Chapter 164: Homura is a genius... but not really.

The teacher's office at the academy is a clutter of papers, scrolls and books, indicating the typical chaos of a teacher's workspace. Iruka sits at his desk, diligently grading papers. He reaches for Homura's test, expecting the usual, but the sheer volume surprises him.

IRUKA (muttering to himself): 36 pages? What in the world...

His brow furrows as he delves into the intricate technical details. The complexity is beyond the norm, raising both confusion and intrigue.

IRUKA (to himself): I swear that troublemaker is testing me!

Curiosity piqued, Iruka decides to consult a fellow teacher for insights into the unusually complex problem on the test. He approaches the colleague's desk, a man known for his expertise in challenging questions.

IRUKA (politely) Excuse me, sensei. I need your help with a problem on a student's test. The answer's correct, but the method is... a bit out there.

The teacher peers at the problem, his eyes narrowing at the intricate solution.

TEACHER (smiling) Ah, this is Homura's work. You're in for a treat.

IRUKA ( forced laughing) haha, is that so? (I've been correcting his for year I know that much.)

TEACHER They do say geniuses don't think like most people…Hm, although it seems rather unstructured I can more or less tell that it should be right. Though if it is Homura-kun it is most likely, right.

IRUKA (skeptical) Isn't that a bit irresponsible?

TEACHER (smiling) Iruka-sensei, Homura-kun has never made a mistake in a written exam. Not once. He may not pay fully attention in class but

Iruka's skepticism persists, prompting the teacher to pose a challenging question. How could a boy who entered the academy for more than half a decade not make a mistake, this year was his last at the academy and he had yet to reach 13 years of age.

TEACHER (CONT'D) Tell me, Iruka, have you ever found a mistake in any written work Homura has submitted?

Iruka pauses, reflecting on his history with Homura.

He had been Homura's teacher for several years as of now.

IRUKA (softly) Hm, half of the time he writes paper worth of text as if he dumps an entire dissertation but…No... but that's... it can't be...(There had to be one mistake right?)

TEACHER (grinning) Outside of the 4th Hokage, Homura is the only student who's never made a mistake—be it in writing or content. Though his overall grades are slightly lower. Well good luck, sensei.

IRUKA (Pensiful) ….

Without further explanation, the teacher departs, leaving Iruka bewildered. As he returns to his desk, the weight of this revelation lingers.

IRUKA (CONT'D) (whispering to himself) Never made a mistake... How is that even possible?

Iruka knew that his student was overconfident in his abilities and although he was talented; Iruka also knew that it could be dangerous to have that kind of mentality in the long run. Especially for a shinobi, where any mission could be their last.

That is why he always tried to push his students to do better and realize their faults and weaknesses.

Hoping that they would carry to heart his teaching with them at all times.

Determination replaces his initial dread. As a teacher, he must be fair to all students. He takes a deep breath and begins to scrutinize every detail of the extensive answer.

RUKA (resolute) Alright, Homura. Let's see what you've got.

Determined to uphold fairness, Iruka reexamines Homura's extensive response.

As he meticulously scrutinizes each line, Iruka's initial dread transforms into a commitment to give Homura's work the attention it deserves.

While Iruka was having a hard day, his student was more or less in a similar situation.

Homura: Come on, Ino, hurry up! You've been working here for years now can't you be a bit faster by now? I am about to meet Shame-san for the first time in a month after this errand. I need to get my...

Ino: Quiet! I wouldn't expect a vile brat like you to understand that flowers and herbs have to be handled carefully, Hmph!

Homura: Vile? Brat? Were the same age…Well, I'm pretty sure. Wait, are you older than me?!

Ino: Hmph!

Ino simply turned around and refuse to entertain any more thoughts about Homura's remark and continued packing which left the latter rather confused.

Not because she didn't answer him back, Homura was already used to her dismissive behavior towards himself, but rather the fact that she seemed rather in a worse mood than usual.

Homura: Don't tell me that have been held like Na-eh?!

