Chapter 13: The Teams Assemble
After a full night of dedicated practice, Aizen had achieved complete mastery over the Shadow Clone Technique. His current limit was the creation of five stable, fully-functional clones.
This sensation is remarkable... five tangible extensions of my will.
Through the mental link shared with his clones, Aizen could perceive the state of each one. While their individual power was limited, the strategic possibilities they represented filled him with a quiet, intense satisfaction.
Five clones after just one night. I wonder how many I could create if my chakra reserves were truly vast?
This intensive training had driven home the critical importance of chakra in this new world. It was the fundamental currency of power.
It's a pity my current reserves are so limited, he mused, feeling the emptiness after his exertions. If not for this constraint, I could push my limits further.
He shook his head, dismissing the fleeting regret, and quickly restored his characteristic calm. He understood that refining both his spiritual power and chakra was a gradual process, requiring steady, unwavering dedication. True power could not be rushed. He had spent centuries lurking in the Soul Society, moving pieces quietly across the board, only revealing his true strength when he was certain he could sweep aside the entire Gotei 13. Patience was a weapon he knew how to wield.
The immediate priority is to replenish my energy.
He stepped back into the monitored house. While he preferred the open space outside for practicing ninjutsu to avoid prying eyes, the act of refining his spiritual power was different. It required only deep meditation, a silent internal focus to urge the seed of his spiritual power to generate more energy. To any observer, he would simply appear as a boy in deep concentration—a flawless disguise.
And so, for the next three days, Aizen did not practice any jutsu. He sat in stillness, like a monk in deep trance, his entire consciousness focused on nurturing that internal seed. The process was slow, but the results were tangible. By the end of the third day, his total reserves of both spiritual power and chakra had multiplied several times over, bringing him tantalizingly close to the level of a Genin.
However, during this process, he also identified a significant hurdle. He discovered that the rate of refinement slowed as his total energy increased. It was an inverse relationship: the more chakra he possessed, the slower it was to accumulate more.
No wonder there is such a vast gulf between ninja of different ranks, he reasoned, a cold fire igniting in his heart. I must know... what level of power do those so-called Kage-level beings possess? The challenge only fueled his ambition. His goal was absolute perfection, to one day stand atop the shinobi world.
On the morning of the fourth day, the early sun spilled its light over the earth, breathing life into the world. Aizen made his way to the Ninja Academy. Today was a pivotal day: the team assignments.
At the Academy, Iruka stood solemnly at the podium, his gaze sweeping over the young faces before him.
"From this day forward," he announced, his voice carrying through the classroom, "you are ninja who must learn to stand on your own. However, you may not yet be fully qualified. The true test is still to come."
"The village will assign a Jōnin to be your instructor. You will perform missions under their leadership. Whether you officially become Genin depends entirely on your ability to pass that Jōnin's personal evaluation."
A wave of nostalgia washed over Iruka as he looked at them. He would no longer be their primary teacher.
"Next, I will announce the teams. Based on your overall performance, I have finalized the groupings."
He picked up a roster from the podium. "Team 10 will consist of Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji, and Yamanaka Ino."
In a corner of the room, Shikamaru wore a deeply troubled expression. "What a drag... we have to be in teams now."
"Awesome!" Chōji beamed, utterly unaffected. "We can go for barbecue after this!"
Yamanaka Ino facepalmed. "I'm stuck with a lazybones and a foodie... my goodness."
Iruka continued, "Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura!"
"Heh. Grouping just means two more dead weights," Sasuke muttered, his face an impassive mask. He trusted only his own strength.
"YES! I'm with Sakura-chan!" Naruto leaped into the air, cheering ecstatically.
"Alright, Naruto, settle down," Iruka said, motioning for quiet before picking up the roster again. "Next, Team 8."
"This team is a special case. It will have four members. They are: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Hyūga Hinata, and Aizen Sōsuke!"