Start From Naruto: Shino the Dominator

The scorching sun cast its relentless gaze upon the vast expanse of the Land of Wind, turning its desert into a searing inferno. Grains of sand danced in the hot wind, forming swirling dunes that stretched out as far as the eye could see.

After half a week's journey, it was in this unforgiving terrain that Shino and his father, Shibi, ended up trekking in.

The Land of Wind belonged to an allied territory, so his father did assure him there would be no danger on this mission, but the man did cryptically warn him to stay wary before they crossed the borders.

Subsequently, it was an arduous journey through the desert, facing the relentless and unforgiving heat each day.

Now, his father, Shibi, led the way with a determined stride. The man's eyes were safely hidden behind dark sunglasses, yet his face was covered in a thin layer of sweat... courtesy of the jacket he was wearing.

Mirroring his father, beads of perspiration dotted Shino's brow, his normally stoic expression appearing strained under the weight of the unrelenting sun, but...

This was just a mere guise, for he was just an insect clone, granting him the uncanny capability to manipulate his own perception at will, so he could 'switch' off a part of his senses if required… assuming it was a sense his bugs actually felt.

Amidst the sweltering embrace of the desert's searing breath, his bugs did appear a bit sluggish, a subtle sign betraying the oppressive heat's whispered influence.

Of course, this was inconsequential in the overall picture. He can adapt, so can his bugs.

As they trudged through the scorching sand, Shibi's deep voice cut through the oppressive silence. "Shino, I believe it is time I share the truth about our mission in Loran with you. It is a secret I have carried for far too long."

Shino turned his gaze toward his father, nodding, "Tell me, Father."

Shibi's eyes darted around, making sure no one else was within earshot. Well, just sand and sand....

So, he leaned in closer to Shino, his voice dropping to a whisper. "In the past, I served alongside the Fourth Hokage during a mission in Loran, before he had became the Yondaime. It was during that time that he made a decision that would alter the course of our lives."

Shino listened intently, his mind trying to connect the dots with his pre-existing knowledge from the Naruto Shippuden movie: The Lost Tower.  At the same time, he probed for more info, "What decision did he make, Father?"

Shibi's voice carried a tinge of regret. "The Yondaime decided to erase everyone's memories of that mission."

Oh, yes, that did happen. It's to avoid affecting the future timeline, or in other words, to avoid the filler affecting the main story. Wait a sec-

Everyone's memory was erased? A glimmer of skepticism danced within the depths of Shino's gaze as his eyes briefly locked with his father's, "Then, father, your memory…"

"Ah... That…" Shibi's fingers delicately adjusted the rim of his glasses, an unassuming gesture that belied the layers of hesitation woven into his very being. "The Yondaime, he..."

In a voice infused with self-deprecation, he finally uttered in a tone of helplessness, "He forgot to include me in the memory-erasing circle."

"..."

An awkward silence loomed between the father son duo, as the weight of their 'special' ability cast a haunting pall over their shared experiences, hinting at hidden depths of lamentation and untold gags waiting to be unraveled...

When the flush of momentary embarrassment subsided, Shibi gathered the fragments of composure, forging ahead with his speech. "Of course, I believe Yondaime can't be such a forgetful person. At first, I also thought it was an accident, an oversight. But as the years went by, I began to suspect it may have been intentional."

Oh? A deviation from his knowledge.

In the depths of Shino's gaze, a flicker of intrigue intertwined with a subtle dance of surprise. "Is it? But why would the Yondaime want to erase everyone's memories except yours, father?"

Shibi paused for a moment, his gaze fixated on the distant horizon. "I do not have all the answers, Shino. But I believe the Yondaime entrusted me with an important task, one that required me to keep a watchful eye on a seal hidden within the ruins of Loran."

Shino's mind whirled with thoughts as he recalled the plot. "A seal? Why?"

Shibi's voice grew solemn. "Because the seal holds immense power, Shino. It is a key to an ancient secret, one that could change the fate of our world. And my job... it is to secretly check on the seal, maintain its integrity, and ensure it lasts until the time is right."

