Chapter 318: As Long as I'm Here, You Won't Die

"Um… Uncle, why are you here?"

At the Qianshou Feijian Residence, Lian Ye, still half‑asleep, saw someone standing in front of him.

When he opened his eyes to discern the visitor's identity, wasn't it that old kid Qianshou Feijian?

"Didn't you promise not to nap anymore?" Qianshou Feijian scowled at Lian Ye, who was still lying on the chair half‑asleep.

This kid won't listen!

Lian Ye sat up immediately, awkwardly scratched his head, "Haha, I only slept for half an hour."

"If you have nothing to do, go out and take some missions," Qianshou Feijian said in a low voice.

"You want me to leave?" Lian Ye's face showed shock.

He hadn't expected Qianshou Feijian to actually suggest that he leave the village!

Previously, that old kid never allowed him to leave the village, but now he uncharacteristically offers to let him go.

When things are abnormal, there must be a monster!

But he currently has no idea of the exact reason; he can only blame it on Qianshou Feijian's intolerance of his long‑term slacking.

"Sending you out on a mission is better than you sleeping at home," Qianshou Feijian said seriously. "It's a good chance, via the mission, to break your napping habit."

If Lian Ye keeps napping, that guy will constantly appear and disgust himself.

He can only temporarily solve the problem at its root, then gradually look for a way to eliminate that guy.

After all, such matters can't be resolved in a single day.

"At a young age you should be full of vigor, not as lifeless as you are..." Qianshou Feijian coaxed gently.

"Got it, Uncle." Lian Ye couldn't stand his constant nagging, so he finally agreed.

It's a perfect chance, while on the mission, to go see Uncle Hashirama and Lord Ban.

He hasn't seen the two for a long time and wonders what they've been up to lately.

"I hope when you return you can break the bad habit of napping."

Lian Ye: "…"

Since when did napping become a bad habit?

Fine, you're the Hokage, whatever you say is right.

"Get yourself ready, you can go take a mission," Qianshou Feijian instructed Lian Ye. "I'm heading back to the office to see Ri Zhan and Tuan Cang handling paperwork."

"Hmm, got it."

Lian Ye went to the Mission Assembly Hall, took a long‑term S-rank mission, and calculated the time; when he returns, the ninja school students will have just graduated.

Hokage Office.

Qianshou Feijian stood by the window, silently watching Lian Ye's departing silhouette from the village.

If he could eliminate that guy inside Lian Ye's body, he wouldn't have let him leave the village for a mission at all.

Now that the kid's gone, he won't be sending him meals.

But there's no other way; only this can make the kid break his napping habit.

Only this way can he buy himself some time.

"Teacher, Lian Ye seems a bit odd..." Yuanfei Ri Zhan said weakly.

He noticed that the Lian Ye he just met seemed like a different person, not the one he was used to.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang felt the same, his face curious as he looked at the teacher, wanting an explanation.

"You're just experiencing an illusion," Qianshou Feijian said, turning his back to them. "You've been so tired processing paperwork that you're hallucinating..."

Ri Zhan and Tuan Cang exchanged glances, each seeing bewilderment in the other's eyes.

Is it really as the teacher said?

Obviously they didn't believe the teacher's excuse, but wisely said nothing more.

Since the teacher wouldn't elaborate, they could only bury their doubts in their hearts.

Perhaps, one day they'll learn the truth.

In a secluded forest of the Fire Country.

Lian Ye, alert, looked around, found no one nearby, and formed a seal to summon Dao Ba.

"Kid, you haven't summoned me in ages, meow!" Dao Ba, upon appearing, glared at Lian Ye with displeasure.

Since that trip ended, Lian Ye had lost contact with it.

Sure enough, aside from Quannai and Lord Ban, none of the others can be trusted!

Especially Lian Ye in front of him, who treats it as a tool cat—using it when useful, discarding it mercilessly when not.

"Haha, long time no see, Fat Cat," Lian Ye pinched its chubby cheek, but it swatted it away with a paw.

"Just talk, don't touch," Dao Ba said displeased.

This kid really thinks he's that naive ninja cat?

Little does he know, it has long seen Lian Ye's ugly face.

Humans are truly hypocritical creatures!

"I'll treat you to grilled fish tonight."

"Sure, sure."

Dao Ba's cold demeanor vanished instantly, turning into a lick‑dog.

No, a lick‑cat.

Its aloofness is just a camouflage; respecting the practitioner is its true nature!

"Take me to Lord Ban," Lian Ye pinched the fat cat's plump face.

"No problem, follow me," Dao Ba immediately began leading the way.

It's been many years since we last saw Senju Hashirama and Madara Uchiha; I wonder where the two are hiding now.

Come to think of it, how is Uncle Hashirama still alive?

It's not that he cursed Hashirama to death, but Hashirama living until now clearly defies common sense.

Logically, given his physical condition, he should have died years ago, yet he is still alive now.

I wonder what method Madara Uchiha actually used…

If Madara hadn't yet awakened the Rinnegan, Lian Ye would suspect he was using an Outsider Demon Statue to extend Hashirama's life.

In a Ninja World Cave.

"Hashirama, you… really look terrible," Madara Uchiha said, with no expression on his face.

Senju Hashirama, weak, lay on the wooden bed, forcing a wry smile.

"Madara, I think I can't go on."

"I'm sorry… Madara, I might… have to go ahead first."

"With me here, you won't die." Madara Uchiha said coldly, "Before that, you should get some sleep first!"

Speaking, he activated his Sharingan and pulled Hashirama into a Genjutsu.

Then Madara Uchiha drew the short knife at his waist and, without hesitation, slashed his own left arm.

Fresh blood spurted, yet he didn't even furrow his brow.

Madara cut out a piece of flesh with his blade, and the blood dripped down his fingertips.

He grasped Hashirama's chin, forced his mouth open, and shoved that chunk of flesh and blood into it.

Falling into a coma, Hashirama only felt the sour‑sweet flesh entering his throat, a strange cold chakra exploding inside his body, violently colliding with his Yang Release chakra.

Hashirama's body convulsed violently as the two completely opposite forces fought and tangled within him, eventually gradually calming.

His pale complexion quickly turned rosy.

"The combination of Yin and Yang Release temporarily restores vitality," Madara Uchiha murmured softly, looking at his comatose dear friend.

Years ago, when Hashirama was on the brink of death, Madara recalled the contents of the Stone Tablet at a critical moment.

Since merging Hashirama's cells could awaken the Power of All Things, there was no reason Hashirama couldn't do the same by merging his cells.

Adopting a "treat a dead horse as a living one" mindset, he fed his own flesh and blood to Hashirama.

Unexpectedly, Hashirama's life force truly recovered, albeit briefly!

……

ps: I did the math, I'm still ten chapters short; I can settle the debt by the end of the month, ke ke ke!