Meeting

"We've already discussed your father in detail. Now, let's move on to the main topic we intended to address earlier. You can take a bath afterward," Bishiro said, capturing Hanabi's attention.

Bishiro and Kirina began summarizing what had occurred while Hanabi was away on her mission for the past three days. They filled her in on Kibishi's activities, explaining how he had spent most of his time training his chakra control.

Kirina added with a playful smirk, "Oh, and we discussed Kibishi's arranged marriage with a newborn from the Hyuga clan." Hanabi giggled, noticing the slight shiver in her son's posture at the mention of the topic, so she gently patted his back in reassurance.

The conversation shifted as Kirina mentioned the chakra affinity test they conducted in the evening, revealing Kibishi's rare ability to control all five nature transformations. Hanabi was visibly astonished, her eyes wide with pride as she looked at her son.

"And on the second day," Kirina continued, "Kibishi spent the entire day honing his chakra control. He occasionally asked us for advice and pointers, which is always a good sign of a diligent learner."

"But something special happened today," Kirina said, her tone filled with anticipation, causing both Bishiro and Hanabi to sit up straighter. "This morning, when I called Kibishi for breakfast, he didn't respond. I went to check on him and found him in deep meditation."

Kirina paused, enjoying the suspense she created. Both Bishiro and Hanabi exchanged curious glances. "What happened next?" they asked, recognizing Kirina's teasing habit.

"He achieved Shinobi's Tranquility," Kirina revealed, her voice soft but filled with pride.

Both Bishiro and Hanabi sat stunned, their expressions frozen in disbelief. Shinobi's Tranquility was a rare state of deep focus that only a few shinobi ever managed to achieve in their lifetime. To reach such a state at Kibishi's age was unheard of.

Without giving them time to recover, Kirina continued, "Afterward, he trained with leaf concentration and maintained it for a full hour. He can now perform the technique flawlessly. And not just that—he challenged himself to balance two leaves simultaneously. After some struggle, he mastered that as well."

Bishiro, regaining his composure, added proudly, "And he didn't stop there. Kibishi attempted wall climbing next, and he succeeded on his very first try."

Hanabi couldn't contain the proud smile that spread across her face, her eyes shining with pride for her son.

As the conversation continued, Bishiro's tone grew more serious. "We've been talking for nearly two hours now. Kibishi, remember this: do not let your talents make you arrogant or overconfident. You've been blessed with incredible potential, but it's hard work and humility that will truly set you apart as a shinobi."

Bishiro and Kirina had called Kibishi to guide him, aware of the dangers of overconfidence. Seeing his progress, they knew they didn't need to say much more. Achieving Shinobi's Tranquility at such a young age spoke volumes about his abilities, but they wanted to ensure he remained grounded.

Kibishi listened closely, absorbing his grandfather's words. He had already understood the importance of hard work, even with his talents. He knew that relying solely on natural gifts wasn't enough to become a formidable shinobi.

"I understand, Grandpa," Kibishi responded earnestly. "I won't let my accomplishments get to my head. I know that talent alone isn't enough, and I'm ready to keep working hard to grow."

Kirina nodded approvingly. "That's the right attitude, Kibishi. True strength comes not only from your abilities but from how responsibly and humbly you wield them. Stay grounded, and you'll achieve great things."

Kibishi acknowledged their wisdom, though deep down, his thoughts turned darker. Humility is important, yes, but not for everyone. Those who harm my family or the people I care about will face the consequences. His mind wandered back to the teachings from his past life. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Still, Kibishi genuinely appreciated the guidance from his grandparents. He had requested a family in this life, and now, he realized just how invaluable that decision had been. Their support and wisdom would help him navigate the complex shinobi world. Requesting a family was the best decision I made.

"Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma," Kibishi said, his voice filled with sincere gratitude. "I'll work hard and become the best shinobi I can be. I won't let you down."

