Outside a warehouse in the Senju Clan Compound in Konoha stood two children. The older boy was chattering away to the little girl beside him, who was a head shorter.
"Don't let the name fool you. It's called a village, but it's really a military camp for the Land of Fire." The boy gestured animatedly. "But even shinobi have to live their lives. Once they moved in with their families, the place finally got a little warmth to it."
He pointed into the distance. "From here, you can see how grand all of Konoha is. It's so big, it's practically a city. And it hasn't even been around for that long. It was built by the two strongest clans back then, working together."
The little girl blinked, and the boy's enthusiasm only grew. "One of those clans was the Uchiha, the ones whose eyes turn red. The other was our Senju Clan."
He patted his chest. "Our clan doesn't have any flashy Kekkei Genkai, but we're tough as nails and have chakra to spare. We're good at ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. If you ask me, the Senju Clan is an all-around powerhouse."
Tsunade tilted her head. Hibari crouched down and lowered his voice. "When you get right down to it, the two clans were called the strongest because our ancestors were practically gods. Our blood's gotten diluted by our generation, but we've still got something special in us."
He suddenly grinned. "If we were in another world, we could tell people we're descended from gods, and no one would dare say a word."
"So," Hibari continued, "it's only fair that our clan gets a prime spot in the village, right? Besides, our great-uncle is the village chief now. What kind of village chief doesn't get a few perks?"
He poked Tsunade in the shoulder. "The chief gets perks, so his family ought to get some too. And besides..." The boy drew out his words deliberately. "You were officially given the title of 'Princess' by the daimyo himself. You're a real princess, Princess Tsunade! What's the harm in opening a warehouse seal? Who'd dare say anything?"
The little girl he'd hoodwinked was the Senju Clan's little princess, Tsunade, granddaughter of the First, Senju Hashirama. And the silver-tongued boy beside her was the protagonist of this story, Senju Hibari.
The Senju Clan had once been a large, thriving family, but years of war had left its numbers dwindling. Counting back three generations from Hibari, none of his grandfathers had lived to see the present day.
The previous clan head, Butsuma Senju, had passed away before Hibari was born, and the other elders had also fallen one after another. The highest-ranking member of the clan now was its current head, Senju Hashirama.
Tsunade was Hashirama's granddaughter by blood, while Hibari came from the branch of the family descended from Butsuma Senju's brother. When it came to bloodline, Hibari was certainly a step removed.
But Hashirama, who was in charge now, was open-minded and didn't care much for old-fashioned rules. And with only these two young shoots left in the Senju Clan, there was no point in distinguishing between the main family and branch families.
Hibari was a few years older than Tsunade. He'd been born just after the Sengoku era ended and Konoha was founded, when the entire clan was looking forward to a peaceful life. The arrival of the eldest boy in the third generation was cause for celebration.
So Hibari had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was also precocious, and the clan members doted on him. His second granduncle, Senju Tobirama, practically raised him as his own son. Tobirama had even chosen his name himself.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Tsunade was born—the Senju Clan's real little princess. Naturally, Hibari had to share much of the affection he'd once received exclusively.
But it wasn't as if Hibari was jealous of Tsunade. He'd lived two lifetimes, after all. He wasn't about to pick a fight with a little girl. Besides, she was adorable and lively, and genuinely easy to like.
Still, he did enjoy teasing her now and then and getting her to take the blame for harmless little pranks. For instance, right now he was trying to trick young Tsunade into peeling off the seal on the door to her second granduncle Senju Tobirama's warehouse.
And why was he so interested in that warehouse? Did he really need to ask? What kind of person was Senju Tobirama?
He was known throughout the Shinobi World as the inventor of forbidden techniques. Aside from Water Release, everything he had up his sleeve was dangerous. The materials he used and the scrolls he wrote while tinkering with all those strange techniques were kept in that warehouse. Who wouldn't be curious?
What if there was some treasure in there?
"Hibari, what did you mean by another world? And what's a Celestial Dragon? Were our ancestors really descended from gods?"
Tsunade held a gambling chip, flipping it up and catching it as she gazed at Hibari with wide, dark eyes. "Does that make me a little fairy?"
Hibari glanced at the little girl, whose grandfather Hashirama had gotten her hooked on gambling, and sighed inwardly.
"Sure, sure. You're a little fairy, our family's own little fairy." He humored her. "But let's leave all that for later. Be a good girl and help me take this seal off."
"But... this is Granduncle Tobirama's warehouse." Tsunade's face scrunched up, and she looked uncertain. "If we tear off the seal, he'll find out. Then we'll both get a beating!"
Hibari clicked his tongue inwardly. The little girl was getting sharper. She was only five or six, and already hard to fool. He'd have to try a different approach next time.
"What's there to worry about?" He waved a hand with absolute confidence. "Granduncle Tobirama and Granduncle Hashirama are at the Five Kage Summit. They won't be back for a while. Go ahead. If anything happens, I'll take the blame."
Tsunade stuffed the chip into her pocket and stared at the paper seal on the warehouse door, still looking worried.
"But I don't know how to undo the seal..."
Hibari's lips curled into a smile.
"I've been studying it for days," he said, sounding a little smug. "It's an even-numbered seal, and the pattern's simple. Form the Hand Seals in the order of Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, then draw on the bloodline of the Senju Clan. It should come right off."
"Draw on our bloodline?" Tsunade's eyes went wide. "Doesn't that mean we have to bleed? That'll hurt!"
As she spoke, she took two steps back.