Homura had no choice but shut up as he avoids a flower thrown towards his throat.

Ino: Oh, dear how did that happen?! I guess I am still quite clumsy and slow.

Said Ino with a forceful smile on her face; failing to hide the anger underneath it.

Homura: Haha, ha, ha…Hmph.

Homura could do nothing but to let out a forceful laugh as well, he was more surprised that just like her video game counterpart; she also used flower in real life.

He just hoped that it was not poisoned as well, since even though he is more or less immune to poison, it was not immediate and not exactly all kind of poisons. Especially if it was corrosive.

Homura: Jeez, you're still butthurt about me blurting out that Sasuke rejected you? Come on, that was like years ago besides Naruto and the guys were also there, it was boun-!

Before Homura was to finish his next sentence a pair of scissors grazed his left cheek and before he realized what was happening Ino was already behind him with a needle pressed against his neck.

Ino: You better carefully think about your next words or they might be your last.…

Homura: *Gulp* Y-yeah, sure. I will be more careful… S-sorry.

Said Homura, while confused. Thinking as to when did the girl behind him get so fast, or if she had been weaving chakra this entire time.

If only he had been paying attention, but he was just bored waiting for the order the clinic had placed but it wasn't ready for pick up as he arrived faster than normal this time around.

However, the animosity Ino held against him was certainly something strange, he couldn't

Ino: Glad you understand, because we have the right to refuse customers you know, right? Though I can't say a coward like you would understand. You will never be half the man Sasuke is.

Homura: Hey, take that back!

Ino:… And what exactly?

Homura: Everything in that sentence was wrong!

Ino: Is that so?

Said Ino as she pushes her needle closer to Homura's neck. Her eyes were no longer the eyes of a normal girl but of a warrior; ready to take down her foe at any moment.

Homura: Kuh! (T-that's why you can't trust shinobis… Can't let your guard down even for a second; even inside a flower shop.)

Homura who had no way of getting out of his current predicament, had no choice but to give up. Although. He was stronger than her but at the end of the day he was still a human. Any weapon could theoretically take him down and he had not been weaving chakra.

His chances of getting out of such predicament without distracting her were closer to zero.

Homura: *sigh* Ok, Ok, I-I got it. I will try to behave. Just don't point needles or throw scissors at me. ( Is this how you treat your loyal customer of more than 2 years? Well, I am not really a customer since I'm not buying anything, but a delivery guy…still…That's why Kunoichi aren't popular with men, they're too angry. I miss Inojin-san.)

Ino: Hmph!

Hearing his response Ino let Homura go.

He immediately starts massaging his neck, due to the strain it had been under.

Homura couldn't help but think that although Sakura was as violent as Ino she was definitely cuter, and that future Sasuke had dodged a bullet. Well, he hadn't dodged the bullet that was Sakura; she was another can of worms with rage issues but it seems her rage could never be directed towards Sasuke any way. But it seemed to be the same for most girls.

Homura: (Some guys just have it all, even though I am arguably cooler and more handsome than him; I guess brooding guys get all the girls at the end. )

Though what nonsense Homura was thinking about, he had recently become even more popular with the girls but his current change in personality in the last year made him unappealing to most girls in a different sense.

The techniques on how to be popular with girls and overall advice just made things worse, it probably was a mistake to the advice from a man who failed to make his crush fall in love with him for almost half a century.

Though what Homura was looking wasn't exactly a relationship but simply be popular.

Besides seduction and playing roles was a big part to being a ninja; as hard to believe as it was.

There's a reason as to why Naruto invented the S*xy jutsu; it was not pure idiocy from a prepubescent boy.

Homura: Ino, Is Inojin-san not here today?

Said Homura, hoping that he could get a small discount.

Ino: For the last time, my dad's name is not Inojin.

Homura: I-it's not?

Ino: Of course it's not! I'm his daughter!

Ino said in a slightly frustrated tone. When it comes to pushing her buttons, Homura and Sakura are experts. They know exactly how to get under her skin and drive her up the wall.

