"Where's Insect Sister?"
After dinner, Chiri asked Miki.
"She went to chase dogs," Miki said nonchalantly.
That guy learns through playing.
There are many fierce beasts near Konoha, but the most ferocious among them have always been the Inuzuka Clan's dogs.
Each one is as tall and powerful as a wolf, and when they march in groups, even Shinobi feel apprehensive.
Hundreds of Fang Passing Fang flying around the field gave Miki a headache.
Because she had witnessed it, she knew how formidable it was.
The Inuzuka Clan has never been known for the individual strength of its Shinobi; it has always been famous for its unity, and for having many people and many dogs.
In the Village, it was fine; the dog pack didn't dare to cause trouble and was unusually docile.
In the forest, they were as wild as could be, completely letting loose.
And Insect Sister has always been liberating her nature; in terms of wildness, she is far more formidable than this group of dogs.
The feud began the first time she snatched food from a dog's mouth.
At that time, the dog pack thought Insect Sister was a child from Konoha, and they didn't exert much effort.
As the confrontation gradually escalated, Miki thought it would have been better if they hadn't exerted any effort at all.
Insect Sister could fly.
The dogs were stunned.
Oh, it's just for fun.
She never tired of it; if the dog pack didn't come looking for trouble for a few days, Insect Sister would go to them herself.
She'd fight and then run, not waiting for the dog pack to gather completely—it was incredibly thrilling.
The forest was only so big, and both sides had excellent senses of smell, so there was no way to hide.
But the Village was a safe zone; running inside meant the game was over.
This made the Inuzuka Clan a bit neurotic recently.
Their Ninja Dogs hadn't been on missions, yet they were all bruised and battered, and nobody knew why.
And the dog pack was tough; they'd settle their own scores and hadn't uttered a single peep.
This made Miki, who had been feeling a bit guilty, breathe a huge sigh of relief.
It's good that they weren't discovered.
If they were discovered, then she'd just pay up.
Miki, now, was confident!
How much could medical expenses be anyway?
"Chasing dogs? The Inuzuka Clan's dogs are very fierce," Chiri said, having witnessed them herself, worriedly, "Is Insect Sister alright?"
"She's having a blast," Miki said.
"That's good," Chiri said, "She must have become good friends with those big dogs, right?"
"Mhm," Miki nodded, implying they were fighting tooth and nail.
Hitomi looked at the two of them, confused, not understanding what they were talking about.
"Where are we going to play this afternoon?"
Upon hearing this, Hitomi became even more confused.
Aren't they going to train?
Aren't they going to memorize medical knowledge?
"There's nothing to play with," Miki was about to continue, but paused for a moment and then said, "My Clan has something going on this afternoon, so you two go play by yourselves."
"Oh..." Chiri sounded a little disappointed and said, "Then we'll see each other at school tomorrow."
"Okay," Miki nodded, stood up, and went back to her room to get the things she had prepared.
The bugs had already seen three old men, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, arrive.
Shiyū, Shihō, Shihu.
By the time Miki came downstairs, Chiri and the others had already left.
They hadn't seen each other for a while, and there weren't any particular changes.
"You're not dead yet, old man Shiyū," Miki said as she opened the door, greeting him directly.
"Almost, almost," Although his face was covered by a mask, old man Shiyū said with a fawning smile.
"When is it? I'll prepare for it," Miki said.
"No need to bother, everything's arranged. After I die, let the Flamebug have a grand feast," Old man Shiyū rubbed his hands, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Then he said, "No need for a coffin, and it won't take up space."
"That's good," Miki nodded, approving of the insect burial.
"Mushi-Hime, aren't you going to invite us in for a sit?" Old man Shiyū said.
"..." Miki stepped aside and said, "There's nothing good to offer at home, so I won't entertain you."
"Of course, of course, it's a waste of money," Old man Shiyū said repeatedly.
Miki narrowed her eyes.
