Fragrance

Mimi was taken away by the three men, headed toward the clan compound.

The three of them walked ahead in silence, and Mimi followed closely behind.

No, Insect Princess was still a little dazed, her mind not quite caught up yet. She did not feel much like talking. This silent scene was perfectly normal for the Aburame clan.

Still, Old Man Shiyu's blackish-purple Warring States Samurai Armor was genuinely cool.

Though it looked rather inconvenient to move around in.

Noticing Insect Princess repeatedly glancing at him, Old Man Shiyu spoke. "Insect Princess."

"Yes," Insect Princess answered.

"Do you like it?"

"Hm? A little."

"Don't worry. Once I die, it'll be yours. That won't be many years from now."

...What was I supposed to say to that?

"Then do your best," Insect Princess replied coolly.

"Hahahahaha! As expected of my granddaughter." Old Man Shiyu was delighted that Insect Princess had talked back. "You've got spirit! The brats at home are all too obedient, without any of the backbone we had during the Warring States Era!"

"Big Brother, times have changed. These little ones don't have to go to war at five or six anymore. It is understandable that they are a little softer."

During the First Shinobi World War, with the Second Hokage and those old veterans from the Warring States Era around, Konoha had not been desperate enough to send Ninja Academy children to the battlefield.

"Hmph! I know that!" Shion said unhappily, seemingly glaring at his younger brother. He turned to Insect Princess and said, "This armor was made from Giant Kikaichu shells. It is sturdy and has excellent Chakra conductivity, so it can withstand many types of Ninjutsu attacks."

Giant Kikaichu were oversized Kikaichū. Her father's notes had been full of drooling envy over the things.

Their ability was gigantification.

It belonged to the same type of Yang Release as the Akimichi Clan's Multi Size Technique.

But once they grew larger, they could not shrink back.

Their killing power was rather unorthodox. They burrowed into a person's body, absorbed the target's Chakra, then grew huge and burst out through the body.

For many shinobi, that was already an extremely terrifying and lethal move.

"Why don't I have bugs like that?" What she meant was that she wanted some.

"Fourth Elder," Old Man Shiyu called.

One of the old men behind him took out a handful of Insect Eggs and handed them to Insect Princess. Smiling kindly, he said, "I'm your Grandpa Shiho."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Insect Princess sweetly accepted them, then looked toward the other old man.

The old man coughed and said, "My bugs are a little dangerous. I need to ask your eldest granduncle first."

"Give them to her!" Old Man Shiyu waved a hand.

"I'm your Grandpa Shiki." As he spoke, the old man took out a purple crystal and handed it to Insect Princess.

"Your Grandpa Shiho's bugs are big, while mine are small." Shiki spoke with obvious pride. "They are called poisonous insects, but they are actually non-toxic. Because they are so small, they can only attack cells, creating an effect like toxins destroying cells. Like Giant Kikaichu, they are an application of Yang Release: the Super Size Reduction Technique."

"They are terrifying, you know. These Nano-Insects are called Nano Kikaichu."

Nodding, Insect Princess tucked the crystal containing the sealed Nano Kikaichu into her pocket.

Worth it. That name change was great!

Insect Princess looked at her own grandfather.

"Hmph. My Kikaichū are merely ordinary Kikaichū, not those flashy mutant things of theirs."

"However, Kikaichū themselves can evolve without limit. As they fight more battles and generations of Kikaichū are replaced, the Kikaichū themselves can evolve into their most perfect state, countering all kinds of Release techniques."

"Since I fought Uchiha quite often in my youth, my Kikaichū can interfere with Genjutsu and even the ability to cast Genjutsu. They also have excellent heat resistance. As an Aburame, you should know the secret technique, Insect Sphere."

That was the clustered attack thing.

Insect Princess nodded.

"Hmph. At the core of my Insect Sphere, igniting a person is as easy as drinking water."

The little old man put his hands on his hips.

So this was an Aburame clan Kage-level shinobi?

She loved it, she loved it.

Unfortunately, there had been two absurd monsters in the Warring States Era.

Kage-level shinobi were still too ordinary.

"Grandpa, you're amazing." Insect Princess clapped, then abruptly changed the subject. "Hand it over."

"Hahahahaha! Your personality really is like mine, unlike that cowardly father of yours." As he spoke, the old man gave Mimi a handful of Insect Eggs.

