"Danzo-sama, you really are impressive. But why aren't you using your left arm… or your left eye?"
"Could it be that even now, you don't consider me a true opponent?"
Shimura Danzo paid no attention to Aburame Shiken's attempts at provocation.
He was carefully searching for the location of Shiken's real body. Even a clone should require some time to activate.
From just now until this moment, he had already eliminated five insect clones— yet he hadn't found even a trace of Shiken's true body.
Could it be…
"Aburame Shiken, your real body isn't inside the barrier at all, is it?"
The insect clone in front of Shimura Danzo paused, then spoke in a helpless tone.
"As expected of Danzo-sama. I couldn't fool you. Well then, it looks like we'll just have to see who can last longer."
As soon as he finished speaking, the clone dissolved back into a swarm of insects and burrowed into the ground.
Since he'd already been exposed, there was no point in keeping up the act.
Now, the plan would have to become more direct.
...
After the battle here ended,
Aburame Tatsuma approached Shimura Danzo.
"Danzo-sama."
Even though he knew he likely wouldn't survive no matter what, what choice did he have now?
All he could do was gamble—maybe, just maybe, someone might show a bit of mercy and spare his life.
"Tatsuma, as long as you break this barrier, I guarantee I'll let you live."
…Danzo-sama, honestly, you didn't even need to say that. I could've at least lied to myself.
After all these years by your side—others might not know, but how could I not?
Those words are always meant for the dead.
Aburame Tatsuma forced a bitter smile.
"Danzo-sama, remove this curse mark from me first. Once I'm out, I'll run on my own. Otherwise… you'll never let me go."
"Betrayal from a trusted subordinate is always the hardest to bear. Everything I intend to do—you already know."
Shimura Danzo formed a hand seal.
Aburame Tatsuma immediately spat out a mouthful of black fluid.
But he ignored it.
"Danzo-sama, remove the rest of your safeguards. No one understands you better than I do."
Another hand seal.
Tatsuma suddenly felt clear-headed and refreshed.
"Danzo-sama, we're on the same vine—"
Another hand seal.
"Danzo-sama, we—"
Another hand seal.
"Dan—"
Another hand seal.
"Da—"
Another hand seal.
"…"
Aburame Tatsuma: …
After repeating the same process over a dozen times—
"Da—"
"This time, there really isn't anything left. I never expected it, Tatsuma—you actually found every single safeguard I set. Looks like you've grown quite a bit over the years."
After saying that, Shimura Danzo let out a heavy sigh.
If not for this incident, you would've been such a useful weapon in my hands.
Aburame Tatsuma: If I tell him now that I was just trying to say thank you… something like thanking Danzo-sama for setting me free… I'd probably be killed on the spot, right?
"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere — Frenzy."
Aburame Tatsuma released all the kikaichū hidden within his body.
Through a special chakra frequency, the black insects gradually turned red, radiating intense killing intent.
"Attack."
The red kikaichū fearlessly launched themselves at the black barrier wall.
...
Outside the barrier, watching Tatsuma fight desperately,
Aburame Shiken muttered,
"As expected… the best way to deal with any enemy is to make yourself impossible to grasp. The shinobi world is truly terrifying—any random person might have hidden trump cards."
He swallowed several soldier pills in one gulp.
He had already prepared for a prolonged battle.
But just in case—
"Barrier Insects: Sealing Barrier."
"Barrier Insects: Sealing Barrier."
He added two more layers on top of the original barrier.
At the same time, Shiken summoned—
Kubisaki, the giant lizard.
"Shiken, what is it this time? I've been starving for ages."
"I've already prepared your food. Use your innate ninjutsu to conceal this place. Until I say otherwise, you're not allowed to cancel it."
"No problem. But I want a hundred insects a day."
"Deal."
"Then leave the rest to me, Lord Kubisaki."
Kubisaki curled up his body.
His large eyes began to rotate constantly, his skin colors shifting without pause, while faint mist started to seep from his mouth.
"Sage Art: Camouflage Fusion Technique."
Kubisaki's massive body, the three layers of enormous black barriers, and Aburame Shiken—all vanished without a trace.
In their place stood a mountain that blended perfectly with the surrounding environment.
...
"Ugh… as expected of the Hōzuki clan. They're such a pain to deal with."
Aburame Shibi captured Hōzuki Mangetsu, who had exhausted all his chakra.
"Why not just kill him?"
Aburame Shikuro asked, puzzled.
Shibi didn't seem like the type to spare enemies.
"Shiken said our insects have hit a bottleneck. They can go underground and into the sky, but not underwater yet. If we capture someone who can liquefy themselves, we might get some unexpected results."
Makes sense. Perfectly reasonable.
"Are your methods secure? If not, we could just cut off his limbs—leave only the torso. That shouldn't affect research too much, right?"
"No big issue. I've placed a bunch of Extreme Ice Insects around him. If he makes a move, they'll self-destruct instantly, releasing ultra-low temperatures and freezing him solid."
"Extreme Ice Insects? Does that mean our Aburame clan has developed Ice Release now? How did that happen?"
"No idea. Something to do with saltpeter, I think. But it has nothing to do with you—you can only use Phosphorus Devourer Insects."
"That's true. But no matter how many insects Shiken develops, the most destructive ones are still my Phosphorus Devourer Insects."
Aburame Shikuro looked proud.
But when he was very young, those insects were what he hated most.
Because of their overwhelming lethality, they had taken away all his chances to interact with others.
But when Shiken and Shibi met him, and learned about his powerful insects, the envy in their voices gave Shikuro an immense sense of satisfaction.
Maybe that's what friends and brothers are.
The thing that once embarrassed you the most might one day become your greatest strength.
"By the way, Shikuro, I heard you've got a girl now."
"What? No, no, don't listen to that nonsense!"
Shikuro's face turned red.
"Really? That's great then. Aburame Nanako is really pretty—I've decided I'll go after her."
"You bastard! You're not allowed to chase her!"
"Hahaha! Still playing tough, huh? Shiken and I were already thinking about what gift to prepare for your wedding, and you're still denying it."
"You talk too much. Once I save up some money, I'll tell you guys myself."
And just like that, the two of them joked and bickered as they made their way back to the Aburame camp along the coastal defense line.
The Aburame clan might seem hard to get along with—and, in truth, they are.
But only to those they truly trust do they reveal what's inside their hearts.
Out of ten stoic faces, nine are chatterboxes.
Whether that rule applies across the entire shinobi world… who knows.