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Leifazu's POV (Western Plains of Irminsul - Terra)
Leifazu quizzically looked around the camp. At the large and expensive tents erected and, from what he could see, somewhat furnished. The roaring fire was fitted with custom cooking utensils and tools, each hung near and, in some cases, over the fire. The large-scale barrier jutsu shielded them from outside threats, and the detection and suppression seals around them to counter espionage and alert them should attackers breach their defenses. Leifazu was confident she could do the same in a single afternoon, but to do so with enough time to brew tea and relax? She supposed it was why Ikam trusted the bitch so much.
"Leave it to a crazy bitch like yourself to find time to do all this and more. Lay it on me." Leifazu responded as Suzumebachi took the more reasonable silent approach.
However, Mishiro must've been in a fantastic mood. For she ignored Leifazu's crass insults and continued on with the resolve and unshakable demeanor of a soldier. "I while you two were wasting time. Found my Love's objective already; in fact, I've even erected my strongest barrier around it to ensure our control."
"Your fucking kidding me!" Leifazu bitterly complained. "I got babysitting duty while you adventured?!"
"What was that objective?" Suzumebachi asked curiously.
Leifazu smiled despite himself. "Ikam, our glorious leader, wanted us here originally for a singular reason. To secure his "hypothetical interworld core," a link between the world we all know and love and this strange, wild place. With control of it, Ikam believes we could disable all summoning, hoard the power for ourselves, and use the chakra-rich nature of this dimension for all sorts of projects."
"We, of course, will allow your clan to be the exception," Mishiro assured. "But yes, indeed, however, there was a small catch. Sealed off as it is, no one will be able to access it. In fact, summons and humans alike cannot travel between worlds unless we allow it or they break my barrier. I did so instead of attempting Ikam's plan because the guardians…"
"Guardians?" Suzumebachi asked, confused.
"Strange golems of stone and chakra. They seem to be patient protectors of the chakra core, and shockingly enough quite powerful…" Mishiro explained.
"Must've been to send an ice-cold bitch like yourself scurrying away," Leifazu said with some level of honesty.
"Once again, correct, their speed is considerable; they are nearly as quick as the average Jounin. Unsurprisingly, their strength seems monstrous, and they have access to a massive beam of raw chakra. Suzumebachi and I will test their limits tomorrow, after searching for clans, and retreat before it becomes dangerous. If we struggle, we will attempt as a group, surely the four of us will be more than able to do so." Mishiro finished her tea and placed her cup down. "Leifazu, take care of that for me; I am planning to rest for the night; surely, I will be needed tomorrow. Leifazu, you will be our night watch, Suzumebachi. I have captured several deer; slay and prepare them for us; once you've taken care of that, you may rest and recover."
"Those deer don't talk, do they…" Leifazu said with a queasy look. "I'd rather eat a terrified screaming human than a talking deer."
"What the f-" Suzumebachi began but flinched when Leifazu appeared mere inches from her face.
"I love animals, I suppose, but humans are nothing more than foul creatures…" Leifazu assured her before racing off towards the trees. Leifazu enjoyed the night watch; neither of these annoyances would bother her, and besides… she rarely slept…
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Shino / Kurobachi's POV (Eastern Forest of Irminsul - Terra)
Shino nearly allowed a smile to grace his face as he faced a much more manageable match-up. The two of them had worked well together, and with their built-in counters, most of his jutsu had become a mere farce. But now that the seemingly weaker of the two was alone…
"It seems you, in particular, aren't much of a shinobi; without your brother to aid you, I believe you will be soon facing death. Why? Because I am superior to either of you, your hatred blinded you, and now I will make you face the consequences." Shino assured darkly. He felt an uncharacteristic rage fill him as a dark thought rose to the top of his mind. "Though I must admit your anti-Aburame technique and style is impressive… surely it comes from abundant experience…" He was lightly trying to bait him for information. For he expected this man and his brother were more than mere rivals of his clan…
Jibachi chuckled cruelly as he pointed a finger and prepared his lethal mandible hand. "Is that your way of asking whether we've killed Aburame? Honestly, it is a foolish question; in that war, we killed many ourselves. We may have lost, but we survivors have learned in their stead. However, I will redeem us again today when I kill you single-handedly!"
"Terribly mistaken," Shino said now behind the man. "Your Clan merely hates mine due to a war neither of them choose. A terrible mistake to hold onto your hatred instead of accepting your mistakes. A worse mistake to taunt me with the death of former family members. And the worst of all," Shino didn't get to finish as Jibachi spun in place and beheaded him.
"Rookie mistake ranting in battle like that!"
However, Jibachi's eyes widened as the headless Shino burst into insects. His wasp raced in as they began to slaughter them. However, with the amount found, their progress could have been faster. Jibachi roared in anger as he leaped back, feeling his chakra dip massively.
