Naruto: God Reborn

Chapter 20: A Show of Force 

Later 

At the Rear Porch of Tazuna's House

The gentle ripple of the river reflected the moonlight as Aizen stood on the rear porch of Tazuna's house, his lone eye occasionally glancing at the serene orb in the sky. The cool breeze played with the hem of his robe, but his mind was elsewhere, contemplative, calculating. 

Behind him, hesitant footsteps broke the stillness. Aizen didn't turn but acknowledged the arrival with a faint smile. "If you're going to stand there wringing your hands, Tazuna, you might as well speak your mind." 

Tazuna shifted nervously, his face clouded with unease. "It's about what you said earlier... about Gato planning to blow up the bridge," he began, his voice faltering. 

"Go on," Aizen said, his tone polite but sharp enough to make Tazuna flinch. 

"I-I was wondering if..." Tazuna hesitated, unable to meet Aizen's piercing gaze. 

"You want me to take care of Gato." Aizen finished the thought smoothly, his voice laced with quiet amusement. 

Tazuna nodded reluctantly, sweat beading on his brow as Aizen's lone eye seemed to bore straight through him. "Forget it!" Tazuna blurted out, waving his hands nervously. "It was stupid of me to even ask! I mean, you're already doing so much..." 

Before he could finish, Aizen interrupted. "I'll do it." 

Tazuna froze mid-step as he tried to back away. Turning slowly, he stared at Aizen in disbelief. "You will?" 

"Of course." Aizen's tone was casual, almost dismissive. "It's not like I have anything better to do. Besides, it will teach your impudent grandson that Gato isn't as untouchable as he thinks." 

Relief flooded Tazuna's face, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you... thank you so much." 

Without another word, Aizen walked off, his steps echoing faintly in the night. 

---

"Aizen-sama, sneaking out at night? How scandalous," a playful voice teased. 

Aizen stopped, glancing over his shoulder. Anko emerged from the shadows with a cheeky grin. 

"I assume you're not here to reprimand me for breaking curfew," Aizen said dryly. 

"Where are you off to?" she asked, leaning against a tree with mock casualness. 

"Don't play coy. You already know," Aizen replied, his tone as calm as ever. 

Her grin widened. "Well, count me in. It's been too quiet around here, and I could use some excitement." 

"As you wish," Aizen said, turning back toward the path. 

As they walked through the darkened streets of the Land of Waves, Anko broke the silence. "Do you even know where you're going?" 

Aizen didn't break stride. "We'll know we've arrived when we find a hideout guarded by incompetent thugs." 

She chuckled. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." 

Aizen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Enjoy yourself tonight, Anko. It's not every day you get to spend quality time with a God" 

Her laughter rang out. "You're full of yourself, aren't you?." 

---

The duo eventually stumbled upon a large, poorly concealed warehouse on the outskirts of the Land of Waves. Tall wooden fences encircled the structure, with makeshift watchtowers manned by lazy guards. The sound of drunken laughter and occasional shouts echoed from within. Dim torchlight illuminated the perimeter, revealing several groups of armed ruffians lounging around or patrolling in haphazard patterns. 

Aizen stopped and surveyed the area. "How do you want to do this? Stealthy or flashy?" 

Anko's grin turned feral. "Flashy, of course. Why sneak around when we can send a message?" 

"Very well." Aizen gestured for her to lead the charge. "By all means, take the first step." 

---

Anko darted forward with the speed and grace of a predator. She hurled a pair of kunai, each finding its mark in the throats of two guards atop the watchtowers. Blood sprayed as they collapsed, gurgling. 

The ruffians scrambled to respond, but before they could organize, Anko was among them, her strikes precise and lethal. She ducked under a clumsy sword swing, driving her kunai into the attacker's chest. Spinning, she kicked another thug in the face, sending him sprawling. 

Aizen followed at a leisurely pace, his reiatsu subtly flaring. A wave of suffocating pressure rolled over the area, dropping several men to their knees, clutching their chests and gasping for air. 

One ruffian, braver, or more foolish, than the rest, charged at Aizen with a battle cry. Without even looking, Aizen raised his hand and struck him with a casual backhand. The man flew backward, crashing through a wooden fence with a sickening crunch. 

