Chapter 128: For Food, Anything is Possible
Ah… this…
Senju Wakama couldn't help but say, "Um… you just…"
Before he could finish, Aburame Aoi said with a serious expression, "Although my clan isn't skilled at this commission, given how delicious it is, I will still strive to complete the task. From now on, please give us your guidance…"
Senju Wakama: "…"
He understood. This loli sister was a foodie…
Senju Wakama had guessed correctly.
After extending the invitation for cooperation, Aburame Aoi very readily signed the 'Exotic Insect Swarm Ingredient Supply' contract with Senju Wakama.
Senju Wakama couldn't help but ask Aburame Aoi why she signed it since she wasn't skilled at the work. He suggested that even if a deal didn't go through, goodwill remained, and they could still be good friends, collaborating again in the future if opportunities arose, without needing to pretend they were capable when they weren't.
To his surprise, Aburame Aoi seriously stated that their Aburame Clan was inherently a shinobi clan that controlled insects.
They cultivated secret techniques to use insects for attack as a means of self-preservation.
But undoubtedly, their close relationship with insects meant they understood the habits of large insect swarms.
Although for various objective reasons they rarely dealt with insect swarms that weren't strong in attack, it didn't mean they couldn't.
As long as they put in more effort in this area, they could certainly manage ingredient supply.
They didn't need this skill before, so they weren't good at it.
Now that this skill was needed, they would have to become good at it, even if they weren't initially.
It was all for survival.
This contract was signed quickly, and both parties were at ease, with no haggling or arguments. In fact, the price set by the Senju Clan was extremely high; no shinobi clan could refuse such cooperation.
Not much time had passed, but it was already mealtime.
Senju Wakama decided to take Aburame Aoi to visit the temple fair.
Aburame Aoi's subsequent behavior confirmed Senju Wakama's conjecture.
This girl's greatest hobby was eating.
Senju Wakama was a qualified guide. After entering the temple fair, he introduced Aburame Aoi to the special delicacies of the Senju Clan.
Aburame Aoi, with her small body, had a stomach like a sewer.
She ate from one end of the street to the other.
This was delicious, that was delicious, all of these were delicious, and she wanted another serving of that one.
After eating through all the delicacies on the entire street, Aburame Aoi still craved more.
Finally, Aburame Aoi quietly asked, "Mr. Wakama, when you clear household pests, um… do you turn cockroaches into dishes?"
Senju Wakama's eyebrow twitched. He replied truthfully, "There are specially bred cockroaches for making medicinal ingredients that enhance immunity, but the cockroach species in the kitchen are most likely not suitable for that purpose."
"Is that so…" Aburame Aoi fell into thought. "So, cockroaches can also become a delicacy in the hands of your Senju Clan?"
"Uh… pretty much." Senju Wakama recalled those various spices.
If all the spices were mixed into a sauce and cooked into a large pot to prepare ingredients, even if the ingredient was a shoe sole, it would probably smell delicious…
Senju Wakama knew in his heart that the once-normal Senju Clan had been led astray by Tsukuyo.
Nowadays, the Senju Clan was a unique force in the ninja world, in every aspect.
They lived in buildings unfamiliar to other major shinobi clans.
They engaged in businesses unknown to other major shinobi clans.
They ate species unknown to other major shinobi clans.
"I'm really looking forward to our future cooperation." A smile appeared on Aburame Aoi's face.
She looked so cute, and her tone of voice was so sincere.
But her smile looked very cunning, a blend of childishness and malice that sent shivers down one's spine.
Senju Wakama somewhat understood why she wrapped herself up so tightly and impenetrably.
She looked so harmless, yet once she showed an expression, she became terrifying.
Even when laughing, she made one's heart run cold.
Were all Aburame Clan members like this?
Senju Wakama shook off these distracting thoughts and said with a smile, "Miss Aoi, mealtime is almost over. Would you like to continue exploring the entertainment facilities, or go for a hot spring bath?"
He avoided mentioning "whether she wanted to leave," as that would make it seem like the Senju Clan was eager for the Aburame Clan to leave quickly.
Aburame Aoi seemed tempted but still shook her head. "Since the matter is concluded, I should return to my clan territory as soon as possible to report. Thank you for your hospitality. We'll meet again next time."
After saying this, Aburame Aoi waved goodbye to Senju Wakama and walked out along the road, not asking Senju Wakama to see her off.
Senju Wakama had no choice but to silently follow behind her, watching her leave.
During this process, Senju Wakama then quietly asked Zetsu, who was attached to him, "Brother Zetsu, how dangerous is she?"
Zetsu: "Dangerously beyond your imagination."
"Other Aburame Clan members control insects to attack opponents, but this child, unlike others, seems to have a genetic mutation. She should be one of the Aburame Clan's important combat forces."
Senju Wakama gazed at the small figure ahead, watching her as she walked, and then started eating again when she passed by an eatery.
A hard-to-describe expression appeared on Senju Wakama's face.
Yet, he heard Zetsu quietly say, "The insects she controls are different from those of other Aburame Clan members. Her insects are aggressive towards living beings, penetrating every crevice, burrowing into the opponent's body, crawling into their brain, and after consuming the opponent's brain matter."
"These insects can also make corpses move, turning them into combat forces under her command. While they won't possess the combat power they had in life, as for corpses… as long as there are enough of them, mere trampling can crush large numbers of weaker low-ranking shinobi."
Senju Wakama's eyes widened.
The world was vast and full of wonders.
Senju Wakama had truly never seen the kind of combat style Zetsu described.
"Um… why is she so small?" Senju Wakama quietly asked.
"Probably due to an accident, let me see…" Zetsu muttered quietly. "Oh… this girl accidentally entered the Myriad Insect Tomb when she was little."
"As you've seen, her hands are covered in terrible scars, all from venomous insects and snakes. Yet, they didn't kill her, but they also stopped her from growing, so she remains in that state to this day. She's two years older than you."
Senju Wakama looked puzzled. "Brother Zetsu, you're with me every day. How do you know about this? Were you perhaps right by Aburame Aoi's side ten years ago?"
"Hehehe…" Zetsu chuckled lewdly. "I told you, I've become an existence outside this world. How should I put it? I'm an overseer. As long as I observe someone for a long time, I can see their life and past, with nothing hidden."
Hearing this, Senju Wakama paused, his eyes wide. "…So, Tsukuyo is like you…"
"She used to be." Zetsu said indifferently, "But not anymore. She can barely protect herself."
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