Naruto: Legend of the Skylark

While Hibari was lecturing little Tsunade, Hashirama, the Hokage of Konohagakure, wasn't having an easy time either.

The esteemed 'God of Shinobi' was now kneeling obediently on a cushion in Mito's room. His face showed none of the exuberance he had displayed that morning when he took little Tsunade out; instead, he wore a pitiful expression.

On the other side of the room, Mito was brewing tea, pouring a cup for Tobirama, who sat nearby.

"Thank you, Aneja," Tobirama said respectfully.

Mito smiled but didn't speak. Just then, Hashirama licked his lips and said, "I haven't even had a sip of water since I got back..."

It was better that he hadn't spoken. The moment he did, Mito's smile instantly vanished, replaced by a cold expression. A hint of anger appeared on her refined face as she said in a low voice, "Water? You took over a million ryo out; wasn't that enough for you to buy water?"

Chided by Mito, Hashirama immediately wilted, muttering with a touch of grievance, "You can't blame it all on me. It's Tobirama's fault for not giving me the reward. I just ran out of money..."

"Is that an excuse?" Mito questioned, furious.

Without waiting for Hashirama to say anything, Mito launched into a furious tirade, scolding Hashirama relentlessly until he was utterly miserable.

Seeing that the time was right and his brother had been sufficiently 'ground into dust,' and any more would be overkill, Tobirama put down his teacup and said, "Aneja, I think my brother has already realized his mistake..."

"Yes, yes, that's right, I know I was wrong. I was just momentarily possessed, wasn't I? I won't do such a thing again," Hashirama quickly chimed in upon hearing Tobirama's words.

He couldn't help but think to himself, 'Indeed, we're brothers by blood. At times like this, he knows to help his Anija.'

However, before that thought could fully form, he heard Tobirama's next words, which made his vision go black and nearly caused him to faint.

"The one million five hundred thousand ryo my brother took from Hibari will be deducted from his future salary. It will return to normal once the full amount has been deducted," Tobirama said with a smile.

Hashirama, who had just barely caught his breath, immediately protested, "But it wasn't one million five hundred thousand ryo! That kid secretly spent one hundred forty thousand ryo at some point. I only took a little over one million three hundred thousand ryo in total! There wasn't that much!"

Before Tobirama could speak, Mito glared at Hashirama and said, "You say you didn't take it all, so you didn't? Everyone knows that child Hibari earned that one million five hundred ryo by risking his life, and suddenly it's gone. Since you did it, you'll pay for the whole amount!"

"I just thought he was young and would spend money carelessly, so I took it for him. Look, in less than two or three days, one hundred forty thousand ryo is already gone! This..." Hashirama quickly complained again.

"No matter how fast Hibari spends money, he's not as fast as you! You went out for less than a day and squandered over a million ryo! And you still have the nerve to criticize Hibari?" Mito retorted again.

At this moment, Tobirama also added insult to injury, "That one hundred forty thousand ryo, Hibari used to buy some valuable books for the village's children. He didn't recklessly lose it at the gambling den."

Hearing Tobirama's words, Hashirama lost his confidence to argue further and sat there somewhat aggrieved. Then, Mito spoke again, "As Hokage, your ideological awareness isn't even as high as Hibari's. If you had used that one million plus ryo for proper matters, I wouldn't say anything more. Don't you agree?"

"Yes..." Hashirama nodded in agreement.

"So, the one million five hundred thousand ryo?" Mito glanced at Hashirama, her meaning crystal clear.

"I'll pay it, I'll pay it. We'll do as Tobirama says..." Hashirama said, his heart bleeding.

However, when he remembered Tobirama saying that Hibari used the money to buy books for the village children, he felt a surge of comfort. He suddenly felt that he wasn't a very qualified grandfather and that his actions were indeed inappropriate.

Despite all the commotion, the Senju clan's 'great silver theft case' finally came to a complete end.

The next morning, before Hibari was even fully awake, little Tsunade burst into his room again. Without a care for whether Hibari could take it, she launched herself into a flying tackle, landing heavily on Hibari's futon.

Hibari, who had been deep in slumber, was abruptly woken by this 'falling object.' He let out a muffled sigh and said, "Tsunade, are you trying to kill me, you little brat?"

"Hibari-nii, I want to go to the back mountains to catch a bear to eat. Will you come with me?" Little Tsunade shook Hibari's body, pouting.

"Eat a bear this early in the morning? That greasy? Aren't you afraid of turning into a little fat pig?" Hibari said, sitting up and grumbling, while pushing little Tsunade off his futon.

