Miki and Chiri got busy.
Mainly, Miki was directing Chiri to get busy, fetching water and boiling silkworm pupae.
There was an underground river dug by an insect, and it was not suitable to make a fire underground.
If they didn't want to pass out from lack of oxygen.
So, Flamebug were used to surround the basin, heating the silkworm pupae.
Soon, a subtle aroma wafted through the air.
After a busy session, Chiri, sweating, sniffed her small nose.
It smells really good.
"What do we do next?" Chiri asked.
"It's very simple," Miki said, picking up a thin wooden stick and stirring it a few times in the basin. The softened silk threads naturally wrapped around the stick, and Miki then wound the threads onto a self-made small reeling machine.
It was hand-cranked, wooden, and very crude.
This process is called silk reeling.
Chiri watched, finding it very novel.
"That's all there is to it," Miki said, turning the handle. The rollers spun rapidly, drawing out the silk.
"How amazing…"
"You try," Miki said, moving aside to let Chiri experience it.
"Wow…" Chiri said, turning the handle, "It's quite interesting."
"As long as you're happy," Miki said, beginning to boil the next batch.
One basin wasn't enough; they had to take turns.
Chiri stood there, cranking for a while, her eyes fixed on the snow-white silk threads.
"What are these for?"
"They have many uses, mainly for making clothes," Miki said. "You don't have to spend money to buy them; you can make them yourself."
"Eh, you can make clothes? That's amazing!" Chiri said, turning the handle, her eyes looking even more expectant.
"No," How could she possibly make clothes? Just being able to reel silk was already impressive enough.
"Eh?" Chiri was puzzled, wondering how to make clothes then.
"Yumi can," Miki said.
Yumi was a skillful woman; the small shoes, socks, and clothes Miki wore as a child were all made by Yumi herself.
Including the one she was currently wearing.
"Oh," Chiri said, reeling the silk, "Will these clothes be very pretty?"
"No, because they're not dyed," Miki said. "They are very comfortable to wear, though. Biological protein silk can perfectly serve as a second skin for the body and has certain health benefits."
"That sounds very impressive," Chiri said.
"It's not that impressive," Miki said, shaking her head. "Expensive high-end goods in stores have similar functions; they're also biological silk, which is natural fiber."
"Then why not just buy them?" Chiri asked, puzzled.
"It's a bit troublesome to explain; it's better to just show you."
Miki drew her sword, walked over to Chiri, pulled out a section of silk, and cut it directly.
It wouldn't cut.
Chiri's small mouth slightly widened in surprise.
"You're strong, you try cutting it."
Miki handed the sword to Chiri. After taking it, Chiri swung it down.
It still wouldn't cut.
"Is this steel wire?" Chiri said in surprise. "How can it not cut?"
"Its scientific name is bio-steel. Its strength is five to six times greater than steel, and it has excellent Chakra conductivity. Its characteristics are softness and lightness."
"Doesn't that mean…" Chiri exclaimed, "If it's made into clothes, won't it be like wearing armor?"
But you have a Gundam.
Glancing at Chiri, Miki said, "That's right, but it's weak to fire, although a fire-resistant coating can be applied."
"How amazing!" Chiri said. "This must be very expensive, right?"
"Depends on my mood," Miki replied. "Stop chatting, get to work!"
"Oh…" Chiri responded, then started turning the handle.
"Don't worry about it breaking. Use as much force as you can, and hurry up," Miki said.
"Oh!" Chiri began to crank vigorously.
The reeling machine whirred loudly.
Time passed unknowingly, and soon it was evening.
When they finished work, Chiri still felt she could have done more.
Then Chiri and Miki each held a basin of boiled silkworm pupae and ate their fill.
The sweet and fragrant herbal taste was memorable.
More of it, however, went into the Insect Sister's stomach.
The three walked home together, agreeing to continue tomorrow when they parted ways.
Walking on the road, Chiri was very happy; today was an especially joyful day.
Shinobi tool manufacturing was very interesting, and she was looking forward to the new clothes she would wear in the future.
Miki said she would give her a beautiful Shinobi outfit.
She pulled a grasshopper out of her pocket, held it in her hand, and skipped home, humming a song all the way.
Until her good mood abruptly ended in an instant.
After two muffled thuds, a Kunai flew.
Chiri didn't dodge, because it wasn't aimed at her vital points.
The Kunai grazed Chiri's ear-length hair and powerfully embedded itself in the front door of her house.
Chiri didn't look back; her eyes instantly turned blood red.
The two tomoe slowly rotated in her eyes.
It was truly excellent Kunai technique.
Precisely grazing the target without harming it in the slightest.
It was at her own level from a year ago.
And, it had a very Uchiha style.
Uchiha Shurikenjutsu.
Chiri looked up, slowly gazing forward. On the roof of a residence, a Shinobi looked down at Chiri under the moonlight.
"I thought you were scared silly. This isn't bad at all; you actually found my position."
Because the Kunai was shot from behind her, a normal Shinobi would instantly turn around.
This was his usual sneak attack tactic.
It always worked.
The two tomoe in Chiri's eyes rotated and disappeared; she said nothing.
"Uchiha Chiri, you made me wait a long time," the newcomer said arrogantly. "Tonight at nine, Naka Shrine, family meeting. Don't be late."
Chiri didn't like this guy; she stared at him expressionlessly, having no interest in talking.
"Are you mute?" the Uchiha Shinobi laughed. "The Uchiha are truly degenerating; even a brat like you can attend a family meeting. It's annoying."
"Never mind, the message has been delivered. Don't be willful and not come, or you'll die a miserable death."
With that, the Shinobi disappeared from the spot using a Body Flicker Technique.
Chiri silently walked forward, raised her hand, and pulled the Kunai from the door.
A family meeting, huh…
She had a bad feeling that something unpleasant was going to happen.
After entering the house, she quickly tidied up, carefully put away the grasshopper, and Chiri set off towards Naka Shrine.
Along the way, she occasionally saw other adults from her clan.
Chiri silently walked among them with her head down.
After arriving at the shrine, she found a corner seat and sat down.
As the time drew near, people gradually arrived.
There were many people, a dense crowd, all skilled individuals from the clan.
When an elder entered, the venue fell into solemn silence.
The main topic began.
"As per custom, if anyone has anything to say, please speak freely."
"Clan Head! Let's go! We can't stay in this Village any longer!"
An Uchiha stood up, speaking with great agitation.
At the sound of these words, Chiri's pupils suddenly contracted.
Go? Where can we go?
No way!!!
"You scoundrel! Run away?! Are you telling us to run away with our tails between our legs?! Cowardly and foolish!!! Konoha is our Konoha! It's the Konoha the Uchiha built! Why should we run away?! Why should we run away?!!!"
In the center of the hall, the elder glanced at the two people, his eyes lowered, his expression indifferent, noncommittal.
"You're the scoundrel! People will die! Do you understand?! People will die!!!"
"You cowardly fellow!! If you want to leave! Take your wife and children and get out! Don't bear the Uchiha name! Don't awaken your Sharingan! Don't be a Shinobi! Scoundrel!"
Listening to the two adults argue fiercely, Chiri silently clutched the corner of her clothes in the corner.
She didn't quite understand the anger of her clansmen, but tonight she was deeply shaken.
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