Once the 'cake-sharing' event concluded, the meeting wrapped up, and those who were meant to leave prepared to do so.
As they were leaving, Tobirama suddenly called out to Harano, saying, "Harano, please stay for a moment. I have a personal matter I'd like to consult you about."
Harano was momentarily surprised, then quickly replied, "There's no need to speak of consultation. If you have something you need my help with, Tobirama, just say so."
Tobirama smiled and said, "Indeed, there's something I need your help with. I've been researching a sealing jutsu related to the mind and soul recently, and it's almost complete. However, there are still some issues that require the expertise of a master. I thought your Yamanaka clan excels in mental secret jutsu, so perhaps you might have some insights?"
Hearing Tobirama's words, Harano didn't decline. Instead, he said with great interest, "I'm very interested in participating in your jutsu, Tobirama. Let's research it together then..."
With Harano invited away by Tobirama, Shikajin and Kira didn't think much of it. They quickly left the Hokage Residence to prepare for their upcoming tasks.
As the ninja academy matter concluded, the various clans calmed down.
In the following two days, enrollment for the ninja academy was very enthusiastic, with many children being sent there by their parents.
However, because Konohagakure's population wasn't very large at the time, there weren't too many school-aged children, so the entire ninja academy wasn't as lively as it would be in later generations.
Hibari and his younger sister, young Tsunade, naturally enrolled for school. However, young Tsunade went herself, while Hibari simply sent Hiyoko to take her. He stayed at home, enjoying his leisure and researching deeper knowledge.
With the influx of students, the ninja academy officially began its operations. It was said that the Hokage, Hashirama, even gave a special speech at the school, talking about the inheritance of the 'Will of Fire' and similar topics.
However, Hibari didn't even go; Hiyoko still took his place.
Tobirama also seemed very busy these past few days, completely preoccupied with other matters and unable to pay much attention to Hibari. It was as if he had someone else outside.
One day, Hibari, as usual, woke up early in the morning and sent Hiyoko to pick up young Tsunade for school. Afterward, he himself went to Tobirama's room. Seeing that Tobirama wasn't there, he wasn't too surprised. He instinctively picked up a book about 'space-time' and began to read it.
If there was anything among Tobirama's various chaotic ninjutsu that interested Hibari the most, it was undoubtedly space-time ninjutsu.
The Flying Raijin Technique was something Hibari had always wanted to learn. However, that technique indeed required a certain theoretical foundation; otherwise, you couldn't even begin to understand it.
Thinking about how in the next few decades, only the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, successfully inherited this jutsu, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't master it, it showed just how difficult this jutsu was to learn.
However, difficulty in learning wasn't a reason to deter Hibari. The more challenging a ninjutsu was, the more he wanted to learn it and the more interested he became. For a while now, he had been researching the theoretical knowledge of space-time ninjutsu every day.
"From one space to another, through folding and jumping... What the hell is all this? Can't it be explained simply and clearly?" Hibari thought helplessly, looking at the knowledge in the book.
Space-time ninjutsu was divided into several types. His own 'cunning' Body Replacement Technique was one of them, but it was too superficial, and even then, Hibari only knew how to use it but didn't understand it.
The Summoning Jutsu was also a type of space-time ninjutsu, but it belonged to the contract-based space-time ninjutsu. Through a blood pact, a stable pathway was constructed, connecting the caster with their summoned animal, and then using chakra energy as a guide to 'summon' the other party from another space.
Moreover, if one's summoned animal could also use ninjutsu, they could even use the 'Reverse Summoning Jutsu' to summon the shinobi to the summoned animal's location.
In short, this jutsu was a fixed 'point-to-point' transfer and could not be as free and uninhibited as the Flying Raijin Technique, nor could it spontaneously teleport various random things like the Flying Raijin Technique could.
So, although Hibari was proficient in and understood Summoning Jutsu, it didn't help him much in comprehending the essence of the Flying Raijin Technique.
"What has Tobirama-jiisan been so busy with recently? He doesn't even have time to guide me. Didn't the ninja academy matter conclude? Could something big have happened again?" Hibari thought with some annoyance.
However, he also knew that Tobirama was busy with many affairs and couldn't revolve around just him, so there was no real resentment, just a simple complaint.
Since he couldn't quite understand this book, Hibari wanted to relax for a bit. He then casually closed the book and tossed it onto the table.
