Chapter 6

Kama had showed his fellow clan members what he and the kikaichu inside him had learned together.

Insect clones, shields, and restraints. They could be used as camouflage if they covered an object and flickered their chakra to match the surroundings. His senses were heightened and the insects themselves could sense danger and react faster than a human could. They could be sent out as scouts and bring back information. They could be sent out as a group and do tasks as well, even being able to carry heavy loads as heavy as 100 pounds when a large enough swarm worked together (Kama by this time had many more than just 3000 kikaichu inside him, as they had bred and multiplied over the course of last season).

Also, the obvious and most powerful aspect that they could swarm onto an enemy and devour their chakra.

However, there were other reasons for him keeping the insects past last spring…

Kama did not tell the others, as he did not dare even admit it to himself…but he… liked the sensation of the insects. The feeling of them moving about in his guts, their noises, their vibrations. He enjoyed their company, and felt safe with them protecting him. He was forever intrigued by their intelligence and their abilities and couldn't wait until what they could discover next.

He wasn't the only one. The kikaichu themselves had a similar sentiment. They enjoyed Kama's company, his guidance, the things he taught them about how to use chakra. The varying flavors of his chakra with his moods, the safe warmth of his body, the sound of his heartbeat. They never had to worry about finding their next meal or a host to raise their young, and all through the winter they were kept warm and protected. It is no surprise they were more than happy to give a few of their lives in the protection of him.

By the time five years had come to pass, Kama was not the only one who had kikaichu living inside him. He was now one of three.

It was no surprise they soon wondered if it was better to start the training early. So kikaichu were given to young children. Kama's daughter was the first. They found out it was much more successful, as three adults died trying.

From that point on only children were given the insects.

All of the insect users came to wear sunglasses to hide their 'eyes' and coats to shut themselves off from the world. They wore them not only for their loose-fitting feel (as their skin was more sensitive to touch and pressure with thousands of bugs living under it) and to hide tears and wounds from the early years of the insects finding the best pathways through the skin, but also to give a sort of air of warning to others. A 'look but don't touch' mentality, as a overzealous pat on the back could be painful in early years.

By the time ten years had passed, it was no secret to the rest of the village what the little clan was doing. Some protested it, many cried out in fear and disgust. They were appalled to hear that three had died trying. But as nothing changed except for their manner and dress, and no angry swarms of kikaichu attacked the village, people came to accept it.

They could never understand the relationship they had with the kikai insects.

The insect users discovered in time they could be used in tracking (using a female insect and planting it on someone). The insects could, with training, learn to remove toxins from the body or break it down harmlessly. They found the kikaichu could heal wounds or tears in the skin using a weave of chakra, this translated into healing battle wounds. They were also amazed to find out one year that the insects were unaffected by most genjutsu.

In twenty years, the clan took on a name, the Aburame clan, all taking the last name of Kama and his family.

…

More techniques developed as different individuals were passed the kikaichu baton, each more unique than the last.

…

Kama's daughter buried her father, and became the clan leader. She passed on kikaichu to her son, and him to his son, and him to his daughter, her to her son, and so on.

…

In many decades, the spit of houses grew into a large village, and was founded by a man who was the most powerful earth-jutsu-using shinobi anyone had ever seen (who would be come the village leader and later hokage) and four clans, the Hyugas, Uchias, Akimichis, and the Aburames. They were still the smallest clan of the group, but certainly not ignored. It was no surprise these powerful and unique clans yielded ninjas who earned the village respect and power, having it come to be the Hidden Village of the Leaf not too long after (named for the many trees and natural landscape of the village, sculpted by the first Hokage).

…

It could be hard to think that people could so easily give their bodies (and loss of their eyes) at risk of dying to act as living hives. To consciously decide to have insects crawling and breeding inside of you and ripping through your skin. But the small clan was not your normal group of people. If it was not already for their strong respect of insects and calm, determined nature, such a relationship between kikaichu and humans could never have come to pass.

But as the years passed, those early, unsure days were forgotten, the clan's namesake and founder became only a distant memory, a figure who stood as the trailblazer of one of the most bizarre, unique, feared, and respected clans in Konoha…

…and the Aburame clan continued passing on kikaichu to their children,

not simply because it was a tradition,

and not only because it would grant them a unique protection and power,

but because it was what they chose;

a gift, a relationship they wanted to share with the next generation.

…

…

From the author: Wow, that just rolled out of me. XD I hope you enjoyed it, reviews are always appreciated to know there are people out there who also enjoy the Aburames. I encourage you to check out my other Aburame fics if you enjoyed this one.

Thanks for reading!