"Well, by the time we catch the bear, it'll be noon, and then we can eat it!" Little Tsunade declared righteously.

After she finished speaking, before Hibari could express his own wishes, little Tsunade grabbed Hibari's arm again, shaking it and saying, "Please, please, Hibari-nii, you stay cooped up at home all day, it's no fun at all..."

"I'm already a mature shinobi. Naturally, I need to seize every moment to improve my knowledge and strength. Where would I find the time..." Hibari hadn't even finished speaking when he saw little Tsunade tightly clutching his arm with both small hands, her eyes wide and round, with tears shimmering in their corners.

At this, Hibari's heart instantly softened. He said, "Alright, alright, we'll go now. Let me get dressed, then wait for me by the door."

Little Tsunade, who had been looking on the verge of tears from grievance, immediately jumped three feet high upon hearing this and said happily, "Then hurry up, Hibari-nii!"

Without waiting for Hibari to reply, she rushed out of the inner room.

Hibari stood up, neatly folded his futon and put it away. Then, he looked at the clothes hanging on the rack, taking down his black layered armor and putting it on.

He then took his usual katana from the sword rack and fastened it to his waist. As for large scrolls and such, he didn't bother with them. After all, he was just going to the village's back mountains to catch a bear, not going on a mission, so there was no need to be too serious.

After getting everything ready, Hibari thought for a moment. Tobirama was probably already pondering his own sealing jutsu in his room. He should go and check up on him. Since he was going to the mountains with Tsunade, he might as well send a clone there. He could also see if Tobirama could notice anything unusual. If Tobirama couldn't tell the difference, then probably no one could distinguish the real from the fake.

Thinking this, Hibari swiftly performed a hand sign. The next second, the shadow clone appeared beside him, and Hibari's legs also softened slightly.

Fortunately, he was prepared this time, so he didn't need the shadow clone to support him. He wobbled for a moment, then steadied himself.

Since they were one, the shadow clone naturally knew what Hibari had just been thinking. So, before Hibari could speak, it said, "Why don't I go with Tsunade to the mountains, and you go to Tobirama-jiisan's place to study?"

"Are you kidding? I'm the boss; what I say goes. This is also a test, so don't argue. Reading more books is always good for you," Hibari said, rolling his eyes.

Without waiting for the shadow clone to speak, Hibari's eyes darted around, and he said, "We're definitely going to be together often in the future, so I should give you a proper title..."

"Can you speak normally? Can you stop using such easily misleading words? Are you going to marry yourself?" The shadow clone said, somewhat displeased.

"Hahahaha, anyway, as long as you understand the meaning. My name is Hibari (Cloud Lark or commonly known as Skylark), and in my opinion, you should be called..." Hibari said with a smile.

"Kumotaka (Cloud Eagle)? Kumohaya (Cloud Falcon)?" The shadow clone raised an eyebrow, saying somewhat excitedly.

"How about 'Hiyoko'?" Hibari said briskly. (Chick as in baby bird)

"Let me say it again, we're one and the same. Can't you be nicer to me, you bastard? That name is too much, isn't it? Do you have a masochistic streak?" The shadow clone cursed.

"Alright, alright, a name is just a designation. Why make such a fuss? 'Hiyoko' sounds easy to manage," Hibari said impatiently.

"Don't call me 'Hiyoko'!" The shadow clone said, annoyed.

"Okay, 'Hiyoko.' Got it, 'Hiyoko'," Hibari said dismissively.

Then, he didn't bother saying anything more to the shadow clone. He opened the door and walked out, leaving the shadow clone fuming.

But what could the shadow clone do? Hibari was the boss, so it could only obediently be 'Hiyoko.'

After walking a few steps out the door, he found little Tsunade already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Hibari, little Tsunade ran over and grabbed his hand, asking, "Hibari-nii, I heard you talking to someone in the room just now. Who was it?"

"It was my shadow clone. I sent him to Tobirama-jiisan's to study," Hibari said with a smile, not hiding anything.

"Then what did I hear about 'marrying myself'? What does that mean? Are you going to marry someone else? Didn't we promise? That I'd marry Hibari-nii when I grew up," little Tsunade asked, shaking Hibari's arm.

"Hahahahaha, is that so? When you grow up, you little brat, you won't think that way anymore," Hibari said with a laugh.

"No, I won't! I like Hibari-nii the most!" Little Tsunade frowned, saying very righteously.

"But I heard you say you wanted to marry Hashirama-jiisan just two days ago..." Hibari said, feigning disbelief.

This instantly made little Tsunade's face flush crimson with embarrassment. Then, she stamped her foot in frustration and said, "Hibari-nii!!!"

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