Chapter 204: Kikaichu Insects – Shino’s Counterattack

"Shino, you'll take care of Raiga Kurosuki. Hinata and Kiba, handle the rest of the Kurosuki family ninjas," Shinho Aburame instructed, his gaze sweeping over Raiga's entourage.

"Yes," Shino replied, his spirits lifting.

Hinata and Kiba followed with affirming nods.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Raiga Kurosuki was a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, a shinobi whose strength was undeniably at a standard Jōnin level.

Could Shino handle him?

While Shino possessed the Parasite Explosion Insect, his speed wasn't sufficient to guarantee a hit on an opponent as agile as Raiga, who specialized in Lightning Release.

Unbeknownst to Tsunade, Shino had already mastered Sage Mode.

She noted Shinho's calm demeanor, and her suspicions grew. Perhaps, like Hinata, Shino had also received some kind of special Gu from him.

"We've been spotted. This is Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Technique," Tsunade suddenly noted as mist began to rise around them.

"How did they detect us from so far away?" Kiba asked, puzzled.

"Attack now," Shinho commanded without hesitation.

While the mist could severely hinder ordinary shinobi, the Aburame Clan's Insects mitigated its impact on their senses.

"Ranmaru, excellent work," Raiga Kurosuki said, wiping away his crocodile tears. A feral grin spread across his face. "Those who disrupt this funeral meet only one fate—death!"

He raised his twin Lightning Blades, crossing them as crackling energy burst forth.

Lightning Release: Fangs of Lightning!

Twin streaks of lightning, sharp like fangs, surged into the mist at astonishing speed.

Shino stepped forward, placing himself in front of his team.

Bringing his hands together, his skin writhed faintly as the insects beneath it began to stir.

Like most Aburame clan members Shino too used his body as a hive for his insects, unlike Shinho who stored his Gu and insects in this primeval sea.

Sage Mode!

Shino's aura shifted dramatically, a unique energy enveloping him.

Sage Art: Insect Wall!

With a casual wave of his hand, a swarm of kikaichu Insects flew out, spinning rapidly into an impenetrable barrier.

The twin bolts of lightning dissipated harmlessly against it.

"Sage Mode?!" Tsunade's expression shifted to one of shock.

She had anticipated Shino using a Gu given to him by Shinho, but Sage Mode? That was entirely unexpected.

Tsunade had seen Shino's Parasitic Explosion Insect during the Chūnin Exams. However, using Sage Techniques was an entirely different level—an all-encompassing enhancement rather than a single tool.

Where had he learned it?

Shikkotsu Forest?

Tsunade immediately thought of Katsuyu, the slug sage with close ties to Shinho. Perhaps it had taught him.

No, that wasn't right.

Even though Tsunade hadn't mastered the Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode, she was familiar with its nature. Shino's Sage Mode was entirely different.

"I'm going ahead," Shino declared before leaping into the mist.

"We're going too!" Kiba and Akamaru followed closely behind.

Hinata quickly joined them, recalling Shinho's instructions for her and Kiba to handle the Kurosuki family members.

"Raiga, be careful!" Ranmaru's voice called from beneath Raiga's cloak. "There's something off about his chakra!"

"Off?" Raiga frowned. It wasn't often that Ranmaru made such comments.

"There are insects beneath you!" Ranmaru urgently warned.

Raiga instinctively retreated.

In that instant, a swarm of kikaichu Insects erupted from the ground, spiraling into a vortex aiming to consume him.

Lightning Release: Lightning Strike!

Raiga slashed downward with his Lightning Blades. Thunder roared from the darkened skies, striking the vortex with a deafening crash.

Many of the insects were paralyzed, their movements faltering under the assault.

Yet the vortex wasn't entirely destroyed. Under Shino's control, the remaining insects surged forward.

"Run!" Ranmaru's voice turned frantic. "It's dangerous!"

Raiga's heart skipped a beat. Ranmaru, with his Red Eyes capable of sensing, disrupting, and perceiving chakra, had saved his life countless times. 

If Ranmaru deemed something dangerous, it was wise to heed the warning.

Without hesitation, Raiga turned and fled.

Ninja Art: Lightning Armor!

Merging his blades, Raiga channeled lightning through his body, wrapping himself in a crackling barrier of energy.

Boom!

The kikaichu Insects expanded and exploded, triggering a chain of devastating blasts.

The force of the explosions fractured Raiga's Lightning Armor. If not for Ranmaru's timely warning, he would have been caught in the center of the carnage.

"What's with this guy?" Raiga muttered, shaken.

Back when he had fought the Aburame Clan in Kirigakure, they had been versatile but not overwhelmingly powerful.

But this kid? This was absurd.

Sage Art: Insect Sphere!

