Chapter 160: Genjutsu is truly hard.

Several months had passed since Homura's encounter at the Uchiha compound. Determined to harness the power of the Sharingan and master the intricate art of genjutsu, he had been practicing tirelessly. Inside a dimly lit cave, he had set up a makeshift training area.

In front of him, a small rabbit nibbled on the food placed in a cage. Homura sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in concentration. He weaved the chakra with practiced precision, forming the ram hand seal with his fingers. The rabbit continued to eat, unaware of the intense focus Homura was directing toward it.

Homura:"(Sharingan genjutsu!)"

Abruptly, Homura's eyes snapped open, revealing their vivid crimson hue. The Sharingan's two tomoe spun rapidly, casting a hypnotic glow. His gaze locked onto the rabbit, and with a surge of chakra, he initiated his genjutsu.

The scene before the rabbit transformed in an instant. The bowl of food appeared to burst into flames, the blaze dancing and crackling menacingly. Startled by the sudden change, the rabbit's ears perked up, and it darted away from the cage in a panic.

The rabbit's movements became erratic, its tiny heart pounding in fear. It hopped and scampered wildly as if trying to escape the flames that only it could see. Homura's eyes remained fixated on the creature, his genjutsu working its intended effect flawlessly.

Just as confusion and panic seemed to consume the rabbit, Homura's Sharingan underwent another transformation. The crimson swirls dissolved into obsidian, and the illusion he had woven began to unravel. The fire that had engulfed the bowl vanished, leaving behind only the rabbit's bewildered expression.

As the genjutsu's hold released, the rabbit blinked and hesitated, looking around with uncertainty. It twitched its nose, sniffing the air to assess the situation. The food bowl was unharmed, the flames nothing more than a figment of its imagination.

Homura's gaze softened as he watched the rabbit's reaction. He had pushed his abilities to create an illusion so vivid that even an animal's instincts had been fooled. While his heart raced with excitement at his progress, he also felt a sense of responsibility. The Sharingan's power was not to be taken lightly, especially when it involved manipulating the perceptions of living beings.

Homura: Whispers "It did work... I managed to cast a simple illusion, that seemed real enough for the subject to be fooled for a whole 7 seconds."

With a contented sigh, he leaned back and closed his eyes. The rabbit, having calmed down, cautiously returned to its food, though it remained alert and wary.

Homura: Thoughtful "This is just the beginning, but no matter how many times I do this I feel like the bad guy…But this is really boring stuff. (I'd rather read Ueno sensei's books, the last time I read some of the chapters of the newest release, it was getting really steamy…No! I want to get hugged by a beautiful....pair…of… twin peaches.)

As soon as he imagined such thoughts, especially a vision of him getting hugged by a big-breasted older woman, a thin line of blood dripped from his left nostril which he proceeded to clean without losing composure.

It seems nosebleeds in this world are quite easy to happen as soon as one thinks of things that are a bit inappropriate.

And worst is that with all the genjutsu and concentration training, Homura's imagination is quite powerful, just thinking such idiotic thoughts was enough for him to feel a scenario playing inside his head.

Like some sort of side effect from years and years of trying to strengthen his mind.

His imagination is now a step beyond what Homura initially anticipated.

Homura had changed slightly as the years passed.

Perhaps the contents of the tablet changed him and he wanted to avoid even thinking about it.

More than that, he was sure how to proceed anymore.

As he meditated and trained his mind, he gained more clarity and his anger subdued ever so slightly; or rather he learned to shift it towards somewhere else.

Especially since the people at the hospital were always smiling, and thanking him as he helped out throughout the years.

He didn't understand at first why people who had health issues were smiling so much.

But he had put up a smile as well, and as time went on that fake smile became more and more real.

However, as he grew so did others, weirder, tendencies started to develop as well.

It started small after he read one of the doctor's hidden stash of not work-appropriate books, and then he found himself unable to stop.

Worse was that he couldn't buy those books nor would he ever attempt.

He had a reputation and honor he had to defend... and he will be surely killed by someone he feared.

Homura: "What's wrong with me… Ever since I read that book written by Jiraiya… I just…*sigh* " Homura sighed as he remembered the day he bought Jiraiya's book while wearing a disguise.