After their conversation, Hanabi stood up and smiled. "Let's get you cleaned up, Kibishi. You still need to take a bath." She playfully tugged at his arm, insisting on helping him bathe. Kibishi sighed but allowed her to assist, realizing his mother was just looking for an excuse to pamper him.

Once they were finished, Hanabi took her own bath while Kibishi waited in his room. Afterward, they headed to the living room, where Bishiro and Kirina were waiting.

"We'll have dinner outside tonight," Hanabi announced with a cheerful smile. "Since the food I brought earlier was ruined, I'll treat everyone to a proper meal. Don't worry—it's on me."

Kibishi smiled as he took his mother's hand, and they all made their way outside, Kirina and Bishiro following closely behind.

As they walked through the village, people greeted them respectfully, showing deference to the Senju family. Kibishi found himself amused by the sudden sense of importance he felt.

So this is what it feels like to be someone significant, he thought, noting the polite bows and murmured greetings they received along the way.

After a few minutes, they passed the famous Ichiraku Ramen shop. Kibishi's eyes caught sight of a familiar figure—a pale boy with spiky blond hair, no older than himself. The boy was hunched over a small frog wallet, frowning at its contents.

Is that Naruto? Kibishi thought, recognizing him immediately. He's already eaten two bowls of ramen, but it looks like he doesn't have enough money left.

As Kibishi watched, the elderly man behind the counter, Teuchi, approached Naruto, a warm smile on his face. "It seems you're out of money today, Naruto," he said kindly. Naruto's head dropped in shame, his shoulders slumping.

Teuchi's voice softened. "Don't worry about it. I'll just put it on your tab. You can pay me back later." He patted Naruto's shoulder, trying to lift the boy's spirits.

Kushina's son, Kibishi thought, glancing at his mother. Maybe I should offer to pay for him. It might be a good way to start building a bond with the main character.

"Mother," Kibishi said, pointing toward the ramen shop. "That boy over there doesn't have enough money to pay for his meal. Can I cover it for him?"

Hanabi smiled at her son's kindness and followed his gaze. When she saw Naruto, her expression softened. "That's Kushina's boy," she murmured, remembering her old friend. Kirina, too, recognized the child and nodded approvingly.

"Let's go help him," Kirina said, taking Kibishi's hand.

As they approached the shop, Kibishi greeted Naruto with a friendly smile. "Hello there."

Naruto looked up, startled. "Are you talking to me?" he asked, a mix of suspicion and surprise in his voice.

Kibishi raised his hand, causing Naruto to flinch slightly. Teuchi, sensing Naruto's wariness, watched the interaction carefully, ready to step in if needed.

"I'm Kibishi Senju," Kibishi introduced himself with a smile. "I noticed you're short on money, so I'd like to pay for your meal—on one condition: let's be friends."

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. No one had ever approached him with such kindness before. Teuchi, too, was moved by the gesture, knowing all too well how much the village shunned Naruto.

Kibishi gestured toward Kirina. "And this is my grandmother, Kirina Senju."

"Hello, Naruto," Kirina greeted him with a kind smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Naruto's face lit up with a huge smile—just like the one Kibishi remembered from the anime. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be the future Hokage!" he declared proudly.

After paying for Naruto's meal, Kibishi and his family continued their walk, eventually arriving at Yakiniku Q, where they ordered a feast.

"This is delicious," Kibishi said, savoring the grilled meat. "The smoky flavor mixed with the slight sweetness is amazing." He couldn't help but relish every bite.

"Eat slower, Kibishi," Bishiro advised, but his words were ignored, earning him a round of laughter from Kirina and Hanabi.

An hour later, they returned to Kibishi's grandmother's house, where they would be staying for the night before heading back to their own home the next day.

"Mother, I'm going to meditate for two hours before bed," Kibishi informed Hanabi as they settled in.

Hanabi smiled fondly. "Go ahead, my dear. I'll watch over you."