A knock sounded at the door.
Shihui Aburame woke with a start.
He changed his clothes and opened the door to find Shino Aburame.
"Does Dad need something?"
Shihui Aburame raised an eyebrow as he asked.
Shino Aburame nodded.
The two went to the living room.
Shibi Aburame looked just as he had in the original story, with a beard, a gourd on his back, and sunglasses.
He sat at the table, where a container resembling a petri dish held two Kikaichū.
Kikaichū were the insects most commonly used by the Aburame Clan, and most of their secret insect techniques involved them.
"You'll be entering the Ninja Academy soon."
Shibi Aburame said gravely, "It's time to sign a contract with the insect tribe and become true insect masters."
Shino Aburame's eyes lit up.
He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Only Shihui Aburame remained calm.
But he did not refuse.
[Shibi Aburame.] [Current achievement: Restore the Aburame Clan's glory.] [Passive achievement: Unknown.]
Although Shihui Aburame had no idea when the Aburame Clan had ever enjoyed any glory, as its future head, he was naturally duty-bound.
He intended to try using primeval essence.
Kikaichū fed on chakra.
Would they change if they were given the higher-level primeval essence?
Besides, Shihui Aburame's primeval essence would advance further. Right now, it was only the most ordinary green copper primeval essence, with several more ranks above it.
"Sign your names."
Shibi Aburame took out a scroll.
Kikaichū were essentially summoned beasts.
Shino Aburame went first. After signing his name, he cupped a Kikaichū in his hands, his face full of curiosity.
His expression changed for once, showing that he was in a good mood.
Suddenly, Shihui Aburame's gaze sharpened.
[Shino Aburame.] [Current achievement: I want to become the strongest insect master.] [Passive achievement: Unknown.]
Shino Aburame had developed an active achievement.
But how was this achievement any different from "I want to be an astronaut when I grow up"?
Did "strongest" mean compared with his contemporaries or everyone throughout history?
If it encompassed the entire Shinobi World, that would be hard to deal with.
Still, there was no rush. Shihui Aburame had far too many achievements he could work on. He could never finish them all, not a chance.
The Kikaichū resembled the longhorn beetles he had caught as a child in his previous life. It was not too ugly, so he could just about accept it.
Gu had raised Shihui Aburame's aesthetic standards considerably.
The Moonlight Gu, for example, was translucent and lovely, like a piece of jade emitting moonlight.
"Dad, I'm heading to the hospital. Bye."
After breakfast, Shihui Aburame got up and left.
A trace of envy crept into Shino Aburame's eyes.
He was simply a genius.
His talent as a medical ninja was so great that even Lord Hokage had taken notice.
Konoha Hospital.
Shihui Aburame encountered his daily routine.
"Shiki, let your big sister give you a hug."
"Shiki-chan, you're getting cuter every day."
"Don't be shy. Your big sister smells lovely. Come give me a kiss."
One young woman after another approached him in white nurses' uniforms.
He felt as though they would swallow him whole the very next second.
Shihui Aburame understood one truth profoundly: if he did not work hard, he could only become these women's plaything, crushed beneath the weight of womanhood.
He struggled through the young women's encirclement and reached his teacher Rika Miyata's office.
Rika Miyata was the deputy leader of the Medical Corps and an excellent medical ninja.
Shihui Aburame had met her through his father's connections.
Of course, the main reason was his talent.
In just six months, he had already won unanimous praise from everyone at Konoha Hospital.
Combined with the added appeal of being a handsome, adorable little boy, it made these young women itch to launch an assault in priest mode.
"Shiki."
Rika Miyata entered the office with a gentle smile.
"Teacher."
Shihui Aburame snapped out of his thoughts and greeted her.
"Let's go."
Rika Miyata patted his head and said, "There are several surgeries today."
Shihui Aburame was young, so he was not there to perform surgery, but to observe. Commonly known as feeling involved.
After the surgeries ended, Shihui Aburame sat down on a seat in the corridor to rest.
Although he only observed, he occasionally helped out by passing scalpels and the like.
"Are you a doctor?"
A young but pleasant voice rang out.
Shihui Aburame opened his eyes and saw a blonde girl.
After a moment's recollection, he identified her as Ino Yamanaka.
There was an intense emotion in the way she looked at him.
Just like those young women earlier.
Ino Yamanaka was a classic sucker for a pretty face.
She liked Sasuke Uchiha because he was handsome.
Even later, she married Sai because she thought he resembled Sasuke Uchiha.
A case of loving someone for their resemblance to another.
"I'm not a doctor, just an intern."
Shihui Aburame shook his head as he spoke.
"Being an intern is impressive too!"
Ino Yamanaka took the initiative to sit beside him and said, "Because you look even younger than me."
She was very talkative, or rather, quite outgoing.
That was not much different from her personality in the original story.
"I'm older."
Shihui Aburame spoke with certainty.
He remembered that Ino Yamanaka's birthday was September 23.
"When's your birthday?"
Ino Yamanaka moved a little closer to him.
Her face was clearly adorable, yet there was a hint of aggression in it now.
Was this what an honest sucker for a pretty face looked like?
She might as well have said, "I lust after your body."
Shihui Aburame stood up and said, "My break's over. Let's talk next time."
Ino Yamanaka froze for a moment. After watching his figure disappear, she immediately covered her face and stamped her feet in excitement.
She had often made fun of her best friend Sakura Haruno before, but now she understood. She had awakened. It was hunting time!
"What are you smiling about?"
A pink-haired girl walked out.
She held her stomach with both hands and looked sickly.
"I thought of something happy."
Ino Yamanaka gave a light cough and asked, "What did the doctor say?"
"I'll be fine after two days of rest."
Sakura Haruno answered weakly.
Ino Yamanaka stepped forward to support her.
After lunch, Shihui Aburame returned to the wooden house.
As for Ino Yamanaka, he had not run into her. She might have already left.
After feeding Moon Orchids to the Moonlight Gu, he sank his awareness into his aperture.
He looked at the newly arrived Kikaichū.
Bathed in primeval essence, it remained lively.
Shihui Aburame immediately relaxed. He had been afraid it would close its eyes and never open them again, ending its life right there.
If that happened, he would have a hard time explaining it to Shibi Aburame.
After watering his plants, Shihui Aburame began his daily cultivation.
He expended primeval essence to scour his aperture.
The Great Love Immortal Venerable had once said that raising Gu was like keeping lovers.
The more lovers you had, the more you needed the means to support them.
Time passed quickly, and before long, the day the Ninja Academy opened had arrived.
Shihui Aburame had spent the past few days cultivating, going out only once to get a pig for his Black Boar Gu.
The good news was that he had finally learned the Chakra Scalpel last night.
Although he was still very unpracticed, there was no time to mourn his departed vacation. Next to enter the battlefield was Teacher Tsunade.
Shihui Aburame planned to find Rika Miyata after school.
The Ninja Academy.
It was already packed with people, lacking only the deafening clamor of gongs and drums.
In the original story, this class could truly be called a gathering of talents, with the so-called Konoha Twelve.
Of course, the main reason was protagonist privilege.
That referred to Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
"Once you're at school, remember to pay attention in class."
Shibi Aburame reminded them, "And make more friends."
A hint of nostalgia involuntarily appeared on his face.
Back then, his friend had been the fastest man in the Shinobi World, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
(End of chapter)