3 Konoha

Aizen was practising Shunpo on his way to Konoha. He started by trying to move as fast as possible from point A to B on flat ground, but even that proved to be problematic as he found out that he doesn't have complete control over the muscles in his body. The precision of his Shunpo left much to be desired. He often travelled either too far or ended up in a place that he didn't want to be and in a battle that could easily cause more trouble than help. Although he perfectly knew the theory and intricacies of the technique, he couldn't do much for the time being with his body fighting against him. He also learned how to make his zanpakutō appear and disappear whenever he wanted by accident when he made a break to train his zanjutsu.

*I must train more, just blindly relying on the inheritance is not sufficient. There is still the issue of what sort of tribulations the old celestial bastard has prepared for me.* He knew that even without doing anything with each passing day he would become stronger and stronger until he reached the peak of original Aizen's power, but accelerating the process wouldn't hurt.

-----

Three days later.

He was about to emerge from the forest when he saw the checkpoint with two shinobi that wore headbands with the mark of the leaf on them. He hid behind a boulder that was positioned at the edge of the forest and decided to analyse the situation.

He could see a line of people queuing to the checkpoint. Some of them were shinobi coming back from missions and farmers from rural villages with carriages of wheat and vegetables that arrived to sell their goods.

Even though the gate wasn't well guarded, he was sure that in case of an accident many high ranked ninja would arrive in a heartbeat. He observed as a team of three genins with their jōnin sensei approached the checkpoint. They were swiftly identified based on the identity cards that were handed to every shinobi after graduating from the academy.

*Looks like I won't be able to get inside with the hitai-ate, but the scroll can come in handy. Now, I could quickly get inside without being detected by using Kyokkō to bend the light around me, but that won't accomplish my goal of obtaining citizenship. They would find me sooner or later, and I wouldn't be able to use any of Konoha's facilities without being registered as a citizen.* He pondered on the issue as he continued to observe the checkpoint.

*What do they value? What could help me accomplish my goal? Money? Maybe if I had any in the first place, but I assume that it wouldn't work anyway. The moment they took a bribe would be the moment their career as a shinobi end if someone found out about it, they wouldn't risk their future. They value their so-called 'Will of Fire' so I may be able to exploit it. In addition to that my current body is that of a child, which can also be useful. I might be able to use the crowd to my advantage, even if the guards turn out to be heartless and without sympathy, the crowd shouldn't stand idly if they were to harm a child. In the worst case, I will lose the scroll and get some bruises. It's time to behave like a good child filled with the Will of Fire. I have to get rid of the hitai-ate for now.* He thought and covered his hands with reiatsu as to not get them dirty. He dug a small hole behind the boulder where he placed the hitai-ate and buried it.

Aizen emerged from behind the boulder with the scroll hidden in the pocket of his trousers and lined up to the checkpoint. He let go of his poker face when it was his turn. Many people were still waiting in line behind him.

"Who are you and what's the purpose of your visit." Asked the older shinobi as he pulled out a sheet of paper and readied his pen.

The second, younger shinobi was lustrating Aizen with his eyes, suspicious why he came alone without his parents.

"My name is Aizen Sōsuke. I was born in Land of Tea. My family used to make a living by being a part of a caravan that sold tea, furs and other goods while purchasing things that could be sold in Land of Tea. When we were travelling through the Land of Fire to Land of Hot Springs, we were attacked by bandits. The guards that we hired ran away the moment they saw them..." He answered while clenching his fists hard enough for one of his nails to pierce the skin.

A small trickle of blood ran down his hand. His voice was cold and filled with pain. He didn't continue his speech immediately as he was slightly shaking to give an impression of holding his anger.

"When I saw bandits slaughtering caravan members I ran as fast as possible until I didn't have the strength to move anymore. As I was resting under a tree, I heard someone speaking. I thought that it could be survivors from our caravan, so I decided to check it." He continued with tears in eyes. His face was almost entirely red.

The older shinobi showed signs of compassion on his face as he listened to the story. He was holding back tears as if he had remembered something. On the other side, the younger shinobi was listening with his arms crossed, unimpressed with the story. Many lost their families and tried to seek help from the village, but very few obtained it.

*How troublesome, another child who lost his family, but there are many like him. Orphanages are already full. We will probably have to send him to the closest rural village. Perhaps someone will take pity for the boy and adopt him.* Thought the younger of the two shinobi.

