Aburame Ichizoku 2 Chapter 14: Test of Time, a naruto fanfic

Chapter 13 – Test of Time

It was a dewy morning outside the village wall in a clearing of the Western Forest. The clearing was a training ground used commonly by the Aburames when they needed more…space to train. Shibi, Kaho, and Shen warmed up together with some tai-chi while waiting for Genjo. Arrangements had been made the previous day.

Shen was glad that Shibi asked him to come train with them. He had not done any intense training in a while. Considering he was in his 50's, Jounin, pretty much mastered all the techniques he'd care to master, come up with his own unique jutsus long since years past, and beat those into the ground to the point where it was like a reflex…he was seasoned and experienced enough where going on missions was all the intense 'training' he needed nowadays.

But it was still good to train with some fellow Aburames. One must not become too complacent with oneself.

Shibi was the most obvious training partner for Shen anyhow. Being both gourd carriers, the top two size wise in the clan, Shen and Shibi practiced the mushikaiju ("Bug monster") jutsu, which required the extreme numbers of kikaichu that came with having a kikaichu gourd. It was something he and Shen were playful rivals about. Shen, having more experience AND kikaichu should be the obvious winner in such a comparison, but Shibi IS his father's son, and he was an extremely skilled kikaichu user.

"Did I ever share with you my new mushikaiju jutsu I developed?" Shibi asked, none of them missing a beat in their calculated warm-up.

"Besides those I already have seen?" Shen replied.

"I'm positive you have not seen this one."

"Whatever it is, I can replicate it; try me."

"Ah, you sure? I think you may be getting a bit on in years for things like it."

Kaho rolled her nonexistent eyes.

"You're no spring June bug yourself, Shibi-sama," Shen smirked back, his scarf falling down just enough for Shibi to see.

"I'll be the judge of that," Kaho interjected not looking at them.

There was a pause, before Shibi picked up Shen's retort with a gesture instead of words, putting out a flat palm to stop their tai-chi. He carefully stepped back, and took up his hands in a base seal shape.

"Shibi…Genjo could be here any minute, is that a good idea?"

Shibi looked at her, and tilted his head inside his collar, seeming to be contemplating something, before lowering his hands and putting them in his pockets, "You're right. Best not to show an opponent your tactics before a battle begins. You'll have to wait to see your challenge later, Shen."

"Aw…" He mused, disappointed, "I'll look forward to it."

Shibi paused, then spoke, "Best to come out before you make yourself unfashionably late, Genjo-san."

"Tch," A rustle was heard in the trees behind them, before Genjo jumped down.

"A bit much Genjo? Reconnaissance?" Kaho blinked.

"I take training very seriously. Especially if it is against my clan superiors whom I have not trained with for three years."

There was a pause of silence, but the kind of silence that was for Aburame's more of the ending lines to a conversation, where very much was being said, without anything being uttered. Genjo sensed a subtle readied stance from Shibi-sama , as a hand left his pocket and began to come upwards in a seal, but had no time to counter as it was the wrong person he was putting his guard up for, so by the time he could have reacted, Kaho was already behind him with a kunai around his neck.

Genjo already made his first mistake in training with fellow Aburame clan members. He was only reading body language, and failed to sense with his kikaichu the stirring of Kaho's own insects, which would have easily alerted him to her raised chakra levels, indicating her strike. In fact, the responsiveness with which kikaichu react to the moods and chakra of their host are so telling - any ninja could easily read even those most deadpan-exterior Aburame, simply by paying attention to their kikaichu's activity levels. However, being able to see or sense such a thing required you to either have insects of your own, the eyes of a Hyuga or Uchiha, or an extremely heightened chakra sensing beyond that of most ninja (almost inhuman).

Kaho didn't need to explain this to Genjo as he was thinking it in his head with a frown. She removed her weapon and whirled around to withdraw, but as expected Genjo followed her. A brief meeting of taijusu left an opening at one moment for Kaho to extend her arm and have her kikaichu burst out in an attack directly to his face. Genjo's kikaichu responded in turn, washing out from his collar and meeting them as a protective shield. They chhuuurrred off to the side in a black, swirly mass. Kaho rolled around his backside and caught his foot with her ankle, knocking him off balance. He purposefully overdid his balance and rolled out of the way of her next strike, out and across the clearing.

