Chapter 5: The Ninja Academy
The soft light of dawn spilled over Konoha, and a warm spring breeze rustled the leaves. As the villagers began their daily routines, Aizen remained perfectly still within his monitored residence, his posture as immovable as a meditating monk.
Finally, after the entire night, he let out a slow, controlled breath and opened his eyes. The night had been spent in continuous refinement, drawing upon the returned essence of Kyōka Suigetsu to nurture the seed of his spiritual power. The results were gratifying; he now possessed a small but stable reserve of spiritual energy, enough to utilize the most basic of Kidō spells.
More importantly, the unique mutation of his spiritual core meant that his spiritual power and Chakra were now symbiotically linked, growing together. This granted him a potential far beyond the natives of this world. While most ninjas were born with a fixed capacity for Chakra—some, like members of the Uzumaki clan, possessing vast reserves, and others being severely limited—Aizen faced no such ceiling. As long as he cultivated his spiritual power, Chakra would be generated alongside it. His reserves would not only accumulate over time but would be inherently superior, infused with the unique quality of spiritual energy.
According to the old man, I am to report to the Ninja Academy today, he thought, a faint, cynical smile touching his lips. To live the life of a student again, after centuries at the Shin'ō Academy. How amusing.
He held no resentment for this assignment. On the contrary, he was deeply interested in the mechanics of ninjutsu. As a being who constantly sought to break his limits, this new power system was a fascinating puzzle. He had once stood at the pinnacle of the Shinigami, and his ambition burned to master this world's energies just as completely.
A cradle for countless ninjas... Aizen's mind drifted to a deliciously wicked idea. What if every young ninja here were to witness the release of Kyōka Suigetsu? The thought of an entire future generation of Konoha's shinobi being unwittingly placed under his complete hypnosis from their very first days was a strategic masterstroke. Once caught in Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion, their fates would be his to command.
Moving to a blind spot in the room he had meticulously mapped out overnight, he focused his will. "Kyōka Suigetsu," he whispered.
A soft glow emanated from his palms, coalescing and stretching into the form of a long sword. The familiar green hilt, the straight blade… the Zanpakutō that had once terrorized the Soul Society was back. Yet, it was different. This new manifestation was shorter, barely half a meter long, and proportionally thinner, matching his current, diminished state.
As my body has regressed, so too has my power, Aizen mused, his fingers gently tracing the cool metal. A wave of nostalgia washed over him. After being rejected by the Hōgyoku and imprisoned, his blade had vanished. To feel its weight again, even in this weakened form, was a significant victory.
The Konoha Ninja Academy, he thought, sheathing the blade within his soul. What surprises do you hold for me? He had fully adapted to the role of the weak, and his mind was sharp, patient, and ready.
Inside a spacious classroom at the Ninja Academy, dozens of students sat listening with varying degrees of attention. At the front, a young man with a kind face and a distinctive scar across his nose was diligently explaining fundamental shinobi principles. This was Umino Iruka, their instructor.
Iruka's gaze periodically drifted to a particular spot in the classroom, his brow furrowing slightly. A spiky head of bright blond hair was once again the source of his distraction.
"Naruto! Pay attention!" Iruka called out, unable to contain his frustration. "If you don't focus, you'll never pass the graduation exams!"
Naruto Uzumaki looked up, a wide, unbothered grin on his face. "Don't worry, Iruka-sensei! I'm gonna be Hokage someday!"
A derisive snort came from behind him. "Hmph. As if a dead-last like you could ever become Hokage." Naruto spun around, his anger deflating instantly when he met the cool, apathetic eyes of Uchiha Sasuke, the top student of their class.
The room was filled with other familiar faces: Sakura Haruno, who was currently staring dreamily at Sasuke; Shikamaru Nara, already looking bored; Chōji Akimichi, quietly munching on a snack; and Hinata Hyuga, who sat with her usual timid posture, her white eyes occasionally glancing toward Naruto before darting away.
Just as the classroom's atmosphere teetered between focus and chaos, the door slid open. Every head turned toward the entrance.
Standing there was a boy with a calm demeanor and a gentle, almost innocent smile on his handsome face.
"My name is Aizen Sōsuke," he said, his voice smooth and polite. "I am a new transfer student. It's a pleasure to meet you all."