Anko glanced over her shoulder, a wide grin on her face. "You're really holding back, huh?" 

"I consider this to be a leisurely stroll," Aizen replied smoothly, stepping over the groaning bodies in his path. 

---

The warehouse's interior was as disorganized as its guards. Crates of stolen goods were scattered everywhere, and the stench of alcohol and unwashed bodies hung heavy in the air. Gato's men rushed to intercept the intruders, their numbers bolstered by reinforcements pouring in from side rooms. 

Anko leaped onto a stack of crates, throwing down explosive tags. The resulting blasts sent shockwaves through the room, flinging men in every direction. She laughed gleefully as she launched herself into the fray, slicing through her opponents with wild precision. 

Aizen moved through the chaos like a specter, his movements effortless and deadly. One man lunged at him with a spear, only for Aizen to sidestep and deliver a devastating palm strike to his chest. The thug crumpled, blood dripping from his mouth. 

Another swung a massive club at Aizen's head. He caught it mid-swing, the force splintering the wood, before kicking the man into a wall. The impact left a crater, and the man slumped to the ground, unconscious. 

Anko twirled through the room, her kunai flashing as she disarmed and disabled her enemies. She paused to admire her handiwork, then called out, "Hey, Aizen, save some for me!" 

Aizen glanced at her, unamused. "You're enjoying yourself too much." 

"Isn't that the point?" she replied with a smirk, launching another explosive tag into a group of panicking thugs. 

---

The final door led to Gato's private quarters, where the man cowered behind a desk piled high with stolen wealth. His bodyguards, better equipped and slightly more competent than the others, stood ready, weapons drawn. 

"Well, well," Anko said, stepping into the room. "Looks like the rat brought some backup." 

Gato stammered, his eyes darting between the intruders. "W-wait! I can pay you! Whatever Tazuna's offering, I'll double it!" 

Aizen stepped forward, his presence alone making the guards hesitate. "Your life isn't worth the effort of betrayal," he said coldly. 

The bodyguards attacked, but they were no match. Aizen incapacitated them with brutal efficiency, his strikes breaking bones and shattering morale. One by one, they fell until only Gato remained. 

Anko leaned against the desk, twirling a kunai. "Any last words, Gato?" 

"Please! Mercy!" Gato begged, tears streaming down his face. 

Aizen stepped closer, his reiatsu crushing the air around them. "You sealed your fate the moment you thought yourself untouchable." 

With a flick of his wrist, Aizen ended Gato's life, his cold expression never wavering. 

---

Anko stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Well, that was fun." 

Aizen gave her a sidelong glance. "You call that fun?" 

She grinned. "What else would you call it?" 

"Necessary," Aizen replied

---

Chapter 21: Deliverance and Liberation 

Aizen stood over Gato's mutilated corpse, his single eye cold and calculating as the blood pooled around the tyrant's lifeless body. He reached down, gripping the severed head by its hair, and turned to Anko, who was casually wiping her kunai on a fallen thug's cloak. 

"Take this to Tazuna's house," Aizen ordered, holding out the grisly trophy. 

Anko raised an eyebrow, though her lips curled into a wicked grin. "What? No parting speech? Just, 'Take this bloody head and go?'

Aizen's gaze was unwavering. "Show it to that impudent brat. Let him see that his so-called invincible boogeyman is nothing more than a mortal man, pathetic, weak, and insignificant." 

Anko took the head, still grinning but with a hint of curiosity in her tone. "And where are you off to this time?" 

"To liberate the Mist Village from its tyrant," Aizen replied as if it were the simplest thing in the world. 

Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Ooh, that sounds like fun. Count me in!" 

"First, deliver the head," Aizen said firmly. 

Anko pouted dramatically, but before he could change his mind, she vanished into the night in a blur, leaving only a faint echo of laughter in her wake. 

---

Anko returned to Aizen, her usual grin replaced with an air of satisfaction. "Mission accomplished," she said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. 

"Good," Aizen replied, not looking up from the map he was studying. 

