Aburame Shiki, Guy, Shiranui Genma, Gekkō Hayate, and the others enjoyed a huge feast at the barbecue restaurant. It cost a fortune, and by the end of it Shiki's wallet was completely empty.
Even so, everyone left happy. They were about to go their separate ways, and none of them knew when they would meet again, so this final meal together meant a lot to all of them.
It wasn't until evening that they finally decided to head home after eating and drinking their fill.
"Shiki! We'll work hard too!"Guy shouted loudly as they parted ways.
Shiranui Genma and the others nodded firmly. Seeing their former classmate graduate early had stirred something in their hearts—they all felt the pressure of being left behind, and they wanted to train harder to catch up to Shiki.
"Let's work hard together,"Aburame Shiki replied, waving casually as he left. His composure made him seem even cooler.
Shiki returned to the Aburame clan compound, but instead of going straight to his room, he headed toward the residence of Aburame Shidan.
He had already informed Shidan beforehand that he planned to apply for early graduation.
Aburame Shidan had fully supported Shiki's decision and had even made arrangements for what would come next.
"Very good, Shiki. You truly didn't disappoint me," Shidan said with satisfaction. "Even without relying on the phosphorus insects, you passed the early graduation exam."
Then Shidan's expression grew serious.
"Next will be nothing like the gentle environment of the Academy. You can use the phosphorus insects—and you must learn to use them to kill. Show no mercy.""Don't hesitate. If you can end an enemy instantly with the phosphorus insects, don't give them a chance."
Shiki listened attentively. He understood these were lessons drawn from Shidan's personal battlefield experience—advice that could save his life.
Outside of one's clan and loved ones, no one would care whether he lived or died.
"Master Shidan, I understand. Now that I've become a shinobi, I'm already prepared."Aburame Shiki straightened his posture and answered with full seriousness.
"Good. I'll be assigning you to a team with other Genin who currently lack teammates—and I'll be your squad leader."
Aburame Shidan had not taken a Genin team for many years. His comprehensive strength was high, and he was one of the rare shinobi capable of working completely independently—much like Namikaze Minato. He could cooperate with others, but could also be sent alone wherever needed.
"Thank you for looking after me, Master Shidan."
Hearing Shidan's words warmed Shiki's heart and gave him a stronger sense of security. Shiki was confident in his own strength, but the ninja world was full of unexpected dangers. If a Jōnin-level enemy appeared suddenly, he would be done for.
But under Aburame Shidan's leadership, he would not face any danger beyond what they could handle.
"You don't need to thank me," Shidan replied. "You'll become an important pillar of the clan in the future. The clan will need your strength as well."
Anyone could see Shiki's potential—it was almost guaranteed he would one day reach Jōnin-level strength. At the very least, he would become a Special Jōnin, or a Jōnin capable of making immense contributions in wartime.
Investing in him could only yield great returns.
The Next Day
Aburame Shiki and Aburame Shidan arrived at the designated meeting place, where several others were already waiting.
One was a boy with pale Byakugan eyes and a calm, expressionless face—clearly from the Hyūga clan.
The other was a girl from the Inuzuka clan, holding a gray puppy in her arms. Colorful fang-mark patterns decorated her cheeks, and she wore a bright, cheerful smile.
With an Aburame, a Hyūga, and an Inuzuka, this was a textbook reconnaissance squad.
Veterans knew that reconnaissance teams were extremely dangerous on the battlefield. Their mortality rate was high. Their job was to gather intelligence—and no enemy commander with a brain would ever allow reconnaissance shinobi to slip through easily.
If you were lucky, you'd complete the mission and return with the intel.If you weren't… a full team wipe was common.
Even when a recon squad vanished without any reports, that in itself was information—a warning that a dangerous enemy was present in that area.
If you ran into a monster-level opponent, the recon team would be the first to die, used as expendable fodder.
"It looks like everyone is here," Shidan said. "Let's start with introductions. I am Aburame Shidan, a Jōnin, and your squad leader. I enjoy cultivating insects, and there's nothing I particularly dislike."
He nodded for the next person to go.
"My name is Hyūga Yō," the boy said emotionlessly. "I like the sound of birds. I dislike anything that harms them. I excel in long-range reconnaissance and close-range Gentle Fist combat."
Next was the Inuzuka girl's turn.
"My name is Inuzuka Aoi! I love cute dogs, I hate anything that hurts dogs, and I'm good at cooperating with my partner to attack enemies!"She tightened her hold on the small gray puppy as she introduced herself with a cheerful grin.
Finally, Aburame Shiki introduced himself.
"My name is Aburame Shiki. I like insects, dislike anything that harms insects, and I specialize in using parasitic insects and phosphorus insects."
Shiki paused before adding:
"My insects are extremely dangerous. If they successfully attach to a target, the target will die quickly."
He stated this openly—because for future cooperation, it was better they understood the nature of his abilities.
And besides, his secret wouldn't last long. Once he used the phosphorus insects in battle, any competent enemy commander would immediately recognize the threat.
Hyūga Yō and Inuzuka Aoi looked at him with surprise. What Shiki said sounded extreme—but the thought of Aburame insects swarming across a battlefield was terrifying enough on its own.
Aburame Shidan couldn't help twitching at the corners of his mouth after hearing their introductions.These three are definitely not normal.
He quickly added:
"The phosphorus insects Shiki cultivates are one of the Aburame clan's forbidden breeds. They are extremely dangerous—but you don't need to worry. Shiki's control over them is exceptional. He will not harm his teammates."
Shidan's reassurance made Shiki's words much easier to accept.
"Wow! Looks like we've got a really reliable teammate this time!"Inuzuka Aoi said happily. For a recon squad—where danger was constant—having a strong ally was tremendous relief.
Hyūga Yō also looked at Shiki with deeper interest and nodded slightly in approval.
Neither of them showed any resistance to Shiki. They had both experienced real combat. They knew the value of a strong and dependable comrade—someone who increased your chances of surviving the next mission.
Shidan, seeing their reactions, felt very satisfied. He had personally chosen Yō and Aoi—their strength and personalities were both dependable.
For the time being, Shidan did not assign any dangerous missions. Instead, he arranged several simple tasks to help the team build trust and coordination.