The next day was uneventful: routine cultural lessons, basic physical training, fundamental shurikenjutsu, and detailed explanations of basic taijutsu combat.
The three Aburame elders were well aware of these classes. They didn't need to worry about the basics taught at the academy and focused instead on imparting knowledge to Miki that couldn't be learned there.
If there was anything noteworthy, it was that Miki's insect swarm had achieved a small success. Several selected insect groups had begun to form small societies, all while retaining the basic abilities of Insects: super-speed hatching and Chakra absorption.
However, because Miki did not provide Chakra, the offspring hatched naturally and thus had a larval stage.
Each little grub was a defenseless protein source.
The queen insect, following its genetic behavioral algorithm, carefully nurtured these larvae.
Once the larvae matured into adults, these worker insects would take on various roles required by the society, managing all operations of the insect nest.
The queen would only be responsible for laying eggs.
By now, Miki's first goal had been achieved.
That was to have an insect swarm with Insects abilities, capable of self-propagation and growth, not entirely dependent on Chakra.
This meant that Miki could initially break free from Chakra's restrictions on the insect swarm.
Compared to cultivating an insect swarm by relying on a scarce individual's Chakra, natural resources were clearly much vaster and richer.
If the next step didn't fail, that is.
And next, it was still about observation, observing whether the insect swarm could maintain a small society without collapsing.
This was a severe test against nature.
At dismissal time, Chiri approached Miki.
Miki's thoughts, which had been on the insect swarm, shifted to the present, and she inexplicably sighed as she looked at Chiri.
"What's wrong?" Chiri asked, a little strangely.
"No, nothing," Miki said. "I still have training to complete; I can't keep people waiting too long."
Those three old men might get backaches if they stood for too long.
"Oh, I see. Let's walk together then," Chiri said with a smile.
"Alright."
After tidying her desk, pushing all her books into the drawer, Miki and Chiri left the academy together.
On the way...
Uchiha Yashiro followed them for an extra street today.
It seemed he hadn't given up yet.
Chiri, meanwhile, chatted happily.
Miki listened quietly, occasionally replying with a word or two.
When they reached the park from last night, the two naturally parted ways.
As they separated, Miki turned to glance at Chiri, who smiled and waved at Miki.
This girl.
Miki turned and walked away.
Upon reaching the training ground, Shiyū and Shihō, the two elders, were absent. Only Shihu and Insect Sister were present.
"No need for pleasantries, let's get straight to it, Mushi-Hime," Shihu said with great vigor.
It seemed a night and day of rest had allowed him to catch his breath.
Miki naturally had no objections and took the katana Insect Sister had brought.
After drawing the sword, she performed a sword flourish, which was a bit distorted and wobbly due to her strength.
Shihu frowned.
Miki had absolutely no foundation in swordsmanship.
Accumulating combat experience in this state was very dangerous.
"You should learn the basics of swordsmanship, Mushi-Hime."
"I've read some books on swordsmanship," Miki said.
"Then have you practiced, have you done suburi?"
Miki shook her head.
"You can master it without practice?" Shihu asked.
"Of course not," Miki said. "But isn't taijutsu the same?"
Miki implied they should just get straight to it.
"You learn the basics of taijutsu at the academy, which is why we go straight into the practical stage, to let your body accumulate combat experience."
Shihu was very serious.
"But swordsmanship is different. If your sword-line is off, who can you cut down?"
"Since you've decided to fight with a sword, the basics are incredibly important."
"Continuously swinging the sword every day can increase muscle quality and quantity, improving strength, explosiveness, and endurance. This practice also helps muscles remember basic movements."
"You'll be able to swing the sword instinctively without thinking, saving precious tenths of a second in real combat."
"And those tenths of a second are the difference between life and death."
"Now, pick up your sword and do a thousand suburi."
Miki blinked, said nothing more, and walked to the side to begin her empty swings.
"Mushi-Hime, you must control the sword, not be controlled by the sword."
What nonsense was he spouting?
Miki pouted, swinging her sword unmoved.
"Your stance for generating force is wrong! Swinging like that will only make it harder!"
"So tell me! What kind of stance for generating force?! Explain it clearly!"
After just two minutes, Miki started panting.
Shihu, hearing her, mumbled, "You need to feel it yourself..."
This... could it be that he didn't know how?
So, she still had to figure it out herself.