"Now, where were we?" she asked, her excitement palpable. 

"Meeting up with Zabuza," Aizen replied

The two found Zabuza and Haku waiting by a secluded lake. Zabuza leaned against a tree, his massive sword resting on his shoulder, while Haku stood silently at his side, his expression unreadable. 

"You're late," Zabuza growled. 

"I wasn't aware we were on a schedule," Aizen replied coolly. 

Zabuza smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "So, you're really going through with fighting Yagura " 

"My word is my bond," Aizen

---

Tsunami's piercing scream shattered the early morning peace. Everyone in the house, Tazuna, Kurenai, Hana, her ninken, Sasuke, Ino, and even a groggy Inari, rushed to the porch to see what had caused the commotion. 

Tsunami stood frozen, trembling as her eyes remained glued to the grotesque sight before her: Gato's severed head placed neatly on the porch like some macabre gift. 

"W-What is this?" she stammered, clutching her chest. 

Tazuna pushed past her, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. Then, realization dawned, and he let out a shaky laugh. "It's Gato! That bastard's finally dead!" 

Inari stumbled forward, his face pale. "Dead? But... how?" 

Tazuna's face was a mixture of pride and guilt. "I asked Aizen to deal with him."

Inari stared at the head, his lips quivering. "He... killed him? Just like that?" 

Tears welled up in Inari's eyes as he dropped to his knees. The weight of the moment crushed him, relief, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of vindication. 

Tazuna placed a comforting hand on his grandson's shoulder. "See, Inari? There's still hope. That man, Aizen... he's no ordinary shinobi. He's a savior." 

Kurenai folded her arms, her expression unreadable. "I wouldn't go that far. But he's certainly efficient." 

Hana crouched down to examine the head more closely. Her ninken sniffed it warily, growling softly before backing away. "No doubt about it, it's him. Aizen really did it." 

Ino crossed her arms, glancing at the head with a mix of disgust and awe. "Efficient is an understatement." 

Sasuke stood in the background, his expression unreadable as he observed the scene.

I wonder where the guy is. I want to properly thank him?" Tazuna

"And Anko?" Hana added, scanning the area as if expecting them to appear from the shadows.

Tsunami shook her head, panic creeping into her voice. "I haven't seen them since last night!"

Tazuna exhaled deeply, scratching the back of his head. "Well... maybe they went on a date?"

The suggestion earned him incredulous stares.

Ino raised an eyebrow, half-amused. "Aizen and Anko? Really?"

Sasuke scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Aizen's not the type for romance. He doesn't care about anything but power."

Tazuna straightened, his voice brimming with resolve. "Well anyway we need to let everyone in town know. This changes everything."

---

The group ventured into town later that morning, the severed head carefully wrapped and carried by Tazuna as proof of Gato's demise. He spoke to anyone who would listen, his voice filled with determination.

"The man who terrorized us, who took everything from us, he's gone!" Tazuna declared. "Aizen, the shinobi staying at my house, took him down. We're free!"

At first, the villagers were hesitant, their years of suffering leaving them wary of hope. But as Tazuna showed them the proof, their skepticism melted away.

"Is it true?" an elderly man asked, his voice trembling. "Gato's really dead?"

"Yes!" Tazuna proclaimed. "We can finish the bridge and rebuild our lives. This is the start of something new!"

Cheers erupted in the marketplace, a wave of relief and joy spreading like wildfire.

Kurenai observed quietly, her arms crossed. "This is what they needed," she said softly.

Hana nodded, her ninken barking in agreement. "Hope can be a powerful thing."

Inari stood beside his grandfather, his eyes bright with newfound determination. "We'll finish the bridge. For my dad. For everyone."

---

4 days later

The Outskirts of the Village

The group arrived at the outskirts of the Mist Village, where the clash between Yagura's forces and the rebels was already in full swing. The sounds of battle, shouting, clashing steel, and explosions, echoed across the mist-covered fields.

Aizen stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eye scanning the chaos with interest. His focus settled on the man locked in combat with Yagura himself.

A smirk tugged at Aizen's lips. "This is going to be interesting."

Tbc