The classroom buzzed with noise as students arrived. Aburame Shiki slipped into a seat in the back row. If he wanted to study his clan's forbidden techniques, he obviously couldn't do it under his teacher's supervision—or in front of any classmates.
At the very least, he needed privacy.
Shiki planned to cultivate an insect powerful enough to push him into Kage-level strength. But cultivating a bug that strong was incredibly difficult. The Aburame clan had tried since ancient times and invested unimaginable resources… yet still failed.
Phosphorus beetles were one of their few successes, but their restrictions were too severe.
For Shiki, however, the Forbidden Jutsu: Pot Poison Technique was an essential cornerstone of the insect he envisioned.
The Pot Poison Technique was one of the Aburame clan's deepest forbidden arts. It gathered corpses into a sealed container, released poisonous insects inside, and activated a barrier to force the swarm to multiply uncontrollably. As the dead cells decomposed, toxic gas built up, and once the barrier was broken, the explosion dispersed a massive poisonous cloud—killing all living creatures that inhaled even a trace.
The insect born from this process would later be named the Parasitic Locust by Aburame Shiki.
To put it simply, Parasitic Locusts = parasitic insects + phosphorus toxicity + Samehada's chakra-devouring ability + the Second Tsuchikage's Split Technique + Hashirama-cell regenerative chakra + the Forbidden Pot Poison Technique.
As their core form, the Parasitic Locusts inherited lethal phosphorus-contact death, Samehada-like chakra absorption, and the ability to split like the Second Tsuchikage's jutsu. Upon death, they could release chakra via Hashirama cells to trigger a miniature poisonous explosion modeled after the Pot Poison Technique.
They could attack individually or as an overwhelming swarm—terrifying in every sense.
This was, without question, the greatest creation Aburame Shiki could imagine so far.
It was a promising concept—but for anyone else, absolutely impossible. Combining abilities wasn't simple addition; the difficulty multiplied exponentially.
But Shiki was different. The Primordial Gu, which had followed him into this world, gave him complete confidence. As long as he met the conditions, he could create the Parasitic Locusts.
"Beautiful…"Just imagining it made Aburame Shiki grin uncontrollably.
On the podium, Yoshino Taiga watched the students find their seats one after another, pleased with how smoothly things were going.
"Students," he announced, "I am your homeroom teacher, Yoshino Taiga. I look forward to guiding you."
The moment he spoke, the noisy discussions died down.
"Hello, teacher! I'm Uchiha Obito. Please take good care of me!" Obito said loudly.
Still hyped from his earlier interaction with the Third Hokage, Obito was unusually energetic.
With him taking the lead, the whole class revived again, voices rising as students introduced themselves one by one.
Watching these lively children made Yoshino Taiga feel a little younger.
As a civilian-born ninja, becoming a chūnin had been incredibly difficult for him—"narrow escape from death" wasn't an exaggeration. Ninjas without clan resources or talent often stayed at the bottom forever.
Look at Might Duy: without the Eight Gates, he had remained a genin for years.
Many ninjas were "ten-thousand-year genin," especially those from civilian backgrounds.
On peaceful days, they survived by taking miscellaneous tasks—pulling weeds, finding lost pets, cleaning streets. But in wartime, they were the first to be sent out—and the first to die.
Yoshino Taiga, through hardship after hardship, had reached chūnin. For a civilian ninja, that alone was enviable.
Becoming a teacher at the Ninja Academy was an even greater honor. After all, the Third Hokage himself was the school's principal.
Being assigned to a class personally monitored by the Hokage—and given the privilege of reporting his evaluations directly—made Yoshino Taiga feel almost as excited as Obito earlier.
Such was the influence of the Third Hokage during this era. He worked tirelessly to win the people's hearts. Many, like Yoshino Taiga, truly felt proud to serve him.
"The first lesson today," Taiga began, "is about our great Hokages."
