Chapter 55: Alas, Lost Again

Burp— This is so delicious.

Senju Hashirama patted his round belly, satisfied, and let out a full belch.

Lian Ye's cooking was still that tasty; he couldn't help envying Feijian for being able to eat Lian Ye's meals often.

Unlike him… every time he wanted to eat, he had to shamelessly ask Lian Ye to cook.

Hashirama's Xiao Gangshou, after tasting the delicacy, fell into a deep sleep.

"Big brother, aren't you going back yet?" Senju Feijian urged.

He feared that if his big brother stayed longer and discovered his Forbidden Technique research, it would be trouble.

What he didn't know was that Hashirama had come with that very thought from the start…

"Ha ha, almost there." Hashirama laughed, then suddenly changed tone, "Feijian, you haven't been secretly studying Ninjutsu, have you?"

Hearing that, cold sweat instantly formed on Senju Feijian's forehead. Why was his big brother suddenly asking this?

Could it be that his Impure Earth Reincarnation research has been exposed?!

But based on his understanding of his big brother, if something were truly discovered, he would not ask like this but would outright forbid it!

So, his big brother is just trying to trick himself.

Senju Feijian pretended nothing was amiss, his expression calm: "Big brother, I haven't, don't slander me."

"Is that so?" Senju Hashirama withdrew his smile, narrowed his eyes, and stared intently at Feijian.

Senju Feijian felt a chill under his brother's gaze, swallowed involuntarily, "Big brother, I'm not lying."

He seemed to recall something and hurriedly said, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Lian Ye."

Lian Ye, who had been merrily snacking, was suddenly stunned by the words, looking at Senju Feijian in disbelief.

All of a sudden, why was the topic turned onto him?

His intuition told him that this old kid was definitely researching the Forbidden Technique.

But seeing Senju Feijian's threatening gaze, he subconsciously swallowed.

"Xiao Lian Ye, did you see Feijian studying Ninjutsu?" Senju Hashirama smiled, "Tell the truth, don't lie to me."

Lian Ye swallowed, about to speak, when Senju Feijian suddenly snorted, "Kid, think before you speak!"

Lian Ye: "…"

He glanced at the smiling Senju Hashirama, then at the threatening Senju Feijian, feeling helpless.

What on earth is this about?

"Xiao Lian Ye, don't be afraid, just tell me the truth," Senju Hashirama comforted.

"Exactly, kid, just speak the truth!" Senju Feijian echoed, though his expression said it all…

"Uncle Hashirama, I didn't see Uncle Feijian studying Ninjutsu," Lian Ye said with a smile.

"Are you telling the truth?" Senju Hashirama looked skeptical.

He didn't think Feijian would obediently comply; after all, there had been many times he'd caught this guy secretly researching the Forbidden Technique.

"Of course it's true," Lian Ye blinked, "Since I returned, I indeed haven't seen Uncle Feijian researching Ninjutsu."

That statement was indeed truthful; after all, from his return until now he hadn't seen Senju Feijian researching Ninjutsu.

As for whether he researched before his return, that remains unclear.

The highest level of lying is selective truth‑telling, making it harder to detect.

Sure enough, Senju Hashirama saw no sign of lying on Lian Ye's face, laughed and scratched his head, "Ha ha, so that's how it is, seems I wrongly blamed Feijian."

Senju Feijian, hearing that, let out a sigh of relief and gave Lian Ye an approving look.

That kid is quite perceptive; if he dared to cause trouble…

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Senju Hashirama, holding Xiao Gangshou, stood up, "Then I'll leave now."

Senju Feijian was a bit excited; he finally managed to brush his big brother away.

The Impure Earth Reincarnation Ninjutsu is crucial, concerning Konoha's future, and must never be discovered by his big brother!

At that moment, Hashirama, who had reached the doorway, stopped and turned back.

"Big brother, why are you back again?!" Senju Feijian's body froze, his face tense as he looked at his brother, his heart in his throat.

He had hidden the Impure Earth Reincarnation Scroll on his person; he truly feared his big brother searching him…

Senju Hashirama extended a hand, smiling awkwardly, "Um, Feijian…"

Senju Feijian's face turned pale, his voice trembling, "Big brother, when exactly did you discover it?"

"What?" Senju Hashirama was a bit bewildered, "Discover what?"

"Never mind, I was asking what you want to do," Senju Feijian quickly corrected.

Senju Hashirama didn't mind, stammering, "Feijian, could you lend me some money?"

"Lend money?" Senju Feijian raised his voice, "Big brother, you went gambling again?!"

"Shh shh shh—" Senju Hashirama quickly covered Feijian's mouth, "Keep it down… if Mito Clan finds out, I'm done!"

Senju Feijian brushed his brother's hand away, frowned, and said, "Big brother, heed my advice, stop gambling."

He didn't know when it started, but Hashirama had taken up the vice of gambling.

The problem was Hashirama was terrible at gambling, losing everything each time.

As Konoha Village's Hokage, he somehow ended up heavily in debt outside.

The creditors came knocking, and the Uzumaki Mito Clan found out.

Since then Hashirama had no source of income…

He originally had some private savings, but they were all lost.

"Feijian, just lend me some money." Senju Hashirama pleaded desperately, "I haven't been to a casino for a long time; my hand is rusty."

"Big brother, you've already lost millions of taels, still not enough?" Senju Feijian's eyelids twitched wildly.

"Please, Feijian, just lend me a hundred thousand taels—no, fifty thousand taels!"

Hearing their conversation, Lian Ye was stunned.

He instinctively looked at Xiao Gangshou in Hashirama's arms and finally understood how the nickname "Ninja World Fat Lamb" came about.

It must be a generational inheritance…

Through Hashirama's relentless effort, Feijian produced thirty thousand taels and sent the big brother away.

"Hahaha, Xiao Gangshou, grandpa will take you to make big money!"

Qianshou Feijian shook his head helplessly, not knowing which bastard taught the big brother to gamble.

If he found out, he would definitely not go easy on him.

Thinking that, he turned to Lian Ye, "Kid, if my big brother asks you for a loan, under no circumstances lend him any."

"Got it, uncle." Lian Ye nodded.

Lending money to a gambler is like throwing meat buns at a dog—once gone, never returns.

————————

In front of the casino.

Senju Hashirama held Xiao Gangshou in one hand, clenched thirty thousand taels in the other, and whispered, "Ban, my gambling skill will surely surpass yours!"

He always remembered the scene from years ago when Ban activated his Sharingan and wreaked havoc in the casino, chips piled up before him.

It was then that he developed a strong interest in gambling.

Senju Hashirama slowly walked into the casino, still holding Gangshou.

A few minutes later, he emerged, still holding Gangshou, his head hung low in dejection.

"Sigh, lost again…"

In the swaddling cloth, Gangshou looked at his own grandpa with a scornful expression.