Shibi Aburame's face was full of gratitude.
This time.
He wasn't just going through the motions.
Although Aburame Ryoma wasn't her own son, just a younger relative from a distant uncle's branch of the family.
The Aburame Clan's future rested on him.
Among the next generation, only Ryoma could still hold the clan together.
Put simply.
If Danzo hadn't interfered, Ryoma would have become the next Clan Head.
Danzo had dragged away someone that important without so much as a word. How could Shibi Aburame possibly stomach it?
In those first few days.
He had gone to see Hiruzen Sarutobi, too, and the outcome was hardly a surprise.
He'd been force-fed a bellyful of the Will of Fire. The village would remember the Aburame Clan's contributions, all sacrifices were for Konoha—nothing but Void.
There had been nothing else.
Shibi Aburame wasn't stupid.
He knew there was only one real reason: the Aburame Clan didn't carry enough weight.
A mid-sized ninja clan simply didn't rank in the eyes of the Hokage's faction.
So.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't about to cross Danzo on his account.
In the past, he could only swallow his anger.
No matter how hard Danzo pressed him, he had to grit his teeth and take it.
If the Aburame Clan wanted to stay in Konoha, it had no other choice.
Never mind Ryoma, who was only a prospective Clan Head yet to take over. Even if Danzo someday demanded that Shibi himself go to his death.
As Clan Head, he would have to join Root without a word of protest.
But things had changed now.
Yan Uchiha's sudden rise had shown her another path.
That was why he hadn't wanted to waste even fifteen minutes last night.
The moment the meeting ended, he'd headed straight over.
"Jin, thank you