Compared to the Aburame clan members, others without the pathways for insects had to endure some physical pain.
However, for a ninja, a little pain was nothing if it meant gaining strength.
After a brief moment of discomfort, as the blood insects entered their bodies, a surge of chakra began to flow through them.
Everyone widened their eyes in astonishment, their expressions identical to the Aburame clan members from earlier.
"God of the Shinobi, this... this is incredible!"
"It's unbelievable! Such powerful chakra... it's mine?"
"Thank you, Commander. No... Lord Shigeo!"
"Hahaha…"
The group exclaimed, shouted, and laughed, letting out their excitement and joy.
Shigeo Aburame observed quietly. Only after the commotion subsided did he speak calmly.
"It seems everyone recognizes my power. However, let me clarify something: these blood insects have a lifespan. They will die in about two years."
"Uh..."
Hearing this, the group showed looks of surprise.
Shigeo swept his gaze across the crowd, noting their reactions, before continuing.
"Moreover, these blood insects cannot reproduce on their own. They can only be cultivated through my secret technique. In other words, your current strength is temporary."
"..."
Silence fell over the group.
After about ten seconds, a voice suddenly broke through the crowd.
"Lord Shigeo!"
Shigeo turned towards the voice to see a young ninja kneeling on one knee, his face full of fervor.
"I pledge to follow you forever!"
Following his lead, the others mimicked him, all kneeling on one knee.
"Lord Shigeo, me too!"
"And me!"
"Lord Shigeo!"
In moments, all 100 of them knelt down.
Seeing this, Shigeo nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. As long as you work diligently, I will reward you generously. Obtaining blood insects is simple: earn merit points. Ran!"
"Yes!" Fuuma Ran stepped forward immediately. "Your orders, my lord!"
Pointing to the crowd, Shigeo commanded, "From now on, in addition to their mission rewards, allocate merit points to them for their efforts."
"Understood!" Ran nodded before hesitating. "Should we notify the Hokage?"
"No need!"
Shigeo waved dismissively.
"There's no need to notify anyone. The Special Police Force reports only to me. The member list is classified, and during missions, everyone must wear masks in addition to the police uniforms and use code names to address each other—just like the ANBU."
"Yes!"
...
Under Shigeo's leadership, the Special Police Force was swiftly established.
At this time, Konoha was reeling from the attacks by Orochimaru and the Sand Village, attracting opportunistic adversaries.
These included rogue ninjas from other nations and spies sent to gauge Konoha's strength, some of whom were formidable Jonin.
Konoha's ANBU, primarily composed of Special Jonin and Chunin, could handle average foes but struggled against elite Jonin.
That's when the Special Police Force stepped in.
Clad in police uniforms with masks similar to the ANBU, they annihilated opponents swiftly and decisively.
Whether against Chunin or Jonin, the outcome was the same.
What set them apart was their overwhelming chakra, surpassing most of Konoha's Jonin.
This elite Special Police Force, composed entirely of Jonin, shocked Konoha.
The villagers, still recovering from the turmoil, felt reassured knowing such a powerful force was in place.
However, Konoha's higher-ups were deeply uneasy.
They were powerless against Shigeo, whose strength far exceeded theirs. Facing Orochimaru, as well as the reanimated First and Second Hokage, he had fought them all single-handedly. This level of power surpassed even the Uchiha Clan's in its prime.
In the face of such absolute power, schemes were futile.
Previously, when Shigeo requested a seat on the advisory council, they were reluctant. Now, their opinions didn't matter.
With the police force now wielding conventional and high-level strength, Shigeo's influence rivaled that of small ninja villages.
Combined with his position as one of the strongest shinobi and the support of the Aburame clan, he was unstoppable.
If Shigeo wanted a coup, resistance was futile.
Under these circumstances, granting him an advisory position was trivial.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado conceded, and even Danzo reluctantly agreed.
With the Third Hokage's decree, Shigeo Aburame became one of Konoha's advisors, officially entering the upper echelons of leadership.
This outcome relieved Konoha's other clans.
It was clear that the peace of Konoha now depended on Shigeo.
No one wanted to fight such a powerhouse unnecessarily, especially at the risk of internal conflict.
With Shigeo in the council, the Aburame clan's status rose, while Konoha remained stable—a win for everyone.
As the village returned to rebuilding and recovery, Konoha welcomed a new leader: Tsunade.
Jiraiya and Naruto convinced her to return and take on the role of Fifth Hokage.
Whether they encountered Orochimaru or re-enacted the "Legendary Sannin Battle" was unknown to Shigeo, nor did he care.
The result was all that mattered to him—and the other advisors agreed.
For them, having their former pupil take the helm was the best outcome.
When they met Tsunade, even Koharu softened her tone.
"Tsunade, we'll notify the daimyo immediately to announce your appointment as the Fifth Hokage. The village will begin preparations for the inauguration. Is that acceptable?"
Tsunade sighed. "Daimyo, ceremonies... such a hassle!"
"Tsunade!" Koharu's tone turned stern, prompting Tsunade to wave her hand.
"Fine, fine. I get it—it's part of the Hokage's duties, right?"
"Exactly!" Koharu nodded and ordered two nearby shinobi.
"Genma, Aoba, post the announcement. Ensure everyone knows who the Fifth Hokage is!"
"Yes!"
The two vanished instantly. Koharu then turned to Shigeo.
"Advisor Aburame, is this satisfactory?"
"Perfect." Shigeo smiled and turned to Ran.
"Ran, post an announcement: The Konoha Police Force supports Lady Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage and pledges loyalty. Any defiance will be considered treason. That's all."
"Yes!"
Ran disappeared instantly.
Seeing this, Koharu and Homura sighed in relief.
Their reactions didn't escape Tsunade, who smirked slyly.
"This might be interesting…"
(End of Chapter)