Chapter 120: An unexpected meeting

3 days had passed since Homura borrowed Naruto's game console.

It was quite a different challenge for him.

He wasn't used to the kind of technology inside the console.

But as the deadline came he had to give it back.

So when the day came, he went to Naruto's apartment and gave back the game console.

However, as he went there Naruto wanted to train together and then play, but Homura was not too keen on following his plans.

He had other plans for today.

He wasted three days assembling and reassembling Naruto's game console to understand how it works... and he did get more or less the gist of it.

At least the mechanical part of it.

Besides that, he understood that it was frigging impossible to replicate the current game system without having an assembly line and chips of his own.

He could theoretically recreate the chips and the entire game console since he understood its components with supercomputing and the way they were built... somewhat.

But if he were to try, he would end up with a giant computer and missing the most important part of it, which was the software.

Because he lacked the knowledge of how to miniaturize the technology.

...He felt like an idiot.

An idiot to think even with his skill he could understand everything he sets his mind to it, but it was more complicated than that.

Yes, after three days of non-stop examining every inch of Naruto's console, all he came up with was building a giant computer that wouldn't work because he didn't have the software for it... A smarter man than himself would have understood that without having to pay Naruto 70 cup-noodles.

That was a lot of money.

At least for someone who was a meal away from being broke.

Thankfully, Naruto accepted that he buys him 10 cups each week.

Though he might have to pay more.

He mounted and dismounted Naruto's game console at least 83 times just yesterday to test many of his theories, so much so that he completely forgot about checking if Kiryuu from Sidewalk Brawlers 3 is a knock-off of a certain character he knows.

He didn't even get to know if they fought on sidewalks.

This also made him wonder what else is a knock-off of his former world in this world.

Is there even such a thing as a knock-off when you live in a multiverse?

Well, who cares.

He was so surprised by that game console that he went to buy more chips and other things from the guy who has a shop next to the junkyard.

The guy ripped him off.

He finally got the memo while seeing Naruto's gaming console framework.

Naruto's stuff is at least 10 years beyond, everything he ever bought there.

No wonder it was that cheap.

Nobody wants his junk anymore.

So he sells it for not-so-low prices to people who don't know any better like Homura, or guys who need pieces from older technologies that you can't so easily find these days.

Though he was able to realize that C helped him understand the processes behind technology better than he thought.

He was previously messing with gear technology, but now he more or less understands more high-tech stuff... this is a huge find.

He couldn't wait to study more of that stuff.

It may be useful in the future.

However, as of now, he needs to focus more on training in order to get stronger.

The teacher he faced in the last exam was too strong.

If he had a jutsu that could have been useful, perhaps he could have done something more about it.

He has the ability to use Swift Release inside him, which means he should be good with at least one element.

Though Kekkei genkai logic was iffy overall.

Sure Homura could use swift release more or less whenever he wants to after he was able to use it unconsciously, but not only that took a lot of chakra; but it also didn't mean that the same thing would happen for his main chakra nature if he was ever in danger.

People with Kekkei genkai just often stumble to their powers, once it happens. It becomes hard to forget the feeling after it was awakened.

The same thing happens to Homura.

Sometimes when he would try to use chakra to enhance his body he would become much quicker suddenly for no reason; for an instant.

It was something that he more or less learn to stop from happening out of the blue.

However dominant chakra nature was another thing entirely.

Currently studying the fireball Jutsu is a total disaster.

As an Uchiha, he should be able to use fire release more easily than most ninjas, but that wasn't the case.

Sasuke was able to use the fireball jutsu in less than a month when he was 7, and Itachi was able to do it at a glance at around 5 or 6 years old.

Though Obito had a lot more trouble than the 2 geniuses previously mentioned, so it wasn't really outright strange for him to be having that much trouble.

So he is not really sure anymore if he is good at using Katon in any way, shape, or form.

At this point, it is a miracle that flames even appear out of his mouth at all.

Nonetheless, it has been three months, and Homura knows his innate chakra control is supposed to be bad... He doesn't know what to do about that, he failed to get Haruno's DNA.

The plan was to use her blood to see if he could fix this problem.

But that didn't happen.

Events during the last exam prevented him from getting his prize and testing Homura's theory that other people's blood can inherently affect his body for the best.

He needs another shot at it, but it will have to wait until next school year since he doesn't know where she lives or who she hangs out with... but he can't waste any more time.

