"Voluntarily getting poisoned?"
Shibi Aburame paused—
then immediately understood.
"You mean… using the kikaichū's evolutionary traits?"
"Exactly," Souma nodded.
"If a host is exposed once, the next generation of kikaichū may retain resistance to that specific toxin. Over multiple reproductive cycles, they should naturally optimize."
Shibi whispered to himself:
"…Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"
Souma continued calmly:
"But if someone created a toxin specifically targeting kikaichū, then the enemy must understand your clan very well.
My guess? Either Sunagakure… or, well—"
He didn't speak that sensitive name aloud.
But Shibi understood perfectly.
Shibi had considered Orochimaru.
If there was a master of poison, it was him.
He exhaled slowly.
"If evolution works, then we won't need an antidote at all."
"Right. But researching the toxin still takes time," Souma reminded him.
"You could also try diluted injections—controlled exposure, instead of full poisoning."
Shibi went silent.
The kid wasn't just clever—
he thought in ways people normally didn't dare to.
Of course Souma was willing to help.
The Aburame clan's abilities were incredibly useful, their cooperation with Anbu and Root made them powerful allies—
And insect-based research was a wide-open frontier.
Even Souma himself had never thought about it before today.
Souma's eyes brightened.
He stared at Shibi like he'd just found a new research goldmine.
Shibi opened his mouth several times but didn't know how to phrase anything.
Finally—
"…Souma-kun. Do you… study insects too?"
"No," Souma said honestly.
"But I'm very interested in your kikaichū. For example—your detoxifying species. If you expand their capabilities, they might be extremely useful in medical treatment."
"Medical… treatment?"
Shibi was stunned.
Detoxifying insects were standard for the Aburame clan—nothing special.
But Souma wasn't talking about detoxification.
He was talking about a new field.
"Exactly," Souma said. "Do you have a kikaichū that can temporarily store chakra?"
"…Not at the moment."
Shibi froze, then realized the direction of Souma's thinking.
"You mean… insects that absorb medical chakra and release it inside the body?"
"Some wounds are hard to reach with traditional medical jutsu," Souma said.
"But an insect can get in easily."
Shibi's sunglasses almost cracked.
If kikaichū could enter the body carrying medical chakra…
That changes everything.
"And if they're small enough to be invisible to the naked eye," Souma continued,
"they won't even need a surgical opening."
"—!!"
That species existed.
It was extremely rare.
The nano-kikaichū of Aburame Shihei's branch.
"But our clan can't use medical ninjutsu…" Shibi murmured.
"So what? I don't know medical ninjutsu either," Souma shrugged.
"You just need medical knowledge and proper coordination.
Come on—this is the modern era. We don't need to cling to old-fashioned methods."
Shibi stared blankly.
He had never, not once, considered that kikaichū could be used in medical combat support.
But now…
It all made terrifying sense.
Kikaichū is cultivated for medical use.
Field treatment.
On-the-spot internal delivery.
If this was completed—
The Aburame clan would become mobile emergency medical units.
Shibi finally understood why Danzō had pointed him toward Yagyu Souma.
This boy's thinking wasn't just clever.
It was in a different dimension.
Shibi struggled for words.
Calling him "a genius" didn't even begin to cover it.
After a long silence, he finally muttered:
"…What a pity."
"Pity what? Is there a problem?"
"No, no," Shibi coughed.
"I mean it's a pity you're so young.
If you were older… I'd like you to mentor my son."
Souma blinked.
Mentor… Shino?
"Ah, right," Souma thought.
He was only thirteen.
In peaceful times, promoting someone this young to elite jonin would be impossible—and dangerous.
"If you don't mind," Souma said,
"I'd like you to write up a research proposal. Then we can apply for a joint research project."
"…Very well. Thank you."
Shibi tried to refuse.
But…
He also wanted access to the Creation Book, and the chance to view Souma's newly invented medical techniques.
And—
if this research succeeded—
he would owe Souma a massive favor.
Money wasn't a useful reward; Souma's improved soldier pills and medicinal baths were bestsellers across the village.
He clearly didn't lack funds.
Shibi felt a headache coming on.
"And the antidote research?" he asked.
"Oh, that? No need," Souma said.
"You can handle toxicology yourselves. I'll check the poison sample when I have time."
Shibi understood immediately.
A lethal, clan-targeting poison was not something the Aburame could entrust to an outsider.
"Thank you," he said quietly, and left with complicated emotions—both heavy and excited.
Souma walked back toward the road and saw Kakashi, Tenten, and Kazane sitting at a street stall, grilling skewers.
He grabbed one right out of Tenten's hand.
"Eh—!? You—"
"Thanks."
Souma bit into it, satisfied.
Tenten froze.
She had just licked that one.
…
Whatever.
She would pretend she didn't remember.
She asked instead:
"So what did the Aburame clan leader want?"
"Cough!"
Kakashi nearly spat out his drink—
and would have, if not for the mask.
Instead, it soaked the inside.
He couldn't worry about that now.
This topic was sensitive!
Kazane was also curious, but understood well enough not to pry into clan secrets.
Souma answered casually:
"Nothing much. He asked about medical research, and I gave some suggestions. I also asked if they'd ever considered developing medical applications."
"PFFT—!"
Kakashi's drink actually sprayed inside his mask.
Aburame clan.
Medical ninjutsu.
Was this child insane??
Souma blinked at the reaction.
"What? If kikaichū can absorb medical chakra, then deliver it inside the human body, they'd outperform traditional medical techniques in some scenarios."
Kakashi fell silent for a long time.
Tenten and Kazane both shuddered at the idea of insects crawling into a person for treatment.
Creepy.
Very, very creepy.
But Kakashi, thinking as a shinobi, realized—
It was actually brilliant.
On battlefields, medical-nin weren't always available.
But if the kikaichū could store chakra…
And serve as transport…
The Aburame clan could function as emergency responders.
He stared at Souma.
Why…
Why did he feel like spending time around this kid lowered his own IQ?
Kakashi sighed at himself.
"You three go rest. I'll go make the mission report."
"Okay~!"
"Tenten, not you. You're carrying the ninja tools."
"…"
Too happy too soon.
She waved to the others and followed Kakashi toward the Hokage Tower.
After a while, she glanced up slyly.
"Hehehe… Kakashi-sensei, are you feeling kinda defeated today?"
"Hm? Why would I feel defeated?"
Kakashi had already switched to a fresh mask without anyone noticing.
"Oh, right—
You've been busy with ninja tools lately.
Have you kept up with Earth Release training?
How about a special training session tomorrow?"
"…I'm very sorry! I was wrong!!"
"Heh. Then tomorrow, we'll train a completely different jutsu."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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