35 Konoha Crush Begins

Feathers fell like snow from the sky, blanketing the spectator stands in an eerie silence. To the untrained eye, it was a picturesque scene, but Shino knew better. He knew the danger of this deadly genjutsu that could lull unsuspecting victims to sleep.

Luckily, he was immune, even more so than the original Shino.

Boom! As if on cue, an explosion rocked the Kage stands, shattering the peace and signaling the start of chaos.

Rumble! And in the distance, the sound of crumbling walls echoed through the air as giant snakes burst through the gates of Konoha, leaving a gaping hole for invading ninjas to storm through.

The clash of ninjas abruptly began. With the ignition of the war, death followed swiftly, reaping lives within moments after the war broke out.

As these sacrificed ninjas fell to the ground, defending and fighting for their village, zergs discreetly burrowed out from the ground, claiming their martyred corpses and dragging them down into the abyss below.

However, no one noticed. The ground beneath their feet was the last thing on their minds, for they were too focused on the enemies ahead.

And if anyone did catch a glimpse, they would surely chalk it up to the enemies' tactics, never suspecting the true horror lurking beneath.

As the earth shook beneath their feet, the citizens of Konoha ran for their lives, their screams and cries echoing through the air.

Despite knowing the impending danger, the village had made a difficult decision to not evacuate all civilians, so as to avoid alerting the enemy of their preparations. This left many trapped in the crumbling buildings, forced to fight for their survival amidst the chaos and destruction.

Only the most vulnerable, such as the children and women, were safely evacuated, leaving the rest to face the consequences of war.

If there is anyone that deserves sympathy in this war, it was these innocent villagers. Helpless and unarmed, these innocent victims could only watch in terror as the war raged on, hoping and praying that they would not become the next casualties.

Some fought back, while many others could only watch helplessly as the collateral damage spread to them, perishing in the process if they were unlucky.

Even if they desired to fight back, not everyone is a ninja. In a world where only the ninjas had the power to fight, the civilians were left defenseless and vulnerable to the merciless forces of war.

From the remaining villagers who watched in despair as their homes crumbled to the ground, to the unfortunate sleeping victims in the stadium who suffered from ninja attacks that strayed from its intended target, to the unprotected foreign merchants and visitors who were merely in the wrong place at the wrong tim, to the hapless ninjas of smaller villages caught in the crossfire - death was rampant and indiscriminate.

The anime could only capture a fraction of the casualties, but for Shino who had transmigrated over into this world, it was a first-hand experience of the grim reality.

The horrors of war knew no boundaries in the world of ninjas.

"Hey, no wonder there are always kids who grow into villains desiring world peace. Unless they had value to be protected, the cruelty of this world to the weak is like a whip that drives them to be stronger, pushing them to their limits such that their personalities become more and more distorted," Shino inwardly commented as he watched the tragedy unfold on the streets around him,

For Shino, it was all inconsequential.

"Regardless of hero or villain, friend or foe, they would all serve the same purpose - all in the end will be my nourishment!"

An ominous aura diffused around Shino as zergs burrowed out from the ground in the collapsed structures around him. Within a minute, the battlefield was cleaned of its corpses, both ninjas and civilians alike!

In the depths of the underground, an intricate web of drones moved with precision towards a hidden lair, delivering their precious cargo as nourishment for the creeping, insatiable biosphere.

With each passing moment, the writhing mass seemed to come alive, pulsating with energy and vigor as it devoured all that came in its path. Tentacles extended from the seething creep, burrowing ever deeper into the earth to extract more sustenance for the growing behemoth.

Meanwhile, amidst the confines of the biosphere, was the controller of the clone, but with a complete overhaul in his appearance.

He was now a tall, lean man, his presence captivating the senses. His hair - Strands of chestnut brown, intricately woven with vibrant streaks of mysterious purple, bestowed upon him an aura of otherworldly allure.

The only resemblance to his original form was his resplendent garb of the Aburame lineage, with round sunglasses perched upon his visage and a high-collar coat. But the coat, that only cascaded down to his knees, hinted to the bygone days when the boundaries of childhood were left behind.

Behold, this embodiment of manhood was none other than the enigmatic Shino himself.

Once a mere lad of tender thirteen summers, his fate had taken an unforeseen twist with the transformation from the zerg system and the evolution brought by his biomass points. The boundaries of time and nature intertwined, orchestrating a metamorphosis beyond comprehension.

As if touched by the hand of some arcane force, his physical vessel matured, transcending the ordinary bounds of growth. The flowering of manhood arrived prematurely, transforming him into a youthful man in his 20s.