He needs to make some serious progress, so he is also buying weights.

Homura hadn't seen Guy-san in a long time, so he wasn't able to ask him how to get weights and more affordable equipment. He had been recommended an obscure store by the academy staff to buy equipment.

They said the store had all types of weapons and equipment.

If Homura wished to focus on using a specific weapon, that shop was one among the few ones that had all kinds of weapons available.

Not many students focused on a specific weapon besides the usual ones that most shinobi used such as shuriken, and kunais.

So when Homura asked the staff at weaponry they were quite surprised about his request.

Nonetheless, they still obliged him and gave him an address for him to go look for a weapon that would fit him better. Even though they had lots of weapons on hand.

Though they couldn't be lent to students outside the academy's grounds.

Much less make modifications to fit the user and Homura asked for something they could not give him, like many other children had been requesting a lot lately.

A chakra blade.

A few weeks ago, Homura had seen a man give a demonstration of a chakra blade, and it looked really different from simply imbuing weapons with chakra.

From the demonstration, it seemed that chakra blades were incredibly sharp and could cut through everything overall.

If he had that in his hand, he could slay any foe in his way. It might also be a good way to train his chakra control.

Though he didn't really understand why nobody bought any from the man after he gave his presentation. It was expensive for him, but to most shinobi, it shouldn't be that much.

Well, If anything was out of the norm he would just ask the vendor to try one of those types of weapons.

Sadly, he wouldn't buy it now, after facing Jyubei, she made him understand the importance of using shorter types of weapons or ones that gave him enough flexibility to attack and defend.

Since Homura wasn't really that strong, having decisive weapons that prioritized dealing swift and quick death to his opponents seemed crucial.

Still, he didn't know if he would commit to this style of fighting.

It was far too dangerous and one wrong move.

Furthermore, Homura was ambidextrous, so he could use both arms almost with an equal amount of dexterity.

Well, those were Homura's plans for the day.

If it didn't pay off, it didn't really matter.

It meant that today his afternoon was free.

He thought about just focusing on taijutsu in a different way, perhaps trying to mix more styles into his repertoire, but he didn't want to be a taijutsu fanatic.

So he had been saving money.

To buy wires and two practice swords.

These were certain things he had thought about for a long time, working on them.

Shisui-san had a passage in his notebook about sword practice and shurikenjutsu techniques using wires.

He didn't have enough money to invest in those things, and the first year was just a mess to get used to... plus many things happened.

And this year, with the chakra control issues, studying and many other events were in the way.

But now, with his Sharingan more or less under control, his visual prowess had improved, and he could see things in slow motion to some degree.

So he thought now was the best time to switch to something more his style, and it was instrumental in helping save Haruno Sakura...and to be frank, he hit a bit of a pickle in his taijutsu; he wasn't trying to be another Rock Lee.

He couldn't dedicate his entire focus on taijutsu alone, even if he wasn't the best at using chakra he was still talented enough that he never failed to perform any jutsu that he ever tried.

He just wasn't really great at using any of them.

-!

Without realizing Homura looked at the map once again and was surprised by the many turns he had just taken.

Since he was currently heading to a shop he had never been to before, he was surprised by the area he found himself in.

He only came this far because he had heard that they had good deals and a large catalog available to them, though chakra paper wasn't really an issue and could easily be bought by any ninja or academy student.

Thus as he turned the corner of the street, he saw a pretty normal-looking shop... maybe it was also a house... seemed more like a house... but the huge sign on top of it did say "ninja tools."

It was close to a residential area which was not really a place where people would set up shop.

However, the sign was the final straw that shifted the scales toward him exploring the location.

"This gotta be it... or I took a wrong turn somewhere," he thought as he opened the door and saw an uncle-looking dude.

"Oh! A new customer?! Welcome!" the shopkeeper exclaimed as Homura entered the store.

"H-hello!" Homura quickly bowed in response, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"So, are you an academy student? Can you tell me your year and name?" the shopkeeper asked.

"Why?" Homura wondered, slightly taken aback. "We offer student discounts for students," the shopkeeper explained. "But if you don't want it, it is not necessary."

Homura realized the reason behind the question. "N-no! It's okay. I was just wondering why you ask me that!" he stammered. "I am a second-year! And my name is Homura."

"I see, so how can I help you?" the shopkeeper inquired.

