Chapter 72: Being Yelled at Turns You Into a Dead Cat

The thin morning mist enveloped Haikou of Tangyin Village.

The two boarded the fishermen's boat.

Lian Ye's gaze swept over the wooden barrels on deck, and he saw them filled with ice.

It was clearly prepared for transporting seafood...

After all, shipping from Water Country to the interior takes considerable time, and a spoilage en route would be a huge loss.

He looked toward the endless horizon and muttered, "Truly a place cut off from the world."

Because of its unique geography, Water Country makes it hard for the outside world to obtain internal information.

That is also one reason why Dai Tu's control over the Mizukage went unnoticed for years.

"Haha, the scenery here is quite nice!" Hashirama cheerfully looked toward the sunrise slowly rising over the distant horizon.

Lian Ye nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it's nice."

After about two hours, the vessel finally docked.

Before the two stepped ashore, they heard a chorus of shouts rising from the dock.

A strong scent of seafood hit them, and Lian Ye instinctively covered his nose.

I must admit, the smell was quite intoxicating.

It made him somewhat reluctant to eat seafood...

Due to his dietary habits, Lian Ye rarely eats sashimi.

This time he came simply because he heard Water Country's seafood is the best, and wanted to try it.

He saw fishermen wearing conical hats hoisting bamboo baskets, with live lobsters waving their massive claws.

A dark-skinned man pushed a cart loaded with basket after basket of shellfish.

"Kid, want to buy some shellfish?" the man said enthusiastically upon seeing Lian Ye, "These were just hauled up this morning, guaranteed fresh."

"No need," Lian Ye reflexively declined, "Uncle Hashirama, let's go."

He thought there was nothing worth seeing at the dock, so they'd better head to Kirigakure Village.

Thinking that, he turned to look at Hashirama beside him, only to find no one there.

Lian Ye scanned the surroundings and finally saw Hashirama's figure in front of a stall.

Hashirama leaned curiously up to the seafood stall, bargaining with exaggerated gestures, his over-the-top laughter drawing frequent glances from passersby.

Lian Ye: "..."

He stepped beside Hashirama and urged, "Uncle Hashirama, we should leave."

Hashirama, hearing that, could only give up and left with a hint of regret.

"Xiao Lian Ye, I was just about to haggle successfully with the stall owner,"

He thought that if Lian Ye hadn't been meddling nearby, he could have driven the seafood price down.

Watching the two's departing backs, the stall owner breathed a sigh of relief and muttered quietly:

"Where does one bargain like that?"

Seafood that costs five hundred taels per jin, and this guy opened with fifty taels.

Even a bowl of ramen costs sixty taels.

He almost got sliced to death by Senju Hashirama's single strike...

If the stall owner hadn't known Hashirama was a ninja, he would have chased him away long ago.

"Water Shadow Lord, a person resembling the God of Ninja has entered the village."

Kirigakure Village, Shui Ying Bangongshi.

"What?" First Water Shadow Bai Lian widened his eyes, sprang up from his chair, "You say the God of Ninja?!"

"Yes, Water Shadow Lord," the subordinate reported.

"Damn, how did this guy get here?" Bai Lian widened his eyes.

Only his two eyes were slanted, appearing completely out of focus.

He had lost his left eye in a war years ago, and over time it had become like this.

"Could it be that at the Five Kage Summit I didn't give him face, and now this guy is coming back for revenge?" Bai Lian grew increasingly frightened.

Although everyone is a Shadow-level Strongman, Senju Hashirama is clearly stronger than a mere human.

Let alone him, even the Four Kage united would not match Hashirama.

Thinking that, Bai Lian's complexion grew even paler, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

"Quick, take me to the God of Ninja; I will personally apologize for my past recklessness!" Bai Lian said anxiously.

Can't afford to delay!

The God of Ninja has even knocked on the door!

Rather than waiting for the other side to knock, it's better to apologize in person.

This still leaves a sliver of room for redemption...

I trust that with Senju Hashirama's magnanimity, he will surely forgive this old man.

Elsewhere.

Lian Ye and Hashirama had no clue about the Shui Ying Bangongshi matter.

The two paused at the entrance of a shop called Hai Zhi Wei.

"Xiao Lian Ye, what do you think of this place?" Hashirama asked.

Before Lian Ye could speak, Lihua meowed loudly, broke free from Hashirama's arms, and darted into the shop.

"Haha, now we can't not go in," Hashirama laughed, scratching his head.

"What a gluttonous cat." Lian Ye was somewhat helpless and had to follow inside.

The shop was filled with the scent of seaweed and sake.

Lian Ye grabbed Lihua by the back of the neck to keep it from running around and disturbing other diners.

The Tea House Owner, wearing a blue‑and‑white apron, froze for a moment upon seeing the cat in Lian Ye's hand, then smiled and said, "Two guests, this shop forbids cats…"

Before the words finished, Hashirama had already taken out a stack of cash and placed it on the counter, "We can pay extra!"

Lian Ye pressed a hand to his forehead, "What's with this nouveau‑rich swagger?"

Wait, where did Uncle Hashirama get that money?

Wasn't all his money taken by Shuihu Ayi?

Considering that all the expenses along the way have been Lian Ye's money, even the money for buying the meatballs was given to him in advance…

Hashirama noticed the expression on Lian Ye's face, scratched his head awkwardly, and said, "Haha, I've saved some private cash over the years…"

Lian Ye nodded, but didn't mind.

With Senju Hashirama's strength, making money isn't supposed to be that easy, right?

Only unsure whether the money came from taking on missions or from secretly embezzling public funds…

"Three of you, please be seated!" the Tea House Owner took the money, led the two people and the cat to their seats.

"Meow meow meow~" Lihua, seeing the sashimi on nearby diners' tables, cried out so frantic that it meowed wildly.

If Lian Ye hadn't been holding its fate‑bound neck, it would have bolted out long ago.

Lian Ye, irritated by the cat's cries, said coldly, "Ugly cat, keep meowing and I'll turn you into a dead cat!"

Hearing that, Lihua fell silent at once.

Seeing this, Lian Ye was satisfied and tossed it onto the floor.

Lihua landed on the floor, just as it was about to leave, it heard Lian Ye's words.

"Dare to run away and you'll become a dead cat too."

"Meow~" Lihua could only lie obediently on the ground.

Hashirama cheerfully scooped Lihua into his arms, gently stroking its fluffed fur.

When the sashimi platter arrived, Lihua stared straight at the salmon belly on the ice.

Lian Ye had just picked up a slice of tuna when Lihua darted onto the table, its paw reaching for a piece of sea bream.

"If you dare take it, I'll chop off your paw," Lian Ye said calmly, "Hmm, the paw you use, I'll chop that one…"

Hearing this, Lihua's outstretched paw hung in mid‑air, its face full of plaintive resentment as it stared at Lian Ye.

"You ugly cat are getting more and more unruly," Lian Ye said, placing a piece of sea bream before Lihua, "From now on, without my permission you may not eat."

"Otherwise…," Lian Ye narrowed his eyes, "just wait to become a dead cat."

Lihua, seeing Lian Ye's expression, had its fur instantly puff up.

It seemed thoroughly frightened, not even daring to eat the fish slices on the table.

"Xiao Lian Ye, stop scaring it," Hashirama said cheerfully, cradling the cat again in his arms.

Under Hashirama's gentle petting, Lihua's terrified expression gradually faded.

As the two dined inside, Mizukage Bai Lian, led by subordinates, rushed to the shop's entrance.