Chapter 172: Clone jutsu

As time went by, as the season changed, the graduating students of Naruto's class spent their days both training and arduous testing.

Though today was a particularly difficult test.

Perhaps the most important test of all for an academy student.

HOMURA: (Ram → Snake → Tiger)

Homura had performed the several hand seals he had practiced for so many times before, as he molded the chakra within himself.

Those were no mere sequence of hand seals, but the seals necessary for performing the clone jutsu. A jutsu that creates visual images of oneself, without any real physical presence.

The scene unfolds as Homura confidently performs his clone jutsu, creating two dashing duplicates.

The explosions and the subsequent release of white smoke create an air of mystery, but the clones soon become visible, showcasing their self proclaimed impeccable style.

.....

.....

Homura glances toward Iruka-sensei and the duplicitous Mizuki with a perplexed expression.

HOMURA (mentally) (Why the silence? Did I mess up? Impossible! I've mastered jutsu ten times harder than this!)

Confusion and a hint of self-doubt cloud Homura's mind. Despite his internal turmoil, he adopts a nonchalant pose, hands in pockets.

Iruka-sensei breaks the silence, seeking Mizuki's opinion on the clones.

IRUKA-SENSEI(to Mizuki)What do you say, Mizuki-sensei?

Mizuki, surprisingly unbiased, praises the technique's flawless execution.

MIZUKI-SENSEI(nonchalant)Nothing to say, really. It's an exemplary application of the Clone Technique. The clones are nearly indistinguishable from the real things, only revealing their intangibility when mimicking Homura's movements.

HOMURA (smiling inwardly) Hehehe… this is nothing for a genius. (For a bad traitorous scum, he's not so bad. Though this means that I have to carefully plan ahead considering the short timeframe I am working with… this is annoying. )

Homura, filled with a mix of relief and pride, has now to face reality that his days are about to become far more hectic.

IRUKA-SENSEI (acknowledging) I see. Thank you, Mizuki-sensei. I agree with him. Congratulations, Homura! Your application of the Clone Technique is flawless. From today, you're a graduate of the academy and officially a genin.

Homura hears the proclamation that he is now a graduate of the academy and an official genin.

Though what should be a happy event was rather mundane to Homura, but at least now he could get paid as a shinobi.

HOMURA (grateful) Thank you, Iruka-sensei and Mizuki.

Homura bows, feigning politeness.

(At last, I can stop referring to myself as a shinobi in training or a future shinobi.)

Expressing gratitude, Homura feigns politeness, bowing to both senseis. The culmination of years of training and effort leads him to the next step in his ninja journey.

IRUKA-SENSEI (officially) Please come forward and pick a headband.

Homura approaches the table with headbands, contemplating how to wear the "fashion monstrosity." 

HOMURA … (Jeez they are all just a shade of dark blue…at least have different colors, I wanted to go with green… though I feel that it is bringing out a mixed series of emotions within myself)

Green was Homura's chakra's color.

Green was also Shisui's his first teacher chakra color, though it was a shade of brighter green.

Green was also the favorite color of a certain color of a certain man that Homura owed a lot, a certain man known as the green beast.

Though Homura was unsure if the man started to refer to himself as such.

HOMURA (I guess it doesn't really matter at the end of the day.)

He raises his right hand, takes the closest headband, and casually shoves it into his pocket.

He casually grabs the nearest one, stuffing it into his pocket. However, Iruka-sensei's expression quickly shifts from pride to anger as he witnessed such a poor display of caring on the part of his now former student.

IRUKA-SENSEI (angry) Homura! What are you doing? As a shinobi, you're supposed to wear your headband to show your affiliation to the village!

HOMURA (defiant) Eh? I just became one a minute ago! It's not official yet, right?…I haven't even filled out the forms yet, so it doesn't really matter.(I think?)

IRUKA-SENSEI (disappointed) sigh I can't believe it. One of the top rankers this year, doesn't even care about the village's headband. Where did we go wrong

MIZUKI-SENSEI (encouragingly) Now, now. Homura has always been quite the character. But I'm sure he'll be a great shinobi and make the village proud.

Mizuki intervenes, brushing off the incident, expressing confidence in Homura's potential despite his eccentricities.

HOMURA(mentally)(Ohh~~ Mizuki-sensei!!! I know that you are an b*stard and just faking it... but what a noble heart! I am rooting for you now, to beat Naruto and steal the forbidden scroll... though if that happens I might have to get rid of you myself.)

Homura once again thanked and bid his farewell to his academy teachers, before leaving the room altogether.

Today the academy is especially quiet as most other students don't have class and all the ones that are currently present are the ones taking the final exams.

As he walked down the stairs of the academy, Homura was silently pondering about many things in his life.

HOMURA (As a shinobi…I can finally get access to some of the records stored within the higher levels…though I should wait a few months to not attract suspicion…but won't that make me more suspicious? I used to spend hours at the library before…)

Homura couldn't wait to have access to some of the information available at the library, especially older maps.

The Naruto was vast and although some information did contradict itself and made little sense, Homura was certain that Orochimaru was not going to create Mecha Naruto but that did not mean he wasn't experimenting with the nine tails chakra.

If Homura himself was, there was no telling what the snake sage did, but regardless of the canonicity of certain events, now he was able to leave the village. A privilege only those who were shinobi and merchants were granted, the rest had to apply formally to the Hokage's office.

Though unfortunately, even shinobi had to somewhat apply or at least register before leaving since they were technically blue-collar workers who also served as part of the military within the land of fire.

Failure to comply with this basic rule would land most shinobi in jail or be categorized as rogues.

A fate perhaps worse than death.

HOMURA: Well whatever, there's still time.

As Homura exited the building, the bright light of the sun soon assaulted his senses with its presence.

But far from being bothered by it, this event just justified Homura's suspicion.

It was too early.

Today, far from being the day he graduated it was also the day that a very important event should take place.

The start of Naruto's story.

chapter end