For the sake of the gift, Mimi could not be bothered to expose the fact that he had been utterly terrified when facing Madara and Hashirama.

Mimi looked at the Insect Eggs in her hand. They were of normal size, but unlike the usual jade-white color, they were a beautiful ruby red, crystal-clear and glittering under the sunlight.

They were dazzling.

They were just too tiny, making them look worthless.

Mimi casually stuffed the whole handful into her pocket.

"I've given them to you. Whether you can subdue them depends on you." Old Man Shiyu said heavily, "If things go badly, you could die."

"Hm?" Mimi was puzzled. These things could kill someone?

"What do you think the Aburame clan's Kikaichū are?" Old Man Shiyu asked.

"Weapons?" Mimi was not entirely sure, then added, "Convenient tools? They are pretty good at cleaning too."

"As expected of my granddaughter." Old Man Shiyu nodded approvingly before saying, "That's right. Kikaichū are important tools of our clan. Recently, because of that boring Will of Fire, the children of the clan have actually started treating insects as boring companions."

"Remember, Insect Princess: Kikaichū are tools. Between our clan and them, there are only rulers and the ruled. They are absolutely not companions. Insects are mindless beastly monsters. Once you are at a disadvantage, the insects will turn on you."

"And our companions have always been only our own clansmen!"

The old man's tone was exceptionally serious and stern.

"Big Brother, that was in the past. Don't keep looking at things through the eyes of the Warring States Era. Everyone in Konoha is a companion now," Old Man Shiho said softly. "Times have changed. Once we leave Konoha, there will be no place for us."

"Little Insect Princess, Grandpa Shiho knows that you are cold by nature and have your own mind. But while you are in Konoha, even if you must pretend, you need to act as though you truly like it here. When you see certain things, you must pretend not to see them."

Mimi glanced at Old Man Shiho and said, "I understand, Grandpa."

"Hmph! Konoha cannot be trusted. Madara's fate is proof enough!" Old Man Shiyu snorted in displeasure. "And what the hell do you understand? That dead monkey, the Third Hokage, has already set his sights on you. He hasn't learned any skillful Ninjutsu, but his heart is as ruthless and black as the Second Hokage's. You need to watch out for that brat."

Mimi said nothing.

"Instead of researching and training, every shinobi is obsessed with fighting for power and profit. What a joke!"

"Insect Princess, if you can someday reach Madara and Hashirama's level, you will be able to live freely and do whatever you please, crushing all dissent with your strength."

"Can Kikaichū reach that level?"

Mimi asked. Where did this old man get such confidence?

"I can't! You can!"

"Huh?"

"That brat, the Third Hokage, only saw a spectacle when he looked at your ability. Kekkei Genkai? What shallow knowledge."

"Grandpa, do you know what my ability is?"

"I don't!" Old Man Shiyu said bluntly.

"..."

That scared her. She had almost thought her cheat came from this world.

"But I know of your dominion-level control over Kikaichū, as well as your ability to modify them."

Old Man Shiho held out a hand. "Give me a taste of those Five Spice ones, the milk-flavored ones."

Outsiders watched the spectacle, while experts saw the craft.

God of Ninjutsu?

Heh.

Mimi raised her hand, and a swarm of big-bottomed insects crawled onto her palm. They immediately committed suicide, their bodies separating from their abdomens and leaving behind candy pellets. At Mimi's command, their incomplete bodies stubbornly crawled away, returning from her palm to Mother Earth's embrace.

"What beautiful Kikaichū."

The three old men spoke at once.

It was precisely because they knew how difficult such a seemingly simple thing was that they sighed in admiration.

The three old men picked up the candy pellets and crunched them between their teeth.

"Mmm, quite fragrant."

"Indeed!"

"Fragrant!"

"Shiho, it is more fragrant than your Roasted Giant Kikaichu."

"Giant Kikaichu thigh meat is still quite tender."

They truly were clansmen. They shared the same perverse traits.

Beneath her mask, Mimi's lips curled upward. Satisfaction rose in her heart as she tossed a candy pellet into her mouth with a crunch.

Hmph~ At least you know quality when you see it.

"I have to try Roasted Giant Kikaichu,"

Mimi said through a full mouth.

In life, only one's mouth must never be neglected.