Hunger.
That was all I could feel.
A never-ending thirst for food gnawed at my stomach. But before I could fully acknowledge it, I forced myself to reorganize my thoughts.
'Who? What? When? Where? Why?
I needed answers.
To start… my name was Aburame Kurourushi (Kuro, for short.)
I had been reborn into the world of Naruto. I was four years old.
And today… I was supposed to start my training to join the ninja academy.
That was all I knew.'
"Kurouruahi? Of course it is …But how did I even get here?" Kuro wondered.
Before he could continue, the door suddenly burst open.
A man stepped inside, someone I instantly recognized.
"FATHER!" Kuro shrieked.
"Damn it, kid," Pangu snapped. "How many times do I have to tell you to wake up? Get out of bed and change already, its time for you to start training!"
As I got ready, all I could think about was having too adjust to my new life.
When I finally walked outside, I saw my father sitting and waiting for me. As I approached him, he looked up.
"Alright, listen up, brat. I may not be able to control bugs like your mother, but I can definitely teach you the basics, so pay attention!"
He stood up slowly, dusting off his clothes before walking toward me.
"First things first… chakra." I stiffened slightly.
So this was it. The foundation of everything in Naruto.
"Chakra is the energy that flows through your body," he continued
.
"It's a mixture of your physical energy and your spiritual energy. Every ninja uses it; for jutsu, movement, and even basic survival in battle."
He raised a hand, holding up two fingers.
"Physical energy comes from your body—your strength, your stamina. Spiritual energy comes from your mind—your focus, your will. When those two are balanced…" He clenched his hand into a fist. "…you create chakra."
I nodded slowly, trying to absorb everything.
Simple enough.. At least on the surface.
"But for you…" he continued, his tone shifting slightly, "…it's different."
My attention sharpened.
"The Aburame Clan doesn't just use chakra. You share it."
Share it?
He crouched down in front of me.
"The kikaichū inside your body feed on your chakra. In return, they obey you. They fight for you. They live and die for you."
A crawling sensation ignited in me. Small at first but bigger and stronger over the course of a few seconds. Like they were reacting to his words.
"They are your weapon," he said calmly.
"But more importantly…"
His voice lowered.
"They are your responsibility."
I swallowed.
Inside me, something shifted.
Not just the kikaichū.
Something else.
Something hungrier.
"…And what happens," I asked slowly, "…if they want more chakra than I can give?"
For a brief moment...
My father went silent. His expression hardened. "…Then you die."
The air went still. But deep inside me…
I could hear my bugs stirring inside me.
"Ok, now try to channel your chakra throughout your body; try meditation, it might help." Pangu instructed, demonstrating himself.
"Call me once you complete this first step, I'll be inside." he stated as he walked back into the house.
I sat down immediately and started trying to course my chakra throughout my body.
I could feel it; the warmth spreading from head to toe.
'I guess I was a natural at this, huh?'
Until suddenly, I could feel my chakra being drained. Not by mistake.
No, this was my bugs.
They were eating away at my chakra; and like a dog being given real food for the first time.
They loved it.
The sensation intensified. MORE
They wanted more.
This kept going until I was left completely dry of chakra and I proceeded to fall backwards from exhaustion.
I gasped, taking in short breaths.
'Well, this is going to take a while getting used to.'
"Ok, first things first", I speak aloud.
"I gotta learn how to control those damn bugs, but now I gotta wait until my chakra comes back..."
'Hmph, time to brain storm'
'My powers must be similar to Kurourushi, considering that's my name, and I have a bunch of cockroaches in me.' I wondered
But what did that mean?
"Whelp there's only one way to find out.." I say before I scream out..
"COME OUT, MY MINIONS! MUAHAHAHA!"
...
Only for one slightly large cockroach too come out from my mouth as I was screaming.
...
I froze
Then I immediately recoiled, gagging as I stumbled back, from the bizarre scene I just witnessed.
"Ugh what the hell?"
'Don't tell me that's the only way for them to come out of me.'
I paused
...
'Nope no thinking about that right now'
Shaking my head, I forced myself to refocus and looked down at the bug
.
It twitched slightly, its tiny legs clicking against the ground.
"…Alright, little guy," I said cautiously.
"What can you do?"
The cockroach didn't respond.
It just… stood there.
Staring.
"…You serious right now?" I frowned. "I summon you in the most traumatizing way possible and you're just gonna--"
It moved.
Not toward me.
But down.
Toward my foot.
"…Huh?"
Before I could react, it lunged -- Straight at my sandal.
Crunch.
I froze.
"…Did you just--"
The cockroach dug in, its tiny legs gripping tightly as it began chewing.
Actually chewing.
On my sandal.
"HEY—WAIT—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I yelped, hopping back and trying to shake it off.
The bug clung stubbornly, completely ignoring me as it continued to gnaw away like it hadn't eaten in years.
"BRO, THAT'S MY SHOE—STOP—STOP EATING MY STUFF!"
I finally managed to flick it off, sending it tumbling a short distance away.
It landed.
Paused.
Then slowly turned back toward me.
'Fine' I figured...
'I guess I'll just have to beat you into submission.'
I grabbed the same sandal he was devouring, and lunged straight at him
...
Once I smacked it a couple times it calmed down but now I could feel it.
That same sensation I recalled from earlier
Hunger
I could feel it coming from deep within me and from the creature standing in front of me.
"…You've gotta be kidding me."
The cockroach twitched.
And for a brief second, I swore I understood what they wanted.
More.
My expression slowly shifted.
From annoyance…
To realization.
"…Yeah," I muttered.
"…something is seriously wrong with my bugs."
With what little chakra I had recovered, I summoned more bugs and directed them toward a tree in my backyard.
"Go on…" I muttered. "Eat."
For a brief moment, Nothing happened.
Then—
They moved.
The swarm surged forward, far faster than before, latching onto the bark like a living wave.
Crunch.
Crack.
Gnaw.
My eyes widened slightly as the sound echoed.
They were destroying the tree...
After they finished mutilating the tree, they all instinctively turned back to me, as if awaiting orders.
A certain anticipation for their next meal seemed to grow in their minds...
I swallowed.
"…Yeah. That's not unsettling at all."
I quickly recalled all but one back into my body.
The remaining bug stayed in front of me, twitching slightly.
"Alright… you guys are way faster than I expected," I muttered.
"Alright, you guys are that faster than expected, so you should be satisfied for a while."
The bug tilted slightly, as if confused by my statement.
'Hmm, talking to a bug is weird'
A pause
'Actually..'
'I think I'll name you', I straightened up, pointing dramatically at it.
"Stand proud little one, for I have decided to bestow upon you a name!!" I said
"From here on out your name is JIMMY!"
…
The bug twitched.
For a brief second—
I felt something.
Not words.
Not thoughts
But a faint… response.
Like it acknowledged the name.
I blinked.
"…Okay."
A slow grin spread across my face. "…That's actually kinda cool."
I stood there looking proud for a few seconds until I heard a rather grumpy cough.
...
I slowly turned...
Oh
He saw everything.