"When I arrived, I saw a kunoichi fighting against two shinobi with rock symbols on their headbands. She managed to kill the first one, but she got hurt by the second shinobi who wounded her with his sword. The kunoichi somehow managed to handle the second shinobi by using a technique that created an enormous ball of fire that burned his body. She fell to the ground, so I came to help her, but she didn't make it. Before her death, she gave me a scroll and told me to deliver it to the Hokage and not to hand it to anyone else." Aizen said as he pulled out the scroll out of his pocket.

The guards examined the scroll and saw a seal that was still undamaged.

"Give it to me. We have our procedures. You are not worthy of meeting the Hokage." Said the younger shinobi as he stretched his hand to grab the scroll.

"Sorry, the lady said that I can only hand it to the Hokage." Aizen said as he moved back.

"You know, we really can't let you do that even if we wanted to." Said the older shinobi, with a hint of sadness in his voice. He still had rules to follow, and they came before his emotions.

"How about we give you some ryō for your service to the village, and we will pass the scroll to the Hokage in your stead?" Continued the older shinobi as he tried to persuade the child.

"No! It's only for the Hokage!" Aizen answered loudly, still holding the scroll in his hand.

The younger shinobi was pissed off. A young kid still wet behind his ears was publicly disrespecting him. He slowly approached the kid and tried to take the scroll from him, but the kid's hand was gripping it firmly as if he would die if he let it go.

"Brat! You better give me the scroll, NOW!" Yelled the younger shinobi with an angry expression on his face.

He kicked the kid to his knee and saw him falling to the ground, clutching the scroll next to his abdomen as he was lying on the ground cowering in fear with his back and head exposed. He kicked the kid from the side, he flew at least a meter from the checkpoint and spat some blood.

"Ah! W-what are you doing!?" Screamed Aizen with dread in his voice.

*Damn, that hurt. Oh how much I wish to bind that bastard and torture him for at least a few days before finally killing him. It's difficult not to retaliate. Shitty peasants, I'm counting on you.* Aizen thought as he rolled on the ground from the force of the kick.

Then, a merchant that was lined up to the checkpoint began yelling "You bastard! Is that what Konoha truly is? A bunch of savages taking pleasure in harming a child? This is how you repay a benefactor of your village? By the next day, everyone will know not to help Konoha's shinobi in need if they don't want to have a couple of broken bones and bruises." He scoffed, his speech rallied the crowd that began shouting and cursing the young shinobi.

The old shinobi quickly reacted and tried to soothe the crowd with words of wisdom, but nobody heard him now that most of the people lined up were berating Konoha and their behaviour.

"Ye all full of shit! Beacons of virtue and peace my ass!" Said one of the farmers as he threw a tomato at the younger ninja who was so absorbed by trying to find a way out of this situation that he didn't notice the red, ripe tomato flying his way. The tomato reached its destination, drenching the young shinobi's head in red juice. Soon, most farmers where throwing vegetables at him.

"Hmph, I may go and sell my high-quality textiles somewhere else. Is this what distinguished shinobi of Konoha became? A bunch of savages beating children?" Said a woman wearing expensive clothes and jewellery, with a few men behind her nodding and throwing more insults.

As the situation continued to become worse and worse for the shinobi, an ANBU wearing a wolf mask appeared, suddenly the place became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Kid, Lord Third wants to see you." Said the ANBU as he approached the bruised kid and helped him get up. "Follow me." The ANBU continued.

"T-thank you, sir." Aizen said with fake respect in his voice.

"As for you two, the Hokage is expecting a full report by the end of the day." He glared at the two shinobi before leaving.

"Yes!" Said the two shinobi in unison as they bowed deeply.

Aizen and the ANBU walked towards the Hokage building in silence when the ANBU said "You will address the Hokage with the utmost respect and answer everything he asks you about truthfully. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Aizen answered seriously and nodded.

-----

Hokage building.

Aizen waited for some time in front of Hokage's office. A secretary came to him and took him by the hand, leading him inside.

On the chair sat a tan-skinned man in his forties with dark brown, spiked hair and a small goatee. He wore a standard Hokage attire and smoked his pipe. His desk was full of forms, letters and scrolls.

"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage. I was briefed on your situation. Leave us alone." Said the Hokage in a commanding tone.

The secretary bowed deeply and left the room.

"Now pass me the scroll." Said the Hokage.

*I had a feeling that this won't be so easy. He couldn't just let me transmigrate into a Naruto world in a timeline that I knew everything about.* Aizen thought.