This, they must be after something big.
It could only be that, right?
The four sat face to face in the living room. Old men Shihu and Shihō had no intention of speaking; after sitting down, they began to look around, acting as if it had nothing to do with them.
Miki stared at old man Shiyū.
After a while, old man Shiyū said, "Mushi-Hime~"
His tone was especially gentle, especially humble.
He was a completely different person from his previous assertive demeanor.
"What is it?" Miki asked.
"That... bio-steel..." Once he started, old man Shiyū completely abandoned his pride and said, "Mushi-Hime, the Clan is not easy; we don't have many industries, and life is quite difficult."
"The Uchiha have Shinobi tool shops, the Nara have deer and pharmacies, the Anma Family is in publishing, the Senju collect rent, that whole shopping street belongs to them, the Akimichi Clan runs restaurants, but our Clan has nothing presentable except for bugs, which can't be sold and are not easy to sell."
"Relying on those mission commissions, how much money is that?"
"Doesn't the Clan still have land? Don't they also collect rent?" Miki said.
Konoha was the Konoha of the Shinobi Clans; if Hashirama hadn't given some benefits back then, the founding of Konoha would have been delayed.
All the major Shinobi Clans had businesses that involved renting land to commoners and collecting rent.
"Yes..." Old man Shiyū said, "Just a little bit. Back then, we were too thin-skinned and didn't dare ask for more."
They were cowardly, right!
"Mushi-Hime, you will be the Clan Head in the future; you must think of everyone in the Clan. They are all looking to you with eager eyes."
Old man Shiyū rubbed his hands.
When they came, the brothers had discussed it.
They couldn't be too forceful with Miki; all that was left was to play the pity card.
Miki stared at old man Shiyū.
"Bio-steel is impossible," Miki said.
"Why?" Old man Shiyū urgently pressed, not wanting to lose face and return empty-handed.
"I can protect it, but the Clan cannot," Miki said.
"Besides, this thing is only suitable for small-scale circulation, not as a Clan industry."
Otherwise, it wouldn't fetch a good price.
"Is that so..." After a moment of thought, old man Shiyū said, "I was too eager, Mushi-Hime."
"However..." Miki said, taking out a pile of insect eggs, "These can be given to the Clan."
"These?" Old man Shiyū looked closely for a few moments and asked, "Three-colored bug eggs?"
"Exactly," Miki said, "They are a domesticated species that can be mass-produced on a large scale."
"It just requires building an enclosed forest farm, and Konoha doesn't have such a place."
Upon hearing this, the three brothers exchanged glances.
"Dye from three-colored bugs?" Old man Shiyū asked, confused, "What's it for?"
"The Inuzuka Clan particularly likes to smear this on their faces; they'd laugh in their dreams if they found a nest."
"Does that mean these bugs are very precious?" Old man Shiyū asked.
The Inuzuka Clan was a bit transparent in the Village, and the Aburame Clan hadn't specifically observed them much.
"No, they're just too weak and live a very difficult life," Miki said.
"Why would the Inuzuka Clan like these bugs?" Old man Shiyū asked.
"Because of their sense of smell. The Inuzuka Clan's sense of smell is tens of thousands of times more sensitive than an ordinary person's," Miki said.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Old man Shiyū didn't understand.
"Oil paint is toxic; this is not," Miki said, "The scent is amplified under a sensitive sense of smell, and the stimulating scent is unusually distinct in comparison, so they particularly love this dye."
I see.
Old man Shiyū said, "The Inuzuka Clan isn't necessarily richer than us; how much money can be made?"
"Dyes are widely used in medicine, food, clothing, cosmetics, beverages, and other industries. However, the problem is, they are all toxic."
Miki said coldly, "Therefore, as long as this is brought out, all must die!"
Upon hearing this, the three old men gasped.
Now they understood.
"So that's it!" Old man Shiyū slapped his thigh.
"All must die!" The old man shouted fiercely.
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