Chapter 101: The calm before the storm (part 4)

- Alright, Saya. You're home now...I'm going.

- What happened to you calling me big sister like before? (Saya)

- Big sister is gone! Along with several of my brain cells that you destroyed with that fist of yours.

After recovered from being smacked in the head by Saya, the two were somehow able to go home.

Homura did everything within his abilities to get the hell away from Saya but was unable to.

He wanted to leave but a bunch of guys from the orphanage came to visit again Saya, though when they found Homura cooking for Saya.

They stayed longer and were invited to join them for a meal.

Much to Homura's chagrin who wanted to kick them all out.

However, some of Saya's friends that came to see Saya were girls, especially normal girls.

Not the kunoichi in training kind, who could easily slaughter animals with a smile on their face, but the kind that was actually proper and kind.

So Homura put on his best pokerface yet.

He was pretty much considered as a somewhat of a violent weirdo, among a bunch of somewhat violent children.

In other words, it wasn't a good look.

So he was glad that Saya had cute friends that he could fawn over and let his popularity do the talking but it ended badly regardless.

So as everyone left, Homura was ready to leave too.

- Booh! Unfair! Big sister does agree to it! Big sister has rights too! (Saya)

- No you don't! Now go and rest already!

- How mean! Toshio kun would have stayed with me until I fell asleep! And even wash the dishes for me! (Saya)

- No he wouldn't! He's not that great of a guy and you know it! He probably went to the infirmary to take a break instead of checking on you.

- you're wrong, Toshio kun wouldn't do that....He's really dependable when he needs to be.- said Saya, trying to believe her image of her other friend, but Homura's words rang somewhat true.

Since Toshio and Homura had a lot in common.

They were both shallow individuals who believed in their own hype above all else.

The main difference was that Toshio was smoother and calm when he needed to be.

He was overall the cool type of guy that girls could easily feel at ease. While Homura was a pile of dynamites waiting to blowup at any moment; at the mere mention of fire.

- Really? The guy that spends an hour in the bathroom styling his hair and looking at his appearance...I think not.

- Buh-Buh! Stop saying nonsense, you'll give Toshio-kun a bad name! Besides, he is our little brother. (Saya)

-  That guy is no little brother of mine! He's a narcissist (Assh*le) and everyone knows it!

- Says you! If that is true than y-you're no different from him? (Saya)

- Of course I am! I am much better and more handsome. My dark and mysterious looking eyes make me look very handsome. All the old ladies tell me that I am the coolest boy they've ever seen.- said Homura pointing at his face, while plastering a cocky smile.

- Not the cutest?...because all I hear they say about you is that you're kinda cute, as they like to pinch your cheeks, not handsome. In fact, you're the only person who says that you're handsome all the time. (Saya)

- H-ha...T-that's just how old ladies talk! And I-I am...! No! No! No!

Homura tried to calm himself by putting more distance between himself and Saya as he was getting further from the door and making gestures with his hands as if he was trying to put more space between them.

- ? Are you feeling okay? (Saya)

- Yeah...I just can't let myself be dragged to your pace once again...(my head already a complete mess after she sucker-punched me anymore and I might start agreeing with everything or repeat myself to death)

- Buh-Buh, buh! Not fair! Big sister is sick. (Saya)

- You're hurt. Not sick.

- Same thing.- Said Saya wailing her hands in protest.

- *sigh* Fine, I will help out with whatever you need on the weekend.

-Hooray! Hooray! It's a promise, right? No take backs! (Saya)

- Fine. It's a promise. Gotta go. Bye!

Homura just waved a Saya while he was dashing towards the stairs.

- Don't forget about this weekend, or I won't forgive you! (Saya)

- Yeah, yeah...I know.- Said Homura waving back dismissively as he ran away, without even turning back.

Homura then continued running until he opened the door that led to the stairs and after using them to go back to his floor.

He rushed to enter his apartment with all he had, to drop on top his bed finally.

Seemingly exhausted with the weird day he just had.

Everything just went so poorly today.

