Aren't You Being a Little Too Impatient?

After Hibari heard him out, his shoulders slumped, and he let out a long sigh.

He trusted Uncle Hiruzen not to lie to him. It seemed that avenue really was closed. Thinking about how he was a Senju and yet fretting over a summoning beast was honestly a little embarrassing.

He steeled himself. Fine, he'd just consider the idea for that S-rank Ninjutsu a free gift.

But just as he was about to speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke again.

"Still..." Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his chin, changing tack. "If you want a powerful summoning beast, I'm not completely out of ideas."

Hibari's ears perked up at once, and he hurriedly pressed him. "What idea? Uncle Hiruzen, tell me!"

"According to the ancient records of the Enma clan, there are three other places of inheritance in this world, no younger than theirs." Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret. "They're called Mount Myoboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave.

"According to those records, the summoning beasts living there are no weaker than the Enma clan's. They might even be stronger. There have apparently been occasional sightings of them throughout history.

"If you haven't given up, you could try your luck and look for those three places."

Hibari was speechless inside. He still had to put on a curious expression, but he was already muttering to himself: Those places you mentioned... I know them all too well.

Hibari's earlier complaint to Sarutobi Hiruzen about the Senju Clan not having any decent summoning beasts had been at least partly an act.

The Senju were, after all, one of the Shinobi World's top clans. Even if the two clan heads were strong enough not to need summoning beasts to make an impression, how could their ancestors' deep foundations have left them with nothing worthwhile?

They had plenty, in fact—and what a pedigree: one of the three great places of inheritance Sarutobi Hiruzen had just mentioned, Shikkotsu Forest.

Quite a few people in the Shinobi World knew about it. Where else would his great-uncle Senju Hashirama have learned Senjutsu?

It couldn't have fallen from the sky. Even if everyone said Great-Uncle Hashirama had a Sage Body or was some kind of reincarnation, he still needed a way to learn Senjutsu.

Hibari had never asked Great-Uncle Hashirama outright, but he'd reasoned that he had most likely learned it from Shikkotsu Forest through the clan's inherited Summoning Jutsu.

It was just that Great-Uncle Hashirama's physique was so absurd that, once he mastered Senjutsu, he could enter Sage Mode in an instant, and his strength would soar.

Back to summoning beasts. In principle, the three great places of inheritance should have been evenly matched. If Hibari could make a contract with the Slug Sage, it wouldn't be shameful at all. He'd be among the best in the Shinobi World.

But Katsuyu's strength was... honestly hard to pin down. Her main role was medical support. In a real fight, she probably wouldn't be much help.

What bothered Hibari even more was that Katsuyu just wasn't intimidating or cool enough!

So, in Hibari's calculations, Katsuyu was powerful, sure, but she wasn't right for him. He might as well leave her for that little girl Tsunade to inherit later and look into other options himself.

Aside from Shikkotsu Forest, where he could ask Great-Uncle Hashirama and at least get a clear lead, Mount Myoboku and Ryūchi Cave were both a complete mystery.

It would take months, maybe even years, to find either one, and even then it would come down to luck.

So, to Hibari, Sarutobi Hiruzen might as well have said nothing.

Still, it was a valuable bit of secret knowledge, and Hiruzen had been kind enough to share it. Hibari nodded and said:

"We've heard a few rumors in the Senju Clan, too. But those three places really aren't easy to find."

He sighed.

"Ah... forget it. I'll think about it when I have time. If I can't find them, I'll pick another target. I've heard there are Ibuse in the Land of Rain, and some Kubisaki Clan that raises powerful lizards. They both sound pretty good."

Seeing that Hibari wasn't in any hurry either, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped trying to persuade him and changed the subject.

"I can't help you with that. Is there anything else you're interested in? How about I teach you my original composite Ninjutsu, Fire Style: Earth-Flame Bullet? It's not as mysterious as that S-rank Ninjutsu you mentioned, but it's easily A-rank in power. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Hibari immediately nodded.

If it was free, there was no reason to turn it down. He was looking for ways to get stronger, so he'd take whatever he could get. Forget a composite Ninjutsu—even if it were an unfamiliar C-rank technique, he'd happily take it.

"Sure. I'll take the loss and trade my S-rank for your A-rank," Hibari said with an earnest nod.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help laughing in exasperation.

Come on, this was a genuine A-rank composite Ninjutsu I'd created and tested! And you think you're losing out by trading it for an S-rank theory you've only talked about? Clearly I'm the one getting the raw deal!

What if your technique doesn't work as well as you think? Or, worse, what if it's just talk and can't be done at all? Then Sarutobi Hiruzen would be out everything!

I'm only teaching you because our families are close and we get along well. If anyone else said something like that, I'd have thrown them out already!

Still, for all his irritation, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't take it to heart. He knew what Hibari was like. Even if he had nothing to trade, Hibari would probably have shared his theory as soon as Hiruzen asked.

Hibari knew perfectly well that he was the one getting the better deal here, trading an imaginary "S-rank" for a genuine "A-rank."

Once they'd settled this little "favor-for-favor deal," Hibari didn't hold back. He immediately began explaining his theory to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"If I dare call this composite Ninjutsu S-rank, then it's definitely not simple." Hibari lowered his voice. "Most ninja don't have enough chakra natures to use it. I can't, for instance, because it involves four natures: wind, lightning, water, and fire."

