Outside the Hidden Leaf Village,
Aburame Shiken's insect clone appeared there.
Yesterday, he had nearly caused Torune and Shino to inherit the Aburame clan's Secret Technique ahead of schedule.
"Shibi and Shikuro are seriously unreliable. I mean, how could kids that young suddenly be so eager to learn Secret Techniques?"
The awkward incident forced Aburame Shiken to go out and lay low for a while.
He had plenty of insect clones, but only one main consciousness.
I already walked out right in front of you guys, so surely you can't still come after me now, right?
Aburame Shibi brought Shino, while Aburame Shikuro brought Torune, and the two arrived at Aburame Shiken's residence.
They stared at the large white sheet of paper pasted on the door.
"Urgent matters require travel. Do not disturb if nothing important. Do not disturb even if something important."
"Damn it, he ran away."
"I already spread my insects all over this place. The moment he comes back—damn!"
Shibi suddenly cried out in alarm.
The insects he had just sent out were instantly surrounded from all directions by another swarm of insects and devoured piece by piece.
(Aburame Shiken: How could I allow another man's insects to sleep beside my bed?)
Shibi's face darkened.
"Fine, fine, Shiken. You're even guarding against your own people? Shikuro, help me out. Today I'm tearing this place apart."
"Good. I've wanted to vent my anger for a while now—whether for my son or for myself."
Shikuro released all the frustration he had accumulated toward Shiken in one go.
(Aburame Shiken: The way you say it makes me sound like some kind of villain. Everyone in the ninja world knows that I, Aburame Shiken, am honest, reliable, and trustworthy.)
Shikuro's Phosphorus Devourer Insects,
Shibi's various kikaichū, all surged out in swarms.
Beside them, Shino and Torune watched with burning excitement.
One day, I'll become a ninja just like Father.
An hour later,
Aburame Shiken's residence still stood untouched.
The countless insects pouring out from within had completely blocked the combined assault of Shibi and Shikuro.
"So tough. Shiken really does have endless trump cards. Shikuro, put more effort into it! Today we fight him to the bitter end!"
"That's right! If we can't even take down one empty house while Shiken isn't here, how can we still call ourselves the Three Insect Users alongside him in the future?!"
"AAAAAAAH!"
"AAAAAAAH!"
The Aburame gourds on their backs opened as well, and massive clouds of insects poured into the sky.
They assaulted Shiken's residence relentlessly.
Three hours later, all the insects the two had brought with them were completely exhausted.
The two stared blankly at the still-perfectly-intact house, as well as the insects Shiken had left behind, which were now cleaning up the battlefield spotless.
For a moment, neither knew what to say.
You're weirdly considerate. You beat people up and even clean up afterward.
Shino and Torune thought silently:
Actually… ninjas like Father are pretty average. Shiken may be a little scary, but isn't that what a ninja is supposed to be like?
Shikuro and Shibi instantly lost their two biggest fans.
(Aburame Shiken: What a joke. Do you know what my residence is? It's an insect nest. Out of everything, how could it possibly run out of insects?)
...
Aburame Shiken rode atop a giant parasitic insect while traveling.
Before long, he arrived between steep cliffs.
This should be the place.
Good thing I've got a solid memory. Otherwise, who could remember somewhere this remote?
"Is anyone from the Iburi clan here?"
"Someone's looking for us."
Before the sentence was even finished, a barrage of shuriken and kunai shot toward him.
They struck Aburame Shiken's body directly.
The kikaichū that had been hit died and naturally fell away, immediately replaced by fresh kikaichū.
(Kikaichū: At least dodge a little. There's no need to sacrifice our lives over attacks this basic.)
"The people here really have no manners."
"Secret Technique: Sealing Insect Sea."
A massive swarm of kikaichū engraved with sealing formulas flew densely toward the cliffs.
These were all precious research specimens. It would be a waste to lose any of them.
Moments later, over a hundred Iburi clan members lay helpless on the ground, their bodies wrapped in black sealing marks.
"Damn it! Why is our Smoke Transformation Technique completely useless?!"
"Well… since I came here alone, naturally I came fully prepared."
"Bastard! What exactly are you trying to do to us?!"
Aburame Shiken lowered his head in thought.
How did Orochimaru-sensei recruit them in the original story again?
Oh, right.
"I'm here to help you. I'll solve the drawbacks of your Smoke Transformation Technique."
The moment he finished speaking, every member of the Iburi clan stared at him like he was an idiot.
Aburame Shiken: ???
Wasn't this exactly what Orochimaru-sensei said?
What's the difference between him and me?
Why did you all immediately worship him, but look at me like this instead?
(Orochimaru: Shiken, there's actually something called personal charisma.)
"Forget it. Talking to you people is a waste of my time."
He then summoned a huge number of giant parasitic insects, loaded the entire Iburi clan onto them, and headed toward the Hidden Leaf Village.
Hmm. Going home might still be risky.
Better head to the mountain research base first.
The research base that belongs solely to me, Aburame Shiken.
...
Inside the sealing space,
Kushina stared at the tightly bound Nine-Tails before her, lost in thought.
The Nine-Tails, currently restrained in an extremely humiliating position,
kept cursing nonstop.
"Damn it, Kushina! Why did you come in here again?! And if you came in for something, hurry up and say it already! Why do you keep staring at me?!"
"Oh, sorry. I zoned out for a second. By the way, Nine-Tails, are you really that afraid of being looked at?"
"Would YOU want to be tied up and completely exposed while someone stared at you?!"
When the Nine-Tails said that, there was even a trace of embarrassment in its voice.
Even though tailed beasts had no gender distinction, having its legs spread open for someone to stare at… anyone with even a shred of shame would want to die.
"Oh—sorry, sorry!"
Only then did Kushina finally react and quickly turn around.
Damn it, after all these years, how did I only just notice this now?
(Nine-Tails: I also didn't expect you to stare so shamelessly all these years. Anyone with half a brain should've realized it earlier.)
"Today, I mainly came to ask if you'd be interested in having another brother."
"Another brother? Wait… you can seal another tailed beast too?!"
The Nine-Tails stared at Kushina's back in complete shock.
What kind of monster are you exactly?
I'm already not enough for you—
Cough.
You're planning to seal multiple tailed beasts? What do you think you are, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?!
"No, no. I just want to split you into two."
"That's good. At least other tailed beasts haven't suffered yet… wait, split me into two?!?!"
The Nine-Tails' pupils trembled violently.
Are you people even human?!
I've behaved myself all these years! I haven't done anything! I've honestly stayed inside the sealing space this whole time!
What did I do wrong?!
Dismemberment would count as one of humanity's top ten tortures, wouldn't it?!
Why are you doing this to me?!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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