Chapter 66: The One Who Walks Away Unscathed

"Little Lian Ye, do you think my approach has a problem?"

On the road, Senju Hashirama suddenly asked.

When he previously decided to spare the Hidden Rain Village High Council, he noticed Little Lian Ye's conflicted expression, seeming not to approve of his own action.

Hearing this, Lian Ye hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, and shook his head again,

"Uncle Hashirama, as long as you're happy."

"Is it that simple?" Hashirama raised an eyebrow, his wide sleeves rustling in the evening wind.

He could see the bewilderment in Lian Ye's eyes, just like Feijian's gaze when he watched him release the Uchiha Clan's Members years ago.

"If it were Feijian, he would probably say it's a woman's compassion now,"

Lian Ye replied with some agreement, "I think Uncle Feijian is right."

Hashirama: "……"

He still thought Lian Ye differed from Feijian and could understand his well‑intended purpose.

Unfortunately, Hashirama was wrong; Lian Ye, like Feijian, disapproved of his sparing enemies.

One can only say that this kid Lian Ye truly lives up to being raised by Feijian…

"A ninja should be decisive and ruthless; one must never do what Uncle Hashirama does," Lian Ye continued, "Life comes only once; sparing an enemy only raises the risk of one's own death."

After all, not everyone knows how to repay kindness…

What if he spares the enemy with his front foot, and the enemy launches a sneak attack with the back foot?

For Lian Ye, such a high‑risk, Holy Mother‑like act could never happen to him.

The reason Hashirama can act this way is simply that he relies on his own overwhelming power.

In the Ninja World, no one can threaten him, so he does whatever he pleases.

If an ordinary ninja dared to do this, the grass on graves would be three meters tall.

Senju Hashirama suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his laughter startling the birds in the forest.

He placed a hand on Lian Ye's shoulder and said earnestly, "Little Lian Ye, you are still too young to understand the benefits of my actions…"

Without waiting for Lian Ye's reply, he continued, "Sparing an enemy is sowing the seed of peace. Every time you lay down your blade and choose dialogue, you build a bridge of understanding for people of differing stances."

"As long as people understand and tolerate each other, the Ninja World can usher in true peace…"

Lian Ye's mouth twitched helplessly, "Uncle Hashirama, you're at it again."

These past few days, Hashirama has been intermittently instilling the idea of peace into him.

He is fed up with this nutrient‑less nonsense.

But Hashirama can babble for half a day each time, and he can only silently endure it.

Lian Ye subconsciously quickened his pace, and Hashirama hurried to keep up, continuing to explain his view of peace.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Hashirama finally stopped speaking, nodded with satisfaction, seeming pleased with his remarks, his face full of lingering intent.

He glanced at Lian Ye subconsciously, only to find the kid wasn't listening at all; cotton had somehow been stuffed in his ears.

Hashirama sighed helplessly, "Little Lian Ye, I believe that one day you'll understand the meaning of my words…"

He has been preaching his view of peace, yet everyone seems not to agree.

Neither Madara, Feijian nor Lian Ye are any different.

He thought that as long as one is sincere enough and tolerant enough, the icy hatred could melt, but reality was like a bucket of cold water, dousing his enthusiasm.

He suddenly felt that he was trekking this road of peace alone, and it was indeed lonely.

Even those close to him didn't agree; could the enemies he spared truly understand his good intentions?

This sense of unrecognized defeat made even this powerful ninja feel a hint of helplessness and confusion.

Lian Ye looked at Hashirama's drooping figure and, for a moment, felt a pang of compassion.

He began to reflect: perhaps his own actions were excessive?

Uncle Hashirama was clearly working hard to spread his understanding of peace, yet he felt impatient…

Thinking of this, Lian Ye removed his earplugs: "Uncle Hashirama, I think your philosophy is good."

Hearing this, Hashirama jerked his head up; the gloom in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a radiant glow.

He grasped Lian Ye's shoulder excitedly, his voice trembling slightly, "Do... do you feel the same?"

"I always thought no one in this world could understand my resolve; everyone thought I was crazy, saying I was dreaming…"

His Adam's apple moved, his gaze burning as he stared at Lian Ye, "But you actually understood!"

Seeing Hashirama's demeanor, Lian Ye felt unease, a constant sense that something bad was about to happen.

Sure enough, Hashirama then pulled Lian Ye and began describing his view of Ninja World peace…

Lian Ye watched Hashirama babble incessantly in front of him, his face showing sheer numbness.

He wished he could slap himself twice, wondering why he kept talking so much.

At that moment, he deeply grasped the true worth of "silence is golden."

Hashirama didn't notice Lian Ye's expression, still pulling him along while chatting away.

That night, Hashirama seemed to say a lot, but Lian Ye didn't absorb a single sentence.

He kept asking himself in his mind, "Why do I have to speak up?"

————————

"No mission target encountered; finally I can return to the village and report back,"

At the border of Fire Country and Iron Country, Jiaodu's mouth couldn't help but curve upward.

He had thought that receiving this SSS-rank Mission meant certain death, so he crouched anxiously at the gate of Tangyin Village for three days.

Unexpectedly, heaven blessed him; he never saw Senju Hashirama!

Thus, Jiaodu no longer had to face the God of Ninja.

He didn't know what the higher‑ups of Longyin Village were raving about, yet they actually sent him to assassinate Senju Hashirama.

But there's no choice; carrying out missions is a ninja's duty.

Even if this mission has a huge chance of costing his life, as a member of the village he has no choice but to obey.

Jiaodu doesn't know the truth now, so he hasn't turned dark; he still loves the village dearly.

That's the benefit of brainwashing from childhood…

"Heh heh heh, I think I'm the only one who took a mission to assassinate the God of Ninja and still walked away unscathed," Jiaodu's mouth twitched upward, unable to suppress it.

Such a legendary experience can definitely become bragging material later.

Anyone who can survive an SSS-rank Mission unscathed surely needs no explanation of their strength, right?

Anyway, he didn't lie.

Taking the assassination mission is true, and walking away unscathed is also true…

At that moment, two people appeared in his line of sight.

At first Jiaodu didn't pay attention, thinking they were just two strangers.

One was a middle‑aged man, the other a teenager.

But when his peripheral glance fell on the middle‑aged man, his smile froze instantly.

The man wore a light‑blue robe, his shoulder‑length hair hanging freely, a few strands brushing his sharply chiseled face.

He pulled out a portrait for close comparison—couldn't that be the God of Ninja?

Jiaodu's forehead instantly broke out with fine cold sweat.

Damn it, how could Senju Hashirama appear in a place like this?!