Naruto: Legend of the Skylark

After lunch, Hashirama went out for a stroll with Mito. Sasuke and Hiruzen, however, didn't leave. Instead, they stayed with Tobirama, enjoying the cool air and chatting in the courtyard.

Hibari was currently feeding fish to the two new bear cubs with Tsunade, and the novel experience made Tsunade's silver-bell-like laughter ring out periodically.

Once the two bear cubs were full, Tobirama waved to Hibari and Tsunade from the small pavilion.

Seeing this, Hibari led Tsunade over and unceremoniously sat down on a stone stool. "Here, Hiyoko, pour some tea for Tsunade and me."

Hiyoko, who was preparing tea for Tobirama and the others nearby, listened to Hibari and said with a dark expression, "I'll reiterate, we are one. The suffering I endure now will eventually fall upon you. Do you have no shame?"

"But it hasn't fallen upon me yet, has it? Let's enjoy it first... I'm not even afraid, what are you afraid of?" Hibari said nonchalantly, not caring about any of that.

After some laughter and chatter, Hiyoko finally poured the tea. Then Hibari asked, "Tobirama-jiisan, any orders? Are you sending me on a mission? Feel free to leave it to me!"

Tobirama smiled, then exchanged glances with Sasuke, and said, "It's like this, a couple of days ago, you were telling me about buying books for the village children, weren't you? And all that talk about establishing a system."

Hibari paused, then nodded. "Yes, that's right. What about it? You're not going to hand this important task to me, are you? You'd be thinking too highly of me then..."

Sasuke chuckled, "At least you have some self-awareness, kid."

"Hahaha, it's like this. We discussed it today and felt that it's indeed necessary to make some changes. Therefore, the first step is to start with the children. We've decided to establish a ninja academy, open to the village children, to teach them basic shinobi knowledge!" Tobirama said with a smile, looking at Hibari.

These words stunned Hibari. If he remembered correctly, the ninja academy was only established when Tobirama became the Second Hokage. Then, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya all spent a short period there, considered the first batch of ninja academy students. Why was Tobirama planning a ninja academy now?

Then he thought, perhaps his arrival caused something, affecting these events?

In any case, Hibari never expected that his act of buying books for Orochimaru and the 'huge sum of money stolen' incident would influence Hashirama so much that he became involved in this matter, thus accelerating the establishment of the ninja academy.

After regaining his composure slightly, Hibari said, "This is good news. Why are you telling me this? Are you planning for me to be a teacher at the ninja academy? Ah, although I believe my talent and virtue are insufficient, if you truly lack people, I can reluctantly agree..."

Looking at Hibari's 'humble' demeanor, Tobirama and the two Sarutobi father and son chuckled.

"You certainly have some self-awareness, kid, knowing that you're not worthy of the position and lack sufficient talent, so we didn't think that way. We've already agreed with Hiruzen; he will be a teacher there for a while," Tobirama said with a chuckle.

"Then what do you mean by telling me this, Tobirama-jiisan?" Hibari asked with some regret, hearing that they didn't intend for him to be a teacher.

Tobirama first looked at Hibari, then at Tsunade, who was squatting beside Hibari, teasing the two bear cubs.

Then he quietly said, "I was thinking, after the ninja academy is set up, I want you and Tsuna to go there as students."

Hibari's eyebrows shot up at this, and just as he was about to argue, Tobirama continued, "Listen to me first. Firstly, because you two are representatives of my Senju clan, the establishment of this ninja academy has deep implications. It requires our Senju clan to take the lead. Your Sasuke-jiisan is also prepared to stand with us, which is why Hiruzen will be a teacher there."

He paused slightly, then Tobirama reached out and patted Hibari's head, saying, "Secondly, although you're incredibly intelligent, you don't have any friends your age. Don't you feel lonely spending all your time with us old guys? If you go to the ninja academy, you can make many friends your age..."

Upon hearing this, Hibari felt a shiver run down his spine. He only had the patience to accompany his beloved sister in trivial childish activities. Asking him to frolic with a bunch of little brats? He really couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Oh, come on, Tobirama-jiisan! I have no objection to sending Tsunade to school. It'll keep her from being idle all day and acting like a mischievous kid at home..." At this, Hibari glanced at Tsunade, who was teasing the bear cubs, and chuckled, "Now it's three mischievous kids."