"Time is right?" Shino's eyes gleamed as he played along. "And when is that, Father?"

Shibi's gaze softened as he looked upon his son. "That, my son, is something you do not need to know yet. But I believe it is drawing near."

Uh huh... probably when Naruto grows up in a couple of years.

Not knowing his son to already hold the in and outs of the matter, Shibi's gaze stared into the distance, an air of mystery hanging over his countenance as he played the role of a sage, "The signs are becoming more apparent, and the world is on the precipice of great change. Some events will be inevitable. But we, the Aburame clan, never seek to stand at the front of the stage. We just need to do our duty and maintain the status quo."

Woah. This man... was really stable.

If others got their hands on future knowledge, how many could actually tie their own hands and watch the changes?

Shino certainly had a hard time resisting after only mere months. Yet, his father had been doing it for decades. No wonder he was the 'forgotten' choice.

The Yondaime's instincts were on point.

The duo continued their trek through the scorching desert, the ruins of Loran looming closer with each step. Finally, they arrived at the remnants of the once-great kingdom of Loran.

Alas, the buildings now stood in ruins, with sand and time eroding away their former glory. The wind whistled through the broken structures, carrying with it a sense of forgotten stories and lost memories.

Shino's eyes scanned the surroundings, his insect army buzzing softly through the air.

By his side, Shibi's gaze fell upon an abyss that lay in the midst of the dilapidated towers. It was there, deep within its recesses, that the seal awaited their arrival.

Stepping over rubble and remnants of what once thrived, father and son approached the large hole with caution.

Peering into the deep abyss below, Shino arched his brow. Were they going to jump down?

His father didn't leave him in suspense for long.

Shibi's lips parted with purpose, his teeth sinking into the flesh of his finger, drawing a bead of crimson blood. His hand quickly formed a series of hand signs before slamming down to meet the earth, "Summoning Jutsu!"

Puff! A swirling maelstrom of smoke erupted from the very fabric of reality!

Casting elongated shadows upon the barren ground, majestic wings unfurled, the momentum from their vibrations clearing away the smoke to unveil the summoned entity - a giant, iridescent beetle, its carapace shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence!

"Shino, get on." Shibi bid Shino to mount the beetle's back, "It'll get us down, and its sturdy carapace can serve as a buffer... just in case."

Hopping in to the beetle, Shino observed it with some interest, his bugs secretly crawling out to collect some samples...

"Hold on tight, Shino." Like a feather borne by the wind, the colossal beetle gracefully dipped and weaved its way down the passage, navigating the shadows with an uncanny intuition...

After descending into the depths of the underground ruins, the duo hopped off and the beetle was sent away.

"We'll walk this last part. Light steps Shino. Don't disturb the tower's structure too much, lest it collapses." Shibi warned, leading the way forward into the dilapidated tower

It wasn't long before the duo found themselves in an ancient chamber within the confines of the ancient tower.

They walked across the dilapidated rocky bridge, their soft footsteps echoing through the empty tower, causing some crumbles of debris to spill.

Uh... how did the loud Naruto not collapse the tower with a yell? Magic?

While they approached the core of the tower, Shino's keen bugs detected faint traces of chakra lingering in the air, perhaps a sign that someone had been here recently.

His curiosity intensified, speculating whether Mukade, the villain of the movie, had already found this place. Or could it just be leakage from the seal?

Closing in on the core, Shibi's voice finally broke the silence. "Shino, be prepared. You are about to witness something few have ever seen."

Shino noncommittally nodded, his heart harboring a wellspring of tranquility despite the mysteries swirling within this tower's depths.

Naturally, Shino was not interested in the unfathomable power of the leylines. He had no interest in dabbling with the power of time, especially not at his current stage of power.

Not everyone has the protagonist's fortune. As a normal side character, the slightest misstep may lead to dire consequences, causing all his current efforts, and maybe even his life, to go to waste.

Of course, there was still something that piqued his interest. If he remembers correctly, a remnant of that coveted jutsu he yearned for is here...