"I wonder if they also shower and sleep with their sunglasses on," Naruto remarked under his breath.
"That's not something you have to ask Naruto," Shino replied as he and his father Shibi walked over to them. Behind them were a couple of the other members of the Aburame Clan. Upon getting close to Honoka, they felt the same experience Shino felt when he approached Honoka for the first time, and what Shino was feeling now was no different as he kept his bugs under control.
"Your presence in our hive has indeed stirred up an unusual amount of excitement and fervor among our bugs. It's as my son described of his encounter with you Honoka-san. I'm surprised I didn't experience this yesterday during out meeting at the Hokage Tower," Shibi said.
"I suppose my chakra wasn't as potent at that moment for whatever reason," Honoka admitted with a nervous laugh while scratching the back of her head.
"Regardless of the reason, we welcome you into our home and the Aburame Hive."
"Hive? I'm surprise you guys don't use the terms "nest" or "colony"," Naruto admitted.
"We do, but for specific designations," Shibi corrected, "Each member of the Aburame Clan is given their own bug colony sealed into their body. The nest is where these special bugs are bred. But all of us living and co-existing together on this land in our symbiotic make up form one huge hive."
Naruto nodded in understanding, as did Honoka.
In the past, I'm sure I wouldn't have understood some of the things he said, Naruto admitted to himself.
Shibi continued, "Before we proceed, as the head of the Aburame Clan, I wish to offer my most sincere apologies and personally say, I'm sorry, for the turmoil and hardships you were forced to endure in our village, Uzumaki Naruto-san. The actions of the Shinobi and Civilian Council were strongly disapproved of by my clansmen. The Shodai and Nidaime's laws should have prevented this corruption of our village's education system.
"The actions of my clan's higher ups towards you, along with my own, regardless of our unwillingness to be part of it from the start, were found to be illogical and disappointing by my clansmen, thus our dedication to logic and sound reasoning had been questioned by many of our own. It will take some time for the higher ups and myself to make amends for our poor choices in the past in regards to you, Naruto-san. On behalf of my clansmen and myself, I ask that you please accept our most sincere apologies."
Though Shibi didn't get on his hands and knees before Naruto like Tsume did, it was very clear to Naruto and Honoka that Shibi was honest in his approach, and considering the Aburame Clan, Shibi's speech and humble tone revealed feelings of regret. It was clear that no excuses for their past actions were being made. They owned up to their mistakes.
"I accept your apology, Shibi-san," Naruto said, giving a respectful nod of acknowledgment. Shibi nodded in return and gestured for Naruto and Honoka to follow along with them.
"Please come in, as we give you a personal tour of the hive," Shibi invited. The two Uzumaki followed from behind with Shino and others coming along while their bugs were still begging their owners to allow them to sample Honoka's chakra. As they were walking through, butterflies, lady bugs and dragonflies started flying around Honoka.
As the insects were circling around Honoka, she stopped to admire them as she stretched out her hand, allowing some of the insects to land on her fingers and shoulders as she viewed them.
"They're beautiful," Honoka said, complimenting the insects as she looked at all the different colors and patterns of their bodies. Looking around, she added that the Aburame Clan has a lovely home that was really in tune with nature.
"This is just like that time with the Inuzaka Clan. Honoka-nee. I'm really gonna have to get you to learn how to control and shut off that effect at will," Naruto chuckled.
"Whatever you say, Naruto-sensei," Honoka snorted sarcastically.
"Your humility is such a refreshment, Honoka-nee," Naruto remarked only for Honoka to stick her tongue out at him.
Those two really do behave like siblings, Shino thought as he observed how the two Uzumaki interacted with each other. Some of the other Aburame members though were thinking about how influential Honoka's special chakra was in drawing out insects of various species and size. Like the Inuzuka, they were thinking that she could be an asset to them in acquiring new species of bugs for their research and potential ninja use. She would be like a queen matriarch among insects. But unlike the Inuzuka, the Aburame Clan members knew when to keep their personal thoughts to themselves.
Naruto and Honoka followed Shibi to another sector of the hive. In the meantime, Honoka managed to have the dragonflies, lady bugs, and butterflies take off and go about their business. After another minute, they stood front of a one story building.
"Where are we now?" Naruto asked.
"This is where my clansmen research insects with the intent of learning how to apply their abilities better for missions," Shibi explained before opening the door and allowing the two guests into the facility. Entering the building, the first thing Naruto and Honoka saw was a long hall way with eight doors on both sides.
Quite the number of doors you have here," Naruto remarked.
"Each room is designated for a specific purpose but we'll let you see at least two of these rooms," Shino replied as he opened the first door, revealing a research library with a couple of tables, shelves of books and several computers and printers.
"Your library," Naruto said.
"Our archive and data collection of our findings related to insects," Shino clarified. Naruto and Honoka's right eyebrows twitched while wondering just how many kinds of insect species the Aburame Clan found just by looking at all of the books on the shelves. When Naruto thought about the possible number…
"I had no idea that there were so many different kinds of bugs," Naruto admitted.
"My clan has been intent in finding as many as possible in our quest to discover the the purpose of each of their existences," Shino commented, "Beetles and ants happen to be among the personal favorites of several of my clansmen. This is one of the rare rooms in this facility that's open to everyone in the village, as we wish to share our vast knowledge and research with others interested in studying insects."
Naruto nodded as they entered the archive. Honoka noticed that the library had insects encased in small glass cases hanging on the walls in display. The insects ranged from various species of butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, hornets, grasshoppers, ants, mantises, locusts, flies, dragonflies, wasps, crickets, and others from the elemental nations. Honoka went to one of the books on butterflies and opened it. She skimmed through the book, looking at the many kinds of colors, designs, and shapes some butterflies came in.
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