzen only closed his eyes, his expression one of deep resignation. "Perhaps," he murmured, "but we're already paying for our past decisions. We must simply make the best of the hand we've dealt ourselves."

___

A Sinister Meeting

Hiruzen made his way to Aizen's cell, his expression troubled. He was met with Aizen's calm, unreadable gaze.

Hiruzen escorted him to the abandoned Senju clan compound.

Aizen arched an eyebrow. "The Senju Compound?" His gaze flicked over Hiruzen, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Up to standard, I guess?"

As they walked, Aizen's faint smirk grew more pronounced. "Had you given me a run-down apartment, Hiruzen… I might have been tempted to start a slaughter."

The Hokage chuckled, though it sounded more like a nervous sputter. He did consider it… for just a moment. His eyes flickered with tension, realizing how serious Aizen might've been.

Two Weeks Later

In Aizen's absence, Team 7 had been completing D-rank missions one after another. Today, however, Kakashi arrived at the training ground, where his team was waiting with eager expressions.

"Congratulations," Kakashi announced, pulling out the mission scroll. "We've been assigned a C-rank, scouting the borders for signs of bandit activity."

Team 7 met up with Teams 8 and 10 at Konoha's main gate. The genin buzzed with anticipation, though their attention quickly shifted when Aizen arrived, standing with an air of nonchalance, his lone visible eye surveying the group. Kurenai and Asuma couldn't hide the tension that surged as they glanced at Aizen.

Kurenai's gaze lingered a second longer; despite her wariness, she felt a strange fascination, an appreciation for the dark precision in his eyes, eyes that were said to wield illusions more potent than any shinobi.

Kiba, unfazed, grinned and nudged his teammates. "What's with the eyepatch? Wait, let me guess, you're hiding some forbidden dark power behind that thing, right?"

Kurenai and Asuma visibly stiffened, fully aware of what had happened to those who dared insult Aizen.

But Aizen's response surprised them. His smirk widened, and he leaned toward Kiba, voice playful yet laced with an unsettling chill. "Something like that," he said smoothly.

Several genin stared, dumbfounded, and Ino's cheeks flushed as she nudged Shikamaru. "Who is he?" she whispered, her voice a little breathy.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "That's Naruto," he replied, adding with a sigh, "though he prefers Aizen now."

The revelation shocked the genin, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he studied Aizen, wondering about his disappearance six years ago.

Kiba, unrelenting, asked, "How'd you even become a ninja? Didn't you drop out of the Academy?"

Aizen's response was curt. "I was homeschooled by an Academy teacher. I passed his test to become a genin." His tone suggested the topic was closed, and when Kiba opened his mouth to speak again, Kakashi intervened.

"Everyone ready to move out?" Kakashi prompted, effectively cutting off further questions.

As the group began their journey, Ino tried to engage Aizen in casual conversation, while other genin peppered him with questions. Yet, Aizen remained silent, merely letting his enigmatic smile speak volumes.

---

At the Border

After hours of scouting, the teams stumbled upon a structure hidden in the dense forest. Shikamaru squinted, taking in the stronghold's form. "That's no bandit hideout…"

As the saw the enemies headbands they realized it was an Iwa stronghold.

Kakashi's expression darkened. "This is serious," he whispered. "We need to return to the village immediately. We're far too close to an Iwa operation."

Just as they turned, an invisible force prevented their departure, like an unseen barrier blocking every path. Panic seized the genin, and the air grew dense with a sinister aura that sent chills through their bodies, everyone's, except Aizen's.

The Iwa shinobi emerged from the stronghold coming out to investigate the source of the aura.

As they spotted the Konoha Shinobi their eyes turned cold.

Asuma tightened his stance, his voice low. "We're outnumbered. There's no way we can win this fight head-on."

Aizen's gaze shifted, noticing something, or rather, someone, hidden in the distance. His smirk was wicked, anticipation glinting in his eye. "Running would be so boring, wouldn't it, Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru sighed. "You're insane. You realize that, right?"