Now, he had bought all the available books from the series.

He found no secret code, but he did find something else.

Something he didn't want, but something that opened his eyes to a world he didn't think possible.

He never thought he would be one of the troublemakers that enjoyed buying some dirty books.

Some of his classmates did buy or showed pictures of women wearing swimsuits, he never understood or cared about it in the past, but now he doesn't really know anymore.

Jiraiya's books are just pervy but are about romance, lecherous type of romance, but romance nonetheless. He never thought he wanted someone to love him, but as an orphan, the possibility to experience maternal or paternal love wasn't something he could hog for himself.

Not only was the staff always busy with the younger children, but even the older children had to take care of the younger ones.

So he had to grow being unable to understand what it was like to be spoiled, or truly having someone who loved him unconditionally.

This feeling soon changed to wanting to feel loved, but he never got that either, but now that he read about romantic love something in him started to change.

Even though Jiraiya's book had nothing that truly interested him, he could not stop reading them and imagining himself as the protagonist of the story.

It helped that the book was lecherous too, high jinks happened all the time that he could never truly feel bored or stop reading…in other words, he wanted more and became somewhat of a fan.

Homura: " *Sigh*… It is not time to think about that. I need to continue refining my control over the Sharingan's genjutsu. The power that I can use now is too weak. I wonder how a fully evolved sharingan compares to it? I must find out as soon as possible."

Homura's current mastery he could put the rabbit or even the other animals he kept around more easily under genjutsu, but it did take time to mold the amount of proper chakra necessary.

And each animal had a different brain and neuron configuration that acted quite differently from each other and much more than any humans.

It wasn't such a big feat, anyone gifted enough to be able to cast genjutsu could do that much in a few months, and Homura who had a tool such as the sharingan was far easier; almost instinctual.

So it wasn't something he was extremely proud of, his current aptitude for genjutsu was a bit below average both in casting convincing illusions and the time he needed to cast.

In a battle, genjutsu was certainly not something he should try or it could get quite dangerous.

The last couple of months seemed to have shown Homura that he was better suited to learn normal ninjutsu rather than genjutsu.

Regardless, this level of chakra control was something impossible for Homura 2 years ago.

He had completely better control over his chakra reserves and control.

He fancied himself a genius so a part of him did want to admit that perhaps, there was something wrong with his earlier approaches.

It was so strange to him how one could develop with proper guidelines and stop injecting himself with strange DNA samples.

Even to this very day, Homura, did not use Yakumo's DNA samples.

Was it due to fear or some sort of similar feeling?

Not even he knew but he also wanted to just focus on his current endeavors since the person he wanted the DNA of the most was not something he was able to get even after 5 years of snooping around, he could not understand how hard it was to find a single child; though a huge portion of the citizens in the village were children; though anyone above the age of 12 is basically an adult.

Just not in name.

It was a strange society that Homura believed himself to be stuck with, but as time passed he did think that it was all quite normal.

He was almost twelve.

He had lived through so many weird events in the meantime.

In last year's final exam, he had to hold out against 2 chunins for at least 30 seconds to a minute, he did a great job but before he could reach a minute he was then hardly reminded of the difference between them as he got bodied like any other student at the end of the day.

He knew he could last much longer if he made full use of his abilities but unless he was using swift release, he had no chance to win.

Though that was far from his real issues.

His taijutsu was good but ever since he focused on other things besides taijutsu, he did get a little bit more sloppy.

But he couldn't do much about any of that now.

Regardless, he was more at ease with his current situation though even to this day he didn't care too much about medical ninjutsu but it was nonetheless useful.

*squeak*

Homura: "Huh?"

Soon Homura who was daydreaming about several things heard some noise coming in front of him, and his eyes fell upon the rabbit once again.

Seemed that the little fellow had recovered enough and was hungry once again.

Homura watched as the rabbit cautiously approached the bowl of food he had pushed closer. With a slight twitch of its nose, the rabbit sniffed the contents before taking a nibble. He couldn't help but chuckle as the rabbit's curiosity overcame its initial hesitation.

However, his momentary amusement turned into a sharp sensation as the rabbit bit his hand, drawing a small amount of blood. Homura winced, but he didn't pull his hand away. He felt a sense of understanding in that bite, as if the rabbit was asserting its presence and acknowledging his own.

