Chapter 211: Madara... Is That You?

Xuanwo Mizuto watched Lian Ye's departing figure and thought the kid was right.

Compared with the young Lian Ye, the marriage of the about‑forty‑year‑old Feijian is clearly more important!

At this age it's almost impossible to find a woman his own age; even if there is one, she already has grandchildren.

Looking for unmarried women in their thirties is hard, as few in that age are still single, and even if found, Feijian might not like them.

If that fails, she can only introduce Feijian to women in their twenties; girls that age are young and beautiful, and she believes Feijian will definitely like them.

Though it sounds like an old bull eating tender grass, for Feijian's later life she has to sacrifice the young girl.

Moreover, Feijian is not only powerful but also the village's Hokage, so who knows who is being wronged.

As soon as the news is spread, plenty of people will be willing.

Xuanwo Mizuto immediately decides to do so, skipping women in their thirties and forties and directly finding a twenty‑year‑old girl for Feijian!

But before that, she must discuss it with Feijian...

This guy is stubborn; she has tried persuading Hashirama for years to no avail, and he's always been alone.

"Lian Ye, call Feijian back for lunch at noon," Xuanwo Mizuto says as she enters the kitchen, speaking to Lian Ye who is chopping vegetables.

As long as Feijian returns for the meal, she can discuss the marriage matter with him.

With Hashirama absent, Feijian's marriage becomes her responsibility.

"No problem, Mizuto Ayi," Lian Ye promptly assures, "as long as it's not to pressure him into marriage."

As for Senju Feijian? That's none of his business.

He's already that old and still hasn't found a partner; no wonder Mizuto Ayi is anxious.

Xuanwo Mizuto looks around and senses no one else besides Gangshou.

She suddenly lowers her voice: "Lian Ye, has Hashirama been in contact with you?"

Hashirama's fake death and departure have lasted two years, and he hasn't returned to the village, which inevitably worries her.

Her husband's health has always been poor; what if he encounters danger out there?

If he dies then, perhaps no one will even know.

Mizuto thinks that if Hashirama is in contact with Lian Ye, she should have Lian Ye find a chance to relay a message so he returns sooner.

Not having seen Hashirama for a long time makes her miss him greatly.

Lian Ye pauses his chopping, places the knife on the cutting board, and explains.

"Mizuto Ayi, I have no news from Uncle Hashirama."

Since that night, Lian Ye hasn't seen Senju Hashirama again, and doesn't even know whether he's still alive.

However, he guesses Hashirama won't die easily before finding Madara Uchiha; never underestimate the power of bonds.

Perhaps he has already found Madara?

"Hashirama really is something, not even leaving you a way to contact him," Xuanwo Mizuto mutters dissatisfiedly.

If it were her, she'd use Spiritual Communication, so they could keep in touch and not be completely in the dark.

Lian Ye's mouth twitches at the words; that night he was busy covering up the fake death, where was there time to exchange contact information?

By the time he thought of it, Hashirama had already vanished.

"I won't disturb your cooking; I'm going to find a suitable woman for Feijian," Xuanwo Mizuto says, not pressing further, and turns away from the kitchen.

As long as Hashirama is still alive, he'll return sooner or later.

If he doesn't come back, it means Hashirama is already dead.

"Uncle Hashirama, what are you doing now?" Lian Ye whispers softly, "I don't even know if you're in contact with me."

……

In a deep forest of the Ninja World.

Senju Hashirama, wearing a conical hat, walks alone through the dense forest.

A gentle breeze passes, leaves rustle, and sunlight filters through the foliage, dappling the ground.

He is not wandering aimlessly; rather, some familiar aura subtly pulls him, as if a thread of destiny has led him here.

In the past two years Hashirama has occasionally felt this, and during this time the feeling has grown stronger!

He followed this feeling all the way here, his heart involuntarily racing.

Finally, he arrives at a clear brook, the water babbling, dazzling under the sunlight.

Instinctively he lightens his steps, hiding within the shadows of the trees.

Not far ahead, a man also wearing a conical hat and a Black Robe stands silently by the water, his upright solitary silhouette seeming cut off from the world and out of place with the surroundings.

Hashirama's breath briefly catches.

The man slowly lifts his hand, removes his hat, and his jet‑black hair cascades down like a waterfall to his waist.

A breeze lifts his strands, and just that single stance exudes an indescribable arrogance.

Hashirama's pupils suddenly contract; that silhouette is all too familiar to him.

—Madara Uchiha!

Who is this dear friend Madara Uchiha?!

His heart races, but years of battle instinct keep him from acting rashly; to avoid startling anything, he decides to observe further, lest he mistake someone.

The Black Robe man seems unaware of his presence; his slender fingers gently untie the sash, shedding his robe.

As the garment falls, his chiseled, tightly cut muscles are exposed to the sun, each inch brimming with astonishing power.

Yet the most striking feature is the fierce scar on his lower back—

a slash that pierces the body.

Hashirama's heart pounds; that is a wound he himself inflicted.

In Shuukyoku no Tani, he used Wood Clone to attract attention, then with a Tachi pierced Madara's body from behind, personally killing his former dear friend.

Because of that, he was gloomy every day and almost died in remorse.

But now, that person is standing alive right before him.

Lian Ye didn't deceive himself; Madara really was still alive!

The shock of seeing it with his own eyes was far greater than what others had said!

Having had no news of Madara for two years, Hashirama couldn't help but wonder whether Lian Ye was deceiving him?

But for the sake of the remaining hope, he could only grit his teeth and search the Ninja World for Madara's whereabouts.

For two years, guided by a vague intuition, he traveled across the Ninja World, yet never found any trace of Madara.

This time the premonition was so strong that even he hadn't expected to meet Madara here, to encounter the dear friend he had been searching for years.

In an instant, Hashirama's eyes welled with excited tears; the two years' effort had not been in vain—he really had found Madara!

Just as Hashirama had expected, the long‑haired man was indeed Madara Uchiha.

Madara had been searching for a suitable hideout; a concealed refuge was crucial to his upcoming plan!

He traversed the Ninja World to find a hidden spot, but the long trek left him covered in dust.

He passed a stream and prepared to take a bath.

At that moment, Hashirama could no longer suppress his excitement and agitation; his voice trembled as he blurted out:

"Madara... is that you?"