Chapter 178: Meeting the thir-...I don't really care.

Homura descended the stairs, his mind preoccupied with the upcoming day. Yet, amidst his thoughts, the distinct sight of a vibrant orange tracksuit seized his attention.

"Oh, shit, it's Naruto! Things always seem to take a turn for the weird every time I meet him. But there's no way to avoid him..." Homura muttered to himself.

Seeing Naruto getting closer only a few seconds from realizing that they would bump into each other Homura inadvertently weaved a hand sign.

"Body flicker technique! Body flicker...Sh*t! I'm just break my legs if I do it here!" he thought as he tried to find a spot to run up to next.

There certainly was no space but for a genin the body flicker technique is more used to travel faster distances faster, only a few ninjas used the body flicker in close spaces due to its difficulty in maneuverability. 

Soon what was once a possibility became an inevitability. 

As Naruto landed eyes on Homura as he was going up the stairs. 

"Hey, Homura! You're here too, huh!?"

"Yeah, just finished setting up my documents with the old man. Why wouldn't I be? Why are you here?"

"I'm applying for my registration as a genin!"

Feigning surprise, Homura raised an eyebrow, "You? A genin? Is this the power of miracles? Are you a saint? Is Athena real too? Is she related to the sage of six paths?" he said in the most condensing voice he could muster that bordered on parody. 

"What the hell? What's all that supposed to mean?!"

Homura ignored Naruto's inquiry as he soon took notice of something else.

Homura then took a good look at Naruto and caught on that he was wearing the goggles he started to wear not too long ago.

"No headband, huh? Am I catching his stupidity too? People might think we're very good friends." he thought to himself.

"Oh, you don't know, but I passed my exam and became a genin!"

"Who cares. Becoming a genin is easy. You shouldn't be so proud of something anyone can do it."

Stated Homura as he he put his hands behind his head and started to once again descend the stairs, before inevitably passing by Naruto.

"W-why you!" Naruto almost was about to retort further as Homura's words seemingly made light weight.

"But I heard a rumor that you beat some pretty powerful guy as well, that's pretty impressive in my book" Homura said to Naruto without turning back. 

Naruto who just heard Homura speak those words was speechless and stopped himself from trying to retaliate against Homura, instead he corrected his posture and started scratching his nose with his dominant hand's index finger seemingly to hide his embarrassment before taking a comfortable pose. 

"Hmph! It was easy! When I put my mind to it, nothing can stop me! HaHa!"

As Naruto started laughing, Homura's expression changed from a pragmatic one to soften a little.

He had felt slightly to not truly try to help Naruto pass his final exam, though it was certainly not enough to make Naruto fail, it still didn't mean he had been helpful or truthful towards someone he considered somewhat as a friend. 

He had to put up walls so as to not truly derail certain plot points from the original series, otherwise, things could turn out much worse. The relationship between Naruto and Iruka was instrumental for Naruto to one day develop into the man who would save the world. 

Though seeing Naruto now, Homura was confident he made the right choice, still, it didn't truly take the sense of guilt away, as he avoided seeing Naruto during that timeframe. 

As Homura's motivation in life was to protect his friends, and he was unable to do that and intentionally broke that vow he made to himself; all for the sake of a future that may not even exist.

"(hmph, what a cheeky guy.).... I see. Congratulations then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Homura said while turning back and showing his usual poker face.

"Yeah! Believe it!"

"Oh! Where's your headband?"

"Ah?! I left it at home. Didn't want anything to happen to it. I'll wear it tomorrow at the academy. Ah! Why aren't you wearing yours too!?"

"Hope he buys my stupid excuse! Otherwise, he'll look down on me if he finds out I forgot."

"Huh~~! Same as you! How could I wear it before my last day at the academy? I want to wear it for the first time with everyone around me!"

"Oh really!? I so get it! Ah! Right! Look at this sick picture I just took a few minutes ago for my application ID!"

"He only took one today?!"

"Sure, show it to me!"

