Chapter 70: Saved
The dimly lit alley was shrouded in an air of darkness and despair. Hinata Hyuga, her once vibrant spirit now reduced to a mere flicker, found herself at the mercy of thug lackeys.
Tears streamed down her face as their callous hands held her to the cold, unforgiving ground. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and helplessness enveloping her being. Will she be defiled here?
Just as despair threatened to consume her entirely, a deep, resonating voice boomed through the alley, cutting through the tension like a knife. "That is enough," it commanded, sending a chill down the spines of the thugs. "Get your dirty hands off her."
A sudden gust of wind swept through the alley, swirling dust and debris into a frenzy. Hinata's teary gaze lifted, locking onto the astonishing sight unfolding before her.
From the darkness, a swarm of bugs converged above Hinata, forming a concentrated mass in the shape of a human torso. The bugs shifted and twisted, coalescing into the unmistakable upper body of Shino Aburame, his steely resolve emanating from every pore.
The thugs surrounding Hinata froze in their tracks, their sadistic intentions eclipsed by disbelief and fear. Shino's presence alone was enough to ignite a sense of dread, amplified by the menacing aura of his insect companions and his ghostly appearance.
Floating above Hinata, who stared up at him with eyes full of hope, Shino expertly brandished a kunai in his hand, a tangible symbol of his unwavering determination.
Without hesitation, Shino's body twisted through the air, a blur of precision and deadly intent. His kunai found its mark with ruthless accuracy, swiftly slicing through the throats of the thugs. Blood spurted, staining the ground crimson and splattering across Hinata, who lay beneath in a mix of shock and awe.
The thug leader, his instincts barely keeping him alive, narrowly evaded Shino's attack. But he could not escape the fate that awaited him.
As if sensing his fleeting defiance, another swarm of insects descended upon him, wrapping around his body with an iron grip. His agonized screams pierced the darkness, echoing through the alley as his struggles were swiftly quelled.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the darkened passage, a group of thugs reveling in their lust and pleasure met a similar gruesome fate. The air became thick with the sound of their harrowing demise, accompanied by the haunting screams of a woman whose torment had finally reached its dreadful climax.
As the remaining parts of Shino's body condensed, he stood tall beside Hinata, his gaze unwavering and filled with determination. He reached out a hand toward her, an offer of salvation amidst the chaos that had surrounded them. "Are you okay, Hinata?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Hinata's wide, tear-filled eyes met Shino's, flickering with a newfound glimmer of hope. She hesitated for a moment, her body trembling from both fear and relief, before accepting his outstretched hand.
As he gently pulled her up from the cold ground and into his embrace, she found solace in the warmth that emanated from his touch as he gently wiped her tears. Despite the bugs crawling over her skin to clean the blood off her, for the first time ever, she didn't feel disgust from his bugs.
"I... I am now," Hinata stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Shino-kun. You saved me."
Shino's expression softened, his usually stoic features revealing a rare glimpse of empathy. "It was my mistake, I thought you could handle it alone," he replied, his tone laced with humility. "No one should suffer at the hands of such cruelty. But let us not linger in this place…"
Shino's gaze shifted towards the thug leader, still tightly restrained by the relentless grip of his bugs. A glimmer of curiosity danced in his eyes as he turned to Hinata, a question hanging in the air. "Hinata," he began, his voice laced with a gloomy undertone, "Do you wish to deliver justice yourself?"
The thug leader's eyes widened with terror, his head shaking frantically as he tried to vocalize his plea. However, his muffled cries were lost amidst the cacophony of buzzing insects lurking in his mouth, their presence suffocating his very words.
Hinata trembled, her entire being caught between conflicting emotions. She couldn't bring herself to face the man directly, the trauma still fresh and raw within her.
Sensing her hesitation, Shino's touch turned gentle yet firm. He placed the bloodstained kunai into Hinata's trembling hand, intertwining their fingers as his arm wrapped protectively around her waist from behind.
His voice, a captivating whisper, enveloped her senses, urging her forward like a devil. "Hinata," he murmured, his words a spell woven through the darkness, "Let him face the consequences he truly deserves."
Driven by a mixture of emotions, Hinata allowed herself to be guided by Shino's steady presence. With a subtle manipulation of his insects, he brought the restrained thug leader forward, placing him in her line of sight. Hinata's hand tightened around the kunai, its cold blade a stark reminder of the power she now held.
Shino's whispered words echoed in her ears, their impact reaching deep into her soul. "Give him the punishment he deserves, Hinata," he encouraged, his voice a bewitching symphony. It was a plea that resonated with a desire for justice, a yearning to right the wrongs inflicted upon her.
As Hinata's gaze met Shino's eyes, a surge of determination coursed through her veins. She took a step forward, her trembling hand finding newfound strength. The kunai trembled in her grasp, poised to deliver a reckoning that echoed through the darkened alley.
The sound of horrid screams shattered the silence, reverberating off the walls and causing the denizens of the slums to retreat further into the depths of their hiding places. Each cry was a testament to the pain and suffering that had plagued the alley, a cathartic release of anguish and despair.
Not long later, together, Hinata and Shino made their way out of the alley, leaving behind a scene of chaos and despair. Their path was guided by the dim moonlight, casting intermittent shadows upon their journey. It was a moment of solace, a brief respite from the darkness that had threatened to engulf them.
"Hinata, we'll continue the investigation later. Let's go find an inn and let you wash up." From the ahead, Shino's voice beckoned to Hinata.
