Even a jōnin using their strongest technique can't guarantee perfect defense against a swarm that vast. What Shino excels at is dissolving an enemy without them ever noticing—undone by a single insect.
For an insect-wielding clan, reproduction is astonishing.
One bug this second; in the next, billions.
The swarm also adapts. Against poison and the like, most insects may die, but a few survive. Those survivors carry antibodies—and they multiply at once.
By the time the enemy tries the same attack again, it's useless against the new brood.
The Aburame rarely shine in most battles and are often overlooked.
Only after coming to this world did Kaede truly grasp how frightening they are. That explosive capacity to evolve feels nearly unbeatable.
With the Aburame on his side, it was like placing a steady weight on his nation's scale. If the Aburame fight, they usually secure the final victory—even if the path there twists and turns.
Why would the controlled Neji choose Shino instead of Gaara as his target? The reason remained unknown. Even Kaede couldn't read the controller's intent.
But clearly, this "vessel" called Neji was not obedient. He refused to be a puppet.
Neji vanished again and reappeared at Shino's side, kunai in hand, its edge aligned to Shino's throat. Just when everyone thought the blade would pierce his neck, Shino disappeared—and, at the same time, flashed into place beside Ino–Shika–Cho.
The shift was so fast the crowd couldn't tell what happened, marveling at how Shino vanished there and appeared here.
Neji lowered his head. When he raised it, his eyes had returned to normal. By sheer force of will, he broke the control.
More than that—he had unexpectedly drawn in a stronger chakra as well, sourced from the Otsutsuki.
The mark in Neji's palm changed too. It turned gray—not black, not white. A color never seen before.
It meant Neji now stood between compatible and incompatible.
Freed from control, Neji glanced at Shino and the others. "My situation… we'll talk after the exam."
That line snapped Shikamaru to attention. He hopped to Neji's side. "You knew you were being controlled?"
Neji nodded, expression flat.
By then, Gaara had engaged the Ghost Lantern brothers. Neji's incident had shattered the Land of Gods genin's battlefield cohesion; several had switched plans midstream just to help free Neji.
It gave the Ghost Lanterns a perfect two-on-one window.
Thankfully, it was Gaara. Anyone else might have buckled under their assault.
Gaara unleashed a sandstorm at Suigetsu. Suigetsu clearly hated the grit mixing into his body; he slipped away, cursing under his breath.
Mangetsu flicked a cool glance at his brother, snapped open a scroll, bit his finger, and in the next moment summoned the Twin Flounder Blades.
(End of Chapter)
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