Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 2 Sunlight Should Not Be Stained with Blood

The morning mist in the forest is warmed by the sunlight, but only when you go deeper into the forest do you feel the dampness.

Aburame Shisei, along with Mori no Kazuya, leaped across the tree trunks in the forest. His speed increased and his steps became lighter, while Kazuya's movements became heavier and heavier, and he soon began to pant heavily.

"Zhicheng-kun, what exactly is the mission? Why the rush? *sigh*"

"Let's talk about it once we're outside the village."

"At least tell me where you're going."

"West side."

"Where is to the west? Is it the battlefield of the Land of Grass, or the battlefield of the Land of Rivers?"

"Or... wait for me, I'm still injured."

Seeing himself being pulled further and further away, Kazuya took the opportunity to block his way.

"Zhicheng-kun, I suddenly feel like you're acting a bit strange. We just finished a mission in the village, and we could have rested for a long time, so why did you suddenly get a mission? And usually, you like to rest the most, right? You're always so unhurried when you go on a mission, but this time you're in such a hurry."

Furthermore, my injuries haven't healed yet, and our team has lost two comrades, leaving us incomplete. And no one has been appointed as captain yet. How did a team like this receive a mission? Shouldn't the normal procedure be to merge with other teams to form a new one?

Kazuya spoke more and more, becoming increasingly suspicious of the mission's authenticity. Finally, Kazuya looked at him and asked with doubt for the first time, "Ever since you left the village, have you been thinking about getting rid of me?"

"Zhicheng-kun, what exactly are you going to do?"

"You figured it out."

He flashed behind Kazuya, intending to knock him unconscious, but the other party was prepared and dodged his attack.

"Don't even think about knocking me out. Tell me why!"

"It's just like what you see."

He didn't want to linger any longer and waste time, so he continued to flee into the distance, because there were still patrolling secret forces in the mountains and forests outside the village, which was the last checkpoint before he could leave the village.

Kazuya saw through his intentions and chased after him frantically, but Kazuya's speed was limited, and he was about to be left behind, so he shouted from behind, "Shisei-kun, stop!"

Aburame Shisei stopped.

He knew that if Kazuya continued to make a scene, it would soon attract the attention of the patrolling secret service.

Kazuya seized the opportunity to catch up with him, panting heavily.

Before Kazuya could speak, he said, "Kazu Mori."

"Um?"

Have you ever thought about dying?

Kazuya was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Why are you suddenly asking this question? Ninjas can die at any time. But now that I'm a Chunin, I'm not so easy to die."

Seeing that the other person still didn't understand, he shook his head and continued to explain: "What if, as you believe, your best friend wants to kill you?"

Kazuya's smile froze on his face. He scratched his head with his only remaining good hand and then laughed awkwardly twice.

"Zhicheng-kun, I didn't expect you to joke like that, hahaha, you scared me to death."

He stopped laughing because Aburame Shisei had stopped laughing.

"The mission was fake; I'm defecting."

"I know, but you haven't left the village yet. It's not too late to back down. Tell me what happened, or what's on your mind? You can tell me, and we'll solve it together!"

"Zhicheng-kun, do you know what happens to a rogue ninja? They're hunted down by the entire ninja world, living in the shadows for the rest of their lives. You're only eighteen, you have a bright future ahead of you. The Hokage appointment letter will be issued soon, and you'll be becoming a special Jonin..."

"The defeat on the northern battlefield has severely damaged our roots, and Elder Danzo specifically requested me," Shisei Aburame interrupted his rambling, speaking calmly.

"Isn't Lord Danzo an advisor? And what is Root? It should also belong to the Anbu, right?"

"So you don't understand anything. They will turn me into the best tool, without a name, without a self, only a code name."

"So, is it because of me?" Kazuya sensed something was amiss and began to blame himself. "I didn't know. I thought that if I reported your achievements, you would become the team leader, and I would still have a chance to be on your team and not be separated. I just thought..."

"Zhicheng, go find the Hokage. He must have a solution."

"He knows that if the appointment letter hasn't been issued, it means he's tacitly approved, right? Anyway, he won't be under his jurisdiction anymore, so it doesn't matter whether he promotes him to Chunin or not."

"Why you?"

"There may be people who are better than me, and they made a deal after weighing the pros and cons."

Of course, all of this is just speculation. Nobody can read minds and know what others are really thinking.

Therefore, simple-minded people tend to think the best of others, while those with complex minds tend to consider the worst possible outcome.

"So you really want to kill me?"

"I gave you a chance."

"Then why are you telling me so much? With your strength, dealing with me should be easy."

"Yes, I'm overcoming it."

Killing an enemy is easy, killing someone who harbors hostility is also easy. But killing someone who has been with you for five years, who is truly sincere to you, and who completely trusts you is very difficult.

Aburame Shisei instantly appeared in front of him. He didn't dodge, but his body tensed slightly.

"Actually, you should have sent a signal the moment you sensed my defection. As a ninja, you are very unqualified."

"But if I really do that, I'll lose you completely. Zhicheng, stop joking with me. This joke isn't funny at all. Come back with me, okay? We'll solve it together."

"We're ultimately not meant to be. Also, thank you for your final trust in me. Goodbye!"

Aburame Zhicheng cupped his face in her hands, and endless gray worms poured out of his hands, flowing into his brain through his ears, and then spreading from his head and face to his whole body.

The insects begin to gnaw at his brain from the inside, releasing toxins that numb his pain and prevent him from feeling any suffering.

Three seconds later, Mori no Kazuya was gone, leaving only a clean, fleshless skeleton. A brand-new vest hung empty on it, and even the bandages on it were pure white, without a trace of blood.

He gently placed the skull on the ground, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and worshipped it in a low voice.

In fact, he should have dealt with the person when he left the village, but after five years together, even if they had grown distant, there was still some affection between them.

Especially someone like Kazuya, whose affability is terrifyingly strong.

"Oh dear, I almost got infected." Aburame Shisei laughed, wiping the corner of his eye, where there were no tears.