Three Days... I Really Am a Genius

He splashed around, shouting, "Second Grandpa! Grandpa Hashirama! Did you see that? I can swim!" Water poured into his wide-open mouth, but he was too busy having fun to care about choking.

Tobirama stood by the pool, the corners of his mouth finally lifting. His words, however, were less than flattering. "The way you swim, you look like a drowning dog scrabbling for food."

"Who cares what I look like!" Hibari laughed, flailing his arms and legs in the water and sending splashes flying. "The important thing is that I can swim! You know what that means? It means that 'Spiral Derivation Seal' works! If I can swim, then developing a Water Release chakra nature can't be far off!

"And if that happens, Wood Release Kekkei Genkai can't be far off either! Taking over for you two... There's no way that won't happen, right?"

After Hibari had finished splashing around, he climbed out of the water. Tobirama raised a hand and sent a Water Release technique at him, drenching him from head to toe. Hibari didn't mind. Bare-chested and grinning, he stood before his two elders.

Hashirama looked him up and down and nodded with satisfaction. Then he turned to Tobirama. "It really worked this time. Hibari managed to get past this hurdle thanks to you. He and I will both remember what you've done for us."

"Big brother, there's no need to be so formal." Yamanaka Kiyono smiled and waved a hand. "You did most of the work developing the technique. I only lent a hand. It's hardly a favor worth thanking me for."

Before Tobirama could respond, Hibari hurriedly cut in, his tone utterly sincere. "Lord Kiyono, if you ever need anything, just say the word! If there's anything I can do, I, Senju Hibari, won't hesitate!"

Seeing him like that made Yamanaka Kiyono grin even wider. This had been well worth the effort! Hibari was so valued, and so talented. Now that they'd found a way to suppress his biggest problem, barring any accidents, he was sure to become a pillar of the Senju Clan.

Whether it counted as a favor was beside the point. Having Hibari remember his kindness and building a good connection with him was already a win.

So he said cheerfully, "Sure, Hibari. Come by my place whenever you have time. I'd be happy just to share a meal with you."

"Absolutely!" Hibari replied at once. "Even if you hadn't said that, I'd still come. Just as long as you don't mind me being a nuisance."

After chatting and joking for a while, Yamanaka Kiyono decided it was time to leave. Hibari was very polite and saw him all the way to the gate of the Senju family estate before turning back to find Tobirama and Hashirama.

The huge mud puddle by the entrance was gone. Second Grandpa must have filled it in again with Earth Style. Sure enough, when Hibari went inside, he found Tobirama and Hashirama sitting there, smiling.

Hibari couldn't help grinning, either. Good news lifted the spirits, and now he finally had a lead on the problem that had plagued him for so many years. How could he not be happy?

"Hibari," Tobirama said, his smile fading as he grew serious, "your condition is under control for now, but you still can't let your guard down. We haven't gotten to the root of it. If the Sealing Jutsu on your body is ever undone, you'll still be in danger."

"Don't worry, Second Grandpa. I understand." Hibari nodded. "You've already helped me this much, and I'm grateful. I'll find a way to solve this problem for good!"

"Good." Tobirama nodded, then continued, "But before then, you need to learn this 'Spiral Derivation Seal' to prevent any accidents. If there's ever a time when I'm not around... In short, you need to be able to use this technique yourself."

He didn't wait for Hibari to respond. Instead, he flicked a scroll toward him. "You helped develop the technique, so you understand the theory. The scroll explains it clearly, so I won't go into detail. Take it and study."

"Got it! I'll learn it as soon as I can!" Hibari caught the scroll.

"Right, learn it quickly!" Hashirama chimed in eagerly. "Once you've learned it, hurry up and see if you can extract Water Nature chakra. If you can, come find me right away... We'll see if we can develop Wood Release!"

"Learn my Water Release Ninjutsu first!" Tobirama slapped a hand on the table, standing his ground.

Beside the Senju estate, a small river flowed quietly. Hibari crouched by its bank. This was the third day he'd repeated the same routine: putting his hand in the chilly water, leaving it there for a moment, then pulling it out.

Extracting Water Release chakra wasn't especially hard or easy. It all depended on the individual. Some people were born with a particular chakra nature and didn't need to train for it at all.

Hibari, for example, was a member of the Senju Clan and naturally possessed Yang Release Chakra, so learning the Strength of a Hundred Technique and using Medical Ninjutsu came easily to him.

Still, Yin and Yang weren't among the five conventional nature transformations, so people rarely talked about them. But in theory... Hibari ought to be a ninja with all the chakra natures.

Now he was working toward mastering all six. He'd actually tried to figure out Yin Release Chakra before, but no matter how he went about it, he couldn't get anywhere.

Eventually, he'd simply asked Grandpa Hashirama, Second Grandpa Tobirama, and the other elders in the clan. He learned that, apart from top experts like Second Grandpa Tobirama, hardly anyone in the Senju Clan could use Yin Release.

And Second Grandpa Tobirama had been very frank about it at the time. It had taken him ages to condense Yin Release Chakra, and he'd spent several years working at it.

It seemed the Senju Clan just wasn't naturally suited to Yin Release Chakra. Hibari thought it over and decided to put the idea aside for the time being. He couldn't spend too much time on it, after all. He'd be better off learning some other useful skills first. There'd be time to work out Yin Release later.

