Chapter 2

Naruto still remembers the first time he met Aizen.

It was after another miserable day. Several children from the village had ganged up and beaten him. Bruised and battered, he dragged himself back to his small hut, ate a meal of instant noodles, wiped his body carelessly, and prepared to sleep.

Even as a child, Naruto had noticed something unusual about himself. No matter how severe his injuries were, the bruises would vanish by the next day, and his strength would return as if nothing had happened. This made him different from the other children. Perhaps, as the villagers claimed, he truly was the Nine-Tails demon fox.

With these heavy thoughts weighing on his mind, Naruto fell into a deep sleep. But this time, his consciousness was pulled into a strange, mysterious space.

Drip. Drip.

The sound of water droplets echoed in the darkness, rousing Naruto from his slumber. He opened his eyes, confused, and found himself in a cold, dimly lit basement.

"Where am I?" Naruto muttered, his voice trembling.

He had been asleep moments ago, yet now he stood in this eerie, unfamiliar place. The air was cold, and the faint light barely illuminated his surroundings.

"Is anyone there?" he called out, his voice echoing through the vast space.

Hugging his arms to ward off the chill, Naruto cautiously moved forward. His eyes darted around, filled with fear and uncertainty. Soon, he stumbled upon an iron gate sealed with intricate markings. Beyond it, a figure emerged from the shadows.

The man wore a white robe, his brown curly hair framing a face that always seemed to carry a gentle, confident smile. His eyes, hidden behind glasses, were sharp and calculating. This was Aizen—Sosuke Aizen.

Aizen Sosuke, former captain of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13 in the Soul Society, had once been a respected figure. But his ambition led him to betray the Soul Society, seeking to transcend the limits of death and attain ultimate power. He viewed everyone around him as pawns, tools to be used and discarded at will. After achieving immense power, he grew arrogant, defeating countless Shinigami who stood in his way. However, he was ultimately defeated by Kurosaki Ichigo and imprisoned in the deepest depths of hell.

But this was Aizen's past. In the present, he remained the composed and polite captain of the 5th Division, his true nature hidden beneath a mask of elegance.

In this sealed space, Aizen adjusted his glasses, his brown eyes glinting with curiosity as he observed the bewildered Naruto.

For some time now, Aizen had found himself drawn to this dark space whenever he slept. A light screen would appear before him, showing fragments of Naruto Uzumaki's life. Through it, Aizen witnessed Naruto's struggles—the manipulation by Konoha's leaders, the bullying by villagers who saw him as a demon, and the constant barrage of indifference and malice.

With his keen intellect, Aizen quickly deduced the truth. Naruto was a weapon, a force of immense power that Konoha's leaders sought to control. By painting him as the hated Nine-Tails demon fox, they ensured Naruto would grow up isolated and dependent on them for guidance. It was a crude form of manipulation, one that Aizen found laughably clumsy.

Yet, despite the hatred and isolation, Naruto harbored no resentment toward the village. Instead, he dreamed of becoming Hokage, the leader of Konoha. This contradiction fascinated Aizen. He saw potential in Naruto, a chance to explore the mysteries of the ninja world through his eyes.

Aizen's interest in the ninja world was piqued. Unlike the Soul Society, this world had no Shinigami, no Reiryoku or Reiatsu. Instead, it was governed by ninjas and chakra, a unique energy that allowed them to perform extraordinary techniques. Though Naruto had yet to witness or use ninjutsu himself, Aizen was intrigued by the possibilities it presented.

For now, Aizen's curiosity outweighed his desire for power. He saw Naruto as a window into this unfamiliar world, a means to uncover its secrets. But to achieve this, Naruto needed to grow—both in strength and understanding.

With his usual elegance, Aizen greeted Naruto. "Uzumaki Naruto, I've been waiting to meet you."

"You... know me?" Naruto asked, surprised.

"Of course," Aizen replied, his voice smooth and magnetic. "You love instant noodles, hate expired milk, and despise the hostile glares of the villagers. Yet, despite it all, you dream of becoming Hokage. I know you better than you think, Naruto. And I care about you."

Those words struck a chord in Naruto. Aside from the Third Hokage, no one had ever shown him such kindness. But Aizen's understanding of him went even deeper than the old man's.

"My name is Sosuke Aizen. You may call me Aizen."

From that day on, Aizen became a guiding light in Naruto's life. He encouraged Naruto to read, to think critically, and to question the world around him.

"Sometimes, what your eyes see isn't the truth," Aizen would say. "Why do they call you the Nine-Tails demon fox when you have a human body? Why are you so weak that even children can bully you? Every world has its rules, Naruto. Konoha shelters you, but it also confines you. Will you follow the rules, or will you break free and become the one who makes them?"

At first, Naruto struggled to understand Aizen's cryptic words. But over time, he began to see the world differently. He learned to look beyond the surface, to analyze his circumstances, and to respond with thoughtfulness rather than impulsiveness.

Naruto's childish innocence faded, replaced by a quiet elegance and a growing curiosity about Aizen. There was something unsettling about the man, a sense that his gentle demeanor hid a darker, more calculating nature.

One day, Naruto finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind. "Mr. Aizen, why are you helping me?"

Aizen smiled, his expression unreadable. "You've grown, Naruto. You're no longer the boy you once were. I come from another world, and my reasons are simple. First, I wish to understand the secrets of ninjutsu through your eyes. Second, your life is a fascinating experiment—I want to see how you, a product of Konoha's manipulation, will rise above it. And third, I despise Konoha's clumsy methods. Helping you is my way of undermining their plans."

The memory faded, and Naruto's lips curled into a faint smile. Whatever Aizen's motives, one thing was undeniable: Aizen had changed his life. Without him, Naruto might still be dreaming of becoming Hokage, blind to the truth of the world around him.