Naruto: God Reborn

As Sukuna died, the powerful barrier he had cast dissipated into nothingness. Moments later, Aizen calmly canceled the protective barrier he had erected around his allies, then turned and walked toward them, his expression unreadable.

Without wasting any time, Aizen informed them that his work was finished, and he intended to return to the village. But before he could vanish, Sasuke, still reeling from everything he had witnessed, called out to him. "How are you so powerful?" he demanded, his voice tinged with both awe and jealousy. "How can I reach the same strength?"

With a smirk, Aizen tore off his sleeve, revealing multiple intricate seals inked along his arms. "I am power itself," he replied simply. "Even with these gravity, paralysis, and chakra seals, no shackle can truly hold me." His voice was calm, yet every word underscored an unshakable arrogance.

Asuma felt a bead of sweat trail down his brow. Hearing this unnerved him, Aizen was so confident, so beyond restraint. He radiated power even with his limitations, and that was deeply troubling.

Sasuke's fists clenched tightly, jealousy gnawing at him. Aizen was so far beyond his reach, and to think that he had fought like this with limitations in place felt like an insurmountable gap. Kurenai, meanwhile, was transfixed. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend the overwhelming display of power she had just witnessed. Aizen was unlike anyone she had ever seen, no shinobi, could command power like he did. She couldn't help but wonder if he truly was more than human.

With his words lingering in their minds, Aizen disappeared in a flash, leaving them standing in stunned silence.

---

Half an hour later, at the Iwa stronghold

An Iwa shinobi returned to the site, only to find the stronghold destroyed and his comrades dead. He stared in shock, the lifeless bodies of his comrades stark against the ravaged earth. As he surveyed the scene, a sense of dread settled within him. After paying his respects, he departed quickly, his mind racing with speculation. Had Konoha discovered their outpost at the border? Or was another village responsible? He considered the other villages sharing borders with Konoha, the hidden Sound, Rain, but dismissed the hidden Valley and the Waterfall as weak contenders. Grass was also unlikely, given their friendly relations with Iwa. Whoever was responsible, this was a grim omen.

---

Back in Konoha

Once back in Konoha, The teams went directly to report their findings to Hiruzen. They briefed him on the hidden Iwa stronghold at Konoha's border.

Hiruzen listened intently, asking if they had managed to take any prisoners. Kakashi regretfully informed him that no one had been captured. Asuma added that they had encountered Sukuna, the infamous King of Curses. Hiruzen's eyes widened, clearly shaken that they had survived such a deadly encounter.

Kurenai spoke up next, recounting how Aizen had single-handedly taken down Sukuna, noting how one-sided the battle had been. Hiruzen sighed heavily, visibly weary. Aizen was proving to be a constant source of tension.

"Thank you all for uncovering this Iwa operation," Hiruzen said, finally. "I'll see to it that security along the border is strengthened. Because of the danger you encountered, I'm elevating this mission from a C-rank to an A-rank, perhaps it should even be classified as S-rank. Your compensation will be ready by tomorrow."

As the group turned to leave, Asuma remained behind. Hiruzen glanced at his son and raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else?"

Asuma hesitated but finally said, "Naruto is a major threat to Konoha. If he ever turned against us, no one could stop him."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. "There's little we can do to prevent that," he replied gravely, leaving the implications of his words unspoken.

---

Senju Compound

Later that night, an intruder slipped into the Senju clan compound. Unfazed, Aizen made his way to the intruder, his stride confident, and his expression filled with barely masked condescension. His Reiatsu filled the air as he addressed the figure in the darkness, his voice cold and dripping with disdain."Foolish little ant how dare you intrude upon my home"

The intruder's head whipped around, her face twisted with annoyance at the insult. A vein throbbed at her temple as she met his gaze. "I'm not the one intruding here, boy," she retorted. "You're the one invading my home." Aizen's eyes narrowed, quickly realizing that she was a Senju.

"A Senju?" he asked with a slight smirk, intrigued.

The woman gave a faint, prideful smile. "I am Tsunade Senju," she introduced herself.

Why had Tsunade returned to the village that held so many painful memories for her? Simple, she was broke. With a resigned sigh, she had decided to sneak back, searching her family's compound for anything of value. Perhaps old treasures, heirlooms, or even cash left behind.

Her gaze hardened as she looked at Aizen. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

In a smooth, measured tone, Aizen introduced himself. "Naruto Uzumaki," he replied, though he added, "You may call me Aizen."

At his words, Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise. "An Uzumaki?" she echoed, momentarily taken aback. The Uzumaki clan was all but extinct; the survivors were few and scattered. A hint of a smile touched her lips, bittersweet memories surfacing as she asked, "You must be Kushina's son?"

Aizen nodded, his gaze steady. She offered her condolences for his parents, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. The Uzumaki were family, distant relatives through her grandmother, and though she was hesitant, she felt an undeniable pull to connect with him, her kin. Yet, another part of her resisted, the more they grew close, the more she feared the pain of loss if something were to happen to him.

