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Neji Hyuuga knew he was wasting valuable training time coming out to this training field. The Chuunin Exams were only a week away and he was still not satisfied with how his ultimate defense was shaping up.
But he had tolerated enough insults. He would not tolerate this one.
He found the Aburame easily enough. He was alone, for once: His sensei and his Inuzuka teammate had departed. The Aburame was standing in the wooded clearing, his insects buzzing about him. Neji approached, making enough noise to get the bug user's attention.
Yet the bug user kept his back to him.
"Aburame," Neji stated, "I would have words with you."
The Aburame very slowly turned around, his expression hidden behind his collar and sunglasses. Neji narrowed his eyes, and held up a plastic bag. Within it were a number of Destruction Bugs, all dead.
"I have been finding these in the Hyuuga Compound for the last month," he stated, "why?"
In his bathroom, in his bedroom...
Aburame retained his stoic expression, unmoved by Neji's anger.
"You have found the insects I wished you to find," Shino stated in his calm monotone. Neji snorted.
"Do you expect me to believe that my Byakugan could miss your vermin-?"
There was a buzzing at his ear. Neji froze, as a few Destruction bugs flew up from his collar and made a bee line right back to their master. Neji flashed the Byakugan, scanning around himself furiously. He could see them now, as tiny black dots, but before... How...?
"You have found the insects I wished to find," Shino repeated, exactly as he had said before.
"You didn't answer my question," Neji retorted, keeping his voice calm, "why?"
Shino fixed his pitiless gaze on Neji, and calmly began to walk towards him.
"The Byakugan is indeed a powerful bloodline limit," Shino said, as conversationally as though talking about the weather, "but it has limits. Limits that I have trained to understand, to aid Hinata in her training. Blindspots that do not change regardless of the level of skill one attains in its use. I have also researched what I can on it, to further understand its strengths and weaknesses to ensure my teammate can maximize her training. She works very hard, very diligently, to be a great ninja. To aid her teammates in also becoming better ninja."
Neji snorted.
"Your training was inadequate," Neji growled, "fate alone proved this-"
"Fate," Shino interrupted, his monotone voice hard, "is the justification of what happens afterwards. It is illogical, petty rationalization based on human emotion and wishful thinking. I deal with scientific facts, and hard data."
Neji opened his mouth again, but the fearsome stare from the bug user silenced him.
"For instance," Shino continued, "all Aburame Clan members are trained in the production of specific poisons. Poisons to be injected into Hyuuga clan members to ensure the destruction of their eyes in case of imminent death or capture. This poison is designed to react with the remaining chakra in the optic nerves and cause complete tissue destruction. It is a binary system: As long as chakra is not present in the optic nerves, no reaction will occur."
Shino took a few more steps, closer to Neji. Neji's fists clenched, as he felt the urge to shift into his Gentle Fist stance.
"The compound itself can be split into two chemicals. One can be introduced at any time, via a Destruction Bug sting or bite," Shino continued, "and is untraceable. Undetectable. It remains dormant in the system... Until the second chemical is introduced."
Shino's eyes bored into Neji's.
"In a dead Hyuuga, the tissue destruction is only sufficient to destroy the eyes," Shino stated, "but in a living one with high amounts of chakra flowing through the optic nerves, the resulting reaction would be quite catastrophic. Even if the Hyuuga survived, their Byakugan would be utterly destroyed. They would be rendered completely blind. Helpless to defend themselves."
Neji grit his teeth, glaring hatred back at the impassive Aburame.
"... You would be found out," Neji whispered in a deadly tone.
"With the destruction of the optic nerves, the compound is rendered inert," Shino continued in that maddening monotone, "impossible to tell when it was introduced. Whether it was a month ago... Or in the middle of an exam tournament battle."
Shino's brow furrowed, just enough, as he lowered his voice.
"In other words: You had better hope that fate ensures you will be defeated by Naruto Uzumaki. Because if not? You will be facing me. And if you face me in that arena... Most likely..."
Neji felt the urge to bolt, but his nerves kept him right where he was as the Aburame's voice became a deadly, horrible whisper.
"You will not be leaving alive."
There was a terrible silence, only the wind blowing gently in the trees above. Shino Aburame slowly turned his back, and slowly walked away from Neji.
He raised his hands and spread his feet, adopting the Gentle Fist stance. He could finish it with one blow, kill the Aburame in an instant. He could hide the body, dispose of him. No one would know...
There was the faint buzz of an insect by his ear. Shino's stride didn't break.
Neji grit his teeth... And lowered his hands. He turned and stormed off. He forced himself to ignore the shadows all around him, the fear deep inside him.
He had a tournament to train for.