Chapter 139: You're Back

Lian Ye had breakfast and, for a rare chance, enjoyed a leisurely moment.

If it were usual, he would definitely go to the Training Ground to practice.

But in a few days he'll be heading to the Battlefield, so there's no need to tire himself.

After three months of fighting, he truly deserves to enjoy himself.

Cherish this hard‑won vacation…

Soon he'll be back on the Battlefield, fighting for his life.

Lian Ye pulled out a chair and sat in the courtyard, leisurely basking in the sun.

It was morning; the sun had just risen and the temperature was pleasant.

He felt a bit uneasy, turned his neck, and murmured softly.

"Why am I so tired?"

It's not just his neck; his whole body feels off.

His lower back aches, his back hurts, and his legs feel weak.

The feeling is as if he had undergone overload training yesterday.

He clearly remembers doing nothing at all…

Since returning to the Village, he only cooks and eats, with no Physical Training at all.

The only 'training' might have been rushing back from the front line.

That distance is negligible, so such a situation is impossible.

When he carried out missions, he ran across half the Ninja World without ever feeling this exhausted.

Lian Ye frowned, pondering, yet he couldn't figure out the cause.

"Never mind, this doesn't matter."

Perhaps after leaving the Battlefield, his long‑tense nerves relaxed, causing the fatigue.

He'll recover to his former self soon.

Lian Ye sat on the chair, sunning himself, and the image of Senju Hashirama suddenly flashed in his mind; he muttered to himself:

"I wonder if Uncle Hashirama has found Madara Uchiha?"

Logically, if Madara is in hiding, Senju Hashirama would find it hard to locate him.

But who can say for sure?

After all, Indra and Asura's chakra have reincarnated for a thousand years; mutual attraction isn't impossible.

Perhaps Senju Hashirama could truly find Madara Uchiha by intuition.

That would make things interesting.

If two Fake Death individuals met, the scene would be too beautiful to imagine.

Madara Uchiha: "Hashirama, you're not dead?!"

Senju Hashirama: "Madara, aren't you as well?"

…

Thinking of this, Lian Ye began to look forward to the scene of their meeting.

It would definitely be interesting, but it can't be seen.

But soon, he recalled another matter.

"After Uncle Hashirama finds Madara, will he return to Konoha?"

Only he knows about Hashirama's Fake Death.

If the other party, after finding Madara, doesn't intend to return to Konoha…

Thinking of this, Lian Ye's expression turned odd as he said, "Uncle Hashirama wouldn't be that kind of person, would he?"

From what he knows of Hashirama, he wouldn't abandon the Village for Madara.

Hmm, probably not…

Anyway, Senju Hashirama is having a good time.

Fake Death Escape left a mess behind, and he ran off to look for his good buddy.

"Uncle Hashirama, really…" Lian Ye said helplessly, rubbing his forehead.

That guy abandoned his wife, children, and granddaughter to find Madara.

He realized it had been a long time since he visited Mizuto Ayi and Gangshou.

The last visit was three months ago.

"I'll go take a look."

Lian Ye stood up and left the courtyard.

Since he's idle now, he might as well pay them a visit.

After all, this was something Senju Hashirama had instructed him to do.

Hashirama hoped Lian Ye would often cook for Mizuto Ayi and Gangshou.

Faced with the request, Lian Ye had no reason to refuse.

Mizuto Ayi treats him well.

Whenever he has time, he visits them and prepares a meal.

That seems to ease the guilt of hiding Hashirama's Fake Death.

……

Hashirama Residence.

Lian Ye entered the courtyard and saw Gangshou playing with Lihua.

Lihua contentedly squinted, seeming to really enjoy being petted.

"Gangshou, long time no see," Lian Ye waved his hand.

Gangshou, seeing Lian Ye, excitedly threw the Lihua in her arms onto the ground.

"Meow—"

Lihua landed on the ground, her cat face full of bewilderment, as if she hadn't expected Gangshou to toss her away.

Gangshou ignored Lihua's wail, hopped on her short legs to Lian Ye, and stretched her chubby little hand to hug his thigh.

"Uncle Lianye!" Gangshou lifted her round face, exclaiming with delight, "You finally came back!"

She had tried to look for Lian Ye before, but hadn't found him.

So she went to Second Grandfather, hoping to ask where Lian Ye had gone.

She learned that he had gone to the Battlefield.

Gangshou, worried that Lian Ye might encounter danger on the Battlefield, begged Second Grandfather to let Lian Ye return to the Village.

Facing his granddaughter's absurd request, Qianshou Feijian didn't even think before refusing.

It can't be that just because Gangshou said something, Lian Ye would be pulled back from the Battlefield, right?

No matter how much she argued, cried, or even tried to hang herself, it was useless.

It was only when Mito Clan came to the office and pulled Gangshou away that things ended.

Now that Lian Ye returned safely, Gangshou couldn't be happier.

If Uncle Lianye died on the Battlefield, who would make food for herself?

Lian Ye pinched Gangshou's round cheek with his fingers, "Have you missed me these past days?"

Gangshou replied loudly, "Of course I have!"

She had been craving the food Lian Ye makes for a long time.

These past months she had constantly worried that Lian Ye wouldn't return, because then no one would make food for her to eat.

Thinking of those dishes, Gangshou subconsciously swallowed, then said expectantly:

"Uncle Lianye, are you here to make food for me?"

Hearing that, Lian Ye's smile froze on his face.

This girl thinks she's a fake, that only the food she makes is the real one, right?

"Uncle Lianye, I want candied sweet potatoes, SanseMangzi, sweet‑and‑sour pork ribs…" Gangshou listed the dishes skillfully, drooling as she spoke.

These dishes are the foods she's been craving for the past three months!

She's just waiting for Lian Ye to come back from the Battlefield to make them.

"Alright, alright, I'll cook for you at noon," Lian Ye agreed.

"Oh yeah!" Gangshou jumped up excitedly, "I get to eat delicious food again!"

Lian Ye realized that after being here so long, he hadn't seen any sign of Xuanwo Mizuto.

"Gangshou, isn't your grandmother at home?"

"Uncle Lianye, Grandma left early this morning," Gangshou explained.

"Do you know where she went?" Lian Ye asked.

"I don't know," Gangshou shook her head, "but... I can guess where Grandma went."

"Where?"

"The place where Grandfather is buried."

Hearing that, Lian Ye fell silent.

"These days Grandma has been out all the time, only returning at noon," Gangshou whispered, "Every time she comes back she's sad; I guess she misses Grandfather."

As she spoke, the little girl's eyes began to redden.

Lian Ye patted Gangshou's head, gently saying, "Stay at home; I'll go find your grandmother, and when she returns I'll cook a meal for you."

"Mm." Gangshou obediently nodded.

Seeing the little girl like that, Lian Ye felt a bit uneasy.

At the Senju Ancestral Tomb.

When Lian Ye arrived in a hurry, he saw Xuanwo Mizuto standing with his back to him, in front of Hashirama's tomb.

"Lian Ye, you're back."