Chapter 140: The Mischief of the Nine‑Tails

Xuanwo Mizuto said softly without turning her head.

She, who possesses great perception, had long ago noticed Lian Ye's arrival.

Lian Ye stood beside Mizuto, looking at Hashirama's tomb without speaking.

Uncle Hashirama "passed away," so it's normal for Mizuto Ayi to feel sad.

If he didn't know the truth, he would also feel sorrow.

Xuanwo Mizuto lowered her gaze at her husband's grave; this little mound without even a tombstone is the burial place of the God of Shinobi Senju Hashirama.

The wind lifted the white hair at her temples, and the sorrow in her eyes was hard to conceal.

Lian Ye silently watched Mizuto's sorrowful expression, his heart a mixture of many feelings.

If he hadn't promised Senju Hashirama, Lian Ye would have wanted to reveal the truth.

But this was Hashirama's choice, and he had no way to intervene.

Perhaps once he finds Ban, he'll return to the Village and reunite with his wife.

Another possibility is that he never finds Ban and eventually dies on the road.

After all, his body hasn't truly healed, and death could strike at any moment.

No one can guarantee that Hashirama will stay alive forever.

If Lian Ye were to tell Xuanwo Mizuto the truth now, it would make her hope for her husband's return.

But Hashirama never returned; wouldn't that make her even more sorrowful?

Sometimes a broken expectation is harsher than facing the facts…

The expectations in one's heart stretch time, causing every second to drown in the illusion of Wish Fulfillment.

Rather than living in beautiful expectations, it's better to choose to accept the harsh reality.

After all, he also doesn't know whether Senju Hashirama can live to return to the Village.

Thinking this, Lian Ye dismissed the thought of telling Xuanwo Mizuto the truth…

Xuanwo Mizuto stared blankly at her husband's grave, as if recalling every moment they shared.

Lian Ye only watched silently, not uttering a word to disturb.

At that moment, Xuanwo Mizuto suddenly asked Lian Ye a question.

Lian Ye, did Hashirama really die?

Hearing that, Lian Ye's hair stood on end, and a fleeting panic and tension flashed in his eyes.

What does Mizuto Ayi mean by that?!

Could she have known Uncle Hashirama's fake death all along?

No, this is definitely deceiving herself…

After such a long interval, the matter couldn't possibly be discovered.

If we speak of the most likely moment of exposure, it's the night of the fake death.

As long as Mizuto didn't notice anything that night, the matter wouldn't be exposed!

Just as Lian Ye was about to explain, Xuanwo Mizuto's next words stunned him.

That night, I kept watch beside Hashirama's corpse for an entire night…

She paused, then said, "Hashirama truly never lies."

"Mizuto Ayi, what exactly are you saying?" Lian Ye feigned bewilderment.

He felt Mizuto had sensed a clue, so she spoke these words to deceive herself.

Before I left the room, I sensed a faint pulse from Hashirama. At that moment I sensed something was off, so I stayed out of the room for a while.

Xuanwo Mizuto smiled faintly at Lian Ye, speaking softly:

"When I returned to the room, Hashirama's pulse had vanished."

"Mizuto Ayi, perhaps you sensed incorrectly," Lian Ye whispered in explanation.

As long as there is no substantive evidence, even if I beat myself to death I wouldn't admit it.

Facing Lian Ye's excuse, Xuanwo Mizuto neither affirmed nor denied.

Lian Ye, do you know how long Hashirama's Wood Clone turns to wood after losing chakra transmission?

She extended three fingers, "Three months; Hashirama's Wood Clone can last at most three months."

Lian Ye heard this, his pupils suddenly constricted, and a bizarre thought flashed in his mind.

Mizuto Ayi can't dig up the grave, can she?!

If it's true, the news of Hashirama's fake death would definitely be uncovered.

"People cannot be resurrected…" Lian Ye subconsciously swallowed, soothing, "Mizuto Ayi, calm down."

Xuanwo Mizuto nodded in agreement, expression calm, "I know the dead cannot be revived… but what if the person hasn't died yet?"

Lian Ye's face turned grim, he said in a low voice, "Mizuto Ayi, do you really intend to dig open Uncle Hashirama's tomb?"

"Exactly, I know Hashirama hasn't died; since you refuse to speak, I'll personally verify the truth."

"Fine, you may dig." Lian Ye did not block any further.

He was gambling, betting that this was merely a ploy to deceive him.

As long as Mizuto doesn't dig up the tomb, the matter won't be exposed!

"Lian Ye, you don't really think I have no evidence, do you?" Xuanwo Mizuto let out a light laugh, chakra surging around her.

From her stance, it was clear she intended to destroy the tomb.

Lian Ye saw this, sighed helplessly, realizing the secret couldn't be kept.

"Mizuto Ayi, when did you learn the truth?"

Xuanwo Mizuto's face broke into a triumphant smile, and she said softly:

"Lian Ye, I didn't notice, you know."

Lian Ye: "???"

I was fooled.

He is still too young.

Sure enough, Jiang is still old and sharp.

Xuanwo Mizuto looked at Lian Ye's expression and, smiling, explained:

"Actually, it's not that I didn't notice; back then the Nine-Tails told me Hashirama hadn't died…"

"Nine-Tails?!" Lian Ye's eyes widened in shock.

So this matter got exposed because that damned Nine-Tails caused trouble!

A Tailed Beast can sense the chakra and emotions of those nearby.

Back then the Nine-Tails sensed Hashirama's emotions!

How could a dead person have emotions?!

The Nine-Tails immediately guessed that Senju Hashirama wanted to Fake Death Escape…

To retaliate against Senju Hashirama, it told its discovery to Xuanwo Mizuto.

But at that time Mito Clan didn't believe the Nine-Tails' claim.

They thought the Nine-Tails was causing trouble and ignored it.

As time passed, she began to notice something odd.

Combined with the Nine-Tails' explanation, she gradually came to believe Hashirama hadn't died.

These past days Mito Clan has been coming here, hesitating whether to dig up the tomb.

As it happened, they ran into the arriving Lian Ye…

The facts proved the Nine-Tails hadn't deceived her; Hashirama truly hadn't died!

Hearing this explanation, Lian Ye didn't know what to say.

He and Hashirama had calculated everything, yet never expected the Nine-Tails to cause trouble.

Now it's all exposed.

Lian Ye already harbors the desire to kill the Nine-Tails.

…

In the Sealed Space.

The Nine-Tails saw Lian Ye's sour face, and the nine tails behind it swung joyfully, evidently in a fine mood.

"Ha ha, damned Uchiha Xiao Gui, I, the great one, have long seen through your scheme!"

As its deep laugh rang out, it carried an unmistakable smugness.

Because of Madara Uchiha, the Nine-Tails began to despise every Uchiha!

If not for Madara Uchiha, it wouldn't have been sealed here.

Of course, Senju Hashirama and Xuanwo Mizuto aren't good people either!

Especially that bastard Senju Hashirama!

They say its power is too great, yet they easily grabbed it.

It was precisely because it was dissatisfied with Senju Hashirama's actions that it told the truth to Xuanwo Mizuto.

Its purpose was merely to prevent Senju Hashirama's and Uchiha Xiao Gui's plan from proceeding smoothly.

It didn't even know the two's exact scheme, nor the reason for Senju Hashirama's Fake Death.

Just pure mischief, that's all.

…