Konohamaru stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching his classmates struggle with the Body Replacement Technique. His tail flicked lazily as he pondered the mechanics of the jutsu. While the concept seemed straightforward, he couldn't help but marvel at its potential.
It's basically teleportation, he thought, narrowing his eyes. If someone revised this, it could be more than just swapping with a log. What if you could swap with anything? Or even other people? And it only needs one hand sign?.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Well, not my problem. Can't do ninjutsu anyway.
He watched Udon attempt the technique, his pudgy form disappearing in a puff of smoke only to reappear a foot to the left, still clutching the log he was supposed to have replaced. A few snickers rippled through the group. "He took the log with him! That's cheating!," someone shouted, eliciting more giggles.
Moegi fared slightly better, managing a jerky, almost teleport-like shift, but still failing to fully replace herself with the log. Several students groaned in sympathy. It was clear many of them were struggling with the required burst of chakra and precise timing.
When it was Konohamaru's turn, he simply stepped to the side as Kosubo-sensei feigned a strike. The movement was so fluid and quick it was almost imperceptible. The log remained untouched.
"He just…moved," a student with an egg-shaped head whispered to another.
Kosubo-sensei raised an eyebrow. "Konohamaru, you need to actually perform the technique. Replace yourself with the log."
"Just give it a shot, Konohamaru," Kosubo-sensei said, her tone resigned. She knew about his struggles with ninjutsu and didn't expect much.
Konohamaru scratched his head, feigning reluctance. Alright, let's make this interesting, he thought, his mind already racing with an idea.
He clasped his hands together, performing the hand sign for the Body Replacement Technique. This is all about making it look believable, he mused, focusing his chakra not on himself but on the small stone beneath his feet.
In an instant, a puff of smoke erupted around him. Within the cloud, he moved with blinding speed, dashing toward the designated replacement spot faster than any of his classmates could follow
As he reached the spot, he kicked the log with a swift motion, sending it rolling into the brush where it disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, the stone he had been standing on transformed seamlessly into a convincing replica of a log.
By the time the smoke cleared, Konohamaru was standing exactly where he was supposed to be, his arms crossed as if the entire process had been effortless.
Kosubo-sensei blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly. Did he…? she wondered, her instincts telling her something wasn't quite right.
But the execution had been so clean, so precise, that she couldn't find anything to fault. His speed alone was startling; if she'd blinked, she might have missed it entirely.
"Impressive, Konohamaru," she said finally, though her tone carried a hint of skepticism. "That was… fast."
Konohamaru grinned, leaning on one leg and letting his tail sway. "What can I say? I'm just built different."
The class groaned collectively at his smugness, but Kosubo-sensei waved them off. "Alright, next!"
Back in his seat, Konohamaru couldn't help but feel a rush of pride. She didn't catch it, he thought, hiding a smirk. That's what you get when you combine brains, speed, and a little misdirection.
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As the sun began its final descent the other students began to disperse, tired and sweaty. Konohamaru, however, lingered, a newfound curiosity burning within him.
His execution of the Body Replacement Technique had been flawless—or at least convincing enough to fool Kosubo-sensei and his classmates. But what intrigued him more was the accidental discovery of his ability to transform objects into other forms.
Konohamaru crouched down, picking up another stone. He held it in his hand, feeling its cool, rough texture against his palm. Closing his eyes, he focused on channeling his chakra into it.
"Okay, let's try something different," he muttered to himself.
Opening his eyes, Konohamaru stared at the kunai in his hand, his grin widening. " I did it!" he exclaimed.
Excited, he grabbed another rock and repeated the process, this time turning it into a shuriken
His eyes widened in realization. Woahh— he thought. Transformation was always my forte. Why didn't I test this before? Well, better late than never. A new idea sparked: I'll have to see if I can even transform something into a copy of myself—like a clone jutsu. His stomach growled, interrupting his thoughts. First, I need to eat. I'm starving. Where did everyone go?
He noticed Shibi Aburame still standing by the edge of the training grounds, seemingly oblivious to the fading light. He was staring at something on the ground, his kikaichū hovering around him like a dark cloud. Konohamaru cautiously approached.
As he got closer, he saw what Shibi was looking at: a single, perfectly formed cicada shell clinging to the base of a tree. Shibi didn't react to Konohamaru's presence, his gaze fixed on the delicate exoskeleton.
Curiosity piqued, Konohamaru approached cautiously. "Hey, Shibi," he called out.
Shibi didn't turn. His attention was fixed on the base of the tree, where a perfectly preserved cicada shell clung to the bark.
"What are you looking at?" Konohamaru asked, lowering his voice as he drew closer.
Shibi respond. "Metamorphosis," he said, his voice monotone. "A complete transformation. Leaving behind the old shell, becoming something new."
Konohamaru followed his gaze to the cicada shell, his tail flicking thoughtfully. "Huh. Never thought of it like that."
Konohamaru looked back at the cicada shell, then at Shibi's impassive back. "Wanna grab something to eat?"
This time, Shibi looked at Konohamaru. With slight nod, he said "Sure."