Chapter 252: Hashirama That Guy Is Dead

Lian Ye, following his memory, arrived at the cave from three years ago.

He did not see Madara Uchiha or Senju Hashirama inside the cave; it seemed they had gone out on business and should return soon.

The stone walls around were covered in moss, clearly indicating a long period of uninhabitation.

It appears that after the two left, they never came back.

"Meow, Lord Ban has disappeared; you wait here first," Dao Ba said, then vanished out of the cave, presumably to look for Madara Uchiha.

Lian Ye's gaze fell on the three wooden beds; after the ravages of time, they were covered in moss and could no longer accommodate anyone.

At that time, he had been living in the cave with the two.

Originally the cave had only two wooden beds, but since his arrival, Hashirama used Wood Release to construct another for him.

"I wonder how Uncle Hashirama's health is," Lian Ye murmured softly.

Three years have passed; if Madara Uchiha has not found a solution, then Senju Hashirama is truly not far from death.

He and Qianshou Feijian tried in vain, and could only place their hope on Ban.

"Tap tap tap—"

At that moment, a steady footfall sounded, drawing nearer from afar.

Lian Ye turned and saw Madara Uchiha entering the cave, holding three fish in his hand, with Dao Ba following behind, wearing a flattering grin.

"Kid, you're here."

When Madara Uchiha saw Lian Ye, a barely perceptible flash of shock crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained composure.

Only a few years have passed, and this kid has become so strong!

Nineteen‑year‑old Lian Ye is fully matured, standing at 1.8 meters, with long black hair draped over his shoulders, and his expression bearing the distinctive cold pride of the Uchiha Clan.

In Ban's eyes, Lian Ye subtly exuded a powerful aura.

Although this aura was still somewhat distant from his, the speed of his power's growth was already shocking.

When he was at Lian Ye's age, he did not possess such strength.

Madara Uchiha's resolve hardened to coax Lian Ye into joining the Moon's Eye Plan!

He believes that with this kid's participation, the Moon's Eye Plan can proceed smoothly, thereby bringing true peace to the Ninja World!

As time passed, his anxiety grew; transplanting Hashirama's flesh and blood for a decade still failed to awaken the Power of All Things.

Ban knows that in a few more years his physical condition will gradually decline, preventing him from realizing the Moon's Eye Plan at his peak.

Thus, the plan's success rate would drop dramatically.

To prevent this, he needs to recruit Lian Ye.

Now the kid is still young; even after another ten or twenty years, his body will remain in its prime.

Whereas he will be far aged by then, utterly unable to fulfill his ideals.

Ban thought that even if he cannot achieve the Moon's Eye Plan, he could have Lian Ye fulfill the ideal in his stead.

As long as the Ninja World attains peace, it doesn't matter who accomplishes it.

"Lord Ban…"

Lian Ye noticed Ban frozen in place and instinctively called out.

His call pulled Ban's thoughts back.

Madara Uchiha tossed a fish to Dao Ba, who leapt high into the air and snatched the fish.

"Thank you, Lord Ban."

Saying so, he dispelled the Summoning Technique, and with a "Bang" his figure vanished.

Ban's gaze returned to Lian Ye, and he tossed the two carp in his hand to him, "Go prepare lunch."

Lian Ye nodded, took them, and headed to the stove to start cooking.

"Lord Ban, where is Uncle Hashirama?"

He has been here for such a long time yet never saw Senju Hashirama.

He instantly got a bad premonition—could Uncle Hashirama already be dead?

Lian Ye felt a heaviness in his chest, an indescribable discomfort.

Having spent so many years with Hashirama, he naturally did not want to see him die like that.

After all, Hashirama was his elder, and had always been kind to him.

Madara Uchiha saw Lian Ye's mood shift, his eyes flickering.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to awaken the Kaleidoscope Sharingan.

Senju Hashirama is not dead; he was just fishing with him in the river a moment ago, he just returned first.

But he thought this was a chance for Lian Ye…

After all, the death of a close person makes such pain more likely to trigger the Kaleidoscope.

After a moment of silence, Madara Uchiha slowly spoke in a deep voice:

"Hashirama that guy is dead."

Hearing this, Lian Ye's movements in preparing the ingredients abruptly halted, his hand gripping the kitchen knife trembling slightly.

Although he had suspected it, the moment the answer emerged he still found it unbelievable.

God of Ninja Senju Hashirama… is truly dead.

In his mind, scenes flashed: the first time he met Hashirama, the first time he cooked for him, the first time they traveled together, Hashirama's two‑year feigned death and their reunion, and the parting three years ago.

Since Lian Ye left the Uchiha Clan, his elders have been only Qianshou Feijian, Senju Hashirama, and Xuanwo Mizuto.

Now Hashirama's death makes him feel extremely distressed, even sapping his desire to cook.

He wonders whether he should tell Mizuto Ayi this harsh truth when he returns.

While Lian Ye feels sorrowful, Madara Uchiha frowns in displeasure.

The pain is still not enough.

In this way, the Kaleidoscope Sharingan cannot awaken at all.

He is ready to add another flame.

"Before Hashirama dies, let me send him back to the village; I want to see you all," Madara Uchiha's voice was low. "But we haven't reached Konoha yet, and he can't hold on any longer."

Lian Ye's body trembled, as if he saw Hashirama's unwilling expression before death, and he instinctively clenched his fist.

Dying without seeing a final glance at one's loved ones must be filled with regret, right?

"Uncle Hashirama…"

If he and Feijian could find a way to heal Hashirama, this wouldn't have happened!

Madara Uchiha saw this and his mouth twitched upward slightly.

Exactly, just like that!

Only extreme pain can increase the chance of awakening the eye!

The boy's pain is about to reach the critical threshold; once it exceeds that threshold, the Kaleidoscope Sharingan can awaken.

I wonder what the ability of his eyes is?

It really makes one look forward to it!

"Tap tap tap—"

At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside the cave.

Madara Uchiha's complexion instantly turned sour.

Damn! Of all times!

The kid is about to open his eye, and this guy actually returned.

He now truly wishes he could beat Hashirama to death…

"Hahaha, look what I caught!" Senju Hashirama's cheerful laugh rang out.

He was holding two huge fish in his hands, proudly showing them off to Madara, "Madara, are the fish I caught big enough?"

It wasn't for nothing that he had stayed by the river so long; it had been a while since he saw fish that big.

And there were two of them—what a great haul!

Lian Ye, who was brooding in sorrow, froze the instant he heard a sound behind him.

He turned around and saw Senju Hashirama walking toward him, still carrying the two big fish.

"Lian Ye, could you take care of the fish for me?"

Lian Ye: "???"