Chapter 589: Thirty‑Sixth Birthday

In the blink of an eye, three years passed in an instant.

In Konoha's thirty‑fifth year, Lian Ye welcomed his thirty‑sixth birthday.

"Happy birthday, Lian Ye!"

In previous years at this time, Sarutobi Ri Zhan and several others would come to celebrate his birthday, and this year was no exception.

Three years can change many things.

For example, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang officially retired last year, and the Fourth Hokage was succeeded by acting Hokage Sarutobi Ri Zhan.

After enduring so many years, he finally saw the light.

After returning from a trip, Tanaka, the Uchiha Clan Leader, chose to retire, and the clan headship was taken up by the clan's sole Kaleidoscope Sharingan holder, Uchiha Jing.

Since Uchiha Jing became clan leader, the Eagle Faction's dissent within the family has dwindled.

Because they were shocked to discover that the Village had never discriminated against them; they had only been self‑deluded.

Moreover, most of the Eagle Faction were wiped out years ago.

Thus the discontent within the family gradually vanished.

Hinata Yuki returned to YueQiu and soon married; on the wedding day he even came to the Ninja World himself to attend the ceremony.

It is worth mentioning Nara Motoya, who finds marriage troublesome.

Under the pressure and inducement of his elderly clan leader father, he reluctantly married a girl he didn't find annoying.

In other words, former comrades have all formed families, leaving only Lian Ye and Zhi Cun Tuan Zang still single.

Everyone has been fully aware of the incident from three years ago, so no one brings up marriage in front of the two any more.

"Kid, happy birthday," Qianshou Feijian brought a cake, placed it on the table, and said to the kitchen, "Finish the stir‑fry, and remember to come over to make a wish and blow out the candles."

The cake before them was the fifteenth birthday cake he had made by hand…

When Lian Ye was young, Qianshou Feijian had no experience with Uchiha Xiao Gui; he himself never celebrated a birthday, so of course he wouldn't idle away time throwing a birthday for Lian Ye.

However, after once accidentally noticing Tuan Cang and a few others celebrating Lian Ye's birthday, he silently marked the foster son's birthday, and for the next ten years missed not a single one.

When other disciples have birthdays, he also attends to give gifts.

Qianshou Feijian never married or had children in his life; he has long treated Lian Ye and the disciples as his own children.

"You lot, you always make me cook!"

Lian Ye, alone in the kitchen with the wok spatula nearly smoking, heard the lively commotion in the living room and couldn't help a quiet complaint.

All these years, whoever's birthday it is, he's always the one cooking.

Even if he's the birthday star, it makes no difference!

"Uncle Lianye, I'm here to help you!"

Gangshou smelled the wafting aromas from the kitchen, smiled, and walked in to lend a hand.

"I'll give you credit for…"

Just as Lian Ye turned his head, feeling a bit relieved, he saw Gangshou there snacking with chopsticks, and was left speechless.

Claiming to help was a lie; the real thing was snacking!

"Hehe." Gangshou, caught in the act of her little move, awkwardly set down her chopsticks and came to help.

"Xiaogang, when are you two holding the wedding?"

Gangshou and Jiatengduan have been together for so many years, yet the two keep postponing marriage.

I have no idea what kind of nonsense they're up to!

"Ah, Uncle Lianye, why are you as naggy as grandma!" Gangshou said with some displeasure.

She comes here to mooch food and drink, and also can't stand her grandma's urging to get married.

Lian Ye: "…"

He just thought cooking alone was too boring and wanted to chat with Gangshou to pass the time.

He didn't expect the girl to react so strongly.

It seems Aunt Mizuto has been urging Gangshou to marry quickly all these years…

Since Gangshou grew up, her temper has become increasingly short‑tempered, and it's unclear whose temperament she inherited.

Their parents' personalities were quite easygoing…

"Uncle Lianye, I'm still young and not in a hurry, but are you sure you won't find me an aunt?" Gangshou looked at Lian Ye in confusion.

She doesn't understand why Uncle Lianye, like Second Grandfather, refuses to marry.

Could it be that Uncle Lianye, following Second Grandfather's example, has become uninterested in marriage through exposure?

Gangshou remembered that when she was young, grandma and Second Grandfather discussed marriage matters, but Second Grandfather always found various excuses to refuse.

In the end, it made grandma so angry she stopped meddling in his marriage affairs.

A few years ago, grandma tried to set up a match for Uncle Lianye, but for unknown reasons she ultimately gave up.

She once asked grandma for the reason, but grandma only sighed with a complicated expression, not explaining what had happened that day.

So Gangshou personally went to ask the person involved, wanting to know why he doesn't marry…

"Hmph, aren't you just like your grandma?" Lian Ye said irritably, glancing at her, "Sort out your own marriage first before you start pointing fingers at me."

Anyway, the incident back then has already caused Aunt Mizuto to misunderstand, and no one in the Village will ever urge them to marry again.

He naturally couldn't be bothered to explain the reason to the juniors.

Gangshou: "…"

"Chicken soup is here!"

At the dining table, everyone ate with great relish.

Sure enough, only at this time each year can they enjoy such a lavish spread.

Even on ordinary days, getting Lian Ye's four dishes and a soup would be considered good.

Ever since that guy started to lie low, he only knows how to bask in the sun each day and doesn't even feel like making meals.

"Zilaoye, where have you been running to all these years?"

Orochimaru watched Zilaoye, who only knows how to bury himself in meals, and frowned slightly.

Not sure when it started, but he rarely saw Zilaoye sneaking a peek at the women's bathhouse in the Village; for the most part, he couldn't see him at all.

Later, after asking the Hokage, he learned that the guy had been away from the Village for years.

"Ha ha, I have some personal matters, so I rarely return to the Village," Zilaoye said with a smile, but he didn't say what those matters were.

Orochimaru's brow furrowed even tighter at the words, yet he didn't ask directly what the matter was.

It seems I'll have to chat with this guy later.

He's been busy in the Laboratory doing research, rarely caring about his friend's daily life.

I actually want to know what personal matters could make him unwilling to return to the Village.

Although Zilaoye didn't say outright, Lian Ye probably guessed it was about the Prophecy Child.

Recall that in the original work, Zilaoye roamed the Ninja World, spying on women's bathhouses for material was one aspect; the bigger reason was searching for the Prophecy Child spoken of by the Great Toad Sage.

"He could have any personal matters, but most likely he just ran off to another Village to spy on a women's bathhouse again," Gangshou said irritably, rolling her eyes.

Recall that two years ago, Zilaoye, as usual, was spying on a women's bathhouse in the Village, and was caught red‑handed by Uchiha's Security Forces; it was she who went to borrow money from Orochimaru to bail him out of the detention center…

Afterwards, he clung to Gangshou's leg, begging her to keep his secret.

Zilaoye naturally caught her unspoken meaning and awkwardly scratched his head.

That day he was so engrossed in spying that he didn't notice Uchiha members approaching; by the time he reacted, it was already too late.