In the Warring States Period, Shinobi fought as family units, relying only on their kin.
Each family's combat squad had its own unique characteristics.
Unlike today, where Shinobi combat squads composed of various families seem capable of handling very complex situations, being comprehensive and powerful, they actually implicitly suppressed the formidable aspects of family Shinobi.
The theory of the shortest plank in a barrel, simply put, states that what determines strength is not the longest plank, but the shortest one.
The Senju were known on the battlefield for their tenacious vitality and reckless fighting, possessing vast amounts of Chakra, and when forming Ninjutsu positions on the battlefield, they were famous for their massive destructive scale.
Uchiha would certainly flee in a one-on-one fight, and only guarantee victory in a one-on-two; but as the number of Uchiha increased, the one-on-two theory would no longer apply, requiring more people to engage an Uchiha combat squad.
In the Warring States Period, the most famous was the Ino–Shika–Chō battle formation, with a front line, control, and output, mutually compensating for weaknesses, leveraging strengths, and achieving success together.
However, typical Shinobi squads nowadays cannot reach this level; instead, they often hold each other back.
Among them, the Aburame Clan was the one being held back.
Although they could join in, the role they could play was limited compared to fighting within their clan's combat squad.
The Aburame Clan's abilities are inherently very comprehensive, capable of handling various situations, and a group of four Aburame is not simply a four-fold increase in Insects swarm size.
"If anyone has a different opinion, they can raise it," Miki said indifferently.
The clansmen were speechless for a moment; or rather, they hadn't spoken at all.
"Me!" A young voice rang out in the hall, and the clansmen all looked towards the youth.
He was a little younger than Miki, appearing thirteen or fourteen years old.
He wore a black hooded robe, had purple tattoos on his face, and sported a pair of blind-man's sunglasses.
With his hands in his pockets, he coolly stepped forward, looking directly at Miki and saying, "I don't understand. At such a critical time, should the clansmen retreat? What will Konoha's people think of us? How can we establish ourselves in Konoha?"
"Your name," Miki looked at the youth.
"Ryoma!" Ryoma replied.
"It seems you deeply understand what the fire will means," Miki said. "Very well, throw him out. The Aburame Clan has no such person."
The moment he heard this, the youth immediately panicked, his body visibly trembling.
His fellow clansmen silently took hold of the youth, preparing to lead him away.
The youth woke up, struggled, and then shouted with all his might, "Mushi-Hime! I refuse to accept this! What did I do wrong!?"
"Hmm, no, your thoughts are correct," Miki said. "But without the Aburame Clan, you are nothing, understand?"
Miki stood up, walked in front of the youth, looked at him coldly, and said, "Who do you think you are? Can you represent the Aburame Clan? What retreat? Are you not allowed to do Shinobi missions? Is a different method not a contribution? Are only those in Anbu called Shinobi?"
"Answer me, kid."
"The clan has finally integrated into the Village after so many years! The villagers no longer hate us! We've become companions with everyone!"
The youth was agitated, roaring.
"It's all because of you! You've always been willful and reckless!!! Making the villagers hate us! Making all our efforts over the years go to waste!"
"What efforts have you made? Tell me," Miki said, crossing her arms, looking slightly up and down at the youth.
"I!" What efforts have I made?
"I've tried everything!" Ryoma exclaimed, "It's because of you that everyone disliked me from school! They were afraid of you! They could only bully me, a fellow clansman! Making me have to…"
Miki slightly lifted her foot and kicked the kid in the stomach. Under the heavy blow, he flew backward off the ground, landing on his face. After a while, he coughed and struggled to get up.
"Are you getting angry out of shame?" the youth sneered, "Because of you, everyone in the Village can't hold their heads up, being feared and disliked…"
"How foolish!" Miki waved her hand, too lazy to look at the kid again. She turned and sat back down, saying, "Choose: within the Aburame Clan, born here and dying here, living secretly underground as part of the Insects swarm, or becoming a Shinobi, a member of Konoha, out in the bright sunshine."
Having said that, Miki looked at everyone and said, "You too, choose."
The crowd stirred for a moment, and then, the result was immediate.
The Aburame Clan isolated Ryoma. Everyone uniformly knelt on one knee before Miki.
The youth looked at this outcome in disbelief.
He felt incredulous.
Did everyone in the clan not feel dissatisfied with their situation?
"And you, from now on, you are not an Aburame. Sever all ties with the clan, and get rid of this Aburame name that makes you unable to hold your head up."
Miki looked coldly at Ryoma.
Ryoma couldn't help but look up at his parents in the crowd.
His parents did not look back at him.
After a while, the youth knelt on one knee, bowing his head to Miki.
"Alright, alright, Ryoma," Shiron tried to smooth things over, "Mushi-Hime, Ryoma already knows his mistake. Ryoma will be confined for three days upon returning to reflect well."
"Is that so," Miki had no intention of letting him off easily, saying, "He still looks unconvinced."
Ryoma didn't say anything; of course, he was unconvinced.
"Now I'll tell you a fact: in Konoha, I represent the Aburame Clan!"
"No one will look at you!"
"They will only look at me!"
"Whether for Aburame or Konoha, you are dispensable."
"And my will is the will of the Aburame Clan, it is the will of the Insects swarm. The Insects swarm only needs one will."
"Finally, you chose me, I didn't choose you, understand?"
"Ha!" everyone responded in unison.
Miki looked at Shiron and said, "Give it to me."
"What?" Shiron was momentarily confused.
"The position of Clan Head," Miki said coldly.
After a moment of stunned, Shiron said, "You already are, the Aburame Hime."
"Kneel down," Miki said coldly.
"Ha!" Shiron walked into the crowd below and knelt on one knee.
A long, silent pause…
Everyone felt that the Mushi-Hime was angry.
Was it morning grumpiness?
With his head down, Shiron smiled bitterly, wishing he had chosen daytime for this.
Meanwhile, Miki looked at the group of clan elites below.
"The Second Shinobi World War is approaching. This time, compared to the last, it will only be more brutal. After years of licking wounds, the five beasts have long been impatient. Caught in such a tide, no one can escape."
"But Aburame will not retreat, nor can they retreat!"
"Being in Konoha, this is the clan's duty!"
"And Aburame, like a Insects swarm, can only survive the brutal Shinobi World War by sticking together!"
Compared to the unreliable teammates in the Village, whose strengths vary.
Clansmen fighting together greatly increases their survival rate.
This was the result of Miki's deliberation.
Miki clapped her hands, and a scroll was summoned.
"Master the contents above within one month."
Saying this, Miki threw out the scroll.
Miki had previously begun researching the application of pheromones.
Shiron reached out and caught the scroll. As he opened and browsed it, his pupils slightly contracted.
"This is?"
"Yes, a new method of Insects control."
Miki said.
The moment she spoke, the clansmen erupted in an uproar.
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