"You came."
In the shadowed forest, the old man Kaigan spoke in a low, grim tone.
"I did," Maki replied.
"You didn't have to."
"I know. But I'm here anyway."
Kaigan's eyes narrowed. "Then be prepared."
"For hell?" Maki gave a slight smile. "I've been ready for that a long time."
"Not just any hell— real hell."
"Wait," Maki interrupted, glancing at the three old men before her. "I haven't thought about any secret training or whatever yet. Honestly, I feel like there's nothing left for you to teach me."
Training would only delay her research. And the last time, she hadn't even been given a choice.
Kaigan slammed his cane into the ground. "Kurohime, you still have a lot to learn. I won't go easy on you."
"That's fine by me." Maki grinned. "Just don't drop dead halfway, Grandpa. I'd hate to wear you out."
She had no real desire to go through this kind of training.
"Don't worry," said old man Kurozane with a chuckle. "We're not that fragile yet."
Then he asked seriously: "Maki, what do you think is the most important thing to the Aburame clan?"
"Chakra?" she guessed.
After all, the size of one's chakra reserve determined the scale of their insect swarm—something clearly important.
"Not a bad answer, but still shallow," Kaigan said. "Our clan is known as the 'all-purpose ninja.' The most important trait is balanced development—no glaring weaknesses in any area."
"Start with genjutsu. As an Aburame, the first thing you should master is how to break illusions."
"If you have an ally nearby, they can snap you out of it. But what if you're alone? How do you break free?"
"Use the bugs?" Maki asked, thoughtful.
"That's right. But in an illusion, they won't automatically know what to do."
"Simple." Maki smiled. "Set a preset command. Every ten seconds, the parasitic insects disrupt my chakra flow. That way, even if I get caught in an illusion, the interference can help snap me out."
Kaigan's stern face softened slightly.
"Brilliant. Preset commands are an advanced and practical technique—and one that usually requires personal experience to develop. You've already taken your parasites that far…"
"But," he added, "there's an even simpler method—pain."
"Pain?" Maki echoed.
"Let the parasites inflict mild pain at regular intervals to maintain awareness. Biting, stinging… anything to jolt you out of a genjutsu."
She nodded in understanding.
"But that still won't guarantee immunity, especially against the Uchiha's illusions. Pain can fail you," Kurozane added, voice sharp. He clearly held a grudge against the Uchiha.
"Then what's the answer?" Maki asked.
"Don't rely on your eyes," Kaigan replied. "Rely on your parasites' senses instead. Insects can't be fooled by illusions."
That part was instinctual to Maki. Even during past spars with the Third Hokage, she'd never once relied on her vision.
"That covers genjutsu. As for the flame-sending insect, with your talent, you'll have no problem unlocking its illusion-based capabilities."
Kaigan then turned serious again. "Now, Kurohime—what ninjutsu did you choose?"
"Earth Release: Hardening Technique, Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole, and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere."
"Smart choices," Kaigan nodded. "Attack, defense, and escape—all covered. As expected of my granddaughter."
"Most clan members aren't even allowed to learn escape techniques. But you, Kurohime, are different."
"You've already learned everything from the clan's secret techniques. What limits you now is just your age… and chakra capacity."
"Mastering escape techniques will give you more options to survive." He paused, voice growing heavier. "On the battlefield, survival is everything. And the key to survival is simple: Don't be seen."
Maki didn't respond. She didn't need to.
She understood.
"As for escape techniques," Kaigan said, "our clan hasn't done much research in that area. You're free to learn them, Maki, but don't go too deep. Focus more on evolving your parasites."
"So what's next?" Maki asked.
"Taijutsu."
She blinked. "Taijutsu? Seriously?"
"Yes. Physical combat. It's not some hidden technique—it's just something most clansmen never reach. But if you want to become truly powerful, you can't afford to have a weakness in close combat."
Maki frowned. "I don't see the point. Senju's Steel Fist and the Hyuuga's Gentle Fist aren't exactly beginner-friendly. And I don't need them. I already fight from a distance. Let the bugs bite for me—why would I punch someone when I can have them swarmed?"
She crossed her arms, then glanced at the insect girl crouched beside her like a loyal puppy.
"Besides, I've got her. If things go bad, she can buy me enough time to escape. That's what she's good at."