Homura: Softly "Guess I deserved that, huh?"

He withdrew his hand and allowed the rabbit to continue eating, speaking to it as if it could understand him.

Homura: "I can't give you a mate, little one. Last time I did that, well, let's just say things got a bit out of hand. Food expenses skyrocketed, and I had to release them all. Kept the weakest one, though, and look at you now."

He spoke towards the rabbit with an amused look as he bandaged his bleeding left hand, but he received no response.

A perk of working at the clinic is that he never ran out of bandages even if the clinic did a few times.

Homura's gaze then shifted to a nearby desk where a journal lay open. He walked over and took a seat, picking up a quill to jot down his thoughts and observations.

Homura: Writing "Recovered from effects in less than 3 minutes (2.37). Was it hunger? Or a desire for self-preservation? Simpler brains seem more susceptible to genjutsu to some extent and species, they are more easily ensnared by the illusions, though they also recover more easily. The effectiveness of the illusion appears to correlate with the subject's understanding or fear of the projected image. Yet, using a small creature without chakra capability as a test subject has limitations..."

In other words, Homura deduced that not only their idea of self was too weak so was their ability was to ever be able to mold or use chakra.

Unlike the ninja dogs, or even just normal summoning beasts.

So far he has been unable to figure out as to why some creatures have the ability to use chakra and some don't.

But it wasn't his main goal overall, it was simply a bonus accomplishment that he felt would help him become stronger.

Homura's gaze shifted to a nearby desk where a journal lay open. He walked over and took a seat, picking up a quill to jot down his thoughts and observations.

Homura: "As I thought… Yakumo's genjutsu wasn't complete at that time, she wasn't strong enough to be able to put me under genjutsu, if she did… I probably wouldn't have been able to use C to allow me to see the real world, and her genjutsu is more about tricking one's sense than trapping one's mind into a separate realm."

Homurara remembered what he had learned from reading the scrolls from the Uchiha's Naka shrine. He knew that different types of genjutsu existed, but he never truly went fully about all their implications in class. Some regular knowledge was all he knew about it at the time, but now he knew so much more.

He understood how overpowered genjutsu truly is, but also how it mostly it isn't truly useful. Applying a genjutsu on someone much stronger than the caster or the intricacies of using genjutsu during battles was complicated.

Unless the caster was extremely good at it or had someone to help them buy time, it was probably the worst move one could make.

And if the caster failed to finish their enemies with the help of genjutsu the first time, it was a bad idea to use it again.

The chakra costs and the strain of having to maintain a genjutsu was only something one with a potent chakra or plenty of amounts of chakra reserves should try.

Or at the very least, use poisons or traps in conjunction in order to

Homura: Writing "If this is an undeniable fact, then a sharingan could potentially overpower a mangekyou sharingan if the user is strong enough… perhaps a different approach is necessary for future tries...This is tiresome."

He paused, his fingers tapping on the desk as he contemplated his findings. Homura sighed, closing the journal with a sense of frustration. It was clear to him that he needed more varied and capable subjects to truly test his theories and refine his abilities.

He had run similar experiments hundreds of times since he went inside the Naka shrine, and the more the subject understands or fears the thing they are being shown and the more effective the illusion was. Though a small creature that can't even utilize chakra was hardly a perfect test subject to this theory.

Why rabbits?

Small, cheap, breeds easily and creates nearly identical genes to be passed down.

Collecting blood from rabbits can be a challenging task due to their fast clotting ability. It is essential to collect the blood quickly without causing any damage or hemolysis. Additionally, rabbits have notably fast heart rates, which adds another level of complexity. Moreover, their unique calcium metabolism further distinguishes them from other animals.

This particular species displays a unique trait of having a wide range of total serum calcium concentrations, which are significantly higher (30-50%) compared to other mammals. Additionally, it has been observed to possess an enhanced brain capability when compared to mice.

Though their neurons are much more underdeveloped than those of humans, they even produce less energy so genjutsu on them is not as effective as it is on a human.

Simply because they don't exactly perceive things as human beings would even if they witness the same events.