Homura: Sheesh, you're probably right… (Hm, weird… I was sure I was right though? Why the hell has Inoji…Inosuke-san(?) Not say anything?… He's a scary dude for sure. He even laughs all the time…*shudder* )

Homura remembered that Ino's dad had something to do with the anbu or something related to the village security which meant that he probably had to torture people or assist to people getting tortured.

It's sometimes easy to forget due to the man's cheery attitude and overall calm nature. It had been over 3 years since Homura had met the man and got his name wrong every time.

The word "scary" wouldn't begin to describe it.

And if his daughter was the same, well, it was overall a bad idea to get on her bad side.

Homura:…Ino, listen. I can't do anything about the past.

Ino: *sigh* What kind of idiocy are you going to say this time?

Said Ino in a tired voice and regretting that she had to meet Homura today of all days, and that it was getting more and more frequent due to their schedules being more or less the same; due to being the last year at the academy.

Homura: *sigh* It was my bad… I didn't understand girls' hearts back then.

He didn't, and he still doesn't know anything about girls besides what was written in the books Doctor Ueno had sometimes misplaced and the ones given to him; but nonetheless Homura thought he knew enough to be an expert.

Knowing people was like a science and Homura was good at science.

Nonetheless, it didn't stop Homura. He pretended to give a roundabout apology but he didn't have it within himself at the time to apologize.

But instead of saying anything Ino simply gave him a tired look, as if she was telling to sh*t up once and for all.

Homura: (Weird? According to Jiraiya apologizing is the first step to weaken a woman's defense…but I am starting to think that it may not not true. )but I am sure if you smiled more, you-!

Before he had time to finish his sentence.

Ino's scissors abruptly flew towards Homura's face once again with the latter catching it up this time around as he was ready for anything to happen.

It was sudden but he wouldn't let his guard down twice and at least the latter didn't try to take his back this time around.

He couldn't kick or tie up the clerk; it was a lose-lose situation he found himself in.

Homura: hehe…S-sorry. (Man this is so hard when Ino is here, I miss Inojin-san. He's a cool dude and a perfect gentleman; no wonder all the housewives seem to blush when he is nearby. and that ponytail of his is simply incredible.)

As a man with long hair and a ponytail Homura had some respect to how lustrous Ino's father was, it was a similar phenomenon when 2 balding men randomly meet and judge how much hair they still had left when comparing to their counterpart.

But regardless, a few minutes passed as Ino kept finishing packing the second order that she was given, but Homura was on a tight schedule and was no longer able to wait any longer in silence.

So even though he didn't want to say anything he felt like he had no choice.

Homura: Come on, Ino, hurry up! I am about to meet Shame-san for the first time in a month. I need to get my...

Shame san was a Kunoichi one year older older than Homura; even though to Homura the looks of others were of little importance; he found that girls like to be told they are beautiful for some reason and older women seem to enjoy even more.

What started as a ploy to steal techniques from unsuspecting kunoichi had turned into more or less a new way of life for Homura who enjoyed having his ego struck.

Especially if he could say that he was liked by girls.

Ino: So it's for her this time around, huh?

Homura: Of course not! I have to give to Chikage-san from the bathhouse, Hiragi-san from the fruit parlor, Suzuha-chan from the sweet shop... And a large bouquet for Tomomi-san from the shrine. I heard there's a guy that's been too cozy with her lately. I need to show my commitment and...

Ino: Commitment, huh? What a joke. What exactly are you going to do? These girls you keep talking to are all much older than you, I'd laugh but it is frankly sad to even try *sigh*

Homura: Hey! Mind your own business. They tell me that I am handsome all the time and helpful. this year I am going to be a shinobi, they will surely start seeing me in a new light! I can keep all those evil men going after them

Declared Homura with the intensity of a man who had been robbed of everything by a corrupt official including their wife, but still had enough rage to try to get revenge.

Ino: Sure, and picking a fight with a civilian is the best way to achieve that? Besides the only evil one I see getting in the way is you.

Homura: W-What?! How dare you!? My intentions have always been pure.

