After a post-meal rest, the four continued their journey, covering a thousand li a day like swift horses, thanks to the Shinobi's high-speed footwork.
Their speed was even greater than that of a swift horse, as they could traverse various terrains.
However, this was their normal marching speed, not the combat burst speed of Miki and the other three.
When they stopped, none of the three had even a drop of sweat.
Even though they had rested a few times along the way.
Around midnight, they arrived at the border of the Land of Fire, near the Land of Iron.
The surrounding temperature had already begun to become unusually cold.
Scattered white flakes drifted across the land, and the pristine white earth stretched to the horizon.
In the distance, a continuous range of snow-capped mountains rose.
Exhaling a puff of white air, Hitomi rubbed her hands and said, "What dreadful weather."
As she spoke, a group of crimson beetles flew from Miki's body and streamed into Hitomi's and Chiri's clothes.
"What do you say now, Captain White Fang?" Miki asked.
"Their base should be in the snow mountains ahead," White Fang replied.
"Isn't that the Land of Iron's territory?" Miki said. "It's a permanently neutral nation; it would be very embarrassing if Shinobi from the Five Great Nations were caught there."
"The Land of Iron is past the snow mountains; we're still within Konoha's territory now," White Fang said. "As for the Land of Iron's rules, it's fine as long as we don't get caught."
"Understood," Miki said.
Snow mountains, huh? This is unfavorable terrain for me; my insects are almost going into hibernation.
"I'll take command now." Following Miki, she took over the command without ceremony, saying, "Captain White Fang, is that alright?"
White Fang scratched his head.
"I have no problem."
Miki nodded, pulled out an insect egg, and began to quickly hatch it.
Immediately, under everyone's gaze, a small dragonfly vibrated its wings on Miki's fingertip and flew up.
Insect Secret Technique: Summer Red Soldier.
Dragonflies are kings of flight, capable of flapping their wings over 30 times a second, flying 9 meters, and undertaking long-distance flights.
Miki's dragonflies are even superior, with a speed of around 100 meters per second, surpassing the burst speed of ordinary Jonin, which is 70 to 90 meters per second.
They are much faster than the flight of Insects, making them natural aerial ace hunters.
They can fly for six hours without landing, maintaining a cruising speed of over 300 kilometers per hour.
Traveling from one city to another takes only about ten minutes.
From one end of the Village to the other, it takes only one minute.
This new type of insect differs from the Insects template; it's an improved variety with Slug genes, characterized by tenacious vitality, robust physique, the ability to self-generate a small amount of Chakra, and micro-engraved sealing techniques.
After continuous artificial intervention and generational selective breeding, a species of insect was born with sealing techniques naturally carved into it.
It is categorized as an Engraved Insect.
The engraved jutsu is the Exploding Tag.
Its location is on the wings.
White Fang's eyesight was excellent; he noticed the 'Explosion' character on the dragonfly's wings before it even took flight.
He couldn't help but scratch his head.
"This dragonfly wouldn't be..."
"It's called the Summer Red Soldier, and it's delicious fried," Miki said.
Feeling the state of the Summer Red Soldier.
Since it was a recently completed achievement, it hadn't yet undergone extreme environment operational testing.
Currently, there is an impact, but the problem is not significant; the Slug Sage's genes are very useful.
The tenacity of its vitality also gives it strong resistance to extreme environments.
"That 'Explosion' character wouldn't possibly..." White Fang scratched his head.
"Just drew it randomly," Miki said.
"It looks very dangerous..." White Fang looked up at the Summer Red Soldier, which was flying rapidly like an elf in the falling snow, constantly stopping and starting, performing various incredible aerial maneuvers.
Just by its speed, White Fang felt a threat, like facing a Jonin skilled in speed.
Its wings, under the bright Moonlight, reflected cold flashes of light due to its rapid flight.
Especially with its small size, it became even more agile and troublesome.
The operation can begin.
Miki clapped her hands, then squatted down and pressed them against the snow.
