"So, what ninjutsu do you want to learn?" the Third Hokage asked.
Maki thought for a moment. Right now, things like summoning techniques or shadow clones would be useful... but there's no rush. She had all the time in the world. Once she became a proper ninja, she'd have plenty of opportunities to learn those on her own. Besides, she wasn't in a hurry—there was still time before the Second Great Ninja War erupted.
"Sealing techniques," she said instead. "Can you teach those?"
"Of course!" the Third answered immediately, puffing up with pride, hands itching to go to his hips in a triumphant pose.
"Oh~?" Maki's voice lifted with interest. "Are you the best at sealing techniques in the whole village?"
The question hit him like a kunai to the gut.
Ugh... technically not. He knew the real expert in sealing arts didn't take students—and even as Hokage, he couldn't convince her otherwise.
Still, he straightened his back and said with forced confidence, "Yes, of course it's me!"
But even as he said it, his gaze wavered and his voice softened. A blush of guilt crept onto his cheeks.
Lying to kids... this is what I've come to? Gods, I'm still too young for this.
Maki let out a quiet chuckle. "Really?"
"Really!" he insisted. "So how about it? Want to be my disciple and learn ninjutsu from the best?"
"No." Maki replied flatly, turning away.
"What? Why not?!" The Third's voice jumped in pitch, full of disbelief.
She looked back over her shoulder, calm and cold. "Because I don't like talking to people who lie to children."
With that, Maki walked off, her exit sharp and decisive.
The Third stood there in stunned silence, scratching his head in frustration.
What a brat! Impossible to deal with!
He turned with a snort and started walking back toward the village, muttering to himself.
So what if she's a genius? Konoha doesn't lack for talent.
Orochimaru... now there's a promising one.
An orphan. A commoner. Yet in no time after joining the academy, he'd mastered the Three Basic Techniques. Honestly, the boy could probably graduate on the spot if allowed.
Same textbooks, same classes—but some kids just took initiative, and it showed.
Smart, diligent, talented...
Still...
The best sealing techniques? That kind of skill would be wasted if we didn't nurture it.
As he walked, the Third smoked quietly, thoughts lingering on the strange girl who'd just turned him down.
---
The next day, Maki noticed something reassuring: the subtle chakra presence that had been following her was gone. The surveillance had finally stopped.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief.
There's nothing wrong with the experiments themselves... they're just a bit harsh on the animals. People might misunderstand. Call it cruelty. Call it a sign of some "psychological problem."
She frowned slightly.
As long as no one's watching, it doesn't matter.
Especially for a child like Maki, if someone found out she was dissecting cats or dogs, they'd instantly label her a freak.
That's why she didn't want anyone to know.
Well—maybe with one exception: Orochimaru. That weirdo had been twisted from the start. Smart too. If she played her cards right, she might be able to rope him into becoming her research assistant.
Maki had no interest in becoming one of the Sannin. Her career plan was much simpler: become a medical ninja, stay in Konoha, and avoid dangerous field missions. That way, she'd have more time for research.
Sure, being the Hokage's disciple came with hidden perks—like access to special inheritance and resources. But Maki didn't need any of that.
Because whatever you gain, you lose something else in return. She knew that too well.
Being constantly watched. Constantly expected to perform. She'd been through all that in her previous life.
This time, she just wanted to live freely.
To live like a bird, with no burdens or expectations.
Most of all, Maki didn't like the Third Hokage. In fact, she'd grow to hate him later on.
She had no desire to see his face.
But now that he had noticed something strange about her, word would spread. The clan would hear about it soon enough.
The Aburame clan wasn't weak. They had their own resources and rarely needed to learn standard village ninjutsu.
From the beginning, Maki's true goal had been the clan. She'd deliberately let the Third notice her—just enough to create pressure and serve as a check against her family.
She knew how ninja minds worked: the moment someone showed unique abilities, people started whispering about a potential Kekkei Genkai.
She wasn't sure just how tempting a naturally gifted "bloodline ninja" might be to her family.
But she could imagine.