However, Shino had expected a quick reaction; his insect reacted as planned, wrapping around the retreating Jibachi and holding him in place for a mere instance before the wasp overwhelmed them. However, it was enough for Shino to smash into Jibachi violently. Before the man could recover, Shino swung heavy, wild punches as he climbed atop him. Jibachi, however, had the experience advantage and, even from the bottom, weaved and managed to raise an arm. Trusting his instincts, Shino gave up the mount and leaped back as Jibachi's raised arm elongated into a massive, sharp, and brutal mandible.
"I'll cut you in half, damned fool! I'll single-handedly exterminate you, Aburame pest! Wasp Style: Great Mandible Greatsword!" Jibachi roared angrily as he wielded the great blade, which was his arm, with some level of difficulty. The man screamed as he ran forward, swinging the massive blade with impressive speed and control. Each swing would've bisected or beheaded Shino. But the Aburame dodged each swing with ease. Tired of the pathetic display, Shino snuck in a kidney shot, dropping the man to his knees. Before he kicked him away brutally.
"That was the last time I'll show mercy," Shino promised. "You have lost, surrender, and you may live, continue, and I promise your death will be gruesome…"
'My insect managed to get a good bit of chakra from him, he's hurt, and panicked. This fight is mine.' Shino thought as he watched the man crawl to his feet.
"Stop with the bluffing brat; it won't save you!" Jibachi screamed as he began a desperate charge.
Shino did not bother with more words, slowly removing his singular glove from his left hand. Jibachi closed in and swung his blade wildly, Shino merely leaning out of the way and tapping the man's left arm, then leaping away.
"STOP RUNNING!" Jibachi roared.
"I'm not, in fact," Shino said as he calmly raised his now gloveless hand. "I suspect you'll know what this means. Just why I am as nonchalant as I am." Shino felt no satisfaction from the gasp of shock nor the look of fear the man showed once they observed his hand. Shino's hand seemed to be a writhing sea of purple, his skin fully covered by the odd substance. Well, he supposed they both knew what it indeed was.
"Y-your bluffing… you can't be…" Jibachi stammered. "It was an oddity even among the elites of Aburame! No way you're one of them! You can't be in control of them!"
"Check your arm before believing such." Shino offered Jibachi, the man doing so and screaming in shock as he released his jutsu and stared at his left hand, which was now slowly becoming similar to Shino's. "You were somewhat right; however, I cannot control them. My brother found a way to do this and left a note telling me to use it well. Because of his gift, I now wield them in my left hand. His request in return for such was simple. To protect the Aburame for him… I believe your death will further that goal."
Jibachi fell to his knees, fear and panic weakening his leg. Hell, just as likely, the toxic parasites themselves were already wreaking havoc on his body.
"It seems you know what they are. The rare and all too dangerous Rinkaichu is a nano-sized species of venomous beetles that feed upon any organic matter they encounter. At first, you don't even feel their bites, but soon, the venom and pain will become all you know. In mere minutes-" Shino lectured before suddenly Jibachi formed another blade and, in shock to Shino, slashed towards himself. With a scream of pain and a raised brow from Shino, the man removed the infected arm from the elbow down, likely sparing the rest of himself in the process.
Shino felt slightly disgusted but watched warily all the while as Jibachi, with his teeth and some wire, managed to slow the bleeding from his stump before he rose and pointed his last remaining bladed arm at Shino.
"That's what real combat is like. Now that I know your little trick, I'll avoid it and cut your damned head off!" Jibachi roared somewhat manically.
"Incorrect," Shino said somewhat sympathetically. He put back on his glove as he talked before raising his hands into a hand sign. "I used that method due to the relative painlessness of it. However, I set up another method as well… this should serve as a warning. Surrender before you die in agony."
"Fu-"
Shino did not bother to fully listen at that point. With a flex of chakra and a tiny amount of pity, Shino spoke his finishing move. "Parasitic Giant Insect: Bug Bite!"
Shino saw Jibachi flinch, likely having seen the technique before. "You bluff. You couldn't have; my wasps wouldn't allow it!"
"Only one managed to take root," Shino assured. "However, it will be more than enough." As he finished, Jibachi cried out shrilly and fell to his knees. He kept slamming his remaining arm against the ground as if trying to beat something within it. Shino looked away grimly as the following sounds came to his ears. That particular Kikaichu is gruesome; it prefers to burrow into the bodies of its prey. Growing instantly as they feast upon flesh and chakra, often…
Jibachi's scream became haunting as Shino turned his head back and watched as his forearm visibly swelled before bursting into a shower of meat and blood. A giant ball-sized Kikaichu attempted to continue feasting; however, Jibachi swung what remained of his arm and shook off the creature. Which scuttled away as the man's screams became sobbing.
Shino calmly walked forward, drawing a kunai and preparing to offer the man the mercy he did not deserve…