Aburame Shiki was exceptionally busy at the Ninja Academy.On the one hand, he had to study the forbidden technique known as the Poison Vessel, a jutsu involving an intricate sealing method that was notoriously complicated.
Clan elder Aburame Shidan repeatedly tested Shiki's level of chakra control before he finally agreed to pass on the Poison Vessel technique.
Rather than saying the forbidden jutsu was too difficult to learn, it was more accurate to say it was too controversial.
The Poison Vessel required a corpse—enemy or ally. And the stronger the corpse, the more chakra it held, the better the technique's effect.
But what happened on a battlefield when enemy corpses were scarce?What if the jutsu's power wasn't enough?Would you be expected to use the corpse of your own comrade?
If someone used a powerful ally's body for the Poison Vessel, who would accept responsibility for such a crime?
Imagine using the body of the First Hokage as the core material for the jutsu…Konoha would not only execute you immediately—they'd probably scatter your ashes on the spot and send you to accompany the First Hokage in the afterlife.
Of course, no other corpse compared to the First Hokage's, but even lesser transgressions came with consequences too heavy to ignore.
On the other hand, Shiki also needed to study basic medical knowledge to prepare for future nanoworm manipulation.He had to understand anatomy thoroughly—this was the foundation for future advancement and for gaining leverage within the village.
He also needed to cultivate ordinary, non-chakra insects.
Some shinobi were remarkably sensitive to chakra signatures, and insects infused with chakra could be detected.Ordinary insects were different—they blended into the environment. Even if discovered, they were dismissed as part of nature.
A shinobi's first instinct when identifying a threat was to detect chakra.If something lacked chakra, it was generally classified as harmless.
Shiki saw value in exploiting this blind spot.
"Too busy…"Aburame Shiki flopped lazily onto his back, watching his rowdy classmates entertain themselves with mischief.
Morino Ibiki, Shiranui Genma, and Gekkō Hayate whispered among themselves, occasionally covering their mouths to stifle laughter.They ignored the teacher completely.
Then there was Uchiha Obito—late once again because he had stopped to help an elderly woman cross the street.
Their homeroom teacher, Yoshino Taiga, was furious. He could tolerate being late once or twice, but Obito was late every single day.
"This won't do at all. Time is crucial for shinobi. A moment's delay can ruin a mission and cause irreversible losses," Yoshino Taiga scolded sternly.
"…Forget it. Sit down. Just be mindful next time."
He sighed helplessly when Obito bowed repeatedly and apologized. After all, Obito was from the Uchiha clan—going too far with punishment wouldn't end well.
Besides, every student in the class was considered a promising seedling. Yoshino Taiga truly struggled to reprimand them harshly.
He was only a civilian-born chūnin. His main role was to instill the Will of Fire, encourage bonds between students, and ensure they grew up safely.His teachings were useful, but limited to theory and basic taijutsu.When it came to ninjutsu, he was restricted to the Three Basic Techniques.
For these highly talented and well-connected children, his instruction wasn't entirely useless… but it didn't contribute much, either.
Time passed quickly, and the day's classes ended.
"The practical evaluation will be held in three days. Everyone, make your preparations," Yoshino Taiga announced. He intended to assess each student before reporting to the Third Hokage.
"Shiki, what do you think? Feeling confident?"
Genma strolled over, twirling a senbon, with Hayate and Ibiki beside him.
Usually, Aburame Shiki and Hatake Kakashi held the highest training scores, both receiving full marks. Everyone was curious who was truly stronger.
"It's fine," Shiki replied lazily.
Kakashi turned and gave Shiki a serious, lingering look.
Kakashi was confident in his own ability, yet he could feel Shiki's strength—this boy was his rival.
"I won't hold back in three days," Kakashi said coolly, drawing the attention of several female classmates.
"I'll be giving it my all too," Shiki answered.
Shiki had been preparing for the practical evaluation for a long time. His opponent would be the inheritor of the taijutsu taught by the White Fang of Konoha—he had been looking forward to this fight.
At first, many female students gathered around Shiki, curious about him…But after Shiki accidentally released a few of his insects, the girls screamed and fled toward Kakashi.Shiki was left surrounded by boys.
—Superficial women, Shiki muttered inwardly.
Still, he did not underestimate Kakashi.Kakashi was a prodigy—a Konoha legend. He graduated at five, became a chūnin at six.His strength was undeniable.
When Kakashi returned home, he went straight to the courtyard to practice his sword swings, adjusting his breathing and sharpening his focus for the battle in three days.
At some point, Hatake Sakumo appeared silently and watched his son's training.
Kakashi was far more focused today than usual.
When he finally finished practicing and sheathed his sword, Sakumo sat beside him on the wooden bench.
"Kakashi, did something happen today? You were working awfully hard."
"I met a classmate… Aburame Shiki. He's strong. In three days, we'll be facing each other in the practical exam."
Kakashi briefly explained, eyes shining with fighting spirit, as though he could already see Shiki before him.
Sakumo chuckled softly and patted Kakashi's head.
"It's good to make friends… even if they become your rivals. Those bonds never fade."
"I'll work hard," Kakashi promised.
"I planned to teach you this later… but seeing how dedicated you are, I'll show you now."
Sakumo swung his blade, releasing a crescent-shaped arc of chakra that sliced through a wooden training post.A moment later, the stump split cleanly in two, the cross-section smooth as glass.
"S-So strong…" Kakashi stared, stunned.
Sakumo laughed at his son's expression."You'll have to study it well."
Meanwhile, Aburame Shiki was practicing the Aburame clan's secret techniques.He would be facing Kakashi in three days, and without the phosphorus beetles, defeating him immediately would be difficult.
Shiki craved resources—anything that could help him grow stronger.
"To prove my worth, I need enough leverage to exchange for one of Konoha's forbidden techniques before the Third Shinobi War."
He exhaled slowly, calming the frustration in his chest.
"Right now, I'm still not worth enough—whether to bargain with Orochimaru or to be accepted as a disciple by Danzō…"
Shiki never even considered becoming a student of the Third Hokage.Wanting something didn't make it possible—Hiruzen's political network was deeply entrenched.The interests surrounding him would never allow just anyone to become his disciple.
Besides, the Third had his sights set on Namikaze Minato. He had no intention of taking on another student.
Among the Sannin, Tsunade was rarely in the village.Jiraiya was preoccupied with Minato and with Nagato—children he suspected were tied to prophecy. He had no intention of accepting a new disciple either.Orochimaru would eventually defect, and becoming his student would only bring trouble to the Aburame clan.
Shiki sighed.
"The combination of parasitic insects and phosphorus insects isn't enough. At best, it's a sharp blade… but not enough to reach the upper echelons."
"I hope today's actions catch Danzō's attention."
If Danzō dared to send someone to observe him, Shiki would dare to request apprenticeship.
Whether Danzō agreed or not didn't matter—the request would plant a seed in his heart.If Shiki eventually became valuable enough, Danzō would reconsider taking him in.
And if Danzō sent someone to try to force him?
Shiki's current strength wasn't trivial. If he fully unleashed both parasitic and phosphorus insects, his power was comparable to a special jōnin.He might not win, but he could escape.Danzō wouldn't go all-out on a single Academy student. At most, he'd send one jōnin.
Worst case? He'd be stamped with a binding curse seal.
With the original Gu technique, Shiki could erode such a seal slowly—and then grow rapidly using Root's resources.
Then, when the time came, he would return the favor in a very traditional Konoha manner—betray the master and uproot the predecessor.