Shibi and Shen contemplated if they should join in and give him more trouble, but he seemed really rusty, and was only 16 and a chunin, they didn't want to crush his ego too badly right off the bat.

Kaho, having classic ninja training, liked hand-to-hand combat and classic justus like replacements, and getting in close to her enemy to keep them occupied once she knew their attack style; not giving them a chance to breathe and plan a next move. She got away from that a little after getting kikaichu. She now rather liked being a long distance 'sniper'. However, knowing Genjo's style, she didn't have to wait and be cautious.

But when Genjo rolled back and readied his stance down low again, drawing out his empty sword hilt, she paused and watched him in a ready posture. She was curious to see this technique he spent three years working on in the Kendo dojo.

He gathered chakra in his palm, which channeled through the hilt, made from materials commonly used by ninja that were tuned to the sharp wind affinity chakra. From his laced, belled sleeves swooshed out a swarm of kikaichu, who went right down and along the hilt, taking the chakra with them, shaping it like clay, elongating it far more than he could have done on his own without a base to extend it over. The whole process only took seconds, and there was a completed sword from kikaichu covered with a hard layer of chakra.

"Cute," She thought.

He body flickered, disappearing, Kaho knew he was going to pop up behind her, so she prepared with some of her Earth jutsu. Sure enough, he swiped at her from behind, but her body dissolved into dirt and kikaichu. Genjo blinked, but then sensed chakra from below him, jumping to miss Kaho grab his ankle.

"That's a pretty old trick, Kaho-sama."

"Tch, but it seems to work oh so often," She 'materialized' from a swarm of kikaichu.

He readied his stance again.

She drew a kunai.

There was a pause of waiting…

Who would attack first…

He did.

His blade hit her kunai.

"Sounds just like metal," Shen whispered to Shibi.

"Wind chakra can be quite sharp."

"Do you know your affinity?"

"I'm the same as Kaho."

"Mmm, not surprising."

CHING!

CHINK!

CLANG!

Chick, chick, clang, CHhiinkk!

"Uhh!" Kaho threw him off, and drew more kunai, but these had tags on them. She threw them for his feet, and they poofed in small smoke explosions. Genjo coughed and thought quickly, sending out his kikaichu in a whirling motion, dispersing the smoke more quickly. When it cleared, there was no one to be seen…it was silent. He looked around, sensing for Kaho's chakra signature, attempting to feel it with the riled kikaichu closest to his skin's surface.

It was then he noticed it.

Shibi and Shen were also 'missing'.

He turned his stance around but Shibi was already there, knocking his sword away by catching it with a rope of kikaichu gripping by the modeling on the hilt. It skidded across the ground. Kaho was of course behind him now with a kunai in his back.

"I wasn't expecting you to join in," Genjo said breathing.

"Real combat should be so easy." Shibi replied.

Genjo felt a bead of sweat drop off his eyebrow ridge, but smiled.

His body dissolved into kikaichu. Shibi, Shen and Kaho all startled as they immediately turned to look for where his real body was. He must have replaced himself with a clone during the smokescreen….they all thought…but that was his real sword! (Hence how he fooled us to thinking it was still him) How could he leave himself weaponless -

A split second later his body reappeared – he did the old kikaichu-chakra-light-flicker trick to hide yourself like a chameleon with the surroundings (it only works if you are still however). He jumped up from a huddled crouch and slashed forward, his blade stopping just millimeters from Shibi's knees. Kaho and Shen were facing his direction, Shibi had not had a chance to turn yet, hence their stopped position. Had this been real combat Shibi could have been in trouble if Kaho or Shen could not deflect his wind chakra blade's blow, or if Shibi could not have enough time to replace himself with a bug clone kawarmi.

He had a second hilt….Kaho blinked.

Genjo withdrew and stood up.

"Very good, "Shibi turned to face him, and disappeared into a swarm of insects. His voice continued his talk coming from behind him, out of the forest edge as he walked out. Genjo sighed. "You kept your weapons hidden, a good choice not to let your enemy know all your tricks."

"Apparently not good enough," He sent his kikaichu to retrieve his other hilt. They screeeed and sunk back into his large sleeves, a bit disappointed, and tired, "I thought that was really you."

"I did too- Geeze Shibi," Kaho shifted her weight to her other foot, "Don't surprise me like that."

"I'll be sure to inform you next time."

