The meaning of correlating "Time Aligned" pseudo-random or walsh code sequences
Cross-correlation $r[l]$ between two sequences $x[n]$ and $y[n]$ is defined as:

$r[l] = \sum_n x[n]y[n+l]$.

You can say that $x[n]$ and $y[n]$ are "time-aligned" at lag $l^\star = \arg \max_l r[l]$. It is possible that the time-alignment is achieved at $l^\star=0$, which is the case you described above. However, in a communication channel with multipath delays, the alignment may happen at a lag $l^\star \neq 0$. Since you referenced DSSS receivers, I'd encourage you to read about a rake receiver and how signals from different fingers are combined.