Insect Secret Technique: Dance of the Swarm: Reverse Flying Meteor Summer Red Soldier.
The next second, accompanied by the summoning airflow kicking up swirling snow, dense Summer Red Soldiers appeared one after another above Miki's head.
Their numbers were extremely high.
White Fang looked at the dark mass of insects covering the sky above his head, and a shiver ran down his spine.
"This many, there must be at least tens of thousands, right?"
"Five hundred thousand," Miki stated the exact number.
Although the quantity was large, the actual mass was not significant.
"That many?" White Fang exclaimed.
Compared to summoning giant beasts, it consumed far less Chakra.
"Not many. One thousand eggs per laying, one Queen only needs five hundred days," Miki said.
"Isn't that a long time?" White Fang scratched his head.
"There's more than one Queen," Miki said. "With five hundred Queens, this number only takes one day."
Conversely, hatching is extremely time-consuming.
Currently, Miki has abandoned the previous mating and egg-laying method; whether Insects or other insects, they are all produced by Queens.
Production types are adjusted according to demand.
However, the types a Queen can produce are limited by the size of the egg and her own body.
Currently, she can still only produce small insects.
Hatching is done in two ways: natural hatching and rapid Chakra hatching.
Both are carried out in a specially designed hatching Barrier.
This Barrier comes from the Aburame secret technique, Pot Poison Jutsu. As long as the food supply is sufficient, it can continuously perform rapid hatching and rapid adult metamorphosis.
It's just the aesthetic...
It looks like a demon's den.
The kind that could be used for a horror movie.
There were undigested bones everywhere, and Miki was too lazy to clean them up.
Also known as the Hatchery.
"This number..." Looking at the swarm of insects flying in the sky, it felt as if one was about to be drowned by an insect sea.
A sense of suffocation and oppression lingered in their hearts.
White Fang now deeply felt the true terror of the Aburame Insect Princess and her insect swarm.
But biological weapons have this characteristic: the initial research investment is like a bottomless pit, but once they mature and are applied, they become cheaper than toilet paper.
No, that's not right; sometimes toilet paper is quite expensive and can be used as currency.
Miki couldn't help but think of Orochimaru, who was still absorbed in his research, holding instant noodles.
She wondered what monstrosity he had researched.
"Operation commence. Hitomi, Chiri, prepare to attack."
"Understood," the two replied simultaneously.
"Reconnaissance, execute."
As she spoke, the flying swarm of Summer Red Soldiers transformed into streaks of rapidly flying meteors, spreading out in a fan shape halfway ahead.
The four stood silently in place.
Two hours later, several mountain peaks in the distant snow mountains suddenly erupted in intense flashes of fire.
Immediately followed by thunderous explosions echoing repeatedly.
White Fang stared blankly at the distant explosion sites.
His lips twitched under his mask.
It was indeed the Exploding Tag jutsu.
Lady Mito had taught a truly formidable monster.
"Bandits cleared."
At this moment, Miki's cold voice rang in their ears.
"Confirmed no survivors."
It was as easy as a cleanup...
Human lives just vanished like that.
They killed, but there was no real sense of killing.
Looking at Miki before them, the three were momentarily lost in thought.
"Shinobi squad detected, four teams, sixteen individuals, suspected to be Cloud Ninja."
"Target beginning to retreat."
White Fang narrowed his eyes.
As expected, a small team with a standard ambush setup.
But they sensed something was wrong and began to retreat.
They're not foolish.
Miki looked at White Fang and asked, "Should we stop them?"
"Of course," White Fang said.
"Attack!" Miki commanded, tapping her foot and sliding rapidly across the snow.
Insect Secret Technique: Dragonfly Dance.
Chiri and Hitomi followed Miki's lead, using the same technique to slide quickly across the snow.
Midway, as Miki gave a hand signal, the three separated.
White Fang scratched his head, looking at the Summer Red Soldier flying in front of him, acting as a guide, and began to sprint with long strides.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!