This simple action, however, made Hibari freeze completely. He stared at the book without a word, lost in thought.
After a long while, Hibari came back to his senses. He reached out, picked up the book, and opened and closed it several times. Then, he grabbed a blank piece of paper from the table, quickly folded it several times, and then took out a kunai from his waist. He decisively plunged the kunai 'in one stroke' into the white paper, pinning the kunai to the book cover in Tobirama's room.
However, Hibari no longer cared if Tobirama would lecture him. He looked at the paper and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha, so that's it! Space-time, space-time... So that's what it means!" Hibari said with a loud laugh.
At the same time, he pulled out the kunai, put it away, and then picked up the paper that had been stabbed from the table. He flipped it a few times and unfolded it.
The paper, which had been pierced by the kunai, was now neatly filled with identical cuts.
"This space is like this piece of paper. The Flying Raijin Technique is like this kunai. Piercing this space with one strike opens up countless points. The number of these points is related to how many times you fold the space. Then, to go to any 'point,' you only need to infuse the Flying Raijin Technique formula into it. Like this... you can instantly reach that location through these points... The principle should be roughly like this, but I still need Tobirama-jiisan to guide me in detail," Hibari said, grinning and speaking his thoughts directly.
In Hibari's opinion, the key to learning the Flying Raijin Technique was whether one could correctly understand what 'space-time' truly meant. At this moment, Hibari felt that he had somewhat 'gotten started' on this. Therefore, perhaps he had already obtained the entry ticket to learn the Flying Raijin Technique!
Of course, all of this was just his conjecture for now; he still needed Tobirama to return and verify it for him...
As Hibari was thinking about this, Tobirama pushed open the door the next moment, which made Hibari overjoyed.
Hibari instantly leaped from his seat and said, "Tobirama-jiisan, are you here to teach me the Flying Raijin Technique?"
Tobirama was momentarily surprised, then said, "What nonsense are you talking about? What Flying Raijin Technique? That thing is too profound. Even if you understand that book completely, you'll still only have the introductory knowledge..."
After saying this, without waiting for the excited Hibari to continue, he directly said, "It's good that you're here; it saves me the trouble of looking for you. We have a guest today, quickly come and say hello."
Chided by Tobirama, Hibari first suppressed his excitement. After all, with a guest present, it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss sensitive ninjutsu matters.
However, Hibari was also a bit curious: what 'big shot' had arrived that Tobirama needed to be so formal?
As Hibari was pondering these questions, Harano Yamanaka walked in, smiling as he looked at Hibari and said, "Young Master, long time no see."
"Ah, Harano-san, why have you come?" Hibari also quickly responded with a chuckle.
"I invited him specifically to treat your condition. If nothing goes wrong, we can seal away your problem today," Tobirama said while tidying things up.
As soon as he finished speaking, not only Hibari but even Harano was stunned. Then, Harano said, "Tobirama, the patient you mentioned, it couldn't be Young Master Hibari, could it?"
"Harano-san, there's no need to call me Young Master. It's too formal. Just call me Hibari," Hibari said with a smile.
Tobirama also nodded in agreement, then said, "That's right, it's this kid Hibari. Don't let his sturdy appearance like a small calf fool you; he's always had a hidden ailment. This matter has been strictly kept secret by us. Besides our family, only Sasuke and his son know about it. Therefore..."
Hearing this, Harano quickly and discreetly said, "Tobirama, rest assured, I would never tell anyone about this. After all, it concerns young... Heheh, Hibari's safety."
However, Harano truly hadn't expected that the third generation fledgling of the Senju clan, who also bore the title of 'genius' throughout the village, Senju Hibari, would be afraid of water, unable to mold water-release chakra, and even unable to use Water Release ninjutsu...
It was truly a waste of Tobirama's 'Water Release' mastery. No wonder Tobirama was so concerned about this matter.
On one hand, Hibari was a member of his Senju clan and his grandson. On the other hand, he probably wanted his beloved Hibari to inherit his 'Water Release' techniques, right?
"Mm, it's good that you understand. I won't say more. Come, Hibari, lie down here and let Harano examine you again. If there are no problems, then the sealing jutsu for your ailment will be considered a success..." Tobirama called out to Hibari.
Upon hearing these words, Hibari completely cast aside all thoughts of the Flying Raijin Technique. After all, treating his illness was far more important!
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