The first was the white-eyed girl Maki once frightened. Her name was Hyuga Hitomi. As a member of the renowned Hyuga clan, her taijutsu was solid despite her timid personality. She lacked confidence, but not perseverance. She worked hard to remain among the top-ranking students.
Hitomi was from the branch family. One day, she began attending class with a bandage wrapped around her forehead. From that point on, she pushed herself even harder, though no matter how much effort she gave, the gap between her and Tsunade never closed.
She was like a caged bird, desperately beating its wings against the bars.
Then there was another girl—Uchiha Naori.
She was quiet and easily overlooked. Unlike the typical prideful Uchiha, Naori was calm and reserved. Though she had the looks to stand out, her subdued demeanor made her almost invisible in class. She didn't flaunt her abilities, but Maki noticed: Naori never broke a sweat during physical exercises, even when others—like Jiraiya—collapsed like dying dogs from exertion.
Masari always seemed to be holding back.
Maki paid attention to her not just because of her subtle strength, but also her name. If things followed the course Maki remembered, this girl would one day become the strongest kunoichi in Uchiha history—the one who would create Izanami, the forbidden technique. Right now, she was just a firework yet to bloom. But when she did, Maki was sure she would shine.
The other students were unremarkable in Maki's eyes.
As for herself, Maki remained in the top tier—first in cultural studies. The material was simple, and with prior knowledge, she could breeze through tests. But she understood this wouldn't last. As the content became more advanced, she knew her edge would narrow.
In taijutsu, she held her ground thanks to her chakra control. Still, her talent in physical skills was limited. It had taken her nearly half a year just to master walking on trees and water. That alone told her enough.
Right now, her advantage came from starting earlier than others—her progress was ahead by about six months. But in time, clans like the Senju would catch up.
Most of her focus wasn't on class anyway. While others trained, she monitored her insects. The experiment had reached a critical stage: several had successfully mated and were now laying eggs and building nests. She had to observe them constantly, day and night.
With barely any rest, her mental state had grown fragile. Twenty-four hours a day simply wasn't enough.
More than once, she found herself fantasizing about learning the Shadow Clone technique.
If she could make a clone to work while she slept, they could alternate—one resting, the other working. In theory, they'd share the burden and extend productivity to an impossible level.
A perpetual motion machine. Perfect. Efficient.
Of course, it was just a fantasy. The actual technique was likely full of complications. And she didn't have time to dwell on hypotheticals.
Every bit of physical exertion hit her twice as hard now. Running ten kilometers after staying up all night was torture. She needed every break she could get.
Today, like always, she retreated to a quiet corner to rest.
But fate wasn't kind.
"Everyone, gather up—we're doing a test."
Teacher Ogawa roared at the top of his lungs. Once he had everyone's attention, he continued with a slightly more composed tone:
"Unlike the previous quiz, this test will be a practical combat assessment to evaluate your overall capabilities. Those of you who rank lower—don't panic. You still have time and room to grow."
As he spoke, Ogawa began handing out training weapons to the students lining up in confusion.
Maki stared at the unopened kunai in her hand. It felt heavier than she expected—this was the first time she had ever held one.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage sat quietly, observing through his crystal ball using the Telescope Technique.
Almost instinctively, the chakra-sensitive parasites inside Maki stirred. They had sensed an unusual chakra signature in the air—foreign, potent, and watching.
Maki felt a strange ripple in her body. Someone was observing them. She frowned slightly, scanning her surroundings with practiced calm. No abnormal pheromones. No signs of anyone nearby. A surveillance jutsu from long range, then?
"Each of you, choose your opponent!" Ogawa called out again.
"Tsunade-hime, why don't you go first and set an example for the rest?"
Of course. Whenever something happened, Ogawa's first thought was always Tsunade. She was good-looking, brilliant in class, and came from an influential bloodline. Naturally, she was everyone's golden child.
Tsunade stepped forward and scanned the group. A few students averted their eyes under her sharp gaze.
Despite her cute appearance, everyone knew Tsunade was anything but gentle. After running a grueling long-distance course, she wasn't even winded. And in the last lap, she had somehow lapped the slowest student three times.
Her monstrous stamina was thanks to the powerful lineage of both the Senju and the Uzumaki clans.
Every time she passed Orochimaru—the unfortunate boy barely hanging on—he looked on the verge of tears, teeth clenched, straining to keep going. But Tsunade didn't show an ounce of mercy. She didn't even glance at him.
Thinking back on how Orochimaru turned out later… some might say it all started with her.
Now, with zero hesitation, Tsunade turned her eyes to Maki.
Tsunade didn't usually pick on the weak—but she was perfectly willing to make an exception for someone who ignored her and made her angry.
