So anyway, while Konoha was thinking of that, Aizen Sōsuke was busy doing other things.

It had been quite a few months since he awakened those eyes, and he was getting used to the power. He had practically mastered the use of the Rinnegan, making it his own—having perfect control over every element, Yin and Yang included.

He could now replicate practically every Kekkei Genkai out there. I.e., he was a powerhouse. He was truly powerful, and saying he wasn't would be a criminal understatement. Currently, he had reached the peak of Super-Kage territory.

If we were to go by canon, there were a lot of people he could stomp—quite easily, mind you—including mid-war arc Sasuke and Naruto.

As for Jubidara, that was also a yes. Since, well, Truth-Seeking Orbs would most likely not work on him. His soul was too powerful for that—it would feel like a ping-pong ball bouncing off him.

As for Limbo? He could see them. And the second he used his Rinnegan ability to make his illusion real, which in fact was Yin-Yang Release, it was GG for the man.

Stats-wise? Sure, the man might have him beat in that. But that was it.

As to say how strong Aizen was currently—he was half of Seijuro... no, he was stronger. Still, his other half would put up a powerful fight. He would most likely win most of the time—though things changed if Mikoto was involved.

Something he did notice: his other self seemed actually drawn to her. As in, loved her. Such feeble emotions were beneath him. He didn't have time for such foolishness.

Such weakness.

Anyway, all of this was to say—with how hax he was currently, he could tank the Five Kage and win... quite easily. Probably stop at Kaguya... not because she was too strong, but because currently he had no definite win-con. Unless ripping out her soul worked.

If yes? Oh yeah, he passed with flying colors.

Anyway, he was here to enhance his power further.

He was here to learn Snake Sage Mode.

And thus, he found the cave and went inside. Once inside, he found what he was looking for.

The White Snake Sage.

Its head rose lazily, gold eyes gleaming.

"Another human seeking immortality, hm?" the Sage rasped. "Or perhaps you want power. Or revenge. Or simply wish to be devoured like the others."

Aizen simply smiled.

And then he opened his eyes.

His Rinnegan stared back at the sage. He was just one millisecond away from casting a genjutsu on that bitch and forcing him to teach him the way of the sages.

"I'm here to master Senjutsu," Aizen said, voice calm as winter. "And you're going to teach me."

The Sage narrowed its eyes. "And why should I? You have not proven yourself worthy of—"

"Then I'll eat you," Aizen interrupted, already pulling out a bone-handled kunai coated in his custom neuro-sealing venom. "Roast serpent. I'm told it tastes like chicken."

A hundred smaller snakes recoiled in the shadows.

A beat of silence.

Then—laughter.

Cold. Uncoiling.

"Very well, fool god," the Sage chuckled. "Let's see if your divine eyes can handle this..."

It struck.

In an instant, the Sage bit Aizen's shoulder—injecting an overwhelming flood of pure Senjutsu chakra directly into his system.

Even with the Rinnegan, his body convulsed. Skin flickered between colors. Veins bulged. His chakra coils lit up like an inferno.

He collapsed to one knee, hand pressed to the earth as the stone cracked beneath his palm. Snakes hissed. The walls shook.

But Aizen... adapted.

Faster than he should have.

Well, he was already a sage, by virtue of Seijuro learning Sage Mode. Oh well, at least the original did something correct. Now, he would learn Snake Sage Mode, then Frog, then mix all three of them together to create his brand of Sage Mode.

Fusing all three of them together to make a much more potent yet powerful version of this wonderful technique everyone knows and loves.

"Fascinating," he whispered. "So this... is Sage Chakra."

The White Snake Sage's eyes widened a fraction.

"Impossible. That should take—"

"Decades?" Aizen offered. "Centuries?" He flexed a hand, watching Senjutsu chakra swirl around his fingers. "Time is a toy. And you just gave me a new one."

From the shadows, a giant viper lunged—testing him.

Aizen didn't even flinch. He turned, extended two fingers, and obliterated the creature with a targeted Almighty Push.

It was a compressed attack, focused only in the direction of the snake. It was being hit by a full-power Red.

Shit killed the snake... instantly.

"I'll be staying here a while," Aizen said, his Rinnegan glowing as natural energy flowed into him effortlessly. "Find me a quiet pit to meditate in. And if anyone disturbs me... eat them."

The Sage watched silently.

He would not say it aloud—but he understood now.

This wasn't a human.

This was something else.

And the serpents had just helped it grow stronger.

So much hunger for power.

This man would one day bring the shinobi world to its knees.

POV change.

A portal in the middle of the sky opened... coming out of the portal was a creature with white skin and pale eyes. He had a fishing tool with him.

He gazed around.

This should be the time period.

The furthest they could go back in time for Seijuro Kurama.

Now... to hunt that bastard down.

By now, he shouldn't have the Byakugan, nor a Ten Tails... so, he was at his weakest.

"Konoha..." The creature's Byakugan would activate.

Well, time to hunt a human.

A/N….ignore the name of this arc