Chapter 1: The Swarm
In the forest of the Aburame clan in Konoha.
"How do you feel about school?"
Aburame Torune asked softly as he approached Aburame Shishou, who was observing insects.
"It's okay. The knowledge they teach is too basic, it's a bit frustrating."
Shishou glanced at Torune before continuing to focus on the wasp-like insect on the leaf in front of him.
He didn't expect to see such a familiar insect in the ninja world.
The so-called familiarity was actually a deep-seated childhood fear...
He wasn't a character from the original series, but a transmigrator from Blue Star, reborn in Konoha.
His identity was that of Aburame Shino's cousin, Aburame Shishou.
With both parents deceased, Shino's father had taken him in as an adopted son, making him Shino's elder brother.
In his previous life, he had only roughly read the manga.
He wasn't very familiar with Torune, only knowing him as a tragic figure.
"That won't do. To become a ninja, you must learn to endure."
Torune, arms crossed, leaned against a tree, advising Shishou.
"Why don't you go to school, Torune?"
"Because I'm special."
Torune demonstrated his phosphorescent destructive insects by knocking a bird out of the air with a shuriken.
[Phosphorescent Destructive Insects: Epic nano-poison insects, can only reside within a host, reproduce by consuming host cells, and die with the host upon its death. They can only survive in the air for three seconds.]
Suddenly,
as Shishou watched the demonstration closely, a cold voice sounded in his ear.
Shishou paused, looking around in confusion.
Where did that voice come from?
"Is this why you can't go to school, Torune?"
"Yes."
...
After Torune left, Shishou put on gloves and carefully placed the bird carcass infested with phosphorescent destructive insects into a plastic container specifically for insects.
Next, he turned his attention to the wasp-like insect on the tree, placing it in a separate container.
[Wasp-like Insect: Common species, prefers shade, mildly toxic, causes redness and itching upon sting.]
Hmm?
The cold voice echoed in Shishou's ear again. This time, he was sure someone was speaking to him.
No.
It should be in his mind.
Suddenly,
Shishou thought of a possibility.
"System."
As soon as he spoke, an illusory panel appeared before his eyes.
It really is a system.
Shishou muttered to himself, his expression calm behind his sunglasses.
[Host bound to Swarm Heart System]
[Drawing insect skills for the host]
[Draw complete]
[Congratulations, host, for obtaining the insect skill: Swarm Evolution]
[Swarm Evolution: The host can upgrade and enhance their insects]
[Three slots in the breeding space unlocked]
[Obtained random beginner gift: Simulation Incubator]
[Simulation Incubator: Mimics biological environments, used for breeding parasitic insects]
[Evolve epic and higher insect species six times to unlock more breeding space and draw random gifts]
[...]
Swarm!
Evolution.
Simulation Incubator.
For some reason,
Shishou's mind flashed with the image of the Blade Queen, Kerrigan, from StarCraft.
His usually calm heart finally felt a bit excited...
Next, Shishou looked at the wasp-like insect in his hand.
[Wasp-like Insect, common species, available for evolution]
[Would you like to evolve it?]
[Evolving will automatically bond the insect to the host and occupy a breeding slot. Proceed with caution.]
[Yes/No]
The system classified insect species into six levels: Common, Rare, Exotic, Epic, Legendary, and Catastrophic.
The wasp-like insect was the most common species.
Shishou didn't hesitate and chose to evolve it.
[Please choose the evolution direction]
[Evolution 1: Enhanced toxicity]
[Evolution 2: Enhanced camouflage]
You can choose the enhancement direction?
This system is quite smart.
"Enhanced toxicity."
[Selection successful. Wasp-like Insect evolved with enhanced toxicity]
[Place it in the breeding space for further cultivation. It can continue evolving once matured]
[Wasp-like Insect will automatically bond with the host and occupy one breeding slot]
Further evolution, huh.
In Shishou's plastic container, the thumb-sized wasp-like insect had turned into a cocoon, waiting to hatch.
Placing it in the system's breeding space, Shishou checked his personal panel.
The wasp-like insect held significant sentimental value for Shishou, and he didn't mind it taking up a breeding slot.
[Aburame Shishou]
[Skills: Swarm Evolution]
[Breeding Space: 1/3]
[Insect Species: Wasp-like Insect (evolved once)]
This system information is quite simple.
It seems the panel only shows system-related information.
Next, Shishou focused on the phosphorescent destructive insects left by Torune.
Shishou was well aware of their power.
Even Uchiha Obito, with his broken ability Kamui, had to sacrifice an arm to deal with Torune.
[Phosphorescent Destructive Insect, epic species, available for evolution]
[...]
[Yes/No]
"Yes."
[Please choose the evolution direction]
[Evolution 1: Enhanced toxicity]
[Evolution 2: Enhanced camouflage]
[Evolution 3: Enhanced speed]
[...]
As expected of an epic species, there were seven evolution directions.
Shishou's expression changed to one of delight.
[Ding! Evolution 8: Special Evolution, Feedback]
[Feedback: Phosphorescent Destructive Insects can convert consumed energy into feedback for the host, including chakra, physical energy, spiritual energy, and bloodline power...]
...