A subtle yet determined reply escaped Hinata's lips. "Mm."
As they ventured forth, Hinata's hand discreetly clung to Shino's sleeve, and she couldn't help but steal glances at Shino.
As usual, he appeared both mysterious and resolute, his presence a testament to the strength that lay within him. She found herself drawn to his mysterious nature, and couldn't help but question why she had remained oblivious to the captivating allure hidden beneath the surface of her silent teammate all this time.
At this moment, a revelation stirred within Hinata's heart, for she had unknowingly overlooked the intriguing depths that her teammate possessed.
Not only that, in the shadows of their shared journey, their interactions never allowing Shino to truly emerge from the background, mostly overshadowed by the boisterous presence of Kiba-kun. And Kiba-kun's constant interruptions only served to bolster this effect.
Eh? A sudden realization dawning upon Hinata. Is this Kiba-kun's deliberate ploy to diminish Shino's presence within their team, a goal accomplished by interrupting Shino as much as possible?
However, Kiba-kun clearly didn't succeed.
In the depths of her conflicted emotions, Hinata acknowledged the undeniable truth that, despite his subdued presence, Shino had become the mature figure upon whom she secretly relied, the confidant to whom she surreptitiously sought solace and guidance from time to time.
She had taken this for granted and confided to him many of her secrets...
As she delved into the labyrinth of her thoughts, a disorienting wave swept over her: Shino was probably aware of her unspoken affections for Naruto-kun, and probably harbored no interest in her, right? No- what is she thinking!
Silence enveloped them as they navigated the city streets, each lost in their own thoughts as the weight of the recent events lingered in the air.
In the depths of their secret base, Karina and Shino engaged in their usual discussion, their voices hushed yet laced with ambiguousness. Karina's gaze fixated on Hinata, observing the emotions playing across her face like a canvas of vulnerability.
With a sly smile, she turned to Shino, her words tinged with a mixture of admiration and calculation.
"It seems you have easily claimed Hinata's heart, Shino," Karina murmured, her tone carrying a hint of mischief. "She will soon be a pawn in your hands, to be played with as you please. And in doing so, we can further strengthen our hive."
Shino's response was measured, his voice carrying a note of skepticism. "It's not so simple to break the bond between the female lead and the protagonist," he countered. "This emotional fluctuation is temporary. Once the trauma settles, Hinata will likely flock back to Naruto, unless we take measures to firmly anchor her heart in place."
Curiosity sparked within Karina's eyes as she leaned in, her voice laced with anticipation. "And how, pray tell, do we achieve that?" she inquired, eager for Shino's cunning strategy.
A sly smirk curved Shino's lips as he contemplated his answer. "With the help of another person whom Hinata trusts," he replied, his voice dripping with intrigue. "Someone who can sway her emotions and reinforce the bonds we seek to create."
Karina's dissatisfaction seeped into her grumbled response. "Ah, so you not only want one, but two, don't you?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of jealousy.
Undeterred, Shino wrapped an arm around Karina's waist, pulling her closer, his expression tinged with mischief as his gaze lingered on her beautiful facial expressions. "Jealousy is unnecessary, Karina," he whispered, an evil smirk playing on his lips. "We have both time and planning on our side. Rest assured, I will satisfy your desires thoroughly along the way."
Karina's frustration melted into a begrudging pleasure as Shino's words resonated within her. She couldn't help but acknowledge the intricate web he was weaving with his skills, the layers of manipulation designed to achieve their goals.
Enveloped in a state of awe, she instinctively pressed her hand against her trembling lips, stifling any sound that threatened to escape and disturb his efforts, as she witnessed the masterful art of his manipulation, realizing the intricate web of planning that unfolded before her very eyes.
Shino's gaze lingered upon Karina's flushed visage, an intriguing curiosity gleaming in his eyes as he posed his question, the air crackling with unspoken implications. "So, have you delivered the supply of essence to the external base?"
A blaze of fury ignited within Karina's eyes as she directed a piercing glare towards Shino, her lips concealed beneath the barrier of her hand, her muffled retort seeping through the gaps, laden with unspoken coyness, "I-It's not fair- to keep using that spot- But! I-I haven't lost yet, Shino-"
Suddenly, a surge of astonishment coursed through Karina's widened eyes, darting erratically in every direction, her entire being seized by an intense tremor that gradually dissipated.
With her hands now lowered from her gasping mouth, she bowed her head in defeat, locking her gaze with Shino, her voice transforming into one infused with an overwhelming affection and submissiveness, "It's already on its way… now, Shino, let Karina help speed up its arrival."
"Good." With a serene sense of satisfaction, Shino's voice resonated, carrying a hint of content, as he delved deep into the recesses of his consciousness, transitioning seamlessly to the other part of himself, a presence residing in a distant part of the world.
Within the depths of an underground laboratory, nestled near the capital of the Land of Fire, a dimly lit chamber, its architecture reminiscent of a honeycomb, housed ominous shadows, their elongated silhouettes resembling giant bees lurking in the darkness.
The clone of Shino, his figure dressed in a lab coat, stood within the lab, silently surveying the eerie glow emanating from the biochambers before him.
Suspended within each biochamber were unconscious beings of significance - one cradling a loyal canine companion, another embracing a fervent dog lover, and the final chamber enveloping the dormant form of a beautiful teacher.
The air itself crackled with anticipation, for the true purpose of this secret experiment remained shrouded in mystery.
"Now, what should I do with you three?"
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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