Another series of arguments with Naruto and Kiba, coming to term with truths he wanted to avoid, and Saya getting hurt.

Just, so much.

Too much for one day.

Normally, he wouldn't come home at this hour but today he had to take Saya home.

Usually he would be training at this hour.

It then dawned on him that he had forgotten some very important.

- !!! I forgot!- Yelled a panicked Homura.

Homura quickly lifted his back from the bed, as he suddenly remembered as to why he never came home at this time of the day.

He was supposed to be training with Takao.

- Sh*t! I am super late!

Looking at the sun about to set from his window, Homura realized just how late it was, but it was fine.

He was late, but kids usually train until much later into the night.

Becoming a shinobi or any other type of apprenticeship was hard work.

In fact, too much hard work most would say.

But all that work was still worth the effort to Homura.

Especially if it meant becoming a ninja.

And using supernatural abilities through the usage of a jutsu, by controlling his own chakra; which he had already started to learn.

Though, no one has taught him any jutsus.

To Homura, the academy was stingy in teaching them anything; since the average child was not really talented enough to pull anything too complicated that requires the usage of chakra.

Seven years old that can mold chakra to perform a transformation nature release were rare.

No.

Beyond rare.

Or predisposed to do so due to their heritage.

Still, at this point him learning a jutsu, was just a matter of time for Homura; he thought.

Just the idea of it being available to him one day, gave him enough strength to get out of bed.

It was with renewed vigor that Homura went to his balcony and jumped out of it; while putting on his bag full of necessary items for them to train as he fell.

*Bam*

He landed on the roof of the slightly smaller building next to him on all fours like a cat, and immediately started running once again.

Jumping off and on buildings all across his path.

Seemingly excited.

His training and classes had made him already superhuman to the bare minimum.

He could jump high and run quite fast without getting tired too fast.

He understood why Guy likes to train so much now.

Moving his body with so much fluidity was exhilarating.

Though it was mundane feat for most, but to Homura, just the fact he was able to this much; when he had a clear aversion to heights.

It was quite amazing.

Although his mood quickly soured a bit when he remembered who made him conquer that fear.

It was Uchiha Shisui.

Who gave him encouraging words and told him how he had conquered his aversions to heights when he was younger as well.

Though Homura doubted Shisui was ever afraid of anything.

He was closer he had to a real life hero in his life.

A legend.

He considered Shisui to be his first master; and himself as his first pupil.

Even though that title and feelings probably fitted more the relationship between himself and Might Guy far more than with Shisui.

Since he was not Shisui's apprentice and Shisui trained with Itachi and Sasuke far more than ever did with Homura.

o

But feelings are tricky thing to understand.

They don't have to reflect reality but how the person interprets things around them.

Though they were nonetheless true to the ones experiencing them.

*Tap*

While thinking about those things Homura had managed to land in a section of one of the numerous and large of the training grounds belonging to the Uchiha clan.

Which took overall almost an hour to arrive at the desired location using his normal speed and trying to pesky eyes.

- *Phew* finally here- said Homura as he wiped his slightly wet forehead with his left hand.

He then walked a bit more, in order to get to the usual location that he and Takao would train.

It was slightly deeper within the forest next to the training ground.

It was quite dark, but the light coming from the stars above, in the bright night sky. Still allowed anyone to clearly navigate within the thick greenery surrounding them.

And that much was true for Homura as well.

As he arrived at the usual location he would train with Takao.

Though this location was fairly deserted since it was far further within the forest than other training fields.

What it lacked in space, it had more than enough trees to climb and attach target boards for them to aim at and practice from different angles.

Open fields usually were not very good for target practice, since strong winds could easily become a major detriment.

Which made training more difficult for those practicing throwing projectiles.

But regardless of what he wanted or thought, this hidden field for target practice was the only one available to Homura.

He even had his projectile throwing contraption he created there set without any issues.

Nobody seemed bothered by it nor had it been moved aside.

Homura immediately went to check on the machine he had built for the sake of training.

And wiped away some light speck of dust on top of it.

- nobody used it...was he not here today?

Chapter end