He straightened his back, cleared his throat, and said, "Before the era of shinobi villages, the ninja world was a constant battlefield. Individuals fought individuals, clans fought clans. Even children your age were forced onto the battlefield."
"At that time, one man stepped forward. To protect children from war and to pursue peace, he gathered like-minded comrades and founded Konoha."
"I know! It was the First Hokage!" several children shouted eagerly.
"Yes," Taiga nodded. "The First Hokage created Konoha and dedicated his life to peace."
"Next is the Second Hokage. He perfected the shinobi village system. The Ninja Academy we stand in today exists because of him. Konoha's strength owes much to his contributions."
He paused, his tone growing passionate, posture solemn.
"And finally—the strongest Hokage in history—the Third Hokage.
A true master of ninjutsu, capable of all five elemental styles, incomparable among the Hokages."
"His strength is unmatched, and his ideology—his Will of Fire—is a priceless legacy. It is a creed we should all strive to live by."
"Wherever the leaves fly, the fire burns. The flame will continue to light the village and give rise to new leaves…"
Yoshino Taiga spoke with fervor.
Aburame Shiki nodded occasionally. He wasn't sure if the Third Hokage was watching through the Telescope Technique, so appearing respectful cost him nothing.
Still, he found Taiga's boldness amusing. Praising the Third Hokage's Will of Fire when everyone knew it originated from Hashirama and Madara… If Hiruzen was listening, he must be feeling awkward.
And indeed—in the Hokage's office—the Third Hokage was listening through his Telescope Technique. Yoshino Taiga's flattery made him blush with embarrassment.
He might have secretly enjoyed it…if Shimura Danzō hadn't been standing beside him.
After all, Danzō knew exactly what Hiruzen was like.
"Hiruzen," Danzō said coldly, "your supporters seem stable. Still, the Uchiha must remain under surveillance. I need more manpower for Root."
Unlike others, Danzō wasn't moved by Hiruzen's reputation. Hiruzen was Hokage—of course he would appear strongest. Otherwise he couldn't keep the other four villages in check.
Back in the classroom, after finishing his speech, Yoshino Taiga encouraged the students to share their thoughts.
Eventually, it was Aburame Shiki's turn.
"Konoha's accomplishments are inseparable from the Third Hokage's leadership," Shiki said calmly. "But even more so from the people who work in the shadows, never seeking credit. And he—my friend—is the true hero."
"He has endured a lifetime of scorn for the sake of others. He carries the burden silently. He works tirelessly for the next generation."
When Danzō heard this, he was stunned.Most who knew him despised him—but he didn't care. He lived only for Konoha.
Still… to hear a child of the new generation speak well of him?
It shocked him deeply.
This meant—surely—it meant his contributions were recognized. That his reputation had taken root among the youth.
Round that up, and he could become Hokage.Round that up again, and he would lead Konoha to dominate the entire shinobi world.
Lost in the grand fantasy, Danzō felt his chest heat with pride.
"Hiruzen," he said suddenly, "this boy understands the true foundations of Konoha. Give him to me. I will shape him into a pillar of the village."
"No." Hiruzen refused immediately. "The boy has the Will of Fire. I won't hand him over."
Aburame Shiki's situation had already been explained to the Third Hokage. Hiruzen knew how dangerous—and potentially uncontrollable—Shiki could become.
Giving him to Danzō would be disastrous.
The previous Aburame prodigy, Ryōma, had already tried to kill Hiruzen. Even the Will of Fire hadn't saved that situation.
Root's ideology was twisted from birth—Hiruzen would not let Danzō corrupt another child.
Subconsciously, he suppressed Danzō's influence even further, unwilling to let Root expand unchecked.
Being abruptly rejected, Danzō felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. His lofty fantasies shattered instantly.
"Hiruzen," he growled, "you will regret this."
"I am the fire—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, Danzō stormed out of the room.
It seemed he had truly taken psychic damage from the exchange.