"Do you sell chakra paper?" Asked Homura as he got closer to the counter, but was just barely tall enough to not be hidden by it, so he grabbed the next to him so that he could sit.

"Sure, we have some of those but they are pretty expensive though, Are you sure you want to buy one of those? Do you know even how to use it? I can't show you since it can only be used once." Said the man with a slight look of confusion to Homura's request.

Few children ever asked for the item Homura had just asked for; the shop owner couldn't help but be confused by such an odd request.

"No, problem. I came here mainly looking for one of those." Homura said in an easygoing manner.

"Alright, I will get it for you later since it is at the back of the shop, but besides that anything else you may want?"

"Hm…Right! Do you have training weights? Ones that you can use around your body?"

"Ah, you mean those types of weights. Sure, we have some of those. But since you are an academy student you have only the right to buy ones that depend on your year at the academy. It is for safety reasons. If you want me to give you the heavier ones I will need a permission letter from your main teacher."the man said as he was stating the obvious.

"Tch! Is that so…My second year is already over, can you give me the ones available for third-year students?" Asked Homura wondering if he could see a solution to this problem and avoid buying 2 different sets.

He already had training weights of the same kind he was asking for, however, those were the normal ones that all academy students used to build some strength.

The special ones had a jutsu shiki inscribed in them that had a far greater effect since they were smaller and far heavier than the normal ones could ever hope to be.

"Sorry, but I can't. It is against the policy" He said the shop owner without much of a thought.

Originally he had thought Homura was a bit small for a second-year student, which lead the man to think Homura might have been a girl, because of his androgynous appearance and voice. But his demeanor, clothes, and manner of speaking gave away quite fast that he was indeed a boy.

"…Can you still show me those you have available as a…reference for later?" Homura asked unsure if he was asking too much or not enough.

"I guess that much is fine, so is that all, or would you require something else." Responded the shop owner with a slightly softer tone of voice seeing that Homura would not so easily give up if he didn't at least give the boy something, sometimes he gets customers like Homura who try to use gear or weapons that they do not have the proper credential to have or use.

"Just one last thing, I want to buy practice swords," Homura replied, his eyes filled with determination.

"Oh! A sword user, huh? At your age, it is pretty rare! Would you like a short sword or a regular size one?" the shopkeeper asked, intrigued by Homura's choice.

"Hm?!" Homura mentally cursed himself. "Of course, swords have sizes..." he thought. "I want it to be on the shorter side," he finally responded.

"Short ones...better take out the catalog," the shopkeeper said as he searched under the counter. With a soft thud, he placed a large book on the counter.

"A catalog?" Homura questioned, curiosity piqued.

The old man nodded. "Here is a book with info on all sorts of products available in the store. Since it seems to be your first time buying a sword, I will help you look for one that fits your needs."

"Thanks!" Homura said, taking the catalog into his hands. With the assistance of the old man, he started flipping through the pages, carefully examining each option available. Some were too expensive, while others didn't quite match his requirements.

After a few minutes of searching, Homura's eyes fell upon a pair of training swords. They were of medium length, and made out of dry hardwood. They seemed to strike a balance between his preferences.

"These!" Homura exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice, before quickly correcting himself. "I mean, uncle, I want these swords!"

The shopkeeper smiled and inspected the chosen swords. "These ones, huh? Let me look around..." he said, reaching under the counter and pulling out a scroll. Unrolling it, the pair of wooden swords Homura had selected emerged from within the scroll.

"Here you go," the shopkeeper said, handing the swords to Homura. "These will serve you well."

Homura's face lit up with a mix of anticipation and gratitude as he held the practice swords in his hands. He felt a renewed sense of determination, knowing that these weapons would aid him in his training.

"Are you sure you want these ones? Trying to dual-wielding isn't easy," the shopkeeper cautioned, eyeing Homura skeptically.

"No problem, I am pretty much ambidextrous. So it won't be a problem," Homura assured him confidently.

"Alright...so do you need anything else?" the shopkeeper inquired, ready to assist further.

"!? Right... I need to buy wires for shurikenjutsu. Do you sell them here?" Homura asked, hoping to find the necessary equipment.

"Wires, huh? There should be some left in the back... TenTen, can you come here for a second!?" the shopkeeper called out, summoning someone named TenTen.

