Chapter 48: I

Qianshou Feijian Residence.

"Little brat, you're back just in time; go make me a meal," Qianshou Feijian said, his face weary as he stepped out of the study.

For the past year, he has been researching a ninjutsu that can bring the dead back into the Ninja World.

After hundreds to thousands of experiments, he still has achieved no results.

The key to this technique lies in summoning the dead's soul, and that step is the hardest to achieve.

To control souls, he intends to devise a ninjutsu that can imprison them, tentatively called Soul Imprisonment.

If he succeeds in developing the Soul Imprisonment technique, he will be able to control the dead's soul, thereby achieving the step of summoning it.

Qianshou Feijian has been researching Soul Imprisonment to the point of neglecting sleep and food.

During this period, aside from his sister‑in‑law occasionally bringing him meals, he has survived solely on Soldier's Ration Pills.

His mouth is almost dry enough to crack like a bird's.

He doesn't even wait to see Lian Ye return before ordering him to cook for him.

On the days Lian Ye is absent, Qianshou Feijian often complains, "That little brat is on missions all day and never comes home…"

Hearing Feijian's words, Lian Ye's eyelids twitch wildly, and he inwardly mutters, "That old kid is ordering him to cook again."

The point is he just entered the house and hasn't even had time to drink water.

"Uncle, I'm injured," Lian Ye says helplessly.

Upon hearing that, Qianshou Feijian finally notices the bandages wrapped around Lian Ye's abdomen.

"Just a minor wound; just endure it for now. I haven't eaten for days," he says.

Lian Ye: "???"

It's not my business that you haven't eaten for days, is it?

"Uncle, I don't even want to mention you… someone in his thirties, wouldn't you cook for yourself when you're hungry?" Lian Ye's expression is complicated.

That expression looks like he's looking at an idiot…

Qianshou Feijian's old face reddens as he explains, "I'm busy developing ninjutsu; where would I find time to cook?"

"Uncle, you're secretly researching forbidden techniques behind Hashirama's back again," Lian Ye sighs.

Previously, his impression was that Qianshou Feijian only studied lofty, high‑profile ninjutsu.

It wasn't until Lian Ye saw Qianshou Feijian's Ninjutsu Scroll that he realized the techniques inside were extremely abstract.

Some techniques even reached a level of depravity…

No wonder Senju Hashirama forbade Feijian from continuing his ninjutsu research.

If he were allowed to keep researching.

Who knows what god‑defying ninjutsu he could develop?

Even though Senju Hashirama issued a clear ban, the old kid still researches in secret.

After Lian Ye caught him, he even threatened him not to tell the older brother.

Regarding this, Lian Ye can only turn a blind eye and pretend he didn't see.

"The ninjutsu I develop isn't a forbidden technique; it's a foundation for the village," Qianshou Feijian says solemnly.

In his view, the ninjutsu he creates is indeed extremely dangerous.

But once mastered, it can unleash tremendous combat power.

Even if he and his older brother are gone in the future, the village can rely on these ninjutsu to repel invasions from other nations.

Hearing this, Lian Ye offers no comment.

Qianshou Feijian's developed ninjutsu is indeed powerful; if one can master even a single one, his own strength would increase dramatically.

Like the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Flying Thunder God Technique.

After Naruto and his son master them, they become almost signature moves.

However, the old kid's techniques, while strong, have the sole drawback of demanding a lot from the user.

The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique requires the user to possess a massive amount of chakra.

If the user's chakra is insufficient, using it may cause chakra depletion, endangering life.

And the Flying Thunder God Technique demands that the user master complex Space‑Time ninjutsu principles, as well as possess an exceptionally high Ninja Talent.

In short, ordinary people find it hard to learn…

Lian Ye has long wanted to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, but never had a chance to ask.

Since Qianshou Feijian doesn't mention it, Lian Ye finds it hard to bring it up.

Even if the old kid truly taught it, whether he could learn it is another matter.

"Alright, little brat, go make a meal," Qianshou Feijian urges.

Lian Ye sighs helplessly, reluctantly walking into the kitchen,

"Compared to being a ninja, I feel more like a Chu Zi."

Since being adopted by Qianshou Feijian, he has become the Senju family's official chef.

Every time he returns from a mission, his first action isn't rest but cooking.

At first it was fine; Lian Ye only needed to cook and didn't have to handle anything else.

Now it's different; he not only has to cook, but also shop for ingredients and wash dishes.

The old kid always claims he's busy, then dumps all the dirty and tiring chores onto him.

Qianshou Feijian watches Lian Ye enter the kitchen with a complex expression, murmuring softly, "Little brat, actually I'd rather you become a Chu Zi…"

The ninja world is too dangerous, living as if you've got your head tucked into your belt, and you might die any day.

He'd rather Lian Ye lack Ninja Talent and open a restaurant in the village.

As long as Konoha Village isn't destroyed, Lian Ye can live a happy life as an ordinary person.

After all, he and Lian Ye have lived together so long that even raising a dog would develop affection, let alone a living person.

Qianshou Feijian naturally does not want to see Lian Ye die in battle.

But there's no choice; since they've become ninja, some things must be faced…

He can't protect this kid forever, can he?

…………

At the dining table.

The taste of the delicacy makes Qianshou Feijian forget his fatigue and worries.

Sure enough, this kid's cooking is the best!

After two bowls of rice, he still feels unsatisfied and refills another bowl.

This kid often goes out on missions, sometimes being gone for weeks.

If he doesn't eat more now, he'll only be able to eat Soldier's Ration Pill in the Laboratory later.

While Feijian is enjoying the food, Lian Ye asks, "Uncle, is Sister Sakurako about to give birth?"

The Sakurako Lian Ye mentions is Senju Hashirama's daughter‑in‑law, i. e., Gangshou's mother.

"She should be close…," Qianshou Feijian puts down his chopsticks, "It's probably within these few days."

"Got it, I'll go visit Sister Sakurako then."

"Alright, remember to send blessings to Tōin and Sakurako then."

"Don't worry, Uncle."

Tōin is Senju Hashirama's son, also Qianshou Feijian's nephew.

At first Lian Ye was curious where Hashirama's son had gone?

Later he learned that Senju Hashirama sent his son to the Daimyo's Residence for an Arranged marriage.

Senju Fujikage has been living with his wife in the capital of Fire Country, never returning to Konoha.

It's normal that Lian Ye didn't know.

If not for his wife's impending delivery, Tōin might not have returned…

Lian Ye learned this from Feijian's words.

Hashirama's relationship with his son is poor; they haven't been in contact for a long time.

The reason is the Arranged marriage matter.

Tōin's polite phrasing is "going for an Arranged marriage"; bluntly it's "going to become a son‑in‑law."

No one knows what Senju Hashirama was thinking, to actually let his son become a son‑in‑law.

Because of this, the father‑son relationship began to deteriorate.

As for why Tōin returned…?

Lian Ye guesses it might be the true fragrance law…

After all, Sister Sakurako is quite beautiful.