"And sending Tsunade to school will also keep Hashirama-jiisan from always taking her to places she shouldn't go. As for the Senju clan's lead you mentioned, Tsunade, being a proper princess, is weighty enough. Regarding your second point, truthfully, I have no desire to mingle with those little brats. At most, there are two or three people I can tolerate, like Orochimaru; I can joke around with him and amuse myself. Other than Tsunade, I truly have nothing to say to the rest of them," Hibari firmly refused.

Just as Tobirama was about to try and persuade him again, Hibari spoke first. "One last thing, Tobirama-jiisan, if you really make me attend that troublesome ninja academy on schedule, that would be a waste of my time! Those basic things, the absolute basics, I already understand them perfectly. Think about it, I've already developed an S-rank Collaboration Ninjutsu and A-rank hand-sign-less ninjutsu; do I still need to learn those? Instead of wasting that time, it'd be better to continue training by your side. You can't sacrifice me for your political goals, especially when my ailments aren't even cured yet..."

Hearing Hibari's clear and resolute words, Tobirama and Sasuke exchanged glances, then smiled and said, "Well, Sasuke? Didn't I say this kid wouldn't go to school?"

Sasuke shook his head helplessly. "It seems I worried for nothing. I was thinking that since Hibari always hangs out with us, he might feel lonely..."

"Not lonely at all! I couldn't be happier!" Hibari quickly chimed in.

After all that, it turned out that Sasuke, being a grandfather, was the one who had proposed all this. This made Hibari feel both touched and amused.

"Since you're so insistent, then the school matter is dropped. I guessed you'd refuse from the start. However, there's one thing you must keep up with me on, or I'll ground you for three months!" Tobirama looked at Hibari and said with a threatening smile.

"What is it? What pace?" Hibari frowned, looking at Tobirama.

"You not attending classes on time is perfectly fine. However, just as you said, this ninja academy has 'political' factors behind it. As a descendant of the Senju clan, while enjoying the benefits of the Senju clan, you must also contribute to it. And right now, our Senju clan needs to take the lead. So, whether you want to attend school or not, your name must be associated with the academy, and you need to make time to 'audit' classes, setting an example for the other clans in the village. This will let them know that we who established this school are not joking!" Tobirama said in a deep voice.

"Can't I be a teacher? I know all the basic stuff!" Hibari quickly offered.

"Absurd! Think about it yourself. If we did something like that, what would the other clans think? What would the Uchiha clan think? Would it be better if they also sent some 'basic'-mastering brats to be teachers at the school? How would the school even function then?" Tobirama glared at Hibari.

"That's right, Hibari. If you, the village's top genius, were to be a representative and attend classes at the school, it would make a huge difference. If others see that you're going, wouldn't they also send their own youngsters who aren't as good as you? And just like that, the school would become successful!" Sasuke also said with a smile.

To make Hibari 'give in,' he even 'hyped' Hibari up as the village's 'top genius.'

But then again, considering Hibari's age, he first 'created' the hand-sign-less ninjutsu 'Rasengan,' then completed an S-rank mission, and now he had researched an 'S-rank Collaboration Ninjutsu' with Hiruzen. There certainly were geniuses in the village, but no one had achieved results as quickly as Hibari. Calling him the top genius wasn't too much of an exaggeration.

Seeing that Tobirama's argument was so sound, and Sarutobi had even humbled himself to hype him up, if he refused again, it might truly be too much.

Just as Tobirama said, as a descendant of the Senju clan, while enjoying this incredibly privileged treatment, at this moment, when it was his turn to contribute, he should do so. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Thinking this, Hibari sighed, preparing to agree. However, a quick glance caught sight of Hiyoko, silently hiding in the corner. A glint flashed in Hibari's eyes, and he said, "Since you, Tobirama-jiisan, and Sasuke-jiisan, have both said so, it would be truly impolite for me to refuse further. So, I agree to this matter. Tobirama-jiisan, what do you think of Hiyoko? Is there any problem with him going to school?"

"You've gotta be kidding me, Hibari! I reiterate again..." Hiyoko, upon hearing this, immediately broke out of his 'transparent' state and began to curse at Hibari.

"No need to reiterate, I understand the reasoning..." Hibari said with a chuckle.

Tobirama glanced at Hiyoko, then at Hibari, a smile playing on his lips. "That's a matter between the two of you. I won't concern myself with it. As long as one of you handles this for me, that's enough."

-------

Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my Patreon ——— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]