Shibi Aburame

The next day.

The team assignments were not as troublesome as imagined. In just a short while, the students in Uchiha Gen's class were called away one after another by their assigned jonin captains.

Until...

A figure suddenly appeared inside the classroom.

"Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, I'm your jonin instructor, Minato Namikaze. Please come with me."

The newcomer spoke softly, wearing a smile as bright as the sun.

"Huh???? Is our team just me and Rin?! Huh!??! Could it be... hehehe."

Looking at Minato Namikaze, who had suddenly appeared, Obito Uchiha paid no attention at all to how this jonin had entered. His eyes were filled with fantasies of the private time he was about to spend with Rin Nohara.

"Well, I don't mean to spoil your fun, but as your teacher, I feel I need to explain. You actually have another teammate. Unlike you two, though, he's already been serving under me for some time."

Looking at the foolishly grinning Obito Uchiha, Minato Namikaze explained with a slight smile.

"Huh?? What? I thought Rin and I were going to form a two-person team on our own."

Hearing this, Obito Uchiha pursed his lips, somewhat speechless.

"Come on, Obito. Let's go."

Rin Nohara tugged at Obito Uchiha from the side, looking a little embarrassed. She did not want him to leave Minato Namikaze with a rash first impression.

"We're heading off first, then, Gen."

With Rin Nohara holding his arm, Obito Uchiha was instantly overjoyed. He waved at Uchiha Gen, then quickly followed Minato Namikaze out of the classroom.

Uchiha Gen nodded in response, then silently looked toward the spot where Minato Namikaze had just appeared.

That was definitely the Flying Thunder God Technique, right? The classroom door wasn't opened, and the windows were only open a tiny crack, so... did Minato Namikaze leave a Flying Thunder God Mark in the classroom too??

No, this Shinobi World wasn't normal to begin with. Let's make a bold guess. What if... what if Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God no longer has the restriction of requiring a mark? Damn... that's pretty brutal.

Just as Uchiha Gen entertained this bold line of thought, the classroom door was pushed open. A man wrapped entirely in loose robes walked in, wearing sunglasses and giving off an unapproachable air.

"I'm Shibi Aburame, Team 8's jonin instructor. Uchiha Gen, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, please come with me."

The newcomer's voice was brief and forceful, without any audible fluctuation in emotion.

It's actually him?

Looking at his jonin instructor, Uchiha Gen was somewhat surprised.

This man was no weakling.

Moreover, the Aburame Clan in this Shinobi World seemed to have all sorts of strange insects.

"This guy is going to be our jonin instructor?"

Beside him, Asuma Sarutobi sounded a little surprised.

"Asuma, do you know him?"

Kurenai Yuhi was somewhat surprised. Although her father was also a jonin, she did not know the man before them.

"Heh, of course. To prepare for the team assignments, I looked into all the powerful ninja currently in the village beforehand. As for the strongest, aside from that old geezer's three students and a few ninja I can't really talk about openly, it would be that blond jonin who just came in. After him, it's most likely this man here."

"He's a pretty famous ninja in the Aburame Clan. When he was young, he improved the clan's Insect Secret Techniques and even... independently bred giant insects capable of fighting individually, like summoning beasts.

"And some special insects that aren't limited to rigid roles, whether in reconnaissance, combat, or support. Most importantly, he has the legendary title of One-Man Army. He's also called the Most Well-Rounded Ninja. The most well-rounded! In other words, he can do everything!"

Growing more excited as he spoke, Asuma Sarutobi completely failed to notice how many times the girl beside him had shuddered after hearing the word "insects."

"It seems you've learned something about me, but it isn't accurate. Among Konoha's jonin, I'm not among the strongest. At most, I'm only average. Let's go."

Hearing this, Shibi Aburame gave Asuma Sarutobi a somewhat surprised glance, then turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving only his low voice ringing in the three students' ears.

A short while later.

In a clearing at a public training ground after they had left the Ninja Academy.

Wind swept through the branches and leaves, and faint insect calls surrounded them.

"As is customary, let's begin with introductions. My name is Shibi Aburame. I like all kinds of insects and dislike toads. Follow that format. Now, it's your turn."

Standing before Uchiha Gen and the other two, Shibi Aburame nodded slightly and spoke slowly and concisely.

"I'll go first, I'll go first! My name is Asuma Sarutobi. I like pulling a certain old geezer's beard, and I hate being called the Hokage's son or getting lectured."

Asuma Sarutobi raised a hand and casually ruffled his short hair, speaking in a cheerful, easygoing tone. After his tousling, his short hair stuck defiantly upward.

"I'm Kurenai Yuhi. I like studying genjutsu with my father, and I dislike impolite behavior."

Beside him, Kurenai Yuhi stood with proper posture and gave her own introduction.

When Kurenai Yuhi finished, the other three all looked toward the last person who had yet to introduce himself, Uchiha Gen.

"My name is Uchiha Gen. There isn't anything I particularly dislike at the moment. If I had to name something, it would probably be bad luck. As for what I like, it's six o'clock every afternoon. Yes, that's all."

Facing the three gazes, Uchiha Gen spoke calmly.

"Those are all quite distinctive preferences. That concludes the introductions. Next comes the most important part: the combat test."

Shibi Aburame was like a robot following a predetermined procedure. The moment the three finished introducing themselves, he moved straight on to the next stage.

He took the gourd off his back and spoke evenly as he looked at the three before him.

"Next, you may attack me with everything you have. Ideally... fight with the intent to kill me.

"Rest assured, there's no need to worry about my safety. What you see before you is merely a special Insect Clone. So, are you ready?"

In an instant, a cold, fierce killing intent weighed down on their hearts. At the same time, a fine, continuous hum of beating wings filled the air.

A dense mass of insects swept toward the three like a black cloud, blotting out the sky.

"Scatter!"

At the sharp command, the three instantly split up.

At the same time, brilliant blue lightning burst from Uchiha Gen's fingertips. Wherever it spread, the bodies of the incoming insects instantly stiffened and fell to the ground with a crackle, giving off a scorched smell.