Chapter 136: The true scope of the transformation jutsu.

After donning the cloak and equipping himself with the necessary tools, Homura felt a surge of anticipation. With a swift series of hand seals, he channeled his chakra and shouted, "Transform!"

In an instant, a cloud of smoke enveloped him, concealing his form. As the smoke dissipated, it revealed the same figure as the disguised Homura but much taller, and more mature physique. He flexed his fingers and rotated his joints, ensuring that he was comfortable and familiar with his new body.

"Hmm…Not bad, I should have practiced more in that form but just maintaining and moving around for a long time was challenging enough." Homura thought as he stopped testing the overall feel of his joint and muscles.

Confident in his abilities, Homura unsheathed his swords and approached a nearby tree. With a practiced motion, he unleashed a flurry of precise slashes, the blades slicing through the air with a swift elegance. The sound of metal meeting wood echoed through the forest as Homura honed his swordsmanship skills.

"Interesting," Homura mused, a hint of excitement lacing his voice. "The physical sensations are remarkably similar to what I experienced in the virtual world. It seems that somehow I am more in tune with this form than I thought due to using it so much…There's almost no uncomfortable feeling or muscles being stiff."

He swiftly moved through a series of strikes, his body flowing with a grace that belied his age. With each swing, he assessed the length and reach of his blades, ensuring he could make the most effective use of his new form.

"Adjusting to this body is crucial," Homura murmured, his voice filled with determination. "I cannot afford any weaknesses or uncertainties when it comes to combat. Every movement must be precise, every strike intentional." thought Homura.

Pausing briefly, Homura wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his gaze drifting towards the sky above the treetops. He pondered the knowledge he had gained about the intricacies of ninja techniques and their vocalization.

"Yelling out the names of jutsus... it does feel a bit embarrassing," Homura admitted, a slight hint of embarrassment escaping his lips. " I can never fully get used to it after all these years, but if it truly enhances the effectiveness of the techniques, then it is a small price to pay. Though, I do wonder if it's simply a psychological aspect rather than a true necessity…I certainly feel more in tune with this body than the previous times…strange…" Homura pondered inside of his mind for a few seconds as he tried to figure out why he was performing better than he expected.

Was it because of his determination? Was it because he was feeling a tinge of excitement at the thought of putting his training through the test for once? Or was he trying to mask the fear he felt deep underneath?

All these questions and more were weighing on him and plagued his mind, however, he didn't have enough time to be feeling confused-He had little time left as it was.

Satisfied with his swordplay, Homura paused for a moment to reflect before soon deciding his next course of action.

His attention then shifted to the peculiar ball in his pocket. It resembled a smoke bomb, but with a unique twist of his own creation. Homura withdrew it, examining its surface before decisively smashing it against the ground.

A yellowish cloud of smoke billowed around him, dispersing quickly, leaving some amount of lingering odor. It was a product of his ingenuity, designed to provide a momentary boost in his tracking abilities and the position of creatures since it was a similar formula as a smoke bomb but laced with his own body fluids, mainly sweat. With C's help, he could use it to track an individual through areas he had been or where the wind overall guided his odor, though it could also be used as a distraction when needed.

"Ah, the smoke release seems to be working as intended…though the smell is still a little too strong for my liking..," Homura noted, his voice tinged with satisfaction but was already thinking of better ways to make the next batch. "A useful tool for tactical maneuvering and creating diversions."

He then propelled himself into the air, soaring towards a nearby tree branch. The forest became his playground as he leaped from platform to platform, a blur of movement and acrobatics.

With every bound, his confidence grew. The rhythm of his jumps synchronized with the beat of his heart, his instincts guiding him through the intricate dance among the branches. He reveled in the freedom of his actions, each leap a testament to his abilities.

"Though I am a bit faster than usual I am also a bit heavier…fascinating." Homura thought as he landed on a tree branch nearby before jumping off again.

His overall speed was slightly the same in his other form, so much so that he wondered if he had made his weight slightly off since the body he was using was technically weightless since it was based on a virtual creation, or that his brain was more or less just using the muscles as if it was his normal body.

If the latter was true, then he needed to train more in this form in the future.

"Perhaps understanding the transformation jutsu will make those copies more realistic…I must investigate that later." Homura murmured, his voice filled with determination.

Thinking that his virtual opponents could be improved and he could make them move more like real people if he tries to transform into their bodies and use the experience to create copies that are more realistic and overall better for him to fight.

Though that would have to be left for another time as well as he finally decided to increase his movement speed in order to find Naruto.

As he traversed the forest canopy, Homura's thoughts were a mix of excitement and introspection. He knew that this physical transformation held immense power, yet he also recognized the responsibility that came with it.

chapter end.