The Insect Swarm retreated in all directions, but it did not go far. Once it was out of sight, it burrowed into the ground and hid, leaving only a dozen Scout Dragonflies to search the area. Three of them were specifically tasked with monitoring the Iwa Ninja squad's retreat.
Only after the Iwa Ninja squad had gone far away did the Insect Swarm emerge from the ground. This time, every insect converged on a single location.
The tidal swarm gathered on an unremarkable patch of open ground. Then the earth suddenly collapsed, revealing more than a dozen enormous Insect Hives.
That clearing had actually been a depression. Tens of thousands of Camouflage Insects had linked their limbs together, holding up rocks, soil, fallen leaves, and weeds to disguise the dip as level ground and conceal the Insect Hives.
Once all the insects had entered the hives, Aburame Tetsumaru released the Summoning Technique and sent the Insect Hives back to the Aburame clan grounds.
After everything had been cleaned up, Aburame Tetsumaru called over his subordinates, and the four of them returned to the Konoha camp together.
Along the way, the two newly assigned Genin chattered nonstop, complaining that their captain would not let them fight and that they had no chance to show off their talents.
Aburame Tetsumaru traveled on with a blank expression. Yukimura Saburo, the squad's only old member, merely smiled without speaking, watching the two juniors happily dig their own graves.
Their captain was about to be promoted to Special Jonin, while Yukimura himself was about to become a Chunin. Once they returned to camp, the Aburame Squad would disband. The two newcomers had no time left to enjoy the treatment of the "Chunin Cradle Squad."
Then again, if there had still been time, how could two