Chapter 171
"Jūshi? That's a pretty cool name." Shino's lower face, hidden beneath his high collar, showed a flicker of interest. The person across from him had only summoned a single bug, but that bug wasn't ordinary.
"Judging by its aura, that little thing is weak. I could kill it with any random insect. It doesn't seem to have any notable offensive capabilities." Shino released a swarm of half-cultivated bugs. Due to the urgency of his preparation, the number of insects this time was small.
That's right—after his first swarm was wiped out, Shino had immediately started cultivating bugs specifically resistant to Aburame Hatsuizumi's mind control. The process wasn't easy, but the Aburame clan's insects could evolve infinitely. Given enough time, he was confident he could breed a strain completely immune to her influence.
The insects that now emerged from his body were clearly premature. Their wings and antennae hadn't fully developed—proof of how rushed Shino had been.
Even Aburame Hatsuizumi noticed something unique about this batch. She raised her brows and looked at the newborn bugs with a faint smirk.
"Infinite evolution, huh? Makes them harder to control... But that's fine. I don't need to control them. Do whatever you want." Hatsuizumi said flatly. Even after one generation of evolution, Shino's insects couldn't resist her absolute command. Her armor wasn't just for show—it boosted her capabilities across the board.
Though Shino's insects could partially resist her influence, they quickly retreated when faced with her Jūshi, which they should've been able to devour easily.
"They're scared... Something's definitely wrong," Shino muttered. He couldn't pinpoint the issue with Jūshi, but the simplest solution was to attack it directly.
"Hua La La~"
His insects surged forth like a plague of locusts. The buzzing of their wings sent chills through the air. Reluctant though they were, they couldn't disobey orders and charged at the dead-eyed clone across from them like mindless drones.
Yet Jushi, or rather the bug shell acting as its core, didn't react. Not even when it was torn apart by Shino's insects. It resembled a failed test subject still asleep in cryostasis.