She smiled.

He returned the expression.

There was a pause. Shen coughed.

Genjo nodded respectfully to his elder, "I'll be your opponent Shen-san."

He got into a stance quicker than once would expect out of someone of his appearance, and flicked his scarf up around his shoulder. Genjo stood firm.

"Don't hold back, I wouldn't want you to get hurt," Shen said with a kind smile.

Tch, Genjo thought. But showed no outside signs of underestimation.

"Best we sit out, I wouldn't want to hurt the old man's pride," Shibi whispered to Kaho.

I heard that Shibi-sama, Shen thought with a grumble.

As they stood, readying for the other to make a move, Kaho mused to herself, I wonder how Shino is doing with Yusuro…

…

Earlier that morning…

…

"ME? Why me?"

"You're the only one around."

"I just saw Ussa and Sakuya yesterday in the gardens! Who's watching Uschi?"

"Ussa and Sakuya got called out last night by the Third for a top secret reconnaissance mission. Uschi is with Yesetteru at school."

"Jima? Tao?"

"Training, and mission."

"Are you telling me not even Fu is around?"

"Training with her team for the academy exams."

"…Shen-san?"

"TRAINING with us," Kaho handed Shino to a rather reluctant Yusuro, "You're not disobeying me, are you Yusuro?"

Shibi, who was standing silently by, gave Yusuro a look you don't want Shibi-sama giving you, complete with the sound of riled kikaichu.

"No…Kaho-sama." She darted her look away from behind her dark reddish sunglasses.

"It's only for a few hours. We'll be back later. Ja ne."

…

Click…..the door closed.

…

Shino batted at the reddish epaulet-like tassel on her one shoulder.

Yusuro felt her kikaichu rustle.

"EEeewaaa!" He squealed happily, "Waasle-fa fuzzy," He babbled.

A few crawled out from her faded black coat's collar.

"kee-kaichu-eetle," He smiled, as they quickly made friends.

Yusuro pouted her already pouty, feminine lips, "Making friends with my kikaichu are you? You going to conspire against me?" She talked as she walked slowly into the living room.

Shino nodded.

"Wonderful," She sighed, placing Shino on the couch. Shino watched some of her kikaichu crawling around on the cushion as she laid out a blanket Kaho had given her on the floor. Rolled up in hidden had been some crayons and paper.

"Oh, look at that she put some of your coloring stuff in here," Yusuro sat on the couch and picked up Shino's artwork.

"Mmmhumm," Shino sat up.

"What….what exactly IS this…?" She turned the scribble around in circles, attempting to find 'up', biting her lower lip to try and eek out any kind of recognition.

"Kay-dee-did, ba-tur-fly, man-tis," He poked his finger to the paper as he pronunciated.

"Al…alright."

Shino grabbed at the paper and brought out one of the pages with Jima's bug stamps all over it.

"Ohh, I see now…Not bad," She smiled weakly.

"For-est," Shino smoothed his hand over the paper. Yusuro stared at the green scribbled swirls. She nodded. Her kikaichu flew back to her and looked at the drawing from her collar's edge.

We think it's nice, They said, alive with energy like a real forest.

"Thank you. I'm glad you like it." Shino replied back in insect language.

Yusuro blinked, "Wow, you speak so well in insect language!" She said, impressed. She seemed to recall her father telling her about that, but had not heard it in person.

"Thank you." He smiled, then kicked his feet and thought, before digging into the large pockets of his slightly oversized cloud gray jacket Sakuya had made for him...and pulled out a familiar plushie.

"Ceecada." Shino said gently.

"Oh…the cicada," Yusuro smiled sweetly. It was the one she made for him before his first birthday. She reached out and Shino let her hold it.

It was not that Yusuro had a thing against Shino, she in fact thought he was just fine. It was that the idea of being left in charge of a child, alone, was less than appealing to her. She did not think herself great with kids, nor did she feel kids were her thing persay.

"He's in pretty good shape for being chewed on."

"Mmm," Shino dipped his head into his collar, and reached out and grabbed it back.

Yusuro smirked.

…

Before Genjo could even think of reacting, Shen body flickered into the air and formed seals with one hand.