And yet, a peculiar stasis now seized him, a mysterious pause in the relentless march of time, his body eternally suspended in a state of optimal equilibrium. He could sense this state would be maintained for an eternity, providing that his biomass suffices for daily consumption.

Alas, such a conspicuous visage would not escape the prying eyes of other ninjas, beckoning undue attention and potential peril. To evade unnecessary scrutiny, he has resorted to his artful mastery of Transformation Jutsu, employing it as a temporary veil for his appearance.

Thus, the shroud of secrecy enveloped his true essence, his main body hidden from most prying eyes, but Shino knew it was a dangerous walk on a tightrope.

A sudden growth spurt was intriguing, but many may pay no heed even when discovered. However, if his ageless appearance was revealed through long term exposure, the dissection table is his final destination.

It was simply another reason why his main body couldn't stay.

When his base neared completion, he had already established plans to retreat behind the scenes. Now, at this climactic juncture, the perfect reason was established, one both his parents nor jonin instructor could argue against: His safety was in jeopardy.

Now, within the safe confines of his hidden sanctuary, Shino could unveil his true form.

Despite his changes, Shino remained calm and collected, sitting comfortably in the base's lounge - completely devoid of the chaos and destruction running rampant outside.

Karin gently set down a cut of tea in front of Shino, before joining him on the sofa.

Leaning in towards Shino, her eyes bore into Shino's face as she asked in a soft voice, "Overmind, do you need anything else?"

The tranquility of their surroundings was a stark contrast to the mayhem taking place on the surface, but Shino's focus remained unwavering as he contemplated his next move.

Shino picked up the teacup and took a sip. As Shino savored the tea's flavor, his focus remained unbroken. He manipulated his 13-year old clone like a skilled puppeteer, keeping his attention fixed on the impending battle's developments.

Gracefully setting down the teacup, he responded in a soft voice, "Not for now, Karin."

"Mmm," Karin absentmindedly responded as she continued to gaze at Shino's face, a faint blush appeared on her face.

As the war dragged on, the number of casualties continued to mount. However, there was something odd about the battlefield.

Despite the overwhelming death toll, there seemed to be a distinct lack of corpses. It wasn't until both sides began to notice the pattern that a chilling realization set in - something was taking the bodies.

But what? And why? The answer remained elusive, but ninjas had been already been dispatched to investigate the reason.

"Alina, has the biosphere grown enough to support the execution of Project Queen?"

[Affirmative, Overmind. The available biomass and creep expansion has exceeded the estimated requirement by 10%.]

"Good, recall the army. Although drastic mutations were applied to give a complete overhaul to the appearances of the drones that participated in the operation, there is a high chance we've been noticed. It's time to stay low for a while."

[Affirmative, Overmind. Executing hibernation protocol… distributing signal through network...]

After completing the final harvest, the horde of zergs vanished into the depths of the earth, traversing through the labyrinthine decoy tunnels and taking refuge in pre-dug caverns.

There was no need to overstay, given that the harvest had already met the quota.

Even the tentacles of the creep obediently retracted themselves, returning the biosphere to its lurking endeavor.

"Alina, what is the estimated time for the completion of Project Queen?"

[Overmind, after the data aggregated from recent research, the estimated time of completion is 31 days. Will Overmind initiate Project Queen now?]

"Much shorter than I thought…" Shino's thoughts drifted away for a moment, his mind lost in contemplation as he gazed into the distance.

A feed was displayed in his mind, unveiling the results of Orochimaru, who only came to show off his new jutsu to his teacher. But his teacher punished him for not doing his homework properly, failing to hand in a research paper with comprehensive analysis of the old man's abilities.

Relieved that Uncle Snake had ran away from Konoha crying, he then shifted his attention to the red-haired beauty who had been eyeing him with obvious infatuation.

However, he didn't hesitate for long, "Karin."

Karin didn't seem to hear his call as her gaze has lost a bit of focus. With some drool leaking from her mouth and a deep blush on her face, it was clear she seemed to be lost in some fantasy.

"Karin!" As Shino's voice rang out, Karin's mind was jolted back to reality, and she broke free from her reverie with a sudden snap.

Her eyes still gleamed with a mix of excitement and anticipation, she responded, "Oh. Overmind! Do you have any orders? I will do anything you want- even if- even if it's-"

"Karin. It's time for you to prove your worth."

"Eh? Prove my worth? Do you mean- if you want- ehehehe…" Karin giggled to herself for a while, lost in her fantasies, but after hearing no response, she finally stopped to observe Shino.

