Naruto: Legend of the Skylark

Seeing that Tobirama had finished giving Hiruzen his instructions, Hibari's heart couldn't hold back. Besides, getting there a minute earlier meant a minute more to grasp the situation, didn't it? Why procrastinate? The mission was important!

"Ojiisan, I think the instructions are mostly covered, right? Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and pack my things..." Hibari said, a hint of eagerness in his voice.

Tobirama glanced at Hibari, frowned, and said, "So impetuous. You'll need to pay attention to that flaw when you're outside..."

Hibari thought to himself, 'Though I've lived two lives, this is my first time going on a ninja mission. Especially one with such a grand scale, where even Hashirama himself is making an appearance. Who wouldn't be excited? Anyone who says they're not excited is lying!'

"I know, I'll be careful. Then, Ojiisan, I'll be off. And Hiruzen... cough, Hiruzen-jisan, if you're ready early, wait for me for a bit at the village gate. Don't worry, I won't be long..." Hibari turned and said to Hiruzen.

After speaking, without waiting for Hiruzen to reply, Hibari turned to open the Hokage's office door and leave. But just then, Tobirama called out to him again.

"Wait..." Tobirama said softly.

Hearing this, Hibari turned back, looking at his grandfather with some confusion. Is he going to pull another stunt?

This time, however, Tobirama didn't speak first. Instead, he reached down to his waist and took off a small scroll, about the thickness of a finger. He then unrolled it on the table, allowing Hibari and the others to see what it was.

Indeed, it was a storage scroll, just like the one Hibari used to store his large Fuma Shuriken. It was also a scroll used for storing items, but judging by its size, it wasn't for anything large.

Without even performing hand seals, Tobirama pressed his hand on it. With a soft 'poof!' a small puff of smoke appeared, and Tobirama reached into the smoke, pulling out an item.

Hibari focused his gaze and saw that it was a forehead protector, the symbol of a Konohagakure shinobi.

"When you're out there, you need something to prove your identity, lest you..." Tobirama paused slightly at this point.

He had originally intended to say, "lest your body be picked up and no one knows where to send it if you die," but after careful consideration, saying such a thing to Hibari on his very first mission would be too much. So, he swallowed the words.

Changing the subject, Tobirama continued, "You certainly are qualified to wear this now, but I'll tell you this upfront, Hibari, once you put on this forehead protector, you're no longer just Hibari of our Senju clan..."

Hibari stepped forward and solemnly took the forehead protector from Tobirama's hand. Then, a smile appeared on his lips, and he said softly, "I understand, Ojiisan. Once I put this on, I'll be Senju Hibari of the Konogakure..."

Though Hibari was a bit cunning, he was still smart. The moment Tobirama spoke, he understood the meaning. Therefore, Tobirama nodded in satisfaction and said, "Go on, do well."

Hibari also nodded, then turned to leave. But after just two steps, he stopped, turned back to Tobirama, raised an eyebrow, and asked jokingly, "Ojiisan, what rank of shinobi am I now? In my opinion, with my strength, I should at least be a Special Jonin, right? Honestly, making me a full-fledged Jonin wouldn't be too much."

"Hmph, you wish, kid. Unless it's a special situation, without the required merits, even if you were twice as powerful as your Hashirama-ojii, by the rules, you'd still have to start from the bottom. In my opinion, you're just an 'apprentice shinobi' right now. Now get out of here!" Tobirama said, both annoyed and amused.

Hibari, having been rebuffed, grumbled discontentedly, "So inflexible. The times are progressing, you know. It's so boring if rules and regulations bind people too tightly..."

"Do you want it or not? I'll take it back if you don't..." Hearing Hibari muttering to himself, Tobirama threatened him.

"I'm going, I'm going! I'll go back and pack my things to show off my skills, and then you'll willingly promote me to Konoha Jonin!" Hibari said, waving his hand quickly when he heard Tobirama about to get angry.

Then, without further ado, he pulled open the door and vanished in a flash.

Once Hibari was gone, Hiruzen didn't linger either. He smiled and nodded to Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sensei, then also turned and briskly left to pack his own things.

Only after both Hibari and Hiruzen had left did Tobirama calmly pick up the teapot on the tea table. After refilling his own cup and his brother Hashirama's with hot tea, he casually began to drink.

"Even if Hibari hadn't brought it up, you would have let him go with Saru, wouldn't you, Tobirama?" Hashirama walked to the tea table, picked up a cup of tea, and asked with a smile.