After all, she was a princess. And a princess had the right to be a little willful.
"Come on out, Aburame Maki. You can't keep hiding from me forever."
With her hands on her hips, her blonde ponytail swaying and a proud gleam in her eyes, Tsunade looked every bit the high-spirited little princess. Still with a touch of baby fat, but unmistakably confident.
Maki stepped forward with the same cold expression she always wore.
"It's funny how you always think it's about you," she said flatly. "I'm not avoiding you. I just don't care to talk."
Her tone was sharp, not playful. She stood calmly across from Tsunade as the tension in the room thickened.
The air practically sizzled with hostility.
"I've been wanting to put you in your place for a while," Tsunade shot back. "You act like you're better than everyone—like the rest of us don't matter."
She had been holding it in for too long. Today was the perfect excuse to let it out.
Baring her teeth, Tsunade made an overly cute grin, her finger bones cracking with her small fists.
Of course, Maki didn't want to be hit even once by this seemingly young fist. The boys in the class, especially Jiraiya, had repeatedly proven how terrifying it was.
"You're laughing so hard, I didn't even look at you."
Maki replied casually.
Hearing this, Tsunade took a deep breath, and veins popped up on her forehead.
The forehead is really big.
"Big Forehead."
Then Maki said it easily.
When it comes to annoying girls, Maki used to be a professional.
"You little!" Tsunade was so angry that she gritted her teeth.
"I will definitely beat you to death, you disgusting insect girl!"
"You two, form the seal of opposition! Remember, you are classmates, not enemies."
"Competition comes first, but friendship cannot be lost."
Teacher Ogawa was playing a draw next to him.
Generally speaking, he didn't happen to be there when Tsunade beat someone up. This woman was not stupid.
Tsunade looked at Maki coldly, holding back her anger.
Maki also looked at Tsunade, her expression invisible under the mask, but Tsunade hoped she was angry, otherwise she wouldn't have said such hurtful words.
This kind of words has no harmful effect on Maki at all.
But Maki didn't intend to talk such meaningless nonsense to Tsunade.
"Teacher, why don't you shout start?"
"Start!"
After the order was given, neither of them made any move and continued to confront each other on the spot.
Tsunade couldn't figure out Maki's details, so she was ready to see what Maki's path was.
But Maki didn't want to move. She was very tired now, so she just wanted to end it quickly.
One hand was raised, and her wide sleeve was exposed as she pointed at Tsunade.
It didn't seem like an attack, and there were no seals. From a logical perspective, even if the Aburame clan controlled insects, they would have to form a seal.
Tsunade was pretty sure she hadn't missed anything in her studies.
"Do you really understand the terror of the swarm?"
The moment Maki finished speaking, the swarm of insects went berserk.
They spread like smoke, like rain, rolling back like a downpour. The insects swarmed over Maki's cuffs, hood, and trousers, covering her body in a frenzy. They filled the air, blocking out the sun, and hung heavily over Maki like a dark cloud. The insects swarmed but didn't disperse, their ominous movements slowly surging and squirming.
The light around them dimmed as the swarm spread, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made the surroundings feel suffocating.
At this moment, Maki slowly raised her hand and casually formed a seal on her chest.
"Now, feel my terror."
The crowd screamed in horror.
Further away, the Sandaime Hokage stood up in shock. This was definitely not the behavior of a first-year ninja school student. If this happened in a graduation test, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they could graduate on the spot.
In the field, Tsunade was facing the huge swarm of insects. Her hands and feet were sweating, and goosebumps spread across her skin. She felt a sense of dread, her whole body numb with fear.
Before Tsunade could react, the swarm rushed forward with a roar, instantly engulfing Tsunade. She turned and ran, but the insects overtook her, swarming her completely. There was no room for resistance.
Tsunade fell to the ground, unable to move, struggling and wailing in the sea of insects. Her screams echoed throughout the audience.
The onlookers held their breath, watching helplessly as Tsunade's struggles ceased, and the screaming stopped.
"Stop it! Maki!" someone cried.
Maki calmly responded, "Teacher, I know where to draw the line."
She then called back the swarm of insects, which swarmed into her body as though the previous scene had been nothing more than an illusion.
Tsunade lay still on the ground, her chest rising and falling weakly. Drool dripped from the corner of her mouth as she stared blankly at the sky. She had simply been exhausted after losing too much chakra.
There was no serious harm, and Maki hadn't bitten her.
"Winner! Aburame Maki!" the teacher announced.
"How weak," Maki whispered to herself as she turned and returned to the queue.
As Maki walked back, everyone stepped aside to make way for her. The fear of the insects was real.
Even the boys knew they didn't want Maki's bugs crawling all over them.
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