Despite it All

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Shino's POV (Nearby Chakra Anchor - Western River Plains)

Evening

Shino rolled to his and slashed the tip off one of the spines with a kunai and, using the large sharp piece of stone with both hands, smashed the improvised weapon into the torso of the woman. She cried out in pain as the armor cracked. Shino tossed the stone off her and thrust his hand for the breached armor; however, her call alerted him to a counter.

"Earth Style: Projectile Mud Cuffs!" Suzumebachi desperately called as mud shot off her armor and suddenly linked around his wrist, securing them in heavy mud restraints. Shino attempted to free his hands or weave jutsu, but they were too far apart, and the binds too strong to break with a mere heave. Suzumebachi chuckled as she kicked the cuffs, making his arms fly above his head and unbalancing him. "Fatal mistake, rookie!" She assured.

Even without her needlessly proclaiming such, Shino recognized it. His idea of using a large stone to smash the armor had been decent, but he should have continued the assault by stomping after, the second he had wasted to chuck the stone had bought her enough time. The attempt of using the Rinkaichu had cost time, time that she used better than he. Now armored and her opponent helpless and wide open, she smashed into his left side with an armored left hook, then another hook to his right. The two weighty and powerful blows lifted him from his feet and drove the air from his lungs. An ugly yet ultimately effective single-hand club to his skull knocked him to his knees as Suzumebachi's chakra flared. Within an instant, the armor shot off her wrapped around Shino, fully binding him. The armor became a clump of stone that had engulfed Shino leaving only his head exposed. Shino cursed as the somewhat worn out but ultimately game Suzumebachi stood over him.

"You were good, Shino Aburame, nearly my match," Suzumebachi assured, sighing heavily. "But it appears I am the victor today. I will offer the mercy of making your death quick and painless. I do apologize for this, but if it's any comfort to you, I don't feel pleasure in killing you, strange when you're an Aburame."

"Considerate of you," Shino answered honestly, still forced to be in his imprisonment. "And I do find that to be some sort of comfort. Luckily, this battle isn't over."

Suzumebachi shook her head, drawing a kunai as she approached. "Leaf hippies… hopeful till the very end." As she approached, she raised her kunai and prepared to finish him off.

However, Shino merely smirked as she drew within striking range. "Earth Style: Earth Shrapnel!" he cried. The earth binding had been clever and perfect for keeping him from using his hands. But the fully bodied one had been a flaw. Shino could touch his palms to it, and with the time he bought speaking had managed to activate a simple but effective earth Jutsu. The stone binding cracked before exploding outwards. Even from within the stone construct, Shino was hit and covered with lacerations from his own technique. Luckily Suzumebachi got the worst of it being outside and within direct proximity of its blast. The force of it cut thin and deep lines alike on her skin as it knocked her from her feet. And flat and dazed on her back, not unlike Shino had been a moment ago.

Having been prepared, Shino recovered much quicker and leaped from his feet to land heavily on Suzumebachi's wrists with both of his feet. The woman cried out in pain and struggled to free herself, but Shino maintained his balance and allowed her to work the pain and struggle out of her system.

"I was not surprised by your skill. Lee had described you as a fearsome opponent. Though I must admit, I still underestimated you. If not for you adjusting my bindings, I would've lost today." Shino lectured from atop her.

Suzumebachi settled down with not a look of fear but resigned acceptance. "Of course, the cuffs kept you from using jutsu, but when I enlarged them, it allowed you to channel your chakra into the stone via touch. A clever tactic and a gutsy one to rely on. I suppose I was wrong about you as well. Ironically defeated and impressed by an Aburame on the same day…"

"I find all people can be ignorant and heedless. Including myself and you." Shino responded. "For years, the Aburame saw the Kamizuru as nothing more than a felled foe to look out for. Something similar could be said for you and Kamizuru regarding us Aburame. This battle showed me we're both more than that. That the grudges we hold are nothing more than a burden to carry. I thank you as my elder for imparting your wisdom."

"Can't be that much older than you bastard. So what? You intend to preach to me before murdering me?" Suzumebachi responded dryly. "Is this your version of interrogation? Make me suffer endlessly by waxing philosophy before ending me? If so, I'll tell you whatever, if you shut up and just finish this."

Shino silently pondered what to do. In truth, this was no fundamental matter to consider. This woman was a sworn enemy of his clan and village. Just mere moments ago, she kept attempting to end his life. The woman had not shown mercy when in his shoes. While her reasoning was understandable, it simply didn't change things. If he let her live, she could come back to haunt them, and indeed, she would seek vengeance.

"Stop stalling, Shino." Suzumebachi started. "You're calculating, decisive, clever, but you still lack experience. Your left hand, that lethal weapon of yours, is shaking badly. You're still pretending to be the mindless soldier the Aburame loves to produce. But you're not… My advice is to avoid the whole trading names and eye contact thing early on. Makes killing them easier. That's the scariest part, it becomes easier. Though for you that probably fills you with hope, Aburame."

Shino sighed heavily as his mind was made. "Like I said earlier, I am a proud Aburame, but more than that, I am myself. I am certain I will regret this, I am certain you will be a foe again, likely in the near future. But if I am honest I have caused much pain and death as of late. I have never shied away from the job of a shinobi, but I tire of killing so mindlessly. I will spare you; consider it an offering from not the Aburame, but Shino, me myself to end this pointless feud." Shino said as he crouched down to face her directly.

Suzumebachi laughed maniacally at such a seemingly momentarily lost in the moment. "An Aburame with a heart? You really are something different! I'll take your mercy and this defeat, but rest assured I'll come for you in the near future, seeking my rematch one day. Then it'll be my turn to be a strange Kamizuru and spare you. Shino The Strange Aburame…"

"I look forward to that day," Shino assured her before dropping a rough elbow into her face. Knocking her into a painless unconsciousness. His insects slowly returned to him now that the wasps were gone with their master bested. They informed him of Lee and Choji's battle nearby. Sakura, Hinata, and apparently Kiba had managed to best the wasp. It seemed something had even been done to the barrier, and his allies repeated some sort of chakra pulsating on it that was foreign to the same that fueled it. "The barrier is our key objective; with Lee and Choji now present it seems to suggest the rest of our allies are on the way. That would make my destination clear…"