Shino unleashed another massive swarm of insects.

"Again?! Raiga!" Ranmaru cried out, his voice filled with alarm.

"Damn it!" Raiga growled, his frustration mounting.

As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he had faced few situations as humiliating as this—aside from the time he had been trounced by Might Duy.

Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon Tornado!

A fierce roar echoed as a dragon of pure lightning surged from the heavens, its maw wide open to devour the insects.

But Shino's swarm split apart, enveloping and consuming the lightning dragon instead.

The dragon screeched as its chakra was drained entirely.

Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning!

With gritted teeth, Raiga drove his blades into the ground.

Bolts of electricity shot outward like branching tree limbs, striking at Shino.

Caught off guard, many insects were electrocuted, their bodies charred.

A smoky aroma wafted through the air as more insects were roasted by the lightning.

But Shino remained unfazed. Raising his hand, he summoned yet another swarm of insects, each as relentless as the last.

Black clouds of insects clashed with Raiga's dazzling lightning, locking in a tense stalemate mid-air.

"Raiga, don't try to overpower him head-on," Ranmaru advised, his voice steady.

Raiga's fists clenched. The thought of retreating stung his pride. As one of the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen, how could he lose to an unknown boy?

Still, pride wouldn't save him. Begrudgingly, he relented.

Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!

Raiga formed hand seals, and a thick fog rose, obscuring everything.

The Hidden Mist Technique was Raiga's preferred method for ambushes, reserved for particularly troublesome foes.

Initially, he had assumed Shino would be easy prey, seeing his young appearance.

But reality had struck him down, forcing him to use this despised tactic.

Shino frowned as the fog enveloped the area, reducing visibility to nothing.

The only thing he could rely on now was his insects.

"Raiga must be feeling the pressure," Tsunade said with a smirk.

The mist covered the valley, and she could no longer see what was happening within.

Yet she felt no concern. The earlier exchange had proven that Shino's Sage Mode placed him above Raiga in strength.

"How long can his Sage Mode last?" Tsunade asked aloud the question in her mind.

"It's not his Sage Mode," Shinho Aburame clarified. "It's the Kikaichu Insects' Sage Mode."

"Kikaichu Insects?" Tsunade blinked in surprise.

After a brief moment of thought, the realization dawned on her.

She recalled Jiraiya's Sage Mode. Among the Sannin, he was the only one to master it, but even his version was incomplete. 

He always needed the assistance of Fukasaku and Shima to maintain balance.

True Sage Mode, like that of Hashirama Senju, didn't rely on external support.

And Shino's situation was even more peculiar. He hadn't mastered Sage Mode personally—it was carried by his Kikaichu insects.

"Wait," Tsunade said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Does this mean, theoretically, all Aburame clan shinobi could use Sage Mode?"

"In theory, yes," Shinho admitted. "But there are limitations. Due to chakra constraints, it's a weaker version of Sage Mode."

"Even a weakened Sage Mode far surpasses the abilities of most shinobi," Tsunade said, her shock giving way to admiration. "Your Aburame clan could become stronger than most bloodline limit clans in the future."

"What about your Sage Mode, Sensei?" Shinho asked with a small smile.

"I gave it a try, and so far, it's going smoothly," Tsunade sighed. "Unfortunately, it only works while I'm in my tree spirit form. If I could use it in my human form as well, it would be perfect."

She chuckled suddenly. "But I'm being greedy. Being able to train in Sage Mode at all is already a significant blessing."

Looking at Shinho, she added, "And I have you to thank for it."

"Sensei, you already thanked me last night," Shinho replied with a grin.

"..." Tsunade froze as memories of the previous night surfaced, her heartbeat quickening. She quickly turned her gaze away.

"But if you'd like to thank me again, I won't object," Shinho teased, winking.

"You brat! Are you looking for trouble?!" Tsunade snapped, glaring at him.

Not only was this an utterly inappropriate moment—Team 8 was battling not far away—but the sheer audacity of his remark left her fuming.

At that moment, an explosion echoed through the valley.

The dense mist briefly cleared, revealing a battered Raiga Kurosuki. However, the fog quickly thickened once more.

Shino stood calmly in place, surrounded by his kikaichu Insects.

No matter how Raiga tried to attack, the insects detected him. The mist that was meant to be an advantage turned into a liability as Shino used it to counterattack.

"Damn you!" Raiga's enraged voice echoed from the mist. "I'll personally see to your funeral!"

"Is that so?" Shino spoke for the first time during the battle. "The person on your back—Ranmaru, was it? Didn't he notice my Exploding Insects?"

"Exploding Insects?" Raiga's expression stiffened as he quickly asked, "Ranmaru, what's going on?"

