Naruto: God Reborn

Chapter 32: The Truth Unfolds

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, the wisps of smoke curling lazily into the air. His calm demeanor belied the curiosity brewing within him as he watched Kurenai, Anko, Hana, flanked by her three ninken, Ino, and Sasuke enter the room. The team had just returned from their mission in the Land of Waves, and though he noted Aizen's absence, Hiruzen wasn't particularly surprised. Aizen's aversion to debriefings had become something of a pattern. 

The Hokage gestured for them to take seats. "Welcome back," he began, his voice warm but laced with intrigue. "Your mission to the Land of Waves… Did it escalate beyond expectations?" 

Kurenai nodded, her expression serious. "It did, Lord Third." 

Anko leaned back in her chair, grinning. "Escalate is putting it lightly. Things got wild." 

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Go on." 

Kurenai took the lead. "It started with Tazuna withholding information. He failed to inform us that Gato had placed a target on his back. That alone turned a routine mission into something far more dangerous." 

Sasuke interjected, his tone blunt. "Which led us straight into an ambush by two mist ninja" 

Hiruzen hummed thoughtfully. "And how did you handle them?" 

"Easily," Hana answered, stroking one of her ninken's heads. "But the real challenge came afterward." 

Anko's grin widened. "That's when Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist, showed up." 

The room fell into a heavy silence as the name registered. Hiruzen leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And how did you fare against such a formidable opponent?" 

Kurenai sighed. "Anko, Hana, and I engaged him, but it was… difficult. Zabuza's reputation isn't unfounded. We struggled to gain any advantage." 

Hiruzen's gaze flickered toward Anko, who nodded in confirmation. "The guy was no joke. Fast, strong, and cunning. It was like he was toying with us." 

"But," Hana added, "then Aizen stepped in." 

At the mention of Aizen's name, Hiruzen's attention sharpened. "What did he do?" 

Kurenai's voice was tinged with both admiration and concern. "He… outclassed Zabuza entirely. His swordsmanship was extraordinary. Every swing, every parry, it was as if he had spent decades mastering the blade." 

Hiruzen frowned. "Aizen has been imprisoned for six years. How could he possibly have achieved such skill?" 

"That's not all," Kurenai continued. "He copied Zabuza's Water Dragon Jutsu after seeing it once. Not only did he replicate it, but his Water Dragon was stronger, faster, more precise." 

Hiruzen's frown deepened. "Jutsu, with no formal training beyond theory?

"And the most unbelievable thing," Anko added, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "he stopped Zabuza's blade, with a single finger." 

The Hokage's pipe paused midway to his lips. "A single finger?" 

All five shinobi nodded in unison. 

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, his mind racing. "How could someone so young possess such overwhelming power?"

Before he could voice his thoughts, Kurenai pressed on. "After Zabuza retreated, things took an even stranger turn. Monsters appeared." 

"Monsters?" Hiruzen repeated, his tone sharp. 

Anko nodded. "Hollows, Aizen informed them. They were… horrifying.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. Jiraiya had mentioned strange creatures causing chaos in his reports. Could these Hollows be the same? 

"During the battle, one of the Hollows addressed Aizen directly," Kurenai said. "It called him a Shinigami." 

The room fell silent. 

"Shinigami," Hiruzen murmured, his thoughts turning to the Death God, the spectral entity the Uzumaki clan could summon. "Are you saying Aizen is… a death god reborn in human form?" 

Kurenai shook her head. "Not quite. Aizen explained later that Shinigami are a race of spirits tasked with maintaining the flow of souls between the human world and a place called the Soul Society." 

Hiruzen's eyes darkened. "And Aizen is one of these spirits?" 

Anko leaned forward, her grin fading. "It gets better. Another Shinigami showed up, a woman named Unohana. She absolutely hated Aizen's guts." 

"She killed him," Ino said bluntly, her voice tinged with disbelief. "We watched it happen." 

Hiruzen's hand tightened around his pipe. "Killed him?" 

"And then," Anko continued, her voice filled with awe, "he came back to life. Just like that." 

Hiruzen's expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, he felt a deep unease. "A God complex isn't without merit when one can defy death itself."

Kurenai spoke again. "After his resurrection, he told us everything. About his past life." 

They took turns recounting Aizen's story, his rise through the Shinigami ranks, the facade he maintained, his betrayal of his own world, his defeat by a boy named Ichigo Kurosaki, and his subsequent imprisonment. 

Hiruzen listened in silence, his mind working furiously. When they finally finished, he sat back in his chair, the weight of their words pressing down on him. 

"Aizen… is more dangerous than I ever imagined," he said finally. "A man who once brought an entire world to its knees now walks among us." 

"Do you think he'll try to do the same here?" Ino asked hesitantly. 

Hiruzen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Kurenai. "In your opinion, how should we proceed?" 

Kurenai hesitated. "Aizen is unpredictable. But for now, he hasn't shown any intent to harm Konoha, well other than the mindbreaking." 

"And if that changes?" Hiruzen asked, his voice quiet but firm. 

"Then we'll stop him," Sasuke said, his tone cold. 

Anko chuckled. "Good luck with that, kid." 