Imagine a scenario where an adult and a child accidentally come across a sharp weapon. It would be inaccurate to say that both individuals perceive the danger in the same way. This highlights how our instinct for self-preservation changes with age and guides us to recognize potential threats; the world the two experience might be the same but the experience is wildly different.

Homura: Muttering "If only I had someone to practice on... Someone who understands the intricacies of genjutsu…there's Sasuke but… I don't want to have to deal with him in such a way…it will change things too much. Yakumo? No, she's dangerous… there are not many people who deal in genjutsu or that I could reveal my secret to without Danzo or third potentially finding out."

His mind returned to the information he had gleaned from the Naka shrine. While he hadn't obtained the foundational knowledge of genjutsu he had hoped, he had uncovered how to harness the power embedded in the Sharingan. Those secrets had led him to insights about illusions and their potential.

Homura: Thoughtful "The Uchiha clan... They held so many secrets. Even a burial site, hidden away from prying eyes. A clan that truly honored their ancestors."

The idea of a hidden Uchiha burial site intrigued him. It was a testament to the depth of knowledge and traditions that the clan had cherished. Homura's curiosity urged him to explore further, to seek out this secret location and uncover the knowledge it might hold.

Homura: Determined "Perhaps there's more to learn from the past, more insights that could aid me in mastering the Sharingan and genjutsu. I'll need to prepare carefully for such an endeavor."

What interested Homura was not the fact that he found out where the burial site was but, he was more concerned about something else.

He wanted to find information about the forbidden jutsu such as Izanagi.

A genjutsu that the user cast upon themselves, or rather on reality around themselves.

A powerful jutsu that could even override one's death by sacrificing one's eye for the price of cheating death and defying destiny altogether.

But after going through his memories and realizing that even Uchiha Sasuke was unaware of their existence up until the very end of the saga it was understandable why he did not find anything that even came close to reveal on how to learn about them.

Either someone hid them or stole them, either way, it was knowledge someone didn't want others to know.

To Homura's chagrin.

Most of the information he found in the Naka shrine was useless.

At the end of the day secrets are good and all but most of it was useless to Homura or already known to people such as Danzo.

And he was not strong enough to try his chances with whatever other secrets that the Uchiha clan was hiding.

As far as he was concerned there was only Izanagi that mattered to him, but even that required a sharingan to pull off and maybe Senju DNA.

These were things he did not have, besides his own sharingan there was no extra set of pairs he could use to his advantage so regardless of what he needed or wanted; the Naka shrine no longer held any more value at the moment.

However, as he kept thinking about how to proceed in the near future, the subtle chirping of an alarm roused Homura from his intense concentration. He blinked, momentarily disoriented, only to realize that time had slipped away from him.

He had lost track of time, and now he had to hurry.

Homura: Grumbling "Damn it, how did I lose track of time again?…*sigh* this is probably for the best."

With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself up from the floor, his muscles protesting the abrupt change in posture. He glanced at the small rabbit, who had grown accustomed to these interruptions, and offered it a wry smile.

Homura: "I guess it's time to take care of some business outside of this cave."

He quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes, ensuring they were devoid of any dirt or debris. It was then that he turned his attention to the small menagerie of animals he cared for. Their presence had changed him over time, adding a layer of responsibility he had never anticipated.

Homura: Murmuring "Can't leave you all hungry, can I?"

With practiced efficiency, he fed and tended to each creature, his hands moving with a familiarity born from repetition. Once satisfied that they were well taken care of, he plucked a few flowers from a nearby pot. These flowers served a dual purpose: not only did they yield medicinal properties, but their delicate fragrance was also pleasant.

Homura: Smirking "Maybe Shizuka-san would appreciate these."

The journey took him through the village streets, his steps guided by a familiar path.

Upon arrival, he was met with an unexpected scene. The normally tranquil atmosphere of the clinic was abuzz with animated conversations. Homura blinked in surprise as he absorbed the cheerful ambiance, trying to piece together the reason for the festive mood.

Homura: Curious "What's going on here?"

The sight that greeted him inside the hospital was surprising, to say the least. The usually subdued and busy place was now abuzz with animated conversations and congratulatory gestures. Homura blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of the scene.

Homura: Whispering "What's got everyone so worked up?"

???: "Ha! Homura, you're finally here!"