Curiosity sparked within Homura as he heard the name. "TenTen?" he wondered, his eyes scanning the entrance. Suddenly, a little girl wearing traditional-looking clothes hurried into the shop.

"What a strange name…though I can't really talk about that my name is Homura (Flames, though not a kanji) after all but that name does sound familiar" Thought Homura

"What is it, papa?" the girl, TenTen, asked in an innocent voice.

"TenTen, can you look in the back if we still have wire rolls scrolls around?" the shopkeeper requested.

"Okay! Gimme a sec..." TenTen replied before swiftly disappearing into the depths of the shop. Homura couldn't help but feel a mixture of surprise and confusion at the unexpected turn of events.

"I know what you are thinking, and the answer is no!" the shopkeeper exclaimed suddenly, catching Homura off guard.

"What? Do you not have the wires?" Homura questioned, perplexed by the shopkeeper's response.

"No!? I think we have some. I wasn't talking about that!" the shopkeeper clarified. "I was talking about my cute TenTen! I saw how you looked at her, and I could tell you were smitten by her beauty! However, I can't accept any random kid as a son-in-law! If you wish to marry her, you will have to go through my very tough selection."

"!?...Mister...are you...okay?" Homura asked cautiously, uncertain of how to respond to the shopkeeper's unexpected outburst.

"Of course, I am! It is you who has fallen head over heels under my super cute daughter's charm," the shopkeeper continued, his tone slightly softer now.

"I can assure you, I don't care about her," Homura hastily interjected, attempting to diffuse the situation. "No! I meant to say I-I...she looks like someone I used to know a little bit, so I was confused!"

"I see..." the shopkeeper said, a hint of disappointment lingering in his voice. The tension in the air grew palpable, making the atmosphere increasingly uncomfortable for Homura.

"...I see..." Homura mumbled, hoping to ease the awkwardness that had settled between them.

Fortunately, after what felt like an eternity, TenTen returned to the scene, breaking the uneasy silence that had fallen upon the shop.

"Papa, I found the scroll!" TenTen announced cheerfully, holding up the discovered item.

"Good job, TenTen! As always, you are Papa's true treasure," the shopkeeper said, his voice brimming with affection as he embraced TenTen tightly, his affectionate gesture bordering on the eccentric.

As TenTen laughed while being hugged, suddenly she stopped and looked at Homura. She broke free from her father's embrace and walked up to Homura with an inquisitive expression on her face.

"!?...Can I help you?" Homura asked, caught off guard by TenTen's sudden curiosity.

"You look a bit like a girl, but you dress like a boy! Are you a boy? You look pretty cute!" TenTen exclaimed, her innocent curiosity shining through her words.

"....thx...I think," Homura replied, his more weirded out at the unexpected compliment. Thoughts about his appearance raced through his mind, contemplating whether he should consider cutting his hair again or wearing different attire.

"What's your name? You go to the academy too, right?" TenTen continued, her wide eyes fixed on Homura.

Homura found himself caught in a dilemma. With TenTen's father present, he couldn't simply lie, and there was something different about TenTen that made him cautious. "The name is Homura, and yes, I attend the academy as well," he answered, choosing to withhold specific details like his class or year.

Interrupting their conversation, the shopkeeper intervened with a cough. "TenTen! Don't you think that you are being a bit rude to our young customer? If you want to talk to him, it's better for you to ask... him after he finishes shopping. There are still some items we have to go through," he scolded, a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead.

Homura breathed a silent sigh of relief, grateful for the interruption that defused the potentially awkward situation. TenTen obediently complied, retreating back inside the shop, leaving Homura alone with the shopkeeper once again.

"Ah! Right! I will talk to you again, Homura-kun!" Homura mustered a hesitant smile, his mind still reeling from the encounter with TenTen.

With TenTen's departure, the focus shifted back to their business transaction. The shopkeeper, now composed, presented Homura with the final price for his purchases.

"Alright, here's your price?!" the shopkeeper declared, handing over the total.

"!? Isn't the price a bit different from before?... And weren't you going to show more items for me to go through?" Homura pointed out, a note of confusion and disbelief in his voice as he glanced at the catalog, where the previous price tags for the swords were still visible.

"...Sorry, but those prices were from last year. I forgot to update them in that book," the shopkeeper admitted, a sheepish expression crossing his face. Homura stared at him, a mix of exasperation and incredulity filling his features.

Chapter end.