Chapter 131: Another year.

Homura stood in the training ground, diligently weaving hand seals and uttering the name of his technique, "Futon Ressenpu." As he completed the final seal, a powerful gust of wind erupted from his mouth, blowing away a stack of logs with ease.

The strong winds produced by Homura's jutsu blew away everything in its path even the grass in front of him, the power on display was so strong that a cloud of dust was also being created.

Seeing this Homura couldn't help but wonder if he was putting too much  strength on his attack and stopped. 

"(That shinobi called Shizuka was great at performing this jutsu but mine is still too weak.)" Homura thought to himself as he stopped the jutsu before being out of breath and chakra.

It was overall a hard jutsu to perform, not exactly difficult but the range was harder to control then the other wind style jutsu called, Futon toppa.

While the "Futon toppa" was basically the same jutsu as the "Ressenpu", in order words creating a strong wind by using wind chakra and the wind from inside their lungs to create a strong torrent of wind. 

However, where these two jutsu differed was the Futon toppa was an all range which basically just made a strong current of wind the ressenpu condensed the wind into a stream towards a zone, which made it destructive power higher but its range far shorter. 

Though both jutsu effectiveness reduced the further away from their target. 

The ressenpu especially. 

It took ten seals to perform which was a lot  to do in a normal fight, and was not going to be easy. However, the woman known as Shizuka, the future leader of the Nadeshiko village, a village only composed of kunoichi, female ninjas; was able to use the jutsu with only 3 hand seals, which showed the disparity of skills.

It has only been 2 months that Homura was able to say that he had learned the jutsu. 

So he was not too familiar with it, and the fact that he was learning Raiton (lightning style) to help him with using swift release, he was unable to make any significant progress overall.

"*sigh* That should be enough for to-!"

However that plan was soon interrupted as the sound of C's voice resonated in Homura's mind, devoid of emotion but filled with analysis.

" Results: Host, this time your energy expenditure during the execution of the technique was 6 percent lower than the previous instance," C informed him, its robotic tone emphasizing objectivity.

Homura's eyes widened, intrigued by the data. "Is that so, C? Such a considerable reduction? Are you sure the results are right!?"

C affirmed, unyielding in its logical assessment. "Affirmative, host. Comparing the recorded information from your prior execution, this accelerated growth does not align with the expected rate of improvement. Yesterday, your overall energy consumption remained constant."

Homura was astonished by the results. Despite feeling equally fatigued as always, the Ressenpu jutsu had always drained him entirely. It forced him to rest for a minimum of ten minutes just to regain fully his motor functions. Restricting chakra usage had proven futile due to the technique's inherent demands, exacerbated by Homura's inadequate chakra control. He exerted himself to the fullest extent each time.

If it was not for his natural affinity for wind release, coming this far under a bit more than half a year might have been impossible. 

Though Homura's chakra reserves were overall larger than most children his age, not that it was a matter that was instrumental for nature release ninjutsu; which mastery over the element used takes precedence.

Still, a win is a win.

Relieved by C's mention of reduced energy usage, Homura settled himself on the ground, crossing his legs with a composed demeanor. It had been seven months since he infused himself with the DNA of Akimichi Choji and Haruno Sakura. Physical enhancements had yet to manifest, and his chakra control had veered off course, causing setbacks in mastering even basic jutsu like the transformation technique. His chakra had become burdensome and susceptible to disruption. Moreover, the lingering pain around his heart, a consequence of C's diagnostic experimentation with Sakura's DNA combinations, had persisted for months. Sakura's exceptional chakra control remained elusive to replicate.

Those past months, every time he used too much chakra he would feel chest pains or drained of his energy which made kneading chakra difficult.

But as months went by he tried to use just as much as he could to avoid feelings the side effects, but with poor results overall.

While progress had been meager, the slightest glimmer of advancement ignited hope within Homura. The path forward necessitated further exploration of his augmented potential. Maintaining his calm composure, Homura enacted the ram hand seal, concentrating his chakra.

A leaf delicately landed upon his head, and Homura endeavored to sustain control. As he did the leaf remained stuff with the use of his chakra being made to flow inside his body to focus towards that spot. He focused his energies, refusing to allow them to dissipate prematurely. After 43 arduous seconds, the leaf finally descended to the ground. Homura halted his exertion, calculating the achieved time.

"Increased by two seconds since yesterday," Homura stated, his robotic tone mirroring C's.

C promptly rectified the margin of error. "Correction, host. The increase amounts to precisely 1.458 seconds."

Homura released a sigh of frustration, acknowledging his miscalculation. His attention shifted back to C, seeking insight into the energy assimilated from the newly utilized cell batch.

"The energy expenditure from the incorporated cell batch demonstrates a reduction of 8.3 percent compared to the prevailing cellular populace," C relayed, its voice lacking any semblance of emotion.

Homura nodded, absorbing the information with a precision akin to his robotic counterpart. Inquiring about the possibility of attaining an even more optimal cell batch for integration, Homura sought to maximize his potential.

"The acquisition of a superior cell batch would necessitate an additional duration of two to three years. The present batch represents the epitome of our current options. Its utilization for further experimentation is recommended," C responded, resolute in its analysis.

Homura evaluated the available alternatives, realizing the urgency of his situation. Time was a luxury he could no longer afford to squander. Resolute in his decision, he asserted, "We shall proceed with the existing cell batch

and continue the integration process over the weekend. Our resources and test subjects will be utilized to expedite progress. We cannot afford any further delays."

C acknowledged Homura's directive, devoid of any personal agenda. "Acknowledged, host. Integration process scheduled for the weekend. Nocturnal initiation not required."

Homura exhaled, relieved to have made a definitive choice. He knew he had a limited timeframe and commitments to fulfill. "Forget it, I don't have time for that. C. Initiation shall occur during the weekend. I have to go to the academy (The new teacher is a pain in the ass)."

After concluding his training session, Homura returned to his humble abode, a secluded cave nestled within the woods. The familiar coolness of the cave welcomed him as he stepped inside, seeking respite from the training grounds. His first priority was to cleanse himself of the sweat and dirt accumulated during his rigorous practice.

Homura made his way to a small area designated as his makeshift bathing spot. The sound of trickling water echoed as he poured water from a container over his body, rinsing away the exertion of his training. The refreshing sensation rejuvenated his senses, and he relished the brief moment of tranquility.

Once refreshed, Homura emerged from the bathing area and turned his attention to his attire. With purposeful movements, he retrieved a set of clothing carefully arranged nearby. A white Japanese-style tunic adorned with intricate black lines served as his outermost layer. Beneath it, he wore a simple yet comfortable ensemble consisting of a blue shirt and shorts. His feet found solace in the familiar embrace of a pair of standard-issue blue sandals, common among shinobi.

Homura took a moment to adjust his appearance. His slightly longer hair cascaded down to his shoulders, meticulously tied back with bandages, forming a neat and unobtrusive line. The front of his hair was styled into shorter strands, framing his face with jaw-length bangs on either side.

With his attire and appearance in order, Homura secured his shinobi waist bag around his waist, ensuring all his necessary tools were within easy reach. The weight of the bag was a constant reminder of the responsibilities he bore as a shinobi.

chapter end.