Homura turned his head to the left only to see an all too familiar figure.

The voice came from a girl about 11 or 12 years old girl with blue, rather bordering on turquoise colored short hair.

It was Homura's childhood friend Saya who also worked as an apprentice at the clinic.

Homura: "S-saya! What's going on here? Why is everyone so worked up?"

Saya's laughter tinkled like a bell as she answered his bewildered question.

Saya: "Haven't you heard, Homura? Shizuka-sensei is getting married!"

Homura's heart skipped a beat as the words sank in. He hadn't seen it coming, and the news hit him harder than he had expected. His mind raced back to the nurse, Shizuka, who had played a pivotal role in his recovery a few years ago after Homura hurt himself had been in Homura's mind a lot since he came to the clinic and especially as he grew over the years. She had nurtured him back to health, and he had always held a special place in his heart for her.

Homura: Mumbling "It can't be..."

Indeed, the flurry of congratulations was directed at Shizuka, who stood amidst the joyful crowd. Homura observed the scene, his emotions churning in an unexpected way. Amidst the cheerful noise, he noticed Doctor Ueno sulking in a corner, muttering about single and housewife nurses.

Homura: Confused "What's going on with him?"

Saya: "Hm…I think Doctor Ueno had a crush on Shizuka-sensei, but she's off the market now."

The revelation struck Homura like a bolt of lightning. His mind swirled with a whirlwind of emotions—surprise, nostalgia, and a hint of melancholy. His gaze drifted towards Shizuka, who was surrounded by well-wishers and genuine smiles. He watched her for a moment, his heart heavy with a mix of happiness for her and a sense of something lost.

But he nonetheless managed to keep his composure.

Homura: "…I don't think that's the case. (He's old enough to be her father. Heck, he is old enough to be my grandfather… and those stares he sometimes sent her way weren't ones of love…I think…It's more of a moral conundrum. )"

Although Shizuka-san was an overall excellent nurse she was a bit clumsy which gave rise to a few incidents. Homura knew that a lot of the elderly males that came to the clinic only sometimes came in to ogle her and hope for something to happen.

Which Homura was glad to deny them that pleasure by keeping a close eye on her, but now seeing how things went.

As she prepared for her wedding day, it became clear to him that their connection had never been as strong as he had thought. The genuine smiles she generously shared with others must have stemmed from the joy of having found someone truly special.

So all those times they had spent together were hollow.

Perhaps, those were not his true feelings, but he wanted a bond all to himself, to be someone's…

But he nonetheless remained calm and quickly shifted to other thoughts, he wanted to avoid being the type of obsessive person that he was slowly turning years ago.

A mix of emotions surged within him—confusion, disbelief, and an unexpected pang of sorrow. He congratulated Shizuka with the rest of the crowd, but his heart felt heavy as he realized that someone he held a special place for was moving on with her life.

Homura: Forced smile "Congratulations, Shizuka-san."

As the congratulatory atmosphere continued around him, Homura found himself drawn to Doctor Ueno, who seemed to be nursing his own dose of melancholy.

Joining Doctor Ueno in his sulking corner, Homura couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

Homura: "So much for avoiding distractions."

Saya laughed softly, patting him on the back.

Saya: "Life has its surprises, Homura. Maybe it's time you embrace them."

Saya said as she left to join Shizuka, who was seemingly becoming more and more tired by the elderly people still coming in to congratulate her.

That she failed to see Homura's face seemingly become distressed for a short moment before he was able to mask it.

Why was that?

Homura hated surprises.

He has had enough surprises for a single lifetime.

As the congratulatory atmosphere continued around him, Homura found himself drawn to Doctor Ueno, who seemed to be nursing his own dose of melancholy.

Homura: Dryly "Come on sensei, I think that's enough sulking already."

Doctor Ueno turned to him, his expression a mixture of annoyance and resignation.

Doctor Ueno: Sighs "Yeah, I guess so. Single doctors and housewife nurses, what a combination. It's similar to what happened in the latest book at the end…seems like destiny."

Hearing that weird answer Homura paused for an instant, not knowing what to do about his weird mentor even though he was somewhat reliable…most days.

Homura: "Sure. (This guy was once a shinobi right?)"

chapter end.