Hollow, Abandoned

Techniques could counter one another.

And unfortunately, Aburame Shikuroo's type was precisely the kind Genitsu completely countered.

No matter how fancifully he wielded those bugs, they were ultimately just a swarm of lower life-forms. Under the unending assault of nuclear radiation clouds...

They would all die completely.

"AAAAAH!! My body... What exactly is wrong with your Bloodline Limit?!"

Aburame Shikuroo knelt on the ground, howling in agony.

The specially made skintight protective suit covering his body began to tear apart under the intense, searing heat. Huge pustules erupted wildly across him, and as he struggled and writhed, Shikuroo could clearly feel his body collapsing.

"Senior Shikuroo, you knew how dangerous a weapon Nano Venom Bugs were, yet you insisted on using them against me. I had no choice but to strike back."

Genitsu sighed.

He remembered that Shikuroo's future descendant, Aburame Torune, had not even taken the Chunin Exams before directly joining Root as Fū Yamanaka's partner. One reason was that Nano Venom Bugs were simply far too dangerous—anyone touched by them would die on the spot.

Genitsu lowered his head and looked at the man whose body was constantly bulging with horrifying tumors, his internal structure already utterly unrecognizable.

Such a special jonin had been crippled in a single exchange simply because he had come after Genitsu.

"You evil brat! I must complete Root's mission, even if the price is my own life!!"

Shikuroo tore at himself like a madman. The indescribable agony made him rip away even his own flesh, leaving his entire body drenched in blood.

The terrible state inside his body had made Shikuroo realize that even if he survived, he would be ruined forever and lose the ability to be a ninja. The madness in his heart, along with a Root ninja's conviction that missions came before all else, made him resolve himself.

Amid his agonized screams.

A Forbidden Technique was activated by Shikuroo at that moment.

A small barrier abruptly spread outward.

"This is..." Genitsu raised an eyebrow.

"The Pot Poison Technique. This is a Forbidden Technique I developed. You should not have refused Lord Danzo's invitation... Die with me!"

Within the barrier, a strange odor began to spread, brewing an irritating force.

"I see. The Pot Poison Technique—using a barrier to create an environment suited for the explosive reproduction of insects... But from the looks of it, your technique is still incomplete."

Genitsu nodded repeatedly. Aburame Torune had used this technique as well after being brought back by Impure World Reincarnation during the Fourth Shinobi War.

It truly was a devastating weapon. Used properly, it could be called a super bioweapon capable of exterminating an entire nation. Most ninja had no means of dealing with these nano insects, which could easily burrow into the human body and destroy every cell.

Shikuroo trembled as he used the Summoning Technique to summon a large number of corpses parasitized by nano insects. He tried to breed the swarm, then detonate the corpses and fill every inch of the air with nano insects.

But unfortunately, it was useless.

The power of the radiation cloud was everywhere. The insects summoned from those corpses were wiped out in an instant, without even having time to burrow into Shikuroo's body.

Shikuroo looked as though he had been struck by lightning. He lay on the ground like a corpse, utterly motionless.

"This technique is quite good, but you are still too naive."

Genitsu slowly formed hand seals, seeming ready to deliver the killing blow.

Suddenly, a figure appeared outside the barrier and thrust out a hand. A huge number of Kikaichū broke through the barrier's seal and poured inside with a buzzing hum.

"That is enough, Genitsu. Shikuroo has already paid a sufficient price."

Shibi slowly walked in, and the great swarm of insects separated the two men.

At the same time, countless Kikaichū were slain by the intense radiation, dying in droves.

"Honestly, Teacher Shibi, I merely came to visit you, yet I ended up running into something like this..." Genitsu shook his head and withdrew all the radiation.

"I am deeply sorry. The Aburame Clan has failed as hosts."

Shibi spoke in a low voice.

"Shibi! Since you were already here, why didn't you help me earlier?! This evil brat—his Bloodline Limit is filled with sin. Letting someone like him live..."

"Enough! You should never have used nano insects against Genitsu. The technique for controlling nano insects was classified as a Forbidden Technique by the clan from the moment it was created! And on top of that, you prepared an immature Pot Poison Technique, using your own body to feed the nano insects..."

Shibi's face was incomparably grim, and his heart ached all the more.

Ever since Shikuroo had entered Root, he had changed so much that even Shibi no longer recognized him.

The Pot Poison Technique in particular first deployed a barrier, then used human bodies to feed insects before detonating those bodies. Such a technique... it spared neither friend nor foe and was utterly vicious!

Through the Kikaichū that were everywhere, he had indeed noticed the battle between these two.

But one was his clansman, while the other was his subordinate.

Moreover, Shikuroo represented Root and had come on Danzo's behalf. He had been the first to strike viciously.

"This matter ends here. I will report it to Lord Hokage. The best outcome is that no one has died."

Shibi looked painfully at Shikuroo, whose body was covered in tumors, and spoke stiffly.

"Come, Genitsu. Let us go to my home and have a proper discussion about insects."

Shibi took a deep breath, turned, and left.

Genitsu cast Shikuroo a glance. After Shibi had gone some distance away, he crouched down, first confirming that no other insects were monitoring them, then leaned closer. Meeting Shikuroo's hateful and despairing gaze, he murmured a sentence.

"I hold Lord Danzo in great respect. I do not oppose serving Lord Danzo, but I will never join a Root organization I know absolutely nothing about. Senior Shikuroo, you got your approach wrong from the very beginning."

Genitsu stood and followed Shibi's footsteps.

Only Shikuroo remained, lying motionless where he was.

After some time, Root ninja finally appeared and silently carried Shikuroo back to Root's base.

"...Is that so? That is what he said. I understand."

Inside the dark underground base.

Danzo leaned on his cane, expressionlessly looking at Shikuroo, who was barely human in appearance.

The burns and flowing pus all over Shikuroo's body still failed to stir even the slightest emotion in Danzo. It was as though Shikuroo, whom he had once greatly valued and relied upon, was now no longer worth even a second glance.

Whoosh!

A medical ninja appeared beside Danzo and leaned close to whisper several words into his ear.

Words such as "extensive cellular necrosis throughout the body," "collapse of bodily tissues," and "total annihilation of the nano insects" faintly carried through the air.

All around them, every Root ninja respectfully knelt on one knee, silently bowing their heads as they awaited Danzo's command.

"Lord... Dan... zo..." Shikuroo had nearly lost even the ability to speak. His final sliver of hopeful gaze turned toward the Lord Danzo he so revered.

But all he received in response was Danzo's silent back.

Click, click, click.

Without saying a word, Danzo left. The many Root ninja also departed in silence.

In the open space, only Shikuroo remained, lying alone on the ground, staring blankly ahead with hollow eyes.