Chapter 64: Took the Wrong Path

"Xiao Lian Ye, aren't we there yet?"

On the road to Tangyin Village, Senju Hashirama asked, puzzled.

He kept feeling that Lian Ye had taken the wrong road.

Logically, Tangyin Village shouldn't be that far away…

"Xiao Lian Ye, are you really not on the wrong path?" Senju Hashirama couldn't help asking.

Lian Ye held the Ninja World Map he had bought from a vendor, his expression resolute: "Don't worry, Uncle Hashirama, I haven't taken the wrong road!"

Only the fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead betrayed him…

He instinctively reached out to wipe the cold sweat from his brow, thinking, "I can't really have taken the wrong road, can I?"

Lian Ye felt a bit annoyed; this is the consequence of not studying properly—he can't even read a map.

"Really?" Hashirama leaned forward, "Let me see the map."

Lian Ye hurriedly placed the map behind his back, stammering, "Uncle, don't worry, we'll be there soon."

"Alright, alright," Hashirama finally chose to trust Lian Ye, remarking, "So Tangyin Village is that far away."

"Uncle Hashirama, we're almost there," Lian Ye said, feeling a bit guilty.

"Ha ha, then step on it; I can't wait to experience WenquanGuan!" Hashirama laughed, hands on his hips.

The two quickened their pace.

Two days later, all that surrounded them was dense forest; there was no sign of any settlement.

It seemed they were straying farther and farther…

Lian Ye looked at the surrounding woods, bewildered: "According to the map, shouldn't this be a small town?"

Senju Hashirama wore a strange expression and couldn't help asking, "Xiao Lian Ye, are you really not on the wrong path?"

In two days, they had already left Fire Country.

Wasn't the Country of Hot Springs supposed to be close to the border of Fire Country?

Hashirama suddenly recalled that he had once heard Mito Clan mention that the Country of Hot Springs lies around Whirlpool Country.

But this place is nowhere near the road to Whirlpool Country!

He wasn't sure where they had ended up.

For the past two days, Lian Ye had led him on a winding route, and he had no idea where he was.

Lian Ye trembled as he looked at the map in his hands, "Uncle Hashirama, I think I'm lost…"

Senju Hashirama: "???"

Do we really need to repeat something that any clear‑eyed person can see?

Had he known earlier, he shouldn't have trusted Lian Ye.

When he first sensed something was off, he should have looked at the map himself.

That can't be blamed on Hashirama; he never imagined that Lian Ye, who could become a Jonin, wouldn't even understand a map.

Didn't the Ninja School teachers teach this basic knowledge?

How on earth did this guy graduate from the school?

It looks like after we get back, we must conduct a strict investigation.

The Ninja School is an institution that cultivates ninjas with the Will of Fire; it's not a place for backdoor entries.

We must resolutely crack down on this bad practice!

"Uncle Hashirama," Lian Ye stared at the map, his expression solemn, "I think the map was drawn incorrectly."

Even now, he hasn't thought it was his own fault.

Senju Hashirama helplessly placed his hand on his forehead, not knowing what to say.

He had even thought Lian Ye had discovered something, only to waste half an hour on this.

"Xiao Lian Ye, let me see the map," Senju Hashirama said.

This time, Lian Ye didn't persist; he honestly handed the map to Hashirama, muttering softly, "How awful, they sold me a fake map."

Senju Hashirama: "…"

He unfolded the map, compared it with the surroundings, and his eyes went dark instantly.

"Where did you get this?" Hashirama raised his voice, his face shocked as he looked at Lian Ye.

If he wasn't mistaken, they were now at the border between Grass Country and Waterfall Country, almost reaching Earth Country's territory.

That is completely opposite to the direction of their destination, the Country of Hot Springs!

They were situated at the red‑circled location…

Facing Hashirama's questioning, Lian Ye awkwardly scratched his head, "So it was my mistake after all; I thought the map was drawn wrong."

Hashirama's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help asking, "Didn't the Ninja School teach you how to read a map?"

Logically, teachers should have taught this basic knowledge.

If not, that's the teachers' negligence at the Ninja School.

He will report this matter to Feijian when he returns.

"Um…" Lian Ye scratched his head, uncertain, "I think they taught it, right?"

Senju Hashirama wore a puzzled expression, "They taught it or not, and you don't know?"

"Uncle Hashirama, I really don't know," Lian Ye said, nodding awkwardly.

He had been sleeping through Cultural Class and never heard it.

He truly didn't know the answer to Hashirama's question.

Senju Hashirama helplessly placed his hand on his forehead, "Fine, now's not the time to discuss this."

The top priority is to leave here first.

Hashirama lowered his head to look at the map, compared the surrounding terrain, and said, "Our current position is closer to Longyin Village, so we can go there to rest."

"Longyin Village?" Lian Ye felt inexplicably familiar.

He quickly realized, isn't this the hometown of Jiaodu, the future Akatsuki member?

It is said that this guy once fought Senju Hashirama, and bragged about it while in the Akatsuki, though it's unclear whether it's true…

In any case, the person in question is here; we can ask to find out the truth.

"Uncle Hashirama, have you ever sparred with a guy named Jiaodu?"

"Jiaodu?" Senju Hashirama looked puzzled, as if trying to recall the person, "I have no recollection."

Lian Ye heard that and showed an expression of "just as I thought."

Case closed, Jiaodu is just bragging…

If the opponent truly engaged Hashirama in direct combat and then escaped successfully, Hashirama would certainly remember.

But now Hashirama has no recollection of Jiaodu at all, so there are only two possibilities.

One is that Jiaodu never fought Hashirama, just bragging.

The other is that Jiaodu didn't face Hashirama directly; he hid at a distance, tossed a few Shuriken secretly, and fled before Hashirama could act.

Lian Ye couldn't help finding it amusing; he had always thought Jiaodu was a relatively honest person, but he was mistaken.

Senju Hashirama didn't dwell on it, holding the map and leading the way.

Lian Ye silently followed behind Hashirama, still thinking it was the map's problem.

All the way, he hoped Hashirama would also get lost, so that it could prove it wasn't his own fault.

Unfortunately, the thing Lian Ye expected did not happen.

Before long, a modest‑sized village appeared before the two of them.

Lian Ye looked at Longyin Village in the distance and fell silent.

————————

Country of Hot Springs, outside Tangyin Village.

Jiaodu crouched on a tree, carefully observing the surroundings.

This road is the only route into Tangyin Village; as soon as Senju Hashirama appears, he can spot him immediately!

But he has been here for two days and still hasn't seen any sign of Senju Hashirama.

"Could the intel be wrong?" Jiaodu opened the intelligence supplied by the village's higher‑ups, 【Senju Hashirama is heading to Tangyin Village to soak in hot springs…】

He decided to wait another day, but before the wait was over he returned to the village to report.