"Kikaichu ryoukanishuu no jutsu!" (literally "Kikaichu massive swarm technique")

The cork from his gourd popped off and out from it poured a massive black cloud of kikaichu, swooshing past him, blanketing him from sight, as well as going straight for Genjo, who tried to throw kunai's to injure/distract their user but he could not see at all where he was due to all the kikaichu. So as he was trying to counterattack he took the full force of the swarm's blow. He was rendered immobile within seconds as the kikaichu consumed all his useable chakra. Shen made sure not too take too much, as this was only training, and being a fellow Aburame he knows one needs their chakra to also feed their hungry hordes. He withdrew his kikaichu, leaving Genjo down on one knee and breathing with exhaustion.

"I…wasn't expecting that many so quickly," He said between breaths.

The kikaichu disappeared back into his big, pear-shaped gourd, "most ninja I've defeated have said the same thing."

"Ariga…tou Shen-san," He got up and bowed, showing he was spent for the day and done with the training. "I…learned a lot today. Domo arigatou to all of you."

"You seem to be rather out of practice with your kikaichu in many respects, but overall I was pleased. I expect for us to do this again," Shibi told Genjo.

Genjo bowed respectfully, "Yes Shibi-sama."

They bade him farewell as he retired back to the clan, to rest and get an early dinner. Shibi, Kaho and Shen stayed to train together.

"I still have to show you my kikaichukaiju jutsu." Shibi said to the older man.

"Please, I have been waiting!" Shen smiled.

"Oh dear," Kaho shook her head.

…

Meanwhile….

…

"Tadaima…" Kuroji chimed quietly in a monotone as he walked through the front door, grocery bag in hand, with Tesuro close behind.

"Okaeri!" Yusuro walked over to them, leaving Shino on the blanket on the floor, "Am I glad to see you!"

"Oh?" Tesuro put a hand out the still open door, as if feeling for raindrops.

Yusuro frowned.

A brown paper bag overflowing with groceries was shoved in her arms. Kuroji walked into the living room. Yusuro looked at the bag. Tesuro looked at her, she slumped, and Tesuro nodded.

"Don't overcook the snap peas this time," Kuroji could be heard from the living room.

"Haiii," She replied sarcastically and walked off to the kitchen.

Kuroji paused, looking at the crayons on the floor and scribbled on papers.

"Why are little Shino-sama's things here?" He called.

"Ehh?" Tesuro peeked his head in.

"I was made to watch him, as I was the ONLY one around. Thank goodness you are back from your mission you can help me out."

"Shino is here?" Kuroji said nonchalantly, looking at the empty floor.

"Yes, he is right ther-" Yusuro walked in, pointing at the floor, where both Shino and his blanket were missing. She dropped her hand.

"Where is he?" She looked at her father accusingly.

"?" He blinked.

"…"

"If you're implying I DID something with him...I should only be so lucky."

"…Maybe Mu-chan ATE him…" Tesuro whispered to Yusuro, referring to Kuroi's large, bird-eating spider 'pet' that roamed the household.

"That WOULD be too lucky," Kuroji began unbuttoning his jacket purposefully.

Yusuro sighed, "Find him," She ordered her kikaichu, sending them out. She had laid a tracking bug on him (a female kikaichu), being the type she was. She followed her kikaichu to the basement stairwell, where the door was cracked.

"Down there?" She asked.

They buzzed in agreeance.

"Shino-sama!" She called through the darkness, as there was no light bulb set up for the basement.

No answer.

"Come up here now!" She asserted.

No answer.

"Get him." She sighed to her still buzzing about kikaichu. They soon returned hauling a three year-old wrapped in a blanket in their grasp.

"Oh, there he is," Kuroji said, unimpressed, not looking up from reading his paper as the wriggling child was dropped on the couch next to him.

"You shouldn't wader off like that Shino," Yusuro scolded him.

He pouted.

"I need to get back to making dinner, you behave for Kuroji and Tesuro." She said, and left.

Tesuro stared at Shino from his sitting position across the living room. Shino stared right back with big blue eyes. They kept staring. Tesuro removed his sunglasses. Shino inched away from Kuroji. Tesuro narrowed his dark eyes. Shino imitated him. Tesuro leaned forward purposefully. Shino slid down to the floor silently. Tesuro gave him a 'don't you dare' look. And with that, Shino darted off.

"Hey!" Tesuro got up and ran after him, not that Shino could 'run' that fast. Tesuro was 14, a bit of better age for chasing youngsters, but still, Shino seemed to evade him, giggling the whole time.