"I'm teaching you how to survive the battlefield, not how to run from it!" Kaigan snapped, slamming his cane down. "You're learning this, like it or not, so quit complaining!"
Maki sighed. "Fine, fine. You're the boss. Let's just get it over with. The faster we finish, the faster I get to go home and eat."
"Hmph." Kaigan grunted. "Zetsugan will train you. He's the clan's best in close combat."
He turned to Maki. "Your poisonous insects—they've hatched, haven't they?"
Maki raised her hands, fingers spread. The nails on all ten fingers shimmered with a dangerous shade of purple-black.
"See for yourself."
Kaigan gave a proud nod. "As expected of my granddaughter."
Unlike regular parasites, poisonous insects were tiny and didn't require a full nest inside the body. They could live anywhere—skin, nails, hair.
Maki kept hers under her fingernails. Easy to manage. Easy to trim when needed.
Kaigan stepped aside. "Zetsugan, she's all yours."
Just then, Kurozane added, "Maki, listen. About Insect Girl—her insect nest is an important technique. It allows her to carry a massive number of parasites. But you don't need to rush into it. Once she matures, she'll naturally develop a permanent nest inside her body."
Maki nodded. "I understand, Grandpa Kurozane. I'll wait until the time is right."
"Good. Just be patient. Establishing a nest causes temporary weakness—not ideal while you're still in training."
Maki smiled. "It's okay. I've mastered healing techniques. Any damage the bugs cause, I can fix."
Even this wasn't a simple process. It couldn't be done quickly—and it would hurt.
When parasites burrow into the body to form their nests, they rely on their mouthparts to dig. The pain is unavoidable.
Even Maki wasn't immune. At most, she could carry a small tube of anesthetic to dull the worst of it.
Clansmen typically had to use chakra to guide the insects, enduring the pain without losing control of their limbs. Numbing the body wasn't an option.
As for Maki, she just needed to stay focused. As long as she kept her mind sharp and didn't let the parasites chew through her heart or vital organs, she'd be fine.
"Ah, that's right," Kurozane muttered. "I forgot—you already have exceptional control over your parasites. You'll be fine on your own."
He added, "If you run into any trouble with ninjutsu, you can always come to me."
Then, he turned to the side. "Zetsugan, you're up."
At his name, Zetsugan stepped forward. He pulled off his gloves, revealing hands stained a deep, unnatural purple.
"Kurohime" he said to Maki, "you'd be dead if you didn't already control your parasites. That's the only reason this is even possible."
He stripped off his shirt and armor, revealing a lean, muscular frame.
"When parasite-users clash, the battlefield is microscopic. But that doesn't matter here. This fight will be decided by hand-to-hand skill."
"My challenge is simple: defeat me without using your parasites. If you do, your physical training is complete."
Among the Aburame, such well-developed physiques were rare. Most clansfolk had internal tissue damage from parasite nests growing inside them. The damage was subtle but visible—disrupted growth, impaired systems.
Maki, for example, remembered Yumei's mother. She had suffered severe internal damage from her parasites at a young age. As a result, she was underdeveloped—her chest never matured properly.
Maki remembered that vividly—she'd been starving during feeding time and the sight had stuck with her.
Zetsugan, however, had gained control over poisonous insects early. He avoided much of the internal damage, and his body developed perfectly.
Now, standing tall, Zetsugan brought his hands together in a loud clap.
A swarm of purple parasites surged across his skin, coating his body in a deep violet armor.
"Understand now?"
"Yeah," Maki replied, mirroring his gesture.
Purple insects crept across her hands too, though her expression remained unreadable.
From the side, Kaigan called out, "Kurohime, send the bad bugs."
Without a word, dark clouds of insects scattered from Maki's body, disappearing into the forest like living shadows.
Kaigan nodded, pleased.
"Getting bitten by my bugs hurts like hell. Better steel yourself."
"Thanks for the warning, Grandpa Zetsugan," Maki replied calmly.
"Come at me!" Zetsugan roared.
Maki assumed a fighting stance—if it could even be called that. Her form was awkward, lacking any real technique or elegance.
She thought for a moment. Then shrugged inwardly.
Might as well just charge in.
So she did.
She charged forward.
And immediately got thrown backward.
Her body slammed into the hard ground with a painful thud.
Just like that—it was an adult beating up a child.
Maki winced and gritted her teeth, pain flashing through her.
___________
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