Chapter 9 : Hokage's Disciple

"What a formidable insect," he mused. Even though it wasn't at full strength, it still possessed 70% to 80% of its power. The ordinary Aburame clan members wouldn't stand a chance against it.

Even if they could, dealing with this number of bugs would be nearly impossible. The conclusion was clear – this child's insects were stronger than any others in her clan. Was it a mutation caused by the blood inheritance limit?

While contemplating this, the third generation swiftly moved forward, delivering a punch to the back of Maki's head in her blind spot. Under the mask, Maki curled her lips. Her combat vision covered 360 degrees, day and night, in the sky and on the ground, leaving no blind spots.

Sometimes, she felt like an old man in a control room, overseeing numerous monitors. It was amusing, despite the overwhelming amount of information to process simultaneously.

Behind Maki, a swarm of insects erupted, forming a mass as large as several door panels, rushing towards Sandaime. This creature could burrow into flesh, making it best for non-Hyuga clan members to avoid physical contact.

"Troublesome ability," the third generation muttered, referring to the insect protector. He quickly retreated to a safe distance, observing the ninja who distanced himself from the swarm.

Maki was well aware of this weakness. Due to the bugs' flying speed, they often needed assistance against faster opponents. Even with Maki's optimizations, the body structure's strength had improved. In response, tribesmen often set traps within insect swarms to prevent prey from escaping.

Maki planned to optimize the wing structure, perfect for dragonflies – the kings of flying. With a speed of 100 kilometers per hour and a burst speed of 40 meters per second, it was more than sufficient to deal with ninjas.

However, dragonfly wings were fragile and difficult to store, unlike the elytra of parasitic insects. They couldn't be stored inside the body. Even carrying a bug pot like the clansmen wouldn't provide ample storage.

The solution, psychic magic, was beyond Maki's capabilities.

"fire escape fireball jutsu!" The third generation unleashed a Ninjutsu fireball against the pursuing insect group. He shouted a warning, worried that someone might accidentally hit him.

Facing the huge fireball with intense heat, Maki didn't dodge. Instead, she raised her hand, and more insects emerged, forming a black mist larger than the fireball, floating towards it. It was an attack against attack.

Sandaime raised his eyebrows in surprise. Common sense dictated that insects couldn't confront fire directly. However, this was a chakra-transformed fire escape, and bugs were chakra-eating parasites. The two forces collided, creating a subtle fragrance in the air, while Fire Release halted, blocked by parasites. Charred insect corpses covered the forest floor.

"If it's just this level, you'll die here," Maki declared coldly, hinting at her intention to make a bigger move.

"Secret Technique. Insect Cage." As soon as the words left her mouth, dozens of insect-made pillars rose within a hundred-meter radius, forming a massive and terrifying birdcage.

The third generation looked at the insect cage that trapped him, ready to act, and couldn't help but inquire, "When?"

"While you're throwing the shuriken," Maki replied. Breaking into Maki's safe distance, she carefully laid a trap in the forest using fallen leaves, flowers, grass, and trees as natural shields for the insects.

"Sinai." Maki's outstretched hand clenched violently into a fist, commanding the swarm of parasites to pour down from the sky.

Was it too late to form seals at this point? Normally, a jonin would be too late. However, the third generation was no ordinary ninja. As the strongest figure in Konoha, he would not fall for such tricks.

Earth Escape. Earth Formation Earthen walls on all sides were raised, followed by the completion of the topping. The entire earth formation jade trembled slightly under the impact, with the thickness of Earth Escape enough to withstand it. However, the bugs had mouthparts.

"Seeking death." Maki looked at the defensive position, surrounded by swarms of insects, and snorted coldly.

The third generation of Earth Escape frowned as sporadic parasites quickly broke through the earth wall and emerged from the ground. Is the Aburame clan this troublesome?

Forming seals leisurely, he murmured, "I'll teach you a lesson first. Don't let the enemy out of your sight at any time." The third generation activated the ninjutsu without offering a kind reminder this time.

As the ninja slowly sank into the ground through the insect's vision, Maki chuckled. Never create a blind spot in your field of vision – that's the key in a ninja war, an intelligence war.

Maki raised her hands and formed the Eight Seals – the three-body art of transformation. She wasn't a genius; releasing ninjutsu and forming seals was common sense for ninjas.

"It's over!" With a violent roar, a hand burst from the ground, grabbing Maki's calf fiercely. When the arm pulled her down, Sandaime's whole body descended to the ground simultaneously.

At that moment, Maki's entire figure collapsed under the force, turning into a swarm of flying insects – a Bug clone. Activating the decapitation technique during her Earth escape heart.

"What excellent fighting sense!" The next second, the unprepared shadow clone, upon close contact with the insect clone, couldn't withstand the bite of the insects, exploding into smoke.

Near the forest, the third generation held a cigarette rod in his mouth, taking a contemplative drag. This kid indeed...

There was the sound of cracking branches and leaves in the forest. Sandaime turned around and saw a small figure in the shadows of the forest, slowly walking towards the path in the forest.

Before Sandaime could ask, Maki's cordial greetings filled his face. "Sandaime-sama, have you seen an idiot claiming to be a spy?"

Hearing this, Sandaime took a deep drag on his cigarette and said, "Really? Is there such a person?"

"Ah, it's bizarre. The Third Generation is obviously nearby, so how did that idiot sneak in?" Maki continued, intentionally or unintentionally emphasizing the pronunciation of the idiot.

The third generation smoked sullenly. This kid must have discovered something, and he has to think of a decent reason.

"Since the Third Generation is here, I don't care about that idiot."

The third generation breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, are the Third Generations here to relax?"

"Yes, yes, little girl, what are you doing here?"

"I'm just relaxing too, I guess," Maki said slightly coldly, bowing slightly and preparing to leave.

"etc."

Maki looked at the third generation. Seeing Maki act out of common sense was very unexpected, and Sandaime asked, "Do you have any dreams? Little one."

"Dream?" Maki didn't want to answer such a boring question, so after laughing out loud, she said coldly, "My dream is the sea of stars."

"The sea of stars?"

The third generation looked at Maki with a confused look. He didn't quite understand this ideal.

"I want to fly into the sky," Maki said seriously, "shoulder to shoulder with the sun."

Sandaime opened his mouth but stopped talking. Although he didn't understand it very well, he was shocked. What a wonderful child.

"Don't you want to be Hokage?" Nowadays, many children aspire to become as powerful as the second-generation Hokage.

"I don't want to," Maki objected.

"Why?"

"How about dancing?"

"???" The third generation felt that there was a big problem with this child's designation.

"Then you want to become the Hokage's disciple?"

"I'm in no mood."

"Why is this?"

"I don't even want to become Hokage, so why should I become Hokage's disciple?" Maki asked back.

Sandaime took a deep breath from his cigarette and said, "Look, I know a lot of ninjutsu, and I am known as the Professor of ninjutsu in the ninja world. Do you want to learn ninjutsu?"

"Really?" Maki raised her hand, which was covered with bad bugs, and asked, "Can you teach me this?"

Sandaime took another deep breath of cigarette.

"Don't you have any other ninjutsu you want to learn?"

"I have."

Sandaime's eyes lit up, and he said, "Whatever you want to learn, I'll teach you!"

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