As Homura glanced at the picture, confusion painted his face. It was Naruto in a peculiar pose, adorned with kabuki-style paint.

"I think I remember something like that... It's been so long since I reincarnated."

"Well, that's something else."

"Right! I can't wait to show it to Gramps!"

"Well, good luck! He's just at the end of the corridor."

"Right! I should get going! Thanks! I'll see you later!"

"No problem! Good luck!"

Homura watched Naruto dash toward the route he had just taken.

"He truly is something else... Like a typhoon, loud and easy comes, easy goes. Whatever! I better get going. This place is so...?"

As he turned to leave, a sudden collision interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"Hmm!? Who are you?"

Before him stood a runt wearing a scarf too big for his size.

"I am the great Konohamaru! The next Hokage!"

"Sure. Whatever, kid. (It's not even fall, why is this weirdo weirdo wearing a scarf? Sheesh, children these days are just imbeciles...) "

Attempting to leave, Homura found himself blocked by the determined brat.

"Hmm, what?" Homura said with a seemingly uninterested look on his face.

"Apologize!"

"Hmm? I'm confused... Didn't you run into me? (That's how I remembered it. My memory isn't wrong since I am the perfect life form after all.)"

"I-I didn't! I was about to avoid you until you decided to move! So apologize!" he yelled.

"Hmm...Nah! I don't feel like it." Homura responded. 

Attempting to leave again, as the kid blocked his path once more.

"Kid! Do you have some kind of fetish about blocking people's paths or something?" Homura questioned with a slightly tired look and tone.

"It's not kid! My name is Konohamaru! The Third Hokage's grandson! You hear me!" declared the now happily named Konohamaru.

"Y-you are the 3rd's g-grandson!?" Homura said while seemingly disturbed by the revelation.

"That's right!" A proud Konohamaru stated. 

He declared with a proud look on his face with a smirk, though Homura's next few words would take that false sense of confidence away.

"You're the third's grandson... Does that mean... you're bald too?! S-such a tragedy."

"That's right! !!! What!? No!!!" he said, embarrassed by the idea. 

Konohamaru declared as he realized he was being made a fool of. 

"(This guy, h-he is making fun of me?! That's it! Nobody makes fun of the great Konohamaru! I will teach him a lesson! )"Konohamaru thought as he decided to attack the party in front of him. 

"???"

Homura instead of being surprised was just quite confused by the boy's seemingly shift in demeanor. Didn't he understand the size and strength difference between them? Even academy first-year students weren't that stupid.

"You will pay for making fun of me!" Yelled a Konohamaru coming towards Homura at full strength. 

As Konohamaru tried to attack Homura with first a volley of shuriken that Homura had no issue avoiding by simply tilting his head slightly, the boy proceed to attack Homura head-on while branding his right fist, which Homura simply took a side step and proceeded to step on his scarf that was three sizes too big for the boy which made the boy fall on his ass quite easily. 

"Tch! Ouch!"

"Listen, kid! I don't care if your grandfather is the Hokage or a god! I refuse to bow down to sh*ty brats! So get moving or be ready to undertake the beating of your life! And if I hear that you ratted me out, I will beat you even more, trust me!"

Homura declared, ensuring he appeared sufficiently angry.

"Y-you're bluffing!" Konohamaru stammered, clearly panicking.

Homura intensified his expression, making it clear he wasn't playing around, and started cracking his knuckles to seal the deal.

"I guess I am teaching you a lesson today, this brings me back to the academy days...Hehehehe... how fun." He said with a bloodthirsty look mixed with arousal. As he licked his lower lip with glee.

"Hiiii!!!! Y-you! I will remember this!" Konohamaru said before running away.

Homura relaxed, watching the brat disappear into the distance.

"Phew!...That kid really is something else. Most children I've known over the years were nowhere near that bratty. The old man must have spoiled him rotten."

As Homura ponders what kind of grandfather the third hokage was, he then soon turns around and proceeds to leave the main central building.

Chapter end.