Exceptionally Wonderful

The next day was ordinary: the usual academic classes, basic physical training, basic Shuriken Technique lessons, and detailed explanations of basic Taijutsu combat.

The three Aburame Elders were all familiar with those classes. There was no need to worry about the basics being taught at the academy; they only needed to focus on teaching Mimi what the academy could not.

If there was anything worth mentioning, it was that Mimi's Insect Swarm had produced a small result. Several selectively bred insect groups had begun to form small societies while retaining the Kikaichū's basic abilities.

Rapid hatching and Chakra absorption.

However, because Mimi had not supplied Chakra, the offspring had hatched naturally and therefore had a larval stage.

Every Flesh Worm was protein without the slightest ability to resist.

The queen insects, following their genetic behavioral algorithms, carefully tended to those larvae.

Once the larvae matured, the Worker Insects would take on every role required by the society and assume control over the Nest's entire operation.

The queens would only be responsible for laying eggs.

At this point, Mimi's first objective had been achieved.

That was an Insect Swarm with the Kikaichū's abilities, capable of reproducing and growing on its own without relying entirely on Chakra.

This meant that Mimi had initially broken free of Chakra's restrictions on the Insect Swarm.

Compared to using an individual's scarce Chakra to cultivate an Insect Swarm, nature's resources were clearly far greater and richer.

Provided the next step did not fail.

What came next was still observation—observing whether the Insect Swarm could maintain a small society without collapsing.

It was a harsh test against nature.

When school ended, Chiri came over to Mimi.

Mimi shifted her thoughts away from the Insect Swarm and back to the present, then inexplicably sighed as she looked at Chiri.

"What is it?" Chiri asked strangely.

"Nothing." Mimi said, "I still have training to finish. I can't keep people waiting too long."

Those three old men might get backaches if they stood around for too long.

"I see. Then let's go together." Chiri smiled.

"Fine."

After tidying up her desk and shoving all her books into the drawer, Mimi left the academy with Chiri.

On the way...

That Uchiha Yatsushiro brat had followed them for another street today.

It seemed he still had not given up.

Meanwhile, Chiri chatted happily beside her.

Mimi listened quietly, answering with a word or two now and then.

When they reached the park from last night, the two naturally went their separate ways.

As they parted, Mimi turned to look at Chiri. Chiri smiled and waved at her.

That girl.

Mimi turned and left.

When she reached the training grounds, Shiho and Shion were not there. Only Old Man Shiki and Insect Sister were present.

"I won't waste words. Let's get started, Insect Princess." Old Man Shiki said forcefully.

It seemed that a night and a day of rest had finally let him catch his breath.

Mimi naturally had no objection and took the sword Insect Sister had brought.

She drew it and spun it in a flourish. Due to her lack of strength, the movement was a little warped and unsteady.

Old Man Shiki frowned.

Mimi had absolutely no foundation in Kenjutsu.

Accumulating practical combat experience in this state was dangerous.

"You should learn the basics of Kenjutsu, Insect Princess."

"I've read some books on Kenjutsu," Mimi said.

"Then have you practiced? Suburi."

Mimi shook her head.

"Can you master it without practicing?" Shiki asked.

"Of course not," Mimi said. "But wasn't Taijutsu the same way?"

Mimi meant that they had simply started fighting right away.

"You can learn the basics of Taijutsu at the academy. That is why we moved directly into practical combat, allowing your body to accumulate fighting experience."

Shiki was very serious.

"But Kenjutsu is different. If your blade alignment is wrong, who can you cut?"

"Since you have decided to fight with a sword, the basics are immensely important."

"Continuous daily sword swings can increase muscle mass and density, improving strength, explosive power, and endurance. This training is also meant to make your muscles remember the basic movements."

"You should be able to swing according to bodily instinct without thinking, saving fractions of a second of thought in actual combat."

"And those fractions of a second are the difference between life and death."

"Now, pick up your sword and perform a thousand Suburi."

Mimi blinked. Without saying anything else, she walked to one side and began practicing empty swings.

"Insect Princess, you must master the sword, not be mastered by it."

What kind of nonsense was that?

Mimi curled her lip and continued swinging without being affected.

"Your stance for exerting force is wrong! Swinging like that will only tire you out faster!"

"Then tell me! What exactly is the proper stance for exerting force? Explain it clearly!"

After only two minutes, Mimi was already panting.

Hearing that, Old Man Shiki said dully, "Figure it out yourself..."

