Chapter 245: Separation

"Kid, you really don't plan to leave with me?"

Inside the cave, Madara Uchiha again extended an invitation to Lian Ye.

Today he's about to leave the Fire Country, and before departing he wants to invite Lian Ye to go with him.

Having this kid by his side would not only let him cook for them, but also tend to the sick Hashirama, and incidentally serve as an assistant for the Moon's Eye project.

It can be called a win‑win threefold!

Madara has already decided that as long as Lian Ye is willing to follow him, he'll find a way to help him awaken the Kaleidoscope Sharingan.

Only Uchiha who possess the Kaleidoscope are qualified to work with him to realize the Moon's Eye plan.

"My apologies, Lord Ban," Lian Ye shook his head, and again said, "I cannot leave with you."

He knows Infinite Moon Reading is merely Heijue's scheme to resurrect Kaguya Otsutsuki, so of course he wouldn't foolishly follow Madara to become someone else's pawn.

He has considered telling Madara Uchiha the truth of the matter, but he knows very well that Madara wouldn't believe his explanation.

Madara only trusts what he sees, and would never take others' advice.

After all, his current goal is to achieve Ninja World Peace, so he certainly won't abandon Infinite Moon Reading.

Because this is Madara's sole path to peace.

Unless there's a method better than Infinite Moon Reading, there's no way to make Madara give it up.

Even if you present the truth, he might not believe it.

It might even cause unnecessary trouble...

Lian Ye is currently no match for Madara Uchiha; he can't persuade him to abandon the Moon's Eye plan with his fists.

And the only one who could stop him, Hashirama, now has less than a tenth of his former strength.

Now he can only let the story unfold, unable to make any changes.

Anyway, the day Madara awakens the Rinnegan is still far off.

This matter hardly affects him; by the time the Fourth Battle begins, he might already be dead.

Let the Protagonist Party handle what comes next.

"In that case, you may leave," Madara Uchiha, seeing Lian Ye's resolute attitude, issued a dismissal.

—Those whose paths differ cannot conspire together.

The kid has no idea how grand his aspirations are.

As long as the Moon's Eye project proceeds smoothly, the Ninja World can achieve true peace!

This has been his and Hashirama's dream all along.

The two, born in the Warring States Period, understand the value of peace all too well.

Hashirama's plan is a wrong path; now only his plan can fulfill the dream.

The current Madara Uchiha is in his prime, possessing power and pride far beyond ordinary people.

He is now extremely confident, confident enough to achieve his ideals alone.

He doesn't need anyone else's assistance at all.

The reason he invited Lian Ye is simply because he admires him.

He thinks Lian Ye is a talent worth shaping, and it's a pity for him to stay beside Qianshou Feijian.

He doesn't want to see such talent buried in Konoha, so he wants to invite Lian Ye to follow him.

But Lian Ye repeatedly declined his invitation, which left Madara somewhat displeased.

The junior he finally took a liking to keeps turning him down over and over.

This makes Madara Uchiha feel sorrowful; his clan are a bunch of fools content with the status quo.

Such behavior will eventually meet its day of destruction...

If Lian Ye refuses to follow him, he won't force it, nor will he become enraged and kill Lian Ye.

He still quite admires the kid.

Besides, not wanting to follow now doesn't mean he won't later.

People must lose something to know what they truly want.

Madara Uchiha believes that someday this kid will willingly follow him, bringing true peace to the Ninja World.

"Uncle Hashirama, Lord Ban, farewell," Lian Ye glanced at the two, then turned and left the cave.

Madara Uchiha doesn't know the truth; he couldn't follow a reckless nonsense.

These are all Heijue's conspiracies.

If a chance arises in the future, once his strength grows, he could tell Madara Uchiha.

However, he thinks that even if he wins, Madara still wouldn't accept the truth.

"Moon's Eye" project is Madara's ideal, his hope to keep living.

Before seeing results, he will never turn back, even if he already knows the truth.

Perhaps that's what makes a proper villain?

He won't abandon his steadfast ideals because of a few words from others.

He always has his own goal.

Lian Ye doesn't want to become a second Uchiha Obito.

If Madara truly attacks those around him, both sides would be locked in an endless deadlock.

Madara Uchiha won't change his plans just because Lian Ye once cooked for him.

The obsessive Uchiha has nothing that cannot be abandoned.

To achieve his ideals, anyone could become Madara's pawn.

For a long time ahead, we won't see Hashirama or Madara again.

Hope that Uncle Hashirama's body will no longer continue to deteriorate.

Madara Uchiha crossed his arms, watching Lian Ye's silhouette recede.

That kid has already been completely brainwashed by that guy Feijian.

Madara has already seen the future of the Uchiha Clan in Lian Ye…

As long as Feijian lives, he would never be willing to follow him.

If possible, find a time to kill Qianshou Feijian; not only would it avenge his brother, it would also make Lian Ye face reality.

To be honest, Madara has long wanted to do this.

After all, Feijian caused Quan Nai's death; the grudge of killing a brother is unforgivable.

If it weren't for Hashirama blocking him, he would have already sent Feijian to accompany Quan Nai in death.

Madara's gaze fell on the pale‑faced Hashirama, temporarily dispelling the thought.

Now is not the time to kill Feijian…

"Ahem, Madara, where are we going now?" Hashirama asked softly.

Although his body is worsening, he still insists on staying by Madara's side.

He wants, in the few days left, to persuade his close friend to abandon this obsessive plan.

Madara's plan to trap everyone in Genjutsu is simply too insane.

Regardless, he will do his utmost to stop it.

Such peace is not true peace at all!

"Leaving Fire Country, we go to Iron Country," Madara said, "Can you still manage to walk now?"

"Hahaha, of course there's no problem," Hashirama forced a smile.

Madara glanced at his pale complexion and finally nodded.

……

Shortly after Lian Ye left, the two departed the cave together.

Senju Hashirama cast one last glance at the cave, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will never again taste Lian Ye's cooking.

The time spent with the two in the cave has been the happiest days of his past two years.

"Madara, can we ever return here?" Senju Hashirama suddenly asked.

Madara halted his steps, silent for a moment before speaking.

"We will."

Hashirama walked behind, not seeing the complex expression on Madara's face.

If possible, he wants Hashirama to live to see the day of Ninja World Peace.