They were not and he hated losing.

Homura: Besides I-I am not doing like that! And any fight I have been involved was self defense. I'm just going to make them see that it is not nice to bother!

Ino:… I'm starting to think that you don't know the meaning of irony.

Homura: Huh?

Ino:...Shinobi aren't allowed to attack civilians. Or really fight within the civil areas of the village; without a good motive or special authorization. For a so-called genius, you don't know that. It's pretty sad.

Homura: I know that! And I am a genius!…besides, I am not a technically a shinobi yet, the rules don't apply to me…(Is that true? Y-yeah that's more or less true…unless there's a war or something)

Ino: While it may be true in theory and mathematics, the reality is often quite different, isn't it?

Homura: !!! S-shut up!… Why is it that you keep trying to make me so mad?… This is why I don't like talking to you…I always feel like my progress is *sigh*…it doesn't matter. (Her and Tenten's father are the worst people I know… It's like they have an agenda against me, I swear.)

Ino: Seeing how you get shaken by something so mundane, I truly can't imagine what those poor women must be going through to have to put up with a brat like you always nagging them every time a real man approaches them. I pity them. You truly are nothing like Sasuke-k-!

Homura: Sh*t up! Y-you make fun of Sakura's forehead all the time, but yours is just as big and shiny as hers, it befits a greedy pig (Ino) like you! Fatty! Fatty pig!

Ino: WHAT DID YOU SAY; YOU LITTLE SKUNK!!!???

Homura gray and black hair was something he was sensitive about, but it was also something that he had a huge complex. Normally, he would be fighting anyone who insulted his hair but on some degree he was scared of women, especially women that had struck before.

He had been struck his all time by powerful women who had put him back in his place throughout his life, and the fact that Ino grabbed not one but 2 pair of scissors this time.

In an unexpected moment, he found himself instinctively falling to his knees and humbly bowing down as he offered a sincere apology.

Homura: I-I am sorry! I am on edge because I have to accompany someone real soon. I can't waste too much time. Sorry, you see? You understand right? I am sorry about the pig thing your obviously not a pig but a mature lady. Stylish. VERY THIN. A princess even! (A pig princess though)

The only princess Homura remembered Ino resembled was practically her mirror image, except on the larger side.

Which he thought made the princess seem far more homely, but Homura couldn't tell Ino. She would kill him if he told her that, that much, he was sure of it.

Not that he planned to tell that to Ino, he would likely just incite her fury.

Homura: (Sh*t! Why is it that it is not working? I guess I have no other choice. She is not my style or do I care for her but I definitely can use the words of the great sage one more time and hope for the best.)

Soon, messages from C appeared and the best line was delivered to Homura.

Homura: *Cough* *Cough* I am sorry if my words have offended you fair maiden. It is not thy beauty that captured this wild heart of mine, but the strength of your heart…?!(C, I don't think that's the right one in this occasion.)

Homura was unable to finish the entire paragraph due to how cheesy it was or how it did not fit the situation he was in.

Besides, Ino was just a brat and not a lady to Homura, but those things were hard to explain to a computer.

C, even deduced that Homura tended to avoid Tenten because he was in love with her which was from the case.

C: Apologies. Should I prepare a better one or adapt to fit the situation better, host?

Homura: N-no time.

Homura said in a hurry in his mind. Hoping to somehow have disoriented his target.

Ino: Fair maiden? strength

Homura: Yes, sometimes it feels like I am cursed to anger every beautiful woman I meet, it is not to say that thy beauty is not cause enough for stirring intense feelings to burst inside my very core. However, I am at a loss at what to say, besides…(C, where's the rest?)

C: Host denied to adapt further and the line is incomplete due to host falling asleep before the input was finished.

Homura: Y-you don't say…

Homura told C in his mind, just as he began to panic on what to say next.

Ino:..I have to say. Ever since you fell down that building or whatever, you've started acting real different, I guess it wouldn't be fair to pummel you even more and to the damage.

Homura: Huh…Thanks.

Chapter end