Miki continued her suburi, and after nearly an hour, she completed the task of a thousand swings.
Her hands were trembling, and she could barely hold the sword.
"Come learn Ninjutsu taijutsu with me; it's better to give up on swordsmanship early," Shihu said.
"No, I won't," Miki refused, gritting her teeth, her breathing rapid and short.
"Then do another thousand suburi. You can still do it, can't you?"
Shihu sneered.
"Let me catch my breath," Miki said, leaning on her sword and bending over to pant, sweat dripping in large beads from her hair.
Why was she so fixated on swordsmanship?
In fact, Miki had thought it through clearly: she was simply not cut out for taijutsu. While fist-to-fist combat felt impactful, her physical talent would likely limit her achievements greatly.
Swordsmanship, on the other hand, naturally offered a significant advantage.
Simply put, if Miki punched Tsunade now, Tsunade wouldn't feel a thing, but if she used a sword, Tsunade couldn't take it.
Given this direct comparison of basic attack power, it was clear she should choose the more cost-effective option to train.
Anyway, what did it matter what she trained?
After taking deep breaths and steadying her breathing, Miki straightened up and continued her sword-swinging practice.
Mid-swing, Miki suddenly realized something.
Why am I practicing this stuff?
The 'Tangzhu' (Bamboo Cut) move was completely unsuitable for her.
That is, a frontal vertical slash.
It was named Tangzhu because the sword's momentum resembled bamboo.
Due to her strength, Miki found it difficult to unleash the full power of basic techniques like Tangzhu, Kesagiri, Gyaku Kesagiri, Migichigi, and Hidarichigi.
Moreover, these moves were extremely easy to parry, and Miki's strength made it difficult to break through an opponent's guard.
To avoid her weakness in strength and enhance her advantage in agility, thrusting was the only sword technique suitable for a delicate woman like Miki.
Because the sword tip's contact area is small, under the same applied force, the greater the pressure, the more powerful it is.
At the same time, due to the small contact area, its offensive power is difficult to parry and defend against.
Especially given its inherent speed, all Miki needed to do was be faster.
Speed is power.
As for other sword techniques like Tangzhu, considering their cost-effectiveness, they could be discarded without hesitation, allowing her to focus on a single, fatal killing blow.
Just like Fu Hongxue, who focused on a single Iaijutsu technique, perfecting speed to its limit, and still dominated the world.
Miki shifted to a thrusting stance, practicing continuously, allowing her body to memorize the movement.
She would steadily improve through persistent effort.
Shihu watched Miki's focused expression and nodded.
By the time dusk fell, her practice was already quite impressive.
Then, let's try this move.
Insect Secret Technique: Butterfly Dance: Phantom.
After taking a deep breath, Miki suddenly thrust her sword at Shihu.
In the instant she struck, thousands of cold stars bloomed before his eyes, filling his vision with a dazzling array of starlight, beautiful yet deadly.
Only the word 'elegant, like a Butterfly spreading its wings,' could describe such swordsmanship.
Caught off guard, his first thought was 'impossible,' his second was'shock,' and by the time he reacted to dodge or defend, his aging body could no longer keep up with his consciousness.
He only managed to barely protect his vital points.
But the myriad sword shadows were impossible to block entirely.
However, the next second, as the sword tip entered his body, there was no pain.
When he looked closely again, where were the myriad sword shadows? There was only a long sword lightly touching the position of his Adam's apple.
This is...
"Surprise~" Miki chuckled.
No, this was a fright.
"Genjutsu?"
Shihu asked.
Miki replied, "That's right."
"Big Brother's Flamebug are as terrifying as ever."
Shihu said in a deep voice, "To be able to control the Flamebug to this extent in just two days."
The ability of the Flamebug was indeed to create illusions, but the content of the illusions was uncontrollable.
At least, that's how Shihu had always known the Flamebug to be.
To be able to control the insects to edit the content of the genjutsu, just how terrifying was her command over insects?
Rather than saying she was controlling the insects, it was more like she *was* the insects themselves.
"Mushi-Hime, you are indeed the strongest genius our clan has ever seen."
"As Big Brother said, you can easily surpass us in commanding the insect swarm."
"Hmph, what do you think? Of this sword technique?"
Miki gave a light hum, proudly.
"Absolutely brilliant!" Shihu praised without stingy.
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