The dense canopy of the trees blocked out nearly all of the sunlight that struggled futilely to break through to the floor of the forest. The dense forest that had stood vigilant over Konohagakure since its founding was one of Sojiro's few retreats from the village that did not understand him. The forest had become a haven of sorts ever since... the incident. With Sojiro forbidden from working on his puppets in his workshop and no place to turn within the village, the forest had become his only retreat. Here he could do his work and conduct his research away from the prying and judgmental eyes of the village.

This however, was not a trip to tinker with his puppets or draw up new blueprints in peace. Being an Aburame Sojiro had the ability to communicate with bugs, hell he shared a symbiotic relationship with several thousand of them. It was a mutually beneficial relationship, more than rational in Sojiro's mind. The beetles needed shelter and sustenance and in exchange for an almost unnoticeable inconvenience an Aburame gained a personal army. The body of an Aburame was essentially a living hive, his blood the essence of life used to sustain it.

This forest was almost as misunderstood as Sojiro himself, maybe that's why he felt so at peace there. The forest had played an vital role in the village's survival over the years. The dense forested area served as a veil for the village for over a century, shielding it from the outside world which might seek to do it harm. It may not be as flashy as other parts of the village, but its value, however easily overlooked, is worth more than it is ever given credit for. When people see the forest what they see is darkness and the creatures that dwell within that they see as monsters. Much in the same way that they are unable to see Sojiro's value even when it is staring them in the face.

Word Count: 337/9000

Ninjutsu S>SS