Could it be that he did not know either?

So she still had to figure it out herself.

Mimi continued her Suburi, and nearly an hour later, she completed the thousand swings.

Both hands were trembling so badly that she nearly could not hold the sword.

"Learn Nintaijutsu from me. You should give up on Kenjutsu sooner rather than later," Shiki said.

"I won't." Mimi gritted her teeth and refused, breathing heavily.

"Then do another thousand Suburi. You can still manage, right?"

Old Man Shiki sneered.

"Let me catch my breath." Mimi leaned on her sword and bent over as she panted, large drops of sweat falling from her hair.

Why was she so obsessed with Kenjutsu?

In truth, Mimi had thought it through clearly. She simply was not suited for Taijutsu. Fist-to-fist combat felt satisfying, but with her physical talent, her achievements would probably be extremely limited.

Kenjutsu, on the other hand, naturally gave her a major advantage.

Simply put, if Mimi punched Tsunade now, Tsunade would feel nothing. But if Mimi cut her with a sword, Tsunade would not be able to take it.

Given that straightforward comparison of basic attack power, it was obvious she should choose the more cost-effective path to train.

Besides, training was training no matter what she practiced.

After taking a deep breath and calming her breathing, Mimi straightened up and continued her sword-swinging practice.

Halfway through, Mimi suddenly realized something.

Why am I practicing this?

Tang Zhú was not suitable for her at all.

It was simply a frontal vertical chop.

Because the blade's path resembled bamboo, it was called Tang Zhú.

Due to her lack of strength, Mimi found it difficult to unleash the power of basic techniques such as Tang Zhú, Kesazumi, Gyaku Kesazumi, Right Pheasant, and Left Pheasant.

Moreover, those moves were extremely easy to parry, and Mimi lacked the strength to break through an opponent's guard.

To avoid the disadvantage in strength and maximize her advantage in agility, thrusting was the only sword technique suitable for a weak girl like Mimi.

Because the sword tip had such a small contact surface, the same amount of force created greater pressure and therefore stronger power.

At the same time, the small contact area made such attacks difficult to parry or defend against.

Especially since speed was already her specialty, all Mimi needed to do was become faster.

Speed was power.

As for sword techniques like Tang Zhú, considering their cost-effectiveness, she could discard them without hesitation and focus on a single lethal strike.

Just like Fu Hongxue, who focused on one sword-drawing technique and pushed speed to its limit, yet still dominated the world.

Mimi shifted into a thrusting stance and practiced continuously, making her body remember the movement.

She steadily improved through sheer repetition.

Old Man Shiki watched Mimi's focused expression and could not help nodding.

By the time darkness began to fall, she had already developed a decent form.

Then, let's try this move.

Insect Secret Technique. Butterfly Dance. Illusion

After taking a deep breath, Mimi suddenly thrust her sword at Old Man Shiki.

At the instant she moved, thousands of cold stars bloomed before his eyes. His vision filled with dazzling starlight, beautiful yet deadly.

Only the elegance of a Butterfly spreading her wings could describe such swordsmanship.

Caught off guard, his first thought was that it was impossible. His second was shock. By the time he realized he needed to dodge or defend, his aged body could no longer keep pace with his thoughts.

He only had time to barely protect his vital points.

But he could not block the countless sword shadows before him.

Yet the next second, when the sword tip entered his body, no pain came.

When he focused his eyes again, where were the countless sword shadows? There was only a single sword lightly touching his throat, right at his Adam's apple.

This was...

"Surprise~" Mimi smiled.

No, this was a scare.

"Genjutsu?"

Old Man Shiki asked.

"That's right," Mimi answered.

"My elder brother's Kiyanchū are as terrifying as ever."

Old Man Shiki said deeply, "In only two days, you have managed to control the Kiyanchū to this extent."

The Kiyanchū's ability was indeed to create illusions, but the contents of those illusions were uncontrollable.

At least, the Kiyanchū Shiki had known all this time had been like that.

She could actually control the insects and edit the content of a Genjutsu. Just how terrifying was her control over insects?

Rather than commanding insects, it was more accurate to say that she herself was an insect.

"Insect Princess, you truly are the greatest genius in our clan's history."

"Just as my elder brother said, you can easily surpass us in your control over the Insect Swarm."

"Hmph. Well? What did you think of that sword technique?"

Mimi gave a soft snort and asked proudly.

"Exceptionally wonderful!" Old Man Shiki praised her without reservation.