"Impossible!" Ranmaru replied firmly. "No insect of his escaped my sight!"

"But you closed your eyes just now," Shino said, his tone even.

Exploding Insects were designed to infiltrate unnoticed, often riding on flashes of light to enter their targets.

"You're lying!" Raiga shouted, choosing to believe Ranmaru.

Lightning Blade Technique: Lightning Strike!

Raiga raised his twin blades, channeling chakra as his chest swelled ominously.

"Raiga! Stop!" Ranmaru's panicked scream broke through.

Raiga glanced down and noticed the grotesque, blister-like bulge forming on his chest.

"The more chakra you use, the faster you'll die," Shino said cooly, adjusting his glasses.

Raiga hesitated, his instincts telling him not to gamble. Reluctantly, he stopped mid-technique.

The next second, he turned and fled. But he didn't get far before Hinata Hyuga and Kiba Inuzuka intercepted him.

Having already dealt with the Kurosuki clan's other Chūnin-level shinobi, they were more than ready to confront Raiga.

"Out of my way!" Raiga roared, swinging his blades with raw physical strength. Even without chakra, the force of his attacks was formidable.

But he wasn't facing just anyone—he was up against Hinata Hyuga.

With a sudden lunge, Hinata closed the distance, her palms striking in rapid succession.

Her Gentle Fist strikes sealed Raiga's tenketsu, rendering him powerless. He collapsed to the ground, his body limp.

In his final moments of strength, Raiga thought of Ranmaru, using what little he had left to roll onto his back, shielding the boy.

"It's over," Shino murmured, gazing at Raiga's fallen form.

He felt a strange sense of disbelief. He had just defeated one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—a feat that seemed impossible not long ago.

There was no denying it now. Shino had reached Jōnin-level strength.

All of this stemmed from the special kikaichu Insect Shinho had gifted him as a child.

…

[Achievement Unlocked: Shino Aburame's "Eradication of a Professional Team" – Reward: Rainbow Transformation Gu.]

[Rainbow Transformation Gu: A Rank Four Gu, allows the user to transform into a golden arrow. Can be combined with Golden Silk Armor Gu and Swallow Wing Gu to execute the ultimate move "Golden Rainbow Strike."]

…

Shinho raised an eyebrow.

He had assumed his Golden Silk Armor Gu would become obsolete after acquiring the Turtle Jade Wolf Skin Gu. But this new development revealed its value in forming a combination technique.

…

[Achievement Unlocked: Kikaichu Insects' "I Will Strike in Human Form" – Reward: Swallow Wing Gu.]

[Swallow Wing Gu: A Rank Four Gu that grants the user four swallow-like wings, doubling their speed.]

…

Shinho's gaze flickered with surprise.

How did the Kikaichu Insects trigger their own achievement? That was unexpected.

Still, the reward was excellent. Even without considering "Golden Rainbow Strike," simply doubling his speed was a game-changer. 

Combined with Rainbow Light Gu and Golden Aroura Gu, he might even surpass the Flying Thunder God Technique in speed.

"What do you plan to do with Raiga?" Tsunade asked, walking toward the valley.

"Capture him, extract any useful information, then execute him," Shinho replied casually.

Raiga's crimes were countless. Killing him wasn't a burden—on the contrary, it served as a deterrent and boosted their reputation.

"I thought you'd let him go, like Zabuza Momochi last time," Tsunade remarked, surprised.

"There's no need," Shinho said dismissively. "Kirigakure doesn't have anything that interests me anymore."

"Don't get too cocky!" Tsunade chided, reaching up to flick Shinho's forehead. However, her shorter stature made it difficult.

"Yes, ma'am!" Shinho replied, feigning seriousness.

"What are you doing?" Tsunade scolded, stepping back as she realized how casual their interaction had become. 

She quickly created some distance, mindful of Team 8's watchful eyes.

"What about the person on Raiga's back?" Tsunade asked, glancing at Ranmaru.

"His eyes are valuable," Shinho said thoughtfully. "We'll take him back for research."

The Red Eye, a superior version of the Byakugan, would be wasted if Ranmaru were simply killed. If his eyes could be transplanted, they might prove incredibly useful.

As for whether it was cruel, Shinho felt no guilt. Ranmaru had aided Raiga in countless murders and deserved punishment.

…

[Achievement Unlocked: "Light of Justice" – Reward: Sword Qi Gu.]

[Sword Qi Gu: A Rank Four Gu that allows the user to unleash a translucent, pale-white sword energy.]

…

Shinho smirked as the text appeared before his eyes.

"Light of Justice"? How ironic.

The Sword Qi Gu was a straightforward attack-focused Gu and less useful compared to his strength-oriented Gu, but it was still a good addition. Better to have it than not.

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