c34 - Your Poisonous Nano Bug Is Worthless
Yuuji calmly assessed the person standing before him. Aburame Torune, though often known for his reserved nature, had taken his appearance a step further with a skintight suit that felt out of place, even among his own clan's more reserved style.
"I don't believe we've met before," Yuuji remarked. "Could you tell me your name?"
"I'm Aburame Torune," the man said flatly, eyes coldly scrutinizing Yuuji. 'So, this is the descendant of Shiranui, the so-called genius who defeated Hatake Kakashi. No wonder Lord Danzo has shown interest in him.' Torune thought. His regret gnawed at him for not approaching Yuuji sooner, before his defeat of Kakashi, when he might have convinced him to join Root. Now, it seemed a mistake—one he'd need to address.
"Ah, Senior Torune, I'm here to visit Shibi-sensei. We had an appointment for a later time," Yuuji continued, his words polite, though his mind remained alert.
"Appointment?" Torune's voice was skeptical. "When was this arranged?"
"About a week ago," Yuuji replied. "He said he'd be available, but I only remembered today and decided to stop by."
Torune nodded silently before gesturing for Yuuji to follow. They walked through the Aburame clan's territory, a place of quiet dignity where the clan's unique practice of raising insects was evident. The air was thick with the presence of insects, some of which even basked in the sunlight.
"These insects are cultivated by the clan members," Torune explained as they passed by. "Some of them prefer warmth and sunlight."
Yuuji nodded, noting the eerie quiet of the place. He sensed they were moving further away from the residential areas, and as they neared a more secluded, forested part of the clan's grounds, Yuuji's curiosity grew.
"Hasn't Shibi-sensei's residence been further ahead?" Yuuji asked, noting the direction they were heading.
Torune halted, turning toward him with a cold smile. "You're perceptive. We aren't going to Shibi's house. Instead, I've brought you here for a different reason."
Yuuji raised an eyebrow. "A different reason? What is it, then? You didn't bring me here just for some small talk, did you?"
Torune's voice was calm but filled with a faint edge of authority. "Your talent is extraordinary, Yuuji. It should not be squandered. You belong in a place where you can make a true difference."
Yuuji paused, his tone wary but not hostile. "And where would that be?"
"Root," Torune replied, his eyes narrowing with a calculating gleam. "A clandestine organization within Konoha. Led by Shimura Danzo. You may have heard of him—he was once a candidate for Hokage."
Yuuji thought for a moment before responding. "I know of him. He's a highly respected figure, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer."
Torune's eyes remained expressionless as Yuuji spoke, though a flash of annoyance flickered in his gaze. "You don't understand, Yuuji. Root can offer you the opportunity to truly apply the Will of Fire in a way that benefits the village on a larger scale."
Yuuji's gaze hardened, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I respect Konoha and its leaders, but I'm not interested in joining an organization I know nothing about. Maybe I'll apply for Anbu instead—at least there, I can be certain of what I'm getting into. And I'll tell you this: I refuse to be coerced into anything. I'm no fool."
Torune's face twitched, but he quickly masked his irritation. "I see. You are proud. But you'll come to understand the need for organizations like Root in time. Until then..." Torune's hands suddenly moved, and a flurry of nanometer-sized bugs rushed toward Yuuji.
Yuuji's eyes narrowed as he felt the distinct presence of the nano bugs. "Is this supposed to intimidate me, Senior Torune?"
Torune smirked. "These are my specially cultivated nano bugs. They're beyond your comprehension, capable of infiltrating your body and poisoning you from within. Let's see how you handle them."
Yuuji's expression grew serious as the bugs began to surround him, crawling up his body in a way that felt both foreign and invasive. However, he remained unmoved, his chakra pulsing with controlled energy.
"I've heard of these," Yuuji said calmly. "But do you honestly think they can touch me?"
Torune's smirk faltered as the bugs began to crawl onto Yuuji, attempting to infiltrate his body. But within moments, Yuuji's body began to glow faintly, his chakra overwhelming the tiny insects.
Torune's eyes widened as he realized the situation. "What… how are you…"
The nano bugs that had been attacking Yuuji started to shrivel and die at an astonishing rate. Their microscopic forms were obliterated by the sheer force of Yuuji's chakra. The insects, which Torune had so proudly cultivated, were powerless against Yuuji's energy.
Torune's mouth went dry. "Impossible… Your chakra is... interfering with the nanometer level?!" He could hardly believe it. This was no simple genetic ability—Yuuji's power surpassed even what he had anticipated.
Yuuji's smile faded as he spoke, his voice a calm whisper laced with menace. "Your lifetime of work is nothing more than a joke."
In an instant, Yuuji released a concentrated burst of energy—radiation unlike anything Torune had ever witnessed. The attack was invisible to the eye, but its effect was devastating. Waves of radiation surged toward Torune, annihilating the nano bugs instantly and then turning on Torune himself.
Torune screamed as the waves of radiation poured into him, his body beginning to swell and rupture as the attack obliterated his cells. The overwhelming force of Yuuji's power tore through his body, breaking down his tissues and rendering his own nanometer weapon entirely useless.
Yuuji looked down at Torune, now writhing in agony, his body becoming grotesque and disfigured. "You were warned, Torune," Yuuji said coolly. "Don't think you can play with me and walk away unharmed."
With that, Yuuji turned, walking away from the scene of destruction. Torune's body lay lifeless, consumed by the very technology he had once been so proud of.
"You were nothing more than a nuisance," Yuuji murmured to himself as he disappeared into the distance, the echoes of Torune's final screams fading behind him.
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