He reached out and stirred the river water, then suddenly chuckled. "Water..."

He could clearly feel that the chakra flowing through his body was different now. Even his breath carried a damp quality. Delighted, Hibari kept his hands moving and formed the seals in the blink of an eye.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

As soon as he shouted, chakra surged through his pathways. He'd tried using Water Release by force before, and he'd memorized the hand seals for plenty of Water Release techniques.

But back then, the moment he tried to move his chakra, his entire chakra network felt as if it were blocked solid. Even the slightest movement brought sharp pain.

This time was completely different. His chakra flowed freely, and as he completed the hand seals, a thin stream of water spiraled up from beside his feet and curled around him.

Hibari's eyes lit up, and his grin spread wide. "Three days... I really am a genius."

Of course, it depended on the person. Some geniuses really could master a chakra nature in just a few days.

And Hibari had been naturally gifted in Water Release from birth. It had only been suppressed by the Devil Fruit power inside him. Now that the thing had been sealed, his Water Release talent had naturally emerged.

Since this was his first time converting chakra into Water Release, he didn't have much of it. The Water Formation Wall had only risen to his waist before he started to run out of strength.

But Hibari reacted quickly and immediately set his sights on the river in front of him.

That was the great thing about Water Release Ninjutsu—it depended heavily on the environment. If there was plenty of water around, a ninja could use very little chakra to harness it and even double the power of their technique.

Of course, monsters like Second Grandpa Tobirama, who used "Sea Release," were another matter. Even if you threw that man into the desert, he could conjure an entire sea out of thin air.

The next second, Hibari felt his body grow lighter. The Water Formation Wall, which had been stuck at his waist, suddenly sucked up a stream of water from the river. With a rush, it surged higher and completely surrounded him.

As he controlled the water, savoring the achievement he'd long dreamed of, Second Grandpa Tobirama appeared in the distance. Seeing Hibari practicing Water Release, Tobirama relaxed, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

A few days ago, he'd sealed all that chaotic stuff inside Hibari,

and made it possible for him to go underwater, but Tobirama still hadn't been sure whether he'd be able to master Water Release. Hibari had been working at it by the river for three days, and Tobirama had made time to come check on him every day.

How could he not be happy when he arrived today and saw the Water Formation Wall? It meant Hibari had truly broken through that barrier.

That meant his own mastery of Water Release would finally have a successor.

Hibari noticed Tobirama approaching and stopped the flow of chakra. The Water Formation Wall that had surrounded him came crashing back into the river, sending up a spray of water.

"Second Grandpa!" He turned around, grinning from ear to ear. "How was that? Impressive, right?"

Tobirama smiled, too. "Not bad. My efforts weren't wasted. How far have you gotten?"

"I've just gotten the hang of it, but I'm still not very good at controlling it. I can't even hold up the Water Formation Wall without borrowing water from the river."

Hibari scratched his head, but sounded confident. "Still, getting started is what matters! Give me a few days to practice, and I guarantee I'll be able to use it as smoothly as any other Ninjutsu!"

Tobirama nodded. "Then you've got a few days. After that, come learn some advanced Water Release from me."

Hibari quickly agreed. He'd been eager to learn Tobirama's absurdly powerful Water Release techniques for a long time. Before, he hadn't been capable of learning them, but now the opportunity was right in front of him. How could he let it pass?

"By the way, Second Grandpa..." Hibari blinked, looking a little secretive.

Tobirama frowned slightly at Hibari, who seemed to be holding something back. "If you have something to say, just say it. Stop dithering."

Hibari grinned and leaned closer. "Well... Second Grandpa, shouldn't you teach me your Summoning Jutsu, too?"

"Summoning Jutsu?" Tobirama clearly hadn't expected that. "Which of my summons are you interested in?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Hibari's eyes lit up. "Everyone's heard the rumors that you signed a contract with the entire ocean!

"Before, I couldn't use Water Release, so I didn't even dare dream about it. But things are different now! I'm practically an all-rounder. How about letting me chat with the ocean, too?"

Looking at Hibari's excitement, Tobirama couldn't help bursting out laughing.

"You little rascal, what do you think about all day?" He pointed at Hibari. "People outside make up all kinds of nonsense, and you believe them, too? The ocean isn't alive. How could you sign a contract with it?"

"But Grandpa Hashirama's Rashomon isn't alive, either, and he can still sign a contract with it!" Hibari quickly retorted, looking as if he wasn't going to let Tobirama fool him. "Just tell me—did it happen or not?"

"Not a chance!" Tobirama snorted in annoyance. "Every Water Release technique I know, I learned through my own hard work! I have nothing to do with some contract with the ocean.

"Think about it. I have all seven chakra natures, so why do I favor Water Release? Because I've spent most of my life working on it... Specialization. Understand?"

"Oh..." Hibari's shoulders slumped. He pursed his lips, disappointed. "I thought you were hiding some amazing trick. Got my hopes up for nothing. Was learning Summoning Jutsu pointless, then? I haven't even seen a single summoning animal."

"It's not entirely pointless," Tobirama said more gently. "The Summoning Scroll passed down through the clan is a rare treasure."

"Then why haven't you signed it?" Hibari glanced at him.

"Ahem..." Tobirama cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed. "With my abilities, I don't need a summon to help me in battle. Besides, Katsuyu isn't really my style."