He paused, but before Sarutobi Hiruzen could respond, he continued:

"First, use Lightning Release and Water Nature chakra to make them change, like we just did. Then use Wind Release chakra to wrap around the gathered 'gas' and launch it. Finally, use fire... to ignite it and set off the whole technique."

Of course, that was only a rough explanation. Since Sarutobi Sasuke would need a while to finish setting up the traps, Hibari took the opportunity to break things down and walk Sarutobi Hiruzen through the principles from beginning to end.

After a great deal of effort, he finally managed to get the "little monkey" to understand most of it.

The moment Hibari finished explaining, Sarutobi Hiruzen's impulsive nature took over. He wanted to test it right there and then. He formed a seal with his left hand, and several water spheres bobbed in the air. A crackling bolt of lightning sprang from his right hand.

Hibari was so startled that he hurriedly reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Hold it, hold it! Hiruzen, aren't you being a little too impatient?" Hibari stared at him. "This thing is complicated and dangerous. If you start messing around with it here and it blows up, all three of us will be in trouble!

"That's the least of it. If you hold up the mission, do you think Second Uncle will let you off when we get back?"

His interruption finally snapped Sarutobi Hiruzen out of his excitement over Ninjutsu ideas. He scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.

"Slip-up. Purely a slip-up," he said, a little embarrassed. "I didn't expect to make such a basic mistake. Looks like I still have a lot to learn. I'll have to train harder when I get back."

"Good, as long as you know," Hibari said, releasing his arm and nodding. "Find an empty patch of ground when we get back and work on it there. Be careful! If you really make it work, don't forget what we just agreed on. I get credit for this!"

In truth, Hibari knew perfectly well that with Sarutobi Hiruzen's brains, turning this "theory" into reality wouldn't be a problem at all.

There was nothing wrong with Hibari's theory. It would just take a few minor adjustments in practice. Maybe before long, this kid would actually whip up a "little firecracker." That would be incredible.

With everything that needed saying said, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't waste time. He cleared his throat and began.

"The Fire Style: Earth-Flame Bullet I'm going to teach you isn't as complicated as yours." He gestured as he spoke. "Simply put, you combine Fire Dragon Bullet and Earth Dragon Bullet, then blast them out. It's an area-of-effect attack..."

After explaining in great detail, he summed it up: "The most important 'trick'—the part where you 'ignite' it—is figuring out how to set the 'earth' on fire.

"The principle isn't complicated. It's like Fire Release: Flame Bullet. Mix in the 'oil' created by refining chakra, and ideally, let the Earth Dragon Bullet soak it up. Then, when the Fire Dragon Bullet hits it—bam! The power shoots way up!"

"Exactly how big an explosion are we talking?" Hibari asked curiously.

"Fire Dragon Bullet packs a powerful blast, while Earth Dragon Bullet has plenty of impact. Put them together, and you get both an explosion and a collision." Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed out his chest, looking pleased with himself. "As for the power, it depends on who's using it. If I use it, it's at least as strong as five Flame Bullets, with plenty of range. Wiping out an area the size of a training ground would be easy."

"Sounds pretty useful," Hibari agreed. "Especially when you're outnumbered. Perfect for clearing the field."

"You bet!" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked as proud as a peacock. "You think a jutsu I came up with would be ordinary?"

Hibari was about to ask a few more questions about the art of creating Ninjutsu when Sarutobi Sasuke, who'd been busy the whole time, finally finished setting the traps and came over, clapping his hands.

"Enough. We're on a mission, so keep it down," he interrupted. "If you really want to discuss this, wait until we're back in the village. You two can have a meeting and work on it all you like. Not now."

He paused, then continued with their instructions: "The traps are all set. We'll find a nearby spot to hide and watch for any 'guests' who show up. We'll also be ready to welcome Lord Hokage."

Being sent on a mission as a ninja sounded impressive, but in practice, it was mind-numbingly boring and tedious. Hibari, who was on his first mission, was getting a firsthand taste of that now.

Once the traps were set, they couldn't just stand there waiting for someone to step into them. That would be foolish; anyone with half a brain would avoid them. So, after finishing their preparations, the three of them found a small hill with a good view and hid in the woods.

A covert stakeout called for silence. The ninja had to stay put and wait patiently. Hibari and the others were there to wait for the enemy to appear, then adapt as the situation demanded—or to wait for Konoha's Hokage, Senju Hashirama, to arrive.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sarutobi Sasuke were veterans who were used to this sort of stakeout—in fact, they were practically numb to it. But this was Hibari's first time. Having to crouch motionless in one place and wait was deeply uncomfortable. He felt as if ants were crawling all over him.

Hibari shifted his numb legs and muttered under his breath to Sarutobi Sasuke, who was crouched nearby. "Grandpa Sarutobi, it's been two days already. How much longer do we have to wait? Should I sneak up ahead and take a look, or slip into the valley to see how the Seven-Tails Chomei is doing?

"What if Lord Hokage gets here and that thing has already run off? Then all our effort will have been for nothing..."

Sarutobi Sasuke was lying in the grass. He chuckled at that, then narrowed his eyes and swept a glance around before replying leisurely, "What? You can't even handle two days? Kid, you still need to work on your ninja mindset..."