"Nonsense. I was planning to keep him locked in his room to read for two or three years..." Tobirama said, not batting an eye.

"Hahahahaha, really? Then why were you carrying that forehead protector scroll with you? Wasn't it precisely because you wanted to find a suitable opportunity to give it to Hibari?" Hashirama burst out laughing.

"I just happened to have it on hand, so I gave it to him. Originally, I wanted to keep it as a spare for myself..." Tobirama frowned slightly.

But Hashirama kept staring at his forehead, leaving him a bit confused.

"Is that so? I doubt it... Hahahahaha," Hashirama suddenly roared with laughter.

Tobirama suddenly remembered that his own forehead protector was a different design from the standard ones. What he had just said truly had no credibility.

Thinking this, his face flushed slightly. He awkwardly changed the subject, "We got sidetracked. Let's deal with the previous matter first. That Uchiha..."

Meanwhile, Hibari, who had bolted back to the Senju compound, was packing his belongings in his room. He first brought two changes of clothes. Then, he thought that carrying a large bag might look a bit off.

Thinking of this, Hibari looked up at a large scroll hanging on his wall, the corner of his mouth slightly curving upward.

A short time passed. Just as Hibari finished 'stuffing' various odds and ends, along with some small scrolls containing sealed large ninja tools, into that big scroll, and was changing into the characteristic black layered armor of the Senju clan, his door was pulled open by a small figure.

Then, little Tsunade, who had been 'sparring' with Hibari just that morning, mischievously poked her small head in. Seeing Hibari putting on the layered armor, she stopped hiding and immediately ran out.

"Hibari-nii, what are you doing? Why are you dressed like you're going to battle again? Are you meeting someone for a fight? I'll cheer you on..." little Tsunade said in her childish voice.

Hearing little Tsunade's words, Hibari couldn't help but smile. He straightened the clothing at his wrists, reached out, and ruffled little Tsunade's hair. "Tsunade, your Hibari-nii is really going to the battlefield this time. As a man of our Senju clan, I naturally have to prove myself. Let me tell you some good news: from today onwards, I am a proper 'shinobi'..."

As he spoke, Hibari reached out and grabbed the forehead protector he had casually tossed on the clothes rack earlier, handing it to little Tsunade.

Little Tsunade took the forehead protector and played with it, finding it quite novel. Then she said, "Really, Hibari-nii? This is our Konohagakure's forehead protector! You're a shinobi now..."

"Do you think I'd lie to you? I'm going on a top-secret mission this time. I can't tell you the details, but don't worry, with Hibari-sama on the job, everything will be settled, hahahahaha," Hibari said with a hearty laugh.

Then he turned and walked to the sword rack, selecting the one that best matched his height from among the few swords displayed. He took it down and skillfully fastened it to his waist.

After securing his sword, Hibari turned and picked up the large scroll standing beside him. Then, imitating Hashirama, he fluidly tied the large scroll horizontally across his lower back.

Looking in the mirror now, a truly heroic young man was reflected.

"The legend of the Senju clan... will not end with you two, Hashirama-jiisan and Ojiisan, " Hibari murmured softly, looking at himself in the mirror.

After admiring himself for a moment, Hibari chuckled and took back his forehead protector from little Tsunade's hand. He didn't put it on, just held it.

"Tsunade, be good at home, don't cause so much trouble all the time, and listen to Ojiisan and Obaasan. Once I complete this mission, I'll rush back to see you, understand?" Hibari knelt down, pinching little Tsunade's cheek as he spoke with a smile.

"Mm, I understand, Hibari-nii," little Tsunade nodded, quite sensible at this moment.

Hibari then smiled, stood up, pulled open the door, and prepared to leave.

Just then, little Tsunade suddenly said, "Hibari-nii, you must come back. I heard missions are very dangerous. Yuuka-jisan and Hiren-basan went on a mission and never came back... I miss them so much..."

Hibari, who was about to step out the door, paused upon hearing little Tsunade's words. Yes, missions are very dangerous. This shinobi world truly is beautiful and cruel...

"Ahahahahaha! Don't worry, Tsunade! I won't go back on my word like those two adults in my family. I'll definitely come back!" Hibari said with a loud laugh, without looking back.

The next second, he waved goodbye to little Tsunade with his back turned, then pulled open the door and walked out with a flourish.

Watching Hibari's retreating figure, little Tsunade's young eyes held a hint of worry...

Separation, it seemed, always accompanied growth.