Is Hibari Really Becoming a Ninja?

"Don't worry, Teacher," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied immediately, "I will take good care of him."

Seeing that everything that needed to be said had been covered, Hibari felt as restless as if a cat were scratching at his heart. If they set off earlier, they could grasp the situation sooner, right? Why drag his feet?

"Second Granduncle, if... if there's nothing else, I'll go back and pack my things." He rubbed his hands together, unable to suppress the urgency in his tone.

Tobirama frowned at his restless demeanor: "What's the rush? Don't go out there and keep acting like this..."

Hibari thought to himself that in both his lives combined, this was his first time going on a mission as a ninja. Moreover, the stakes were so high that even Grandfather Hashirama had to step in personally—how could he not be excited? Anyone would be the same!

"Understood, I'll be careful," he promised hurriedly, then turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Uncle Hiruzen... if it's convenient for you, please wait for me at the village gate for a moment. I'll be quick, I won't delay us!"

Without waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen to reply, he turned and reached for the office door.

"Wait..."

Tobirama's voice drifted softly from behind, calling him back.

Hibari turned around with a look of confusion, wondering if the Second Granduncle was going to pull some new trick.

However, Tobirama didn't rush to speak this time. Instead, he reached to his waist, pulled out a small scroll the thickness of a finger, and spread it on the table.

It was a storage sealing scroll, much like the one Hibari used to store his Fuma Shuriken, but judging by the size, it certainly didn't contain anything large.

Tobirama didn't even weave any hand signs; he simply pressed his palm against the scroll, and with a soft "poof," a small puff of smoke erupted. He reached into the smoke and pulled out an object.

Hibari focused his eyes—it was clearly a Hidden Leaf Village ninja forehead protector.

"When you're out and about, you need something to prove your identity, lest you..." Tobirama stopped mid-sentence.

He had originally wanted to add, "lest you die and no one knows where to send your corpse," but he reconsidered. Saying such things to Hibari on his first mission was truly unlucky, so he swallowed the second half of the sentence.

Changing the subject, Tobirama continued: "You brat are finally qualified to wear this thing. But let me make this clear, Hibari: once you put on that forehead protector, you are no longer just Hibari of the Senju Clan..."

Hibari stepped forward and respectfully took the forehead protector from Tobirama's hands. He curled his lips into a smile and said softly: "I understand, Second Granduncle. Once I put this on, I am Hibari of the Senju Clan from the Hidden Leaf Village."

The brat might be slippery, but his mind worked fast. Tobirama nodded with satisfaction: "Go on, do a good job."

Hibari acknowledged him and turned to leave. But after only two steps, he braked, turned his head, raised an eyebrow at Tobirama, and asked playfully: "By the way, Second Granduncle, what rank does this make me?

Given my strength, I should at least be rated as a Special Jonin, right? Honestly, being a full-fledged Jonin wouldn't be an exaggeration!"

"Hmph, keep dreaming." Tobirama was both annoyed and amused. "Outside of special circumstances, without sufficient merit, even if you were twice as strong as your Grandfather Hashirama, you would still have to start from the bottom according to the rules. If you ask me, you're at most an 'intern ninja' right now. Get out of here!"

Hibari was rebuffed and muttered discontentedly: "So rigid... times are changing, it's so boring to be tied down by all these rules..."

"If you don't want it, give it back." Tobirama threatened him with a flat tone as he listened to the grumbling.

"I'm off, I'm off! I'm going to pack my things now. I'll definitely show off my skills so you can see, and then I'll make sure you're willing to grant me the title of Leaf Jonin!" Seeing the situation was turning sour, Hibari quickly waved his hands to beg for mercy.

With that, he yanked the door open and vanished in a flash.

Once Hibari left, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't linger either. He nodded at Hashirama and Tobirama with a smile and turned briskly to go pack his gear.

After both had left, Tobirama picked up the teapot at a leisurely pace, refilled his and his brother's cups with hot tea, and began to sip slowly.

"Even if Hibari hadn't brought it up, you would have let him go with the little monkey, right, Tobirama?" Hashirama walked to the tea table with a chuckle and picked up his cup.

"That's not the case. I had originally planned to lock him in his room to read books for two or three years," Tobirama said, his expression unchanging.

"Hahahaha, is that so?" Hashirama laughed loudly. "Then why were you carrying the forehead protector scroll with you? You were just waiting for a chance to give it to Hibari!"

"It was just convenient; it was my spare," Tobirama frowned slightly.

But Hashirama stared fixedly at his forehead, making Tobirama feel a bit bewildered.

"I don't think so... Hahahaha!" Hashirama suddenly laughed even harder.

Tobirama then realized with a start—his own forehead protector was completely different from the standard issue! The excuse he had just used was full of holes.

His face burned slightly, and he irritably changed the subject: "We're getting sidetracked. Let's deal with the real business. That Uchiha Clan..."

Meanwhile, Hibari, who had run all the way back to the Senju estate, was packing his luggage in his room. He stuffed two changes of clothes into his bag, then had a second thought: wouldn't it look too lame to go out carrying a big bundle?

Thinking of this, Hibari looked up at the large scroll hanging on the wall, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

Hibari had just stuffed his miscellaneous items along with the small scroll containing his ninja tools into the large scroll and was putting on the black layered armor of the Senju family when the door creaked open.

Little Tsunade poked half her head in, her eyes darting around. Seeing Hibari's attire, she immediately hopped inside.

"Brother Hibari!" She leaned in close, tilted her head up, and asked, "You're dressed like you're about to fight. Did you make an appointment with someone again? I'll go call people for you!"

Hibari laughed as soon as he heard this, straightened his wrist guards, and ruffled little Tsunade's hair.

"It's not a fight this time," he smiled. "Your Brother Hibari is really going to the battlefield. A man of the Senju Clan has to go out and make a name for himself, right? Let me tell you a secret: from today on, I am a proper ninja."

As he spoke, he reached over to the coat rack, grabbed the forehead protector, and handed it to little Tsunade.

Little Tsunade took it, examined it over and over, and muttered: "Really, this is a Leaf forehead protector... Is Brother Hibari really becoming a ninja?"

"Could that be a lie?" Hibari straightened his back. "This is a classified mission, so I can't tell you the details. But don't worry, with your Brother Hibari on the job, what can't be handled? Hahahaha!"

He turned and walked to the weapon rack, picked out a sword of a suitable length, and skillfully tied it to his waist.

With his sword hung, Hibari picked up the large scroll leaning against the wall and, imitating Hashirama's usual style, strapped it horizontally across his lower back.

He turned to look in the mirror, which reflected the image of a spirited young man.

"The reputation of the Senju Clan..." Hibari looked at himself in the mirror and whispered, "must not be tarnished by Grandfather and Second Granduncle."

After admiring himself for a moment, he chuckled and took the forehead protector back from little Tsunade, not putting it on yet, just clutching it in his hand.

"Princess Tsunade," Hibari crouched down and pinched the little girl's cheeks, "be obedient at home and don't always cause trouble. Listen to what Grandfather and Grandmother say. I'll come back to see you as soon as my mission is over, got it?"

"Mm, I know." Little Tsunade nodded obediently this time.

Hibari smiled, stood up, opened the door, and took one step out.

"Brother Hibari!" Little Tsunade suddenly called out from behind, her voice dropping. "You must come back... I heard people say missions are dangerous. Uncle Yuhua and Aunt Binglian went on a mission and never came back... I miss them so much..."

Hibari's step faltered.

Yes, missions were always dangerous. This world of ninjas, as beautiful as it was, was truly harsh.

"Hahahaha!" He suddenly laughed loudly without looking back. "Don't worry, Princess Tsunade! I'm not like those two in my family who don't keep their word. I said I'd come back, so I definitely will!"

With that, he waved his hand at little Tsunade, opened the door, and strode out.

Little Tsunade watched his back disappear outside the door, a trace of worry appearing on her small face that seemed quite out of place for her age.

By the time Hibari wandered to the main gate of the Hidden Leaf, Sarutobi Hiruzen was already waiting there.

Hiruzen, who was chatting with two gate guards, saw Hibari the moment he looked up, and his mouth immediately curled into a smile.

"Yo, Hibari." He looked him up and down and laughed. "This outfit... it really has a bit of the Hokage's shadow from back in the day. It looks the part."

"Grandfather Hashirama is my goal; I'll surpass him sooner or later." Hibari walked over with a grin. "As for the outfit, looking cool is all that matters."

The two gate guards nearby joined in the fun.

"Little Hibari, it's not like the village out there, keep your wits about you."

"That's right, learn well from Lord Hiruzen. When you come back, we'll treat you to a drink... wait, no, you're not old enough yet! If the Hokage finds out, it'll be trouble. Then we'll treat you to milk, hahahaha!"

Hibari listened to the joking words and grinned.

"Uncle Yunya, Senior Qingmu, I'll remember that." He patted his stomach. "With my appetite, you two better prepare enough for thirty cows, hahahahaha!"

After chatting for a bit, Hiruzen estimated the time and said: "Alright, business is important. We both have missions to attend to, we can't afford to delay.

You two better get that milk ready. When I bring this brat back in one piece, I'll make sure he drinks up two months of your salaries!"

Everyone laughed. Hibari followed Hiruzen, said goodbye to the two uncles at the gate, and turned to step out of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Watching the small figure gradually moving away, Yunya and Qingmu looked at each other and smiled.

"Tsk, he really is the grandson of the Hokage and Lord Tobirama," Yunya smacked his lips. "He's not very old, but he's so well-mannered and has no airs at all. Should I say it's what's expected of someone from the Senju family?"

"Hmph, it depends on who you're talking about." Qingmu's face darkened as if he remembered something unpleasant. "Young Master Hibari is impeccable, but look at those Uchiha people—everyone has their eyes stuck on the top of their heads, looking down on everyone else.

They're both as famous as the Senju family, so why is there such a difference in character?"

"Who's to say!" Yunya agreed heartily. "Relying on a bit of talent, they look at everyone like they owe them money. Isn't our Young Master Hibari also a genius? Look how easygoing he is!"

"I think," Qingmu lowered his voice, but his tone was firm, "the Hokage and Lord Tobirama see it clearly. They will never let them continue to be so arrogant.

Just wait and see. They did contribute to building the village, but this Hidden Leaf is not the Uchiha family's private property!"

Hibari naturally didn't hear this discussion. If he had, he would surely have realized: it turned out that the Uchiha Clan's path in the village was becoming narrower and narrower.

However, thinking of the Second Granduncle's iron-fisted methods, he probably wouldn't sit idly by.

The country where Takigakure was located was a neighbor to the Land of Fire.

But compared to a giant like the Land of Fire, it was an inconspicuous little spot. Fortunately, its location was good, its policies were flexible, and it rarely had conflicts with other countries. Coupled with the fact that the village's ninja strength wasn't weak, it had remained stable and secure, with no one having the spare time to provoke them.