Kuroji kept to his paper as Tesuro and Shino circled by him a few times, making laps around the couch.

"What is going on in there?" They heard Yusuro call.

"Father!" Tesuro voiced, asking for help.

Kuroji sighed.

"Shino!"

"Eeeehaha!"

Kuroji muttered something in arachnid.

From the ceiling beams over 3 dozen spiders, ranging in size of 1 inch to 4 inches, fell down on their silken strands and into the path of Shino and Tesuro, who stopped instantly. Shino blinked, he had never seen so many spiders at once before. Distracted, Shino was easily grabbed by Tesuro, "What got into you?" He sighed.

Shino seemed to be calm again, and looked somewhat sorry for his mischievous behavior.

"Be thankful he's not as bad as Shibi was at his age," Kuroji said.

"…" Tesuro looked at Shino, who seemed that if he was put down he may run off again. "You act this way for Shibi and Kaho?"

He shook his head.

"Oh, he admits it."

"Hummm," Kuroji replied, "…if he's going to run around like that..."

"?" Tesuro looked at him.

He paused, but then put his paper down and got up, and disappeared up the stairs.

Kuroji pulled down the rope connected to the attic stairs. The smell of dust and soot sprites hit him in the face as he poked his head into the attic. He was only able to walk up halfway into the small space because of his extreme height, just enough to pull over a dusty looking article…

FWOOMP.

"cough cough!" Tesuro hid his face in his collar from the cloud of dust the crib produced when Kuroji placed it on the floor.

Yusuro left the snap peas to drain in the sink. She went into the living room to see what was going on.

"Is that…Tesuro's old crib?" She blinked.

"For you as well, Yusuro." Kuroji said, seeming to finally realize what it was.

"That's right," Tesuro looked at Shino, who seemed to accept 'defeat', and he placed him in the crib.

Kuroji put a hand on the edge of the crib. Everyone stared at him, even Shino from inside baby prison. They could tell easily something was 'wrong'. Yusuro and Tesuro hadn't seen him with a look like that since…

"I remember," Kuroji said slowly and abstractly, "...when Hamitsu...found out she was pregnant with you, Yusuro...she made this crib for you. Gen-sama gave her the wood for it…she even painted some spiders and beetles on it...but you rubbed many of them off because you liked to chew on the bars."

"…" Yusuro rubbed her clasped hands together.

"I 'ill bee good," Shino said sounding sad.

"It's okay, you can use it Shino. Hamitsu would be…happy to see it being used." He put his hand back into the pocket of his dark coat and turned, walking up the stairs slowly. They heard the click of his room's door closing.

Tesuro looked as if he wanted to go and try to talk to him.

"Don't. Let him be." Yusuro said softly. She went back to the kitchen, "You want rice with your snap peas?"

"H….haii…" He replied, lazily handing Shino his blanket.

…

The spider-loving Aburame sat on his bed, looking to the two pillows laid out on it, one long since used, yet still remaining. It was obvious to everyone Kuroji still mourned the loss of his wife, and not just because of his permanent adoption of his mourning jacket. Hamitsu was not in the forefront of his mindset all the time, but it was like a small part of him had died with her, leaving a gaping, atrophied wound in its place, never to be completely healed despite all treatment or care. It was sometimes when he was reminded more forthrightly about her, that the wound throbbed painfully, spitefully reminding him of its existence – that he was still disfigured, still longing for what once completed him.

It was in times like these he sometimes fell to weakness. Something no Aburame ever admits to anyone, but any that have lost a loved one has done at least once…when even the face…the touch of a bug clone replication is enough to ease one's pain. No matter how fake you know it is…or how well your kikaichu may be able to remember how they acted or looked…it's nothing but a band-aid to cover a still open wound.

However, this time, instead Kuroji let his ponytail down and threw his jacket on the bedpost, placing his head over draped in his hair in his hands. He forced himself to remember her as she was. How she smelled, sounded, how she felt. He for some reason replayed the memories in his head, remembering the first time he ever laid eyes on her so many years ago…

…

Fourth character sheet with Genjo on it, as well as young Shibi and Kuroji and some others can be seen in progress here (minus the spaces as usual. :)

www. deviantart. com/view/72677535

If you missed them, character sheet's 1-3: