"How has this mission felt so far?"
Aburame Shidan asked while adding fresh wood to the campfire, sparks drifting upward into the dim light.
"I've learned a lot. My strength has improved too. Real combat is the best teacher," Aburame Shiki replied calmly.
"Good. Improve your strength as fast as you can," Shidan said, voice low and steady. "Once others start noticing you, different factions—big and small—will try to assassinate you. It's dangerous."
Early morning.
The night passed quietly. Nothing attacked them, nothing stirred beyond the forest's natural whispers.
After resting and refreshing themselves, Shidan's team began dismantling the camp.A shinobi never leaves traces—one never knows who might track them.
Once everything was cleared, they resumed their mission of hunting down rogue ninja who had infiltrated the Land of Fire. With Hyūga Yo's Byakugan assisting them, their progress was smooth.
The Byakugan truly was of strategic value. On a battlefield, nothing compared.
Over the course of their pursuit, Shidan's team discovered many intruders—most of them wandering rogue ninja, men and women who refused the danger of official missions, choosing instead to live freely off their own strength.
They no longer wished to be used as tools by ordinary people.They wanted to dominate those ordinary people—merchants, officials, even nobles.
"Two thousand seven hundred meters ahead," Yo announced in a steady voice, "three chakra signatures—Genin level."
She paused occasionally, turning her head to monitor her blind spot.Because of the Caged Bird Seal, members of the Hyūga Branch Family had a single point in their vision that could not be seen through—an exploitable weakness. Yo had to watch her surroundings constantly.
But this time, Aburame Shidan suddenly slowed and raised his hand.
"Stop. Something isn't right. Hold position."
His years of battlefield experience sharpened his senses—something about the forest around them felt wrong. The atmosphere had shifted, subtle but chilling.
"Sensei Shidan," Shiki spoke up, "let me try something. I've cultivated some ordinary insects that won't attract attention."
Anything that could unsettle someone as seasoned as Aburame Shidan meant genuine danger.
From his sleeve, Shiki released three tiny flying bugs. These insects held no chakra and blended perfectly into the natural environment. They were extremely hard to spot.
This strain had been painstakingly cultivated by Shiki. Without his unique connection to his origin Gu, they would've been nearly impossible to control.
Shidan watched Shiki's technique closely and nodded with approval.
"Well done. If I didn't know ahead of time, I wouldn't notice anything odd about those insects either. No chakra signature—that's excellent."
The Aburame clan could produce non-chakra insects, but doing so was expensive, difficult, and inefficient. Without chakra, such insects died easily.
But today, they were exactly what the situation needed.
With Shidan's approval, Shiki guided the insects forward toward the position Yo had indicated.
Through their eyes, he soon spotted three young ninja resting in a clearing. Despite their calm posture, their eyes were sharp—alert.
One complained bitterly:
"The leader's using us as bait. What if an enemy really comes? I'm the future hope of the Gen'yō clan!"
The one who appeared to be their captain scolded him:
"Stop whining. If the leader hears you, you'll regret it. Stay alert. Watch for attacks."
Another added confidently:
"There's no need to worry so much. The leader's men have encircled the whole area. Anyone who comes in… won't leave alive."
Shiki's insects drifted away casually, then circled deeper into the trees.
And what they found made Shiki's eyes narrow.
Hidden among the branches were several shinobi in a near-hibernating state—chakra suppressed, bodies tucked into concealment positions. Each one bore a distinctive tail-like appendage extending from their back.
The Gen'yō Clan…
Shiki immediately recognized them.
The phantom stalkers of the forest—Gen'yō Chū and his people.
Gen'yō Chū wasn't especially powerful as a fighter, but he commanded a terrifying secret technique:
The Exploding Insect Technique.
Once infected, a parasitic micro-insect invaded the victim's body, devouring their chakra. When it grew large enough, it detonated—killing the host instantly.
In the original timeline, this technique had nearly claimed even the likes of the Raikage, Nii Yugito, and Killer Bee.
Shiki instantly relayed everything to Shidan.
Shidan's expression darkened, fully alert now.
He was well-informed and knew plenty about the Gen'yō clan—another insect-using group rivaling the Aburame.The Aburame clan archives held many records of them.
Their Exploding Bugs were extremely dangerous—microscopic, difficult to detect, and similar in size to Shiki's phosphorus bugs.
If Gen'yō Chū was here, their mission definitely threatened Konoha.
Shidan clenched his jaw.The enemy wasn't simple—and he had his students with him.
"It's the Gen'yō clan," Shidan said gravely. "They're dangerous. We'll retreat for now. Regroup with the Anbu."
Before he could move, Shiki stepped forward.
"Sensei, I can help. The Gen'yō clan's greatest weapon is their Exploding Bugs. If I inject phosphorus bugs into everyone beforehand, then whenever an Exploding Bug enters the body, mine will kill it instantly."
Shidan stared at him, deadly serious.
"Shiki… can you truly control your phosphorus bugs so precisely?"
"Don't worry, Sensei Shidan. I've already tested this on many animals. There won't be a problem."
His voice was steady, unwavering.
Shidan nodded firmly. "I trust you. Let's move. We'll regroup with the Anbu first."
Once they joined the Anbu unit, Shiki, Yo, and Aoi finally breathed a little easier.
Shidan exchanged intelligence with the Anbu captain.When the Anbu learned the enemy was the Gen'yō clan, all of them grew tense.
If the Gen'yō had infiltrated the Land of Fire, their intentions were undoubtedly hostile. They had to be stopped.
"How many enemies?" the Anbu captain asked.
"Three Jōnin, seven Chūnin, and several Genin," Shiki reported. He added,"Their Exploding Bug technique is completely countered by my phosphorus bugs. If you allow me to inject them into your bodies now, you won't be affected by the parasitic insects."
The Anbu captain weighed the situation.Three enemy Jōnin—they had three as well: Shidan, the Anbu captain, and his vice-captain.
Their side had better intelligence. The enemy was unaware of their approach.They had the advantage.
But allowing a foreign insect into one's body…
The Anbu hesitated.
Shidan spoke sharply:
"Aburame Shiki's phosphorus bugs will not harm you."
The Anbu exchanged glances—then nodded.
If Shidan guaranteed it, it was trustworthy.
Shiki quickly injected each of them with phosphorus bugs.
Once everything was prepared, Shidan's team and the Anbu moved quietly through the forest, closing in on Gen'yō Chū's position.
When they reached striking distance—
—all of them leaped into the air at once.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Fire Style: Great Flame Bomb!"
"Wind Style: Suppression!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Fire tore across the forest, boosted by roaring wind. The combined attack surged toward the enemy's stronghold, exploding with overwhelming force.
Instantly, the Gen'yō clan's formation was engulfed in flames.