Chapter 174: The start of a master plan

Upon entering the academy building, Homura makes a beeline for the library, eager to peruse the untouched books.

HOMURA: (History and myths of the land of fire, huh?.. Never thought I would start reading a book about fairy tales. But since this is the last time…)

As Homura grabbed the book of the Land of fire myths and mythology, though Homura knew more about the history of the world than most, he still felt slightly intrigued by how the world saw its own history and myths.

HOMURA: ("In the past many tribes fought over the for what we now call the land of fire…Shinobi clan armies became the primary force towards today's frontier between different cities… however even further in the past, most larger cities before the employ of shinobi, those cities had mythical creatures, or as some call them guardian deities act as the main source of protection against other larger cities"…Wait is it the tailed beasts?… No that can't be, most tailed beasts did not live within the land of fire…perhaps the nine tails did…though it would be difficult to say which did and which did not, but then did Hashirama venture to other countries to capture the tailed beasts?…Shukaku or the 3 tails probably didn't live within the land of fire due to their strange bodies, I am mostly sure of it…)

Homura couldn't stop reading as he then stumbled into even more worrisome information.

HOMURA: ("Those higher beings' powers were often linked to nature… often a large number of sacrifices would be needed to appease those mythical gods, as it was often rumored that they were not creatures of our world and thus could not remain."….Could not remain? That truly doesn't sound like tailed beasts since they are practically immortal... but evil creatures… perhaps demons?... Things called demons do exist within this world...but they are closer to evil spirits, it's probably the same thing. )

Homura continued reading until finished reading the book in its entirety and picked up another similar book, then he proceeded to read a scroll next to it.

This continued at an incredible speed as Homura stopped reading altogether and instead tried his hand at memorizing everything he could as he seemed to have stumbled upon things he previously never considered.

Skillfully, he copies information from them, hoping to uncover something valuable for advancing his training and overall knowledge of the world.

After about half an hour, he departs from the library and ascends to the rooftop. As he opens the door, two familiar silhouettes come into view—Shikamaru and Choji. Choji peacefully dozes on a bench, while Shikamaru leans against the fence.

Homura notes their close friendship, realizing it transcends the superficial connections he has.

HOMURA (engaging) Yo. You came here too, huh?

SHIKAMARU (nonchalant) Well, sure. It's getting a bit crowded out there.

Shikamaru gestures towards the bustling crowd of kids and parents below. Homura takes a peek and sees a crowd of children outside the academy seemingly flaunting about finally graduating since many were showing their head protectors to other students or family members.

It was by no means a small event for those involved.

HOMURA (agreeing) Yeah, figured.

As Homura looked at the crowd one more time, he thought something was odd.

HOMURA (curious) Where are your parents? Aren't they coming to pick you up?

SHIKAMARU (dismissing) Nah, my dad and Choji's have prepared a little celebration tonight within the Akimichi clan. So we're heading there after the yakiniku place.

HOMURA (teasing) Eh~ sounds nice. Guess being the son of the clan head has its perks.

SHIKAMARU (dismissive) It's not like I want to bother with the hassle of having to take part in two events, it's more of a drag than an actual—

HOMURA (mocking) Sure, rich boy. Oh yeah, can I ask you something?

SHIKAMARU (skeptical) Huh? What?

HOMURA (teasing) Do all the guys in your clan tie their hair into a pineapple shape? Or is that something only you and your dad do?

SHIKAMARU (irritated) Shut up.

HOMURA (amused) Well, well, huh!

(Homura notices Naruto sitting by the swing sets, isolated and appearing visibly upset.)

SHIKAMARU (dismissing concern) What?! What are you...

Shikamaru also notices Naruto by the swing sets.

SHIKAMARU (observing) Aren't you gonna head down? Isn't he your friend?

HOMURA (resigned) By the looks of it, I think he wants to be alone. Besides, I doubt that I could do anything for him now.

SHIKAMARU (philosophical) ...I don't think anyone wants to truly be alone... at least not by choice. By the looks of it…it doesn't seem that his last exam went so well…

HOMURA (worried)…

Both Homura and Shikamaru realized that Naruto wasn't wearing the leaf protector given to students after their test. It could only mean that Naruto had failed to become a shinobi.

Homura, watching that scene unfold still couldn't help himself from feeling guilty; though he was expecting this and in fact hoped that it would happen; but since he was very familiar with Naruto's pain it didn't help his conviction.

He was shaken, as he unconsciously increased the grip of his hands on the flat bar fence.

HOMURA V.O. (Why am I hesitating? This is what I wanted… but)

Homura couldn't help but feel scared both for Naruto and because of him. The timeline had been altered so much by his intervention that at this point, events could be drastically different such as Naruto dying or worse, or the nine tails fully unleashed onto the village.

In the manga, the only thing that stopped Naruto from not straying from the right path was Iruka, the only person that he thought believed in him.

That's what made Naruto such a dangerous and rather quite different of a ninja.

While most shinobi are taught to kill their emotions, Naruto couldn't fully do it.

Homura or any other genin could easily turn their blade against their peers if it became a necessity without too much fuss as long as it didn't mean killing, that's what he was taught after all; but he didn't think Naruto was the same.

He doubted that he could make a distinction between duty and feelings. Especially if it was he was connected to.

Which made either consciously or unconsciously made people trust his words.

For people living in shinobi society, trust is something to be exploited and never given.

Thus even without himself knowing, Homura was reluctant to abuse that trust; especially when Naruto was in such a vulnerable state.

However, thinking of the possibility of finding the exact location of the forbidden scroll and all the forbidden jutsus hidden within it… His self-hatred about being weak and his hidden fears finally won the mental battle he was under.

HOMURA…

Without saying anything Homura proceeded to leave, which made his action quite unusual in the eyes of Shikanaru.

SHIKAMARU You're going?

Without even turning back but still stopping nonetheless, Homura, spoke in a slightly monotone voice.

HOMURA…Yeah, just for a short while.

Without saying anything further Homura proceeded to leave until finally, he closed the door leading to the rooftop.

SHIKAMARU….What's up with him? Whatever... it is none of my business.

He says, as then proceeds to lie down on top of the nearest bench nearby.

chapter end