Aburame Shiken withdrew the intelligence in his hand and quietly watched Aburame Tatsuma and Shimura Danzō, who had already moved far from the camp.
"Lord Danzō, this location will be absolutely perfect for ambushing Aburame Shiken," Aburame Tatsuma said.
"That's not wise. The Aburame clan's abilities are well known, but no one dares claim they can reliably defeat any member of the clan. Shiken is one of the finest in the last hundred years—a truly exceptional ninja. Without absolute certainty, we cannot act recklessly," Shimura Danzō assessed the surroundings and ultimately decided not to set an ambush here.
"Lord Danzō, if this place were ordinary, I wouldn't have brought you here. This time I've brought a trump card. Please, take a step back," Tatsuma said.
Danzō stepped back. Tatsuma then took out a large black jar.
"Aburame Secret Technique: Barrier Insects."
A pitch-black barrier rose from the ground. Upon closer inspection, every line of the barrier was composed of black parasitic insects, capable of moving at will.
"Even the Aburame possess such a secret technique," Danzō murmured in admiration.
"Lord Danzō, this is a long-lost Aburame special ninja insect—the Barrier Insect. I only have two jars with me now."
"So rare… Tatsuma, where did you get them?"
"I obtained them from the tomb of the previous Insect Master. There were three jars in total. I experimented with one, the second is here, leaving only one remaining," Tatsuma admitted, clearly uneasy about confessing he had dug up a tomb.
Danzō found it natural—one must be willing to pay a price to obtain something valuable.
Tatsuma, the next Aburame clan head… power is like a poisoned drink you must swallow even knowing its danger.
"Once you become Aburame clan head, you will surely…"
As Danzō reached out to pat Tatsuma on the shoulder to encourage him, Tatsuma swiftly pierced Danzō's abdomen with a kunai.
"Tatsuma, you—!"
"Lord Danzō, farewell," Tatsuma said, pushing Danzō's body to the ground and shouting into the empty air, "I've done what I promised. When will you fulfill your promise to me?"
"Why the rush? Danzō isn't dead yet," a voice protested.
"Impossible. I just—personally…"
"Tatsuma, you've been acting too long. It's getting suspicious. You know Lord Danzō has the Sharingan," another voice reminded.
"You lie. I never—" Tatsuma realized he'd been exposed.
Danzō got up from the ground, eyes flickering with suspicion, calculating the possibility of layered deception: first, Tatsuma and Shiken attacking him; second, Tatsuma pretending to ally with Shiken but secretly working for him; third, Tatsuma and Shiken truly collaborating, but Tatsuma fakes betrayal again to confuse him.
Seeing Danzō's distrust, Tatsuma quickly showed his tongue, demonstrating the mark he had freshly etched on it, signaling he meant no trickery. Only then did Danzō slightly lower his guard.
Even the sharpest shinobi make allowances for small precautions. Danzō, future leader who would guide the Hidden Leaf to its peak, would not jeopardize the village's future through careless oversight.
"Aburame Shiken, stop using those divisive tricks," Danzō said coldly.
"Impressive, Lord Danzō. To trust your subordinates like this… If I had a superior like you, I'd wake laughing from a dream."
Tatsuma then readied himself fully. Shiken appeared, greeting Danzō with a sly smile,
"Dear Lord Danzō, long time no see."
The dark barrier rose again, enveloping everyone.
"Hmph, Aburame Shiken, you know attacking the Leaf leadership or the field commander here is a grave crime," Danzō said.
"Lord Danzō, let's skip formalities. Whether you say it or not, I'll kill you. No words from you will change that; it doesn't suit the style between us," Shiken laughed. Danzō felt an unpleasant familiarity in Shiken's presence.
"Shiken, why do you want to kill me?"
"Lord Danzō, why need a reason? You represent the upper echelons' interests; I represent the ninja clans'. We are naturally opposed. You are weak, I am strong. I am strong, you are weak. A battle is inevitable."
"You're young, yet so perceptive. Interested in Root? I can give you a chance."
"One chance, like using the entire Shimura clan as a pledge? From the beginning, one clan specialized in wind, another in fire. Now the Sarutobi rise while the Shimura dwindle. Lord Danzō, your resolve is ruthless."
"A bunch of leaf-ignorant fools, worthless."
"Lord Danzō is impartial. Then please, for the sake of the Leaf, die."
"The Leaf cannot be without me, just like…"
Before he could finish, a swarm of insects attacked. Tatsuma controlled his insect spheres to defend, but his forces were clearly overwhelmed. Shiken then produced dozens of giant parasitic insects.
"Secret Technique: Giant Parasitic Insects!" he unleashed them toward Danzō.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Consecutive Blades!" Danzō sent out wind blades, instantly reducing the swarm to rubble.
"Lord Danzō, still formidable. Wonder how long you can hold out," Shiken remarked.
"Secret Technique: Giant Parasitic Insects!" Hundreds now attacked both Tatsuma and Shiken.
"Summoning Technique: Baku!" The massive Baku appeared, entangling with the horde.
Tatsuma simultaneously used his insects combined with explosive tags to eliminate the threat.
The three eyed each other warily.
"Hmph, Shiken, you think I would bring only Tatsuma to ambush you?"
"Likewise. I wouldn't appear unless all threats were neutralized," Shiken retorted.
Danzō made a hand signal, yet the surroundings were silent. Looking at Shiken, his gaze mixed relief, admiration, resentment, and fear—a complex swirl of emotions.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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