Hibari almost laughed in exasperation. The girl scraped herself falling out of trees and got bruised up in fights all the time, but she'd never made a peep over a little blood. Now she suddenly knew how to complain about pain? One look at her darting eyes, and Hibari understood. She thought she wasn't getting enough out of this!
"You little gambling fiend..." he grumbled. "Did you lose your allowance to Granduncle Hashirama again?"
Tsunade lowered her head and counted on her fingers, her voice tiny. "Only three hundred ryo... I'll win it back next time, for sure..."
"Don't start talking about next time." Hibari sighed and pulled several bills from his clothes, holding them out to her. "Here, five hundred ryo. But I'm telling you now, if Granduncle finds out about this later, who's taking the blame..."
Before he could finish, Tsunade snatched the bills and stuffed them into her pocket with practiced ease.
"Don't worry, Hibari!" She patted her little chest, looking like the very picture of loyalty. "I absolutely won't tell on you!"
The two of them were clearly well-practiced at this sort of "mischief."
As the Senju Clan's little princess, Tsunade certainly had exceptional talent. Otherwise, she never would've become one of the Sannin or risen to become the Fifth Hokage. Hibari explained the key points of the seal, and the little girl took up a convincing stance in front of it.
A faint trace of chakra rose around her. Her hands moved in a blur, forming Hand Seals so fast they dazzled the eye. Finally, she forced a drop of blood from her fingertip and pressed it against the paper seal—
The seal fluttered lightly to the ground.
"Done!" Tsunade said proudly, clapping her hands. She looked down at the paper seal and lifted her chin high.
Hibari smiled and looked toward the warehouse door as it slowly swung open.
"I see it..." he murmured, his eyes shining. "The gates of knowledge... are opening for me."
At the same time, a carriage jolted along among a group of shinobi returning to Konoha.
Senju Tobirama had been talking with his older brother, Senju Hashirama, when he suddenly fell silent. A helpless, faint smile appeared on his usually expressionless face.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Tobirama?" Hashirama noticed his brother's change in mood and turned to ask.
"Nothing." Tobirama shook his head, the hint of a smile still lingering. "It's just those two little troublemakers at home. I reckon they've gotten into trouble again."
The sky had only just begun to brighten, and Hibari was still drowsily wrapped in his blankets when his bedroom door slid open with a clatter.
Before he could even open his eyes, a series of quick footsteps came closer. Then he heard a bright "Hibari!" and a figure launched through the air, landing squarely on his stomach.
Tsunade was only five or six and didn't weigh much, but Hibari himself wasn't even ten yet. The sudden impact while he was asleep nearly knocked the wind out of him. Fortunately, the Senju were a hardy bunch, and he recovered after a couple of gasps.
"Ow... Tsunade!" Hibari grimaced as he sat up and lifted the little girl off him with one hand. Tsunade rolled around twice before coming to a stop. Rubbing his chest, he complained, "What are you doing barging in so early in the morning?"
Tsunade didn't take offense at being shoved aside. She got up and brushed herself off, her eyes sparkling. "Hibari! Granduncle Hashirama and Granduncle Tobirama are back! They're having tea in the courtyard! You haven't seen them in ages. Don't you miss them?"
The moment he heard that Granduncle Hashirama and Granduncle Tobirama were back, Hibari's last traces of sleepiness vanished. But he'd barely perked up before his face fell.
"And you're still happy about it?" Hibari put both hands on Tsunade's little shoulders, looking serious. "Granduncle Tobirama's definitely going to settle things with us over the warehouse today. We need to be clear: I didn't give you those five hundred ryo for nothing. You know what to say, right?"
That's right, the two of them had sneaked into Granduncle Tobirama's warehouse yesterday. There hadn't been anything particularly valuable inside, just a bunch of odds and ends. That made sense. There was no way Granduncle Tobirama would keep his important forbidden technique scrolls somewhere kids could break into.
Still, Hibari hadn't come away empty-handed. He'd found a few old books with some interesting information in them, along with some notes Granduncle Tobirama had jotted down.
The worst part was that they'd found a note on the desk, written in Granduncle Tobirama's unmistakable hand:
"Hibari, I knew you little rascal would pick the lock and sneak in. Shinobi have to follow the rules. This seal isn't hard, but it should keep you busy for a few days. So by the time you read this, I should be just about at the village gates. Since you dared open the door, get ready for a beating!"
Clearly, Granduncle Tobirama had known that curious little Hibari wouldn't be able to behave before he left. He'd written the note to let him know that everything was under control.
"Don't worry, Hibari! I absolutely won't tell on you!" Tsunade thumped her little chest, brimming with loyalty.
"That's the spirit! Once we're in the clear, I'll treat you to all the takoyaki you can eat!" Hibari said with satisfaction, ruffling her hair.
What were little sisters for? To "fight by your side" when it really mattered, of course!
After ushering Tsunade out of the room, Hibari quickly changed out of his pajamas. He'd inherited the Senju's good looks: short silver hair like Granduncle Tobirama's, dark eyes, and a pleasant, regular face. He was quite the charmer.
Once he'd put on his underclothes, Hibari glanced at the everyday jacket hanging on the clothes rack, then stroked his chin like a little adult. He hesitated, then turned his gaze toward the black layered armor beside it—the gift Granduncle Hashirama had given him for his birthday last year.
The men of the Senju Clan all seemed to like this sort of thing. Granduncle Hashirama wore red, Granduncle Tobirama wore blue, and Granduncle Hashirama had set aside a black one for him.
The armor was pretty nice. A craftsman could adjust its size as he grew.
Before you continue