Aizen sensed her conflicting emotions and, without warning, reached out, gently tilting her chin to meet his gaze. A faint smirk played on his lips as he declared, "I've decided. You shall be my bride."

The finality in his tone left her momentarily speechless, her heart pounding as she processed his audacious proclamation.

Tsunade's cheeks flushed a deep red as she struggled to find her voice. "W-Wife?" she stammered, the shock clear in her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Collecting herself, she asked him directly, "Why... why would you even say something like that? We barely know each other."

Aizen gave her a small, amused smile. "I was merely joking Tsunade. " He paused, a glint of calculation in his gaze. "Though, with your lineage as a Senju, combined with my Godly genetics... our child would be a force to behold, don't you agree?"

Tsunade's expression hardened, and she shook her head, unwilling to entertain his cold reasoning. "You shouldn't bring a child into the world just for selfish reasons," she replied. "A child should be born from love, not ambition."

Aizen's smile faded, and his eyes turned distant, his tone flat. "Love?" he echoed. "My heart is far too cold to know the meaning of that word." His voice was devoid of emotion, and yet there was something haunting in his admission.

For a moment, an ache stirred in her chest as she saw the lonely truth in his words. An instinct to guide and help this young man, perhaps even protect him from the world and himself. But as quickly as it surfaced, the feeling was suppressed. The pain of loss still ran deep within her; she wasn't prepared to risk another attachment.

"I hope one day you'll find someone to show you what love truly means," she said softly, beginning to turn away, her voice carrying a rare note of warmth.

Before she could disappear into the night, Aizen appeared in front of her, his hand lifting to brush a strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, his voice smooth and suggestive. "Why not stay a while?" he murmured, his words a mix of teasing and something deeper. "help melt the ice in this cold heart of mine?"

Tsunade's face flared crimson once more as she stiffened, flustered by his audacity. The sincerity in his tone threw her off balance, and she couldn't tell if he was teasing or half-serious. Aizen chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her reaction.

With a scoff, she snapped back, "You shouldn't tease your elders like that, brat."

But as she walked away, she found herself unable to shake his words, and Aizen's voice lingered in her mind far longer than she cared to admit.

---

Upon her return, Shizune eyed her curiously. "Where did you go, Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade gave a nonchalant shrug. "Just...visiting family," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. But in her mind, the reason for her visit to the compound resurfaced, a reminder of what she'd nearly forgotten. She groaned internally, mentally cursing Aizen for being so distracting.

---

The following day, Team 7, 8, and 10 (minus Aizen) gathered in the Hokage's offices for their reward. After acknowledging their mission success and the unexpected challenges they encountered, Hiruzen gave them their pay and granted them a well-deserved few days off.

Later that day, the Genin, minus Sasuke, gathered at a barbecue restaurant. As they grilled their food, they reflected on their recent mission, the danger they'd encountered, and the grim reality of their futures as shinobi.

Choji sighed as he reached for another piece of meat. "That C-Rank got real dangerous, real quick. If things keep going this way, are we even going to live past twenty?

Yeah," Kiba muttered, looking grim. "It's like, one minute you're trying to do a patrol, and the next, you're face-to-face with the 'King of Curses.' I'm seriously starting to wonder what we signed up for."

The conversation naturally shifted to Aizen, whose performance in the mission was fresh on everyone's minds.

"We're lucky we had Naruto with us. Otherwise... things could've been a lot worse." Ino

Kiba, unable to hide his frustration, scowled. "Why did he drop out of the Academy. More importantly how the hell did he get that strong. He just...dropped out and still ended up way ahead of everyone else?"

Hinata and Shino exchanged glances, and finally, Shikamaru sighed. "Look, I shouldn't be telling you guys this, but... Aizen didn't just 'drop out.' He got into some trouble with the villagers."

Kiba leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Come on, Shikamaru, spill."?"

Shikamaru hesitated, glancing around the table. Then, in a quiet voice, he explained Aizen's background, the psychological torment he inflicted on the villagers, his imprisonment, and how he hadn't trained at all during the six years he was held.

His words sent a ripple of shock around the table. Ino leaned back, processing. "So, he just sat around for six years, and he's still stronger than almost everyone?"

Kiba's fist clenched. "That's messed up. We're all busting our asses to get better, and he doesn't even need to try?"

Sakura, deeply unsettled, glanced at Shikamaru. "Can we even trust him?"

Shikamaru's voice was solemn as he replied, "No, he doesn't have any true loyalty, not to the village, not to anyone but himself. If he wanted to, he could've destroyed Konoha already. But he hasn't."

Each of them was left grappling with their own thoughts. For Sakura, Aizen's motives seemed dangerously unpredictable, which made her nervous about future missions with him. Ino found herself doubting her initial interest in Aizen, realizing that his allegiance might be to no one but himself. Kiba's resentment flared; he hated that Aizen's strength had come so easily. And for Choji, it raised a more profound concern, just how safe were they with someone like Aizen around?

Their conversation left a profound effect, casting a shadow over their future missions and their view of Aizen. They were more cautious now, knowing he wasn't bound by loyalty, only power.