Karin's laughter faded as she took in Shino's somber expression, her playful demeanor replaced with concern. Her lips pressed together as she bowed her head, feeling the weight of the situation.

After a moment of hesitation where her fists clenched her clothes, she spoke up in a subdued tone, "If it's what the Overmind wishes, I am willing."

Shino let out a deep breath as he reached out to caress the girl's fiery head. As his fingers brushed against her soft locks of hair, Karin's eyes fluttered closed and she leaned into his touch, savoring his comforting presence and the warmth coming from his palm.

Lowering his hand, Shino's voice was sharp and decisive as he issued his command, "Let's go."

Karin nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and apprehension.

Shino stood up and headed towards the lab, followed by the silent Karin.

Shino's footsteps echoed through the hallway as he strode towards the lab, a determined look etched on his face. Karin trailed behind him, silent and lost in her own thoughts.

In the lab, a strange purplish coffin-like box rose from the ground, its grotesque appearance sending chills down Karin's spine. The container was completely wrapped in the viscous creep, and if one looked closely, they could see tiny neural parasites wriggling in and out of the slime.

As the coffin lid creaked open, Karin felt a wave of fear wash over her, like a predator stalking its prey. The dark interior of the coffin yawned before her, beckoning her forward. She stood frozen in place, head bowed, trembling with the weight of her decision. She had willingly reached out for the hand of salvation, and now there was no turning back.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands reached out and grasped her hands. Her hands trembled as she looked up, gazing into the eyes of the same young man who had saved her.

She felt a rush of warmth spreading from his hand into hers, stabilizing her. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she looked at him in confusion. He was the one who was pushing her into the abyss, yet he still showed her kindness. It was almost unbearable.

"Scared? Do you regret it?"

The gentle voice seemed to pierce through the heavy silence, as if cutting through the thick atmosphere of the lab. The question lingered in the air.

She bit her lips and shook her head, trying to hold back her emotions, but the tears streaming down her face betrayed her true feelings.

Once again, her heart skipped a beat as she felt the reassuring strokes on her head before the hand lowered to wipe away her tears. She could feel his unwavering confidence as the young man gave her hope, "I will be waiting for you, out here."

Understanding the underlying message of his words, Karin slowly looked up to see the young man's smile.

His smile, devoid of any fear or doubt, was contagious. Even his glasses were removed, letting her glimpse into those deep, profound eyes of his. Her heart skipped a beat as she lost herself in his enigmatic gaze once more.

"Trust me," he added, his words ringing with a sense of conviction.

Karin felt a sense of peace wash over her. Raising her hand, Karin's fingertips brushed against his face as a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Her cheeks warmed up, displaying a pink hue as she responded with a small nod. "I trust you," she said in a soft voice. "Only you."

Karin then broke away from him.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Karin took a deep breath and marched towards her destiny.

As she approached her final destination, the gaping maw of the coffin below seemed to be calling out to her, daring her to take the plunge. And without a second thought, she stepped forward into the darkness, leaving behind everything she had ever known.

The slimy, cold embrace of the organism tightened around Karin's legs, pulling her slowly but relentlessly into the abyss below. She could feel the darkness enveloping her, and with each passing moment, she knew that she was getting closer to the point of no return.

Despite the fear that crept up within her, she couldn't resist one final urge to look back at the young man. His smile, still present on his face, gave her a sense of hope, and she returned his gift with a smile from her heart.

The coffin lid closed with a heavy thud, melding together with its container and sealing the fate of its occupant.

The lab remained eerily quiet as Shino stood there in the stillness, lost in his thoughts. But as time ticked on, Alina's familiar voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of his duties.

[Overmind, please confirm the start of Project Queen by contacting the infestation unit.]

With a calm yet purposeful stride, Shino approached the coffin, his eyes fixated on its writhing form. As his hand made contact with its surface, a surge of electricity pulsed through his body, causing him to shudder.

[Overmind has confirmed the initiation of Project Queen. Alina will be disabled and system will revert to legacy mode. Alina is being downloaded into reality, please do not disconnect from infestation unit… 1%… 5%...]

Shino silently stood in front of the coffin in a daze.

[95%...98%...99%… Overmind, please make your final choice for Project Queen.]

"Final choice?"

[Replacement Mode (90% Success Rate) or Merge Mode (67% Success Rate)?]

Shino hesitated, his expression caught in a moment of indecision.

As the indecisive man stood in a daze, the strange coffin seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly energy, as if beckoning him to make a choice…