signingbooks Chapter 475 The Defection of the Aburame Clan
Chapter 475 The Defection of the Aburame Clan
That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.
The Aburame clan's underground insect tunnels were fully activated. These were underground passages that Aburame Shiki had secretly dug over the past decade, connecting the clan's territory, the Forest of Death, and the outskirts of Konoha.
More than 700 clansmen and more than 170 ninjas entered the Insect Path in batches under the cover of night.
Their target is the Death Forest. If they can reach the Death Forest, they can break through the insect hive there and use the power of the insect swarm to escape.
The plan was meticulous and the action was swift, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was no pushover.
Less than half an hour after the Aburame clan began their operation, the Konoha Anbu noticed something amiss, as they had already been under surveillance.
"The Hokage-sama's Aburame clan compound is deserted!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed slightly. He knew this day would come, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.
"Order! The First, Second, and Third Ninja Armies will be mobilized! Surround the Forest of Death! Seal off all entrances and exits! Not a single insect is allowed to escape!"
Konoha's war machine roared into action in the dead of night. Thousands of ninja raced through the darkness, their torches forming a long dragon that stretched from Konoha Village all the way to the edge of the Forest of Death.
When You Nu Zhiwei led her people out of the insect tunnel, they saw a sea of torches.
The flames reflected on everyone's faces, and their expressions included anger, disappointment, murderous intent, and confusion.
Standing at the very front was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage wore a battle suit, a straw hat, and held the Vajra Staff in his hand, his eyes blazing.
"Shiki Aburame. Do you remember the Will of Fire? Do you remember how the First Hokage protected your clan during the Warring States period, allowing you to thrive in Konoha to this day? Does your Aburame clan remember the First Hokage's kindness?"
The Aburame clan's secret insect techniques were feared throughout the Warring States period. But precisely because of this, the Aburame clan struggled to survive in the cracks of the Warring States era; no daimyo was willing to take them in, and no ninja clan was willing to form a marriage alliance with them.
It was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who overcame all opposition and brought the Aburame clan into Konoha.
Without Hashirama by their side, they would all be beings to be suppressed and feared.
What if you remember it for a lifetime?
When Danzo annihilated the Uchiha clan, who remembered the kindness shown to them?
When the Third Hokage tacitly approved of the Akatsuki, who remembered the kindness shown to him?
The rules of the ninja world have never changed: the strong prey on the weak, and only the fittest survive.
"I remember the Will of Fire, but does the Will of Fire remember our Aburame clan?"
"We haven't done anything wrong. The mere appearance of a powerful figure has made you so wary, constantly monitoring us. I've already shown my sincerity; what more do you want from me!"
These words, however, took on a different meaning for Hiruzen Sarutobi: "So this is how you've always seen me. So your clan has always harbored resentment."
So, after learning that Aburame Shisei was doing well outside, you must have already harbored rebellious intentions!
Then there's nothing more to say!
"Kill!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, and three thousand members of the Sarutobi clan rushed forward, launching a fire-style attack.
The battle erupted in the next second.
The number of Konoha ninja far exceeded the Aburame clan's expectations. Three thousand men against less than two hundred combatants—the disparity in strength was extreme.
Furthermore, the composition of the Konoha Ninja Army is extremely effective against the Aburame clan. Most of the ninjas are skilled in Fire Release, and a significant number are proficient in Wind Release, Water Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release, making them virtually all five elements.
Fire can kill insects, wind can fuel fire, and water, while not killing insects, can restrict the movement of insect swarms.
The first wave of fire-style attacks turned the edge of the Death Forest into a sea of fire.
Countless insects turned to ashes in the flames, and the air was filled with the stench of burning protein.
The Aburame clan ninjas desperately manipulated their insect swarms for defense, but faced with the overwhelming fire-style ninjutsu, their defenses were as fragile as paper.
"Don't fight head-on, retreat into the depths of the forest! Use the terrain to maneuver!" Aburame Shiki shouted, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the explosions.
A Chunin from the Aburame clan was hit by a Fire Release technique, turning into a fireball and writhing on the ground screaming in agony.
A low-ranking ninja from the Aburame clan attempted to unleash a swarm of parasitic insects in retaliation, but the insects were scattered by wind-style attacks as soon as they flew out. Immediately afterward, a fireball struck him in the chest, blasting him away.
One after another, clansmen fell, and ordinary clansmen were even more unable to resist. Amidst the smoke and flames, they fell to the ground one after another. Many elderly people who tried to shield others lost their lives as a result.
The smell of blood and charred corpses mingled together, spreading in the night wind.
You Nuzhi's eyes reddened. He opened his arms, and the parasitic worms inside his body surged out wildly. These were his top-quality worms, which he had cultivated for more than ten years. Each one had undergone at least five generations of hybridization and selection, possessing extremely strong fire resistance and reproductive capabilities.
A swarm of black, mist-like insects formed a massive vortex around him, like a living black hole, devouring any approaching Fire Release ninjutsu.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jade!"
The swarm of insects surged toward the Konoha ninja army's lines like a tidal wave. Dozens of ninjas had no time to dodge and were overwhelmed by the insects, falling down with screams.
But there are too many people in Konoha.
One dies, two come up. Two die, four come up.
The rate at which the swarm was being depleted far exceeded its rate of replenishment, and Aburame Shiki's chakra was being consumed at a visible speed.
"Lord Zhiwei!"
The girl's voice came from behind.
Aburame turned her head slightly and saw the girl standing deep in the Death Forest, with a giant centipede crawling out of the ground beside her.
The centipede was four or five hundred meters long, covered in a jet-black carapace, and hollow inside, with each segment resembling a train carriage.
"Get in the car!" the girl shouted.
At this moment, of the more than 700 clansmen, less than 200 remain.
Of the more than 170 combat ninjas, only about 60 are still capable of fighting.
Aburame Shiki gritted her teeth and said, "Everyone, get on the bus!"
The survivors stumbled and rushed toward the centipede, crawling into the head compartment.
The girl controlled the giant centipede's body, placing it between the Konoha ninja army and the Aburame clan, using its hard shell to block the tidal wave of ninjutsu attacks.
"Five Elements: Great Combo Bullet Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi personally took action. Chakra of the five elements gathered in his hand, transforming into five cannonballs that slammed into the centipede's body one after another.
The giant centipede's hindquarters were discarded segment by segment to block attacks.
After losing half of his body, the powerful ninjutsu attack was completely blocked.
But the front half of his body was saved.
It was as if it felt no pain; the remaining half of its enormous body suddenly burrowed into the ground, digging a deep tunnel and disappearing.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood there, staring at the deep cave entrance, his expression blank.
But everyone could tell that the Third Hokage was in a bad mood.
Very bad.