Hiruzen sighed. "For now, we'll observe. But make no mistake, if Aizen ever becomes a threat, we must be prepared to act. Dismissed." 

As the group filed out, Hiruzen turned to gaze out the window, his thoughts heavy. "Minato, Kushina, why did you have bring such a monster into this world"

Chapter 33:

The Rebirth of Nnoitra Gilga

In a twist of fate, Nnoitra Gilga, the Espada who sought power and dominance above all, was reincarnated into the world of shinobi. Born in Iwagakure, his body was mortal, but his soul still carried the echoes of his past life, the insatiable hunger for strength and the belief that only the strong deserved to survive.

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Early Life in Iwagakure

Nnoitra's rebirth placed him in one of the harshest shinobi villages. The rugged terrain and unyielding culture of Iwa suited him perfectly, as the village valued strength and tenacity above all else. From an early age, Nnoitra displayed an unparalleled resilience and determination, earning both admiration and fear from those around him.

While other children struggled through the grueling training of the village, Nnoitra thrived. Even as a boy, he sought out the toughest opponents, not for camaraderie or practice, but to test himself and prove his superiority. His scrawny tall frame belied his brutal combat instincts, and his taunts during spars often drove his opponents into a frenzy.

"You think you can take me?" Nnoitra sneered at an older boy during a training match. "Come on, show me what you've got, if you're not too scared."

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Ambition and Ruthlessness

As he grew, Nnoitra's ambition became evident to all. He despised weakness and saw it as a disease that plagued the shinobi world. Unlike other Iwa shinobi, who valued teamwork and strategy, Nnoitra focused solely on individual strength. He often disregarded orders during missions, prioritizing his own goals over the team's objectives.

His superiors recognized his potential but struggled to control him. While his brutal efficiency in combat was an asset, his arrogance and disdain for authority were constant problems.

"Nnoitra," one of his instructors warned after a particularly reckless mission, "power without discipline will destroy you."

Nnoitra smirked, wiping blood from his blade. "If you're strong enough, you don't need discipline. The weak cling to rules because they can't survive on their own."

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The Third Great Ninja War

Nnoitra thrived during the Third Great Ninja War, where chaos and bloodshed allowed him to unleash his full potential. He fought with a reckless ferocity that terrified his enemies and allies alike. Wielding massive weapons he crafted himself,reminiscent of his old scythe, he cleaved through enemy ranks with ease, his laughter echoing across the battlefield.

During one mission, Nnoitra's squad was ambushed by Konoha shinobi. While his teammates panicked, Nnoitra stood his ground, taunting the enemy. He fought relentlessly, taking down multiple opponents singlehandedly. However, his refusal to follow orders led to heavy casualties on his side, further alienating him from his comrades.

Despite this, his reputation grew. Stories of "Iwa's Madman" spread across the nations, painting him as a warrior who lived for battle and destruction.

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The Return of Memories

As the war progressed, Nnoitra began experiencing flashes of his past life. In the midst of battle, he would feel an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, as if he had wielded his weapons in countless wars before. These memories came with a growing realization of his true nature, a relentless predator who sought to stand above all.

His powers began to reawaken. While initially subtle, his spiritual energy manifested in his ability to withstand even the most grievous injuries. During one encounter, an enemy shinobi pierced him through the chest with a spear. Instead of falling, Nnoitra laughed, pulling the spear out and cutting his opponent down.

"What kind of monster are you?" the shinobi gasped with his dying breath.

"The kind you'll never live to understand," Nnoitra replied coldly.

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Conflict with Iwa Leadership

Nnoitra's growing power and disregard for authority eventually brought him into conflict with Iwa's leadership. He openly challenged the Tsuchikage, declaring that the village's obsession with tactics and unity was a sign of weakness.

"Strength is all that matters," Nnoitra spat during a heated argument with his superiors. "You hide behind your walls and call yourselves warriors, but you're just scared little children clinging to each other."

His defiance reached its peak when he refused to complete a mission, instead opting to hunt down a group of elite enemy shinobi on his own. Though he returned victorious, his insubordination could no longer be ignored. Nnoitra left Iwagakure, vowing to carve his own path.

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The Mercenary and the Predator

As a rogue shinobi, Nnoitra became a mercenary, feared and respected across the nations. His monstrous strength and regenerative abilities made him nearly unstoppable. With each battle, his memories and powers returned, including his mastery of spiritual energy and his ability to channel it into devastating attacks.

He began to fashion weapons reminiscent of his old crescent scythe, reveling in the carnage they caused. His encounters with powerful opponents rekindled his hunger for battle, driving him to seek stronger enemies.

"Show me what you've got," Nnoitra would sneer at his opponents, his dark eyes gleaming with anticipation. "If you're weak, you're not even worth killing."

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Legacy of the Predator

Though Nnoitra had long since abandoned Iwagakure, his name continued to haunt the village. Some viewed him as a traitor, while others saw him as a cautionary tale,a reminder of what happens when strength is pursued without discipline.

The Tsuchikage spoke of him with grudging respect. "He was a fool, but he was also one of the strongest shinobi this village has ever produced."

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One thing was certain: wherever Nnoitra Gilga went, destruction followed. And in a world filled with powerful warriors and hidden secrets, his hunger for dominance would ensure that his name was never forgotten.