Being turned into a glorified breeding tool in the name of "protection"? That kind of nightmare wasn't off the table.
Maki had no problem using the darkest assumptions to judge people's intentions.
She was still too weak. She didn't yet have the power to resist the clan on her own.
Sure enough, on the third day after her encounter with the Third Hokage, she started seeing family members she normally never crossed paths with.
Why didn't she usually see them?
Because they were the "Hidden" Aburame.
The clan was quiet, secretive by nature. Most members were reclusive and avoided unnecessary contact.
On top of that, the Aburame didn't have a centralized clan compound like others. They were scattered throughout the village. Due to their personalities, most chose to live in remote, isolated areas.
Back in Konoha's early days, when the Aburame first joined the village, they'd secured some advantageous deals—land included.
The First Hokage had been generous, telling them they could pick any territory they liked.
Very much in character for someone like him.
And that's about all you needed to know about how the Aburame clan worked.
The Aburame clan had always been a bit of a hassle—but put a bunch of them together for too long, and it became downright unbearable.
Back when Konoha was still young, the clan head at the time made a surprisingly wise move. He broke away from the Warring States traditions and spread the Aburame members across the village. It helped them blend in more easily with the rest of Konoha.
Maki respected that decision. It showed rare foresight.
After all, when people from powerful clans clustered together, secrets festered and motives got messy.
Plus, having clan members living all over the village basically turned them into natural surveillance posts—quiet watchers in every corner.
That said, the Aburame did still have a central gathering hall. It hadn't been used since the First Great Ninja War. These days, a few clan members were usually stationed there.
They called it a garrison—but from what Maki had read in her father's old notebook, it was more of a vacation home.
Today, though, she saw unfamiliar clan members at home. Three elderly men, clearly from another era. They wore ancient ceremonial robes from the Warring States period and creepy, horned masks that looked like they belonged in ghost stories.
The only thing that set them apart was the color of their masks.
Sunglasses, by the way, had only become a thing recently. A decade ago, nobody wore them.
Maki's own mask was an heirloom—her father's, inherited from her grandfather. Her dad thought it looked gaudy and went with trendy shades instead.
But Maki liked the old mask.
Sunglasses just made people look like blind masseurs.
"You must be little Maki," said the hunched elder in the center. He leaned heavily on a cane, struggling to stand upright, but still trying to project authority.
"I'm your grandfather—Tenshirou."
Oh great. Pulling the family card already.
Shameless. I respect that.
"Your mother is my daughter," he added, as if that explained everything.
Maki blinked. Never seen this man in my life.
"Come on, call him Grandpa, Maki," her mother said anxiously from the side.
Maki said nothing.
"Call me if you want! Hmph!" the old man huffed and slammed his cane on the ground. Her mother immediately clammed up.
"That name—Maki—is too soft! It doesn't suit a princess of the Aburame! From today on, you'll be called Kurohime!"
Oh no. Not one of these old men.
"You will lead the Aburame clan from this day forward!"
Of course. The classic, unwanted destiny speech.
Maki crossed her arms. "You know… no one's asked if I even want that."
"Hmph! It's not your decision! Not unless you're prepared to kill all three of us right here and now!"
Uh-oh.
The Aburame were one of the few clans where physical aging didn't mean loss of combat power. Their insect swarms only grew smarter and stronger with each generation.
These elderly men might look like they belonged in graves, but they could probably wipe out a platoon without moving an inch.
"Fine," Maki muttered. "Call me Kurohime if you want."
The elder finally gave his name.
"I am the former head of the Aburame clan."
Ah. So he was that guy—the one who saw the writing on the wall back in the Warring States era and made the bold call to align with Konoha.
Suddenly, a lot started making sense.
Her father, just a jōnin, somehow had the money to open a hotel. Her mother clearly came from money. And the two of them getting married?
Her dad was probably handsome.
She'd never seen his face, but considering she didn't look much like her mom, it wasn't hard to guess where her looks came from.
A hundred thoughts swirled in Maki's head.
Damn it. I should've just come clean to the clan from the start.
This pushy old grandpa? He might actually be a decent ally.
_________
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