KONOHAMARU SHIPPUDEN

Konohamaru watched the other students struggle with the Body Replacement Technique, a small frown creasing his brow. While the Transformation Technique came to him as naturally as breathing, this one seemed… pointless. He could already move faster than most of them could perceive, let alone attack. Replacing himself with a log felt like taking an extra, unnecessary step.

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."

Konohamaru shrugged, a gesture that spoke volumes of his disinterest. He reluctantly placed his hand on the log, performed the single hand seal, and vanished. The log remained. He reappeared a few feet away, looking bored.

"Konohamaru!" Kosubo-sensei exclaimed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "You didn't replace yourself! You just…moved."

"But I avoided the attack," Konohamaru reasoned, tilting his head. "Isn't that the point?"

Kosubo-sensei sighed. "Yes, but the Body Replacement Technique is about more than just evasion. It's about creating a distraction, confusing your opponent. If they see you vanish and a log appears in your place, they might waste valuable time attacking the log, giving you an opening."

Konohamaru considered this for a moment. It made a sort of logical sense, he supposed. I hope this work— He performed the technique again, this time focusing on the precise moment of replacement. He visualized his chakra flowing into the log, imbuing it with a temporary semblance of his presence. This time, when he vanished, the log seemed to shimmer for a fraction of a second, a subtle distortion in the air around it.

"Better," Kosubo-sensei acknowledged, though her tone still held a note of reservation. "But try to make the transition smoother."

As the sun began its final descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, the other students began to disperse, tired and sweaty. Konohamaru, however, lingered, a newfound curiosity burning within him.

He replayed the sensation of imbuing the log with his chakra, a strange tingling sensation that resonated deep within him. He then grabbed a nearby rock and tried to repeat the process, he focused on the rock and visualize it turning into a log and it did, he grabbed another rock and focused on turning it into a kunai and it did.

His eyes widened in realization. Holy—I can transform inanimate objects? 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.

"What are you looking at?" Konohamaru asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Shibi didn't turn. "Metamorphosis," he said, his voice as monotone as ever. "A complete transformation. Leaving behind the old shell, becoming something new."

Konohamaru looked back at the cicada shell, then at Shibi's impassive face. "Wanna grab something to eat?"

This time, Shibi looked at Konohamaru. "Sure."