The Iwa squad leader's gaze swept over the Konoha shinobi, pausing on Kakashi. "Kakashi Hatake, The Copy Cat Ninja. The White Fang of the Leaf's son."

"Come on bro" Tony

"Rated a S-class ninja in our bingo books" Iwa leader

"Bro stop" Tony

"One of the strongest ninja in the leaf." Iwa leader

"Come on bro" Tony

"They say with only look with his Sharingan he can steal all your jutsu... And your heart" iwa leader blushed at the last part

"What... Bro must be from the village hidden in the closet." Tony

____

Iwa's always wanted your head, mostly because of your connection to the Yellow Flash."

Another Iwa shinobi sneered, his expression venomous. "Minato's little pet. It'll be a pleasure to kill you."

Ignoring the hostility, Kakashi's tone was icy. "What's Iwa doing on our border?"

The Iwa leader scoffed. "You don't need to know, Hatake… since you won't live to report it."

The genin shuffled nervously, glancing to each other for reassurance. Shikamaru sighed, muttering, "I should've stayed home."

Aizen's faint laughter broke through. "You'd have missed all the fun."

Shikamaru shot him an incredulous look. "Only you would find this fun."

Before anyone could respond, the Iwa leader signaled his shinobi to attack. In the blink of an eye, the battlefield was stained red, the Iwa shinobi reduced to pieces, their bodies torn asunder by an unseen force.

The genin recoiled, nausea swirling in their stomachs, while Shino and Shikamaru, with practiced stoicism, remained steady. Sasuke, however, froze, his breath hitching as traumatic flashes of the Uchiha massacre bombarded his mind. Aizen's eye narrowed, and in one swift motion, he delivered a blow to Sasuke's neck, rendering him unconscious.

As the jonin scrambled to guard the genin, Aizen's gaze pierced the shadows, his voice a calm, lethal whisper. "Come out."

From the depths of the forest, a figure emerged. The jonin paled as they recognized the man, a twisted smile spread across his face, Ryomen Sukuna.

After his reincarnation Sukuna's reputation had grown into a tale of brutality, a killing machine with an insatiable bloodlust. Classified as an S-rank threat, the "King of Curses" had committed atrocities across the lands, leaving nothing but despair and terror in his wake.

Sukuna tilted his head, eyeing the assembled shinobi with a manic grin. "A crowd, how delightful," he sneered, his gaze lingering on Kurenai and the young genin. he licked his lips, "they'll be fun to kill."

Kakashi tensed, motioning to the others. "Everyone, find a way to break through the barrier! Asuma and I will hold him off!"

But before they could act, Aizen stepped forward, the subtle power radiating from him forcing everyone to take a step back.

Kakashi hesitated, voice laced with concern. "Naruto, don't..."

Aizen cast a dismissive glance over his shoulder. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

With deadly grace, Aizen walked toward Sukuna, who chuckled, raising a hand and unleashing a series of invisible slashes in Aizen's direction. But the technique merely shredded Aizen's clothing, leaving him unscathed beneath.

With a flick of his fingers, Aizen conjured a protective barrier around his allies, securing them from the coming chaos.

As he advanced, Sukuna's twisted grin grew. "Finally… someone who might actually be worth my time." His fingers flexed in anticipation, curse energy radiating from his form.

Aizen's smirk answered Sukuna's arrogance, an amused glint dancing in his eye as his power began to surge in kind. The air between them thickened, a dangerous, suffocating pressure that even the jonin could barely withstand.

Shikamaru felt his knees shake. "I've… never felt anything like this…"

Kurenai clutched her chest, horror etched across her face. "That… that isn't human…"

As their auras clashed, pressure and malice intertwining, even Kakashi, seasoned and battle-hardened, felt the sheer, oppressive weight of their powers. A cold sweat ran down his spine, and he muttered to himself, "If this is the beginning… I fear what's coming next.