Dragon Bone Fossil 2/2

"I'm back."

"You're home early today. How was school?"

Sword Star's mother, Kiko, leaned halfway out of the kitchen and asked with a smile.

Kiko was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with soft features and an expression that always seemed to be smiling.

"It was fine. Nothing special," Sword Star replied. "Oh, right. Two friends are coming over for dinner tonight. Will that be too much trouble?"

"Not at all. It's rare for Sword Star to bring friends home. Mom couldn't be happier." Kiko smiled warmly. "I'll just add a couple of dishes. It's no trouble at all..."

But—

The way you rolled up your sleeves and raised your cleaver, ready to go all out, made it hard to believe you were "just adding a couple of dishes."

"Why don't I help you out?" Sword Star offered.

"No need!" Kiko waved a small hand. "Don't underestimate a full-time housewife."

There was absolutely no underestimating her. If every housewife had your combat strength, a hundred thousand White Zetsu would be no more than an extra dish.

A piece of cake.

The kitchen was presumably Kiko's territory, and she tolerated no one telling her what to do. Otherwise, the consequences would be dire. Once, Sword Star's dad got carried away and started pontificating with great passion. The result was a whole week of unsalted stew.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Leave the food to me!" Kiko declared energetically.

"All right. I'll go check on the Insect House."

Sword Star took off his sunglasses and coat, removed the weights from his limbs, and headed to the Insect House.

As the name suggested, the Insect House was where the Aburame Clan raised insects.

The Aburame Clan fed insects with their own chakra, allowing them to parasitize their bodies and controlling them in battle. But