Chapter 74: Where Did Big Brother Return?

"The plants that grow here have deeper roots than anywhere else, their vitality is tougher than imagined!"

Hashirama squatted in the desert, squatting with interest on the ground, measuring a few plants on the ground.

Hashirama reached out and gently brushed the plants; with chakra infused, the plants quickly began to grow, sprouting strings of purple little flowers.

After doing all that, Hashirama cheerfully stood up.

Lian Ye silently watched from the side, feeling powerless to complain.

"Hashirama uncle, what's fun here?"

Hashirama looked around; apart from the sun in the sky, only endless yellow sand and occasional flora and fauna remained.

With such a living environment, no wonder Wind Country is the poorest village among the Five Great Nations.

Hashirama gazed at the distant sea of sand, offering no response.

Lihua, soft and fluffy, lay on his shoulder, sticking out a pink little tongue, weakly mewed twice, clearly suffering from the heat.

Seeing Hashirama give no reply, Lian Ye irritably kicked aside the sand at his feet, the raised fine sand obscuring both of their sight.

He crossed his arms, his tone a bit impatient: "Hashirama uncle, when are we returning to Konoha?"

Before the words fell, a gust of scorching hot wind swept by, filling his mouth with sand.

"Pah pah pah!" Lian Ye kept spitting, trying to clear the sand from his mouth.

"Haha, Xiao Lian Ye, don't speak against the wind." Hashirama laughed at the sight.

He cleverly turned his back to the wind source, so the sand couldn't enter his eyes or mouth.

Lian Ye helplessly rolled his eyes at Hashirama and continued: "Hashirama uncle, when are we going back?"

They have been in Wind Country for three days now.

Except for the first day spent in the town, the remaining two days were spent trekking through the desert.

He doesn't understand that it's desert all around, truly not knowing what's worth seeing…

With this time, it would be better to go back and cultivate.

"Xiao Lian Ye, do you want to go back?" Hashirama asked.

Lian Ye nodded, "Hashirama uncle, we've been out for a while, it's time to return."

From when they left Konoha until now, about three months have passed; indeed it's time to head back.

Hashirama heard this, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Lian Ye, tentatively asking: "Can we play a few more days?"

"Hashirama uncle, we've already toured the entire Ninja World." Lian Ye reminded.

"Alright." Hashirama understood Lian Ye's meaning, his face showing disappointment as he agreed, "I originally wanted to play a few more days…"

Lian Ye snatched the map from Hashirama's hand, began leading the way ahead, without looking back, saying:

"Hashirama uncle, there will still be time to come out and play later."

Hearing this, Hashirama's eyes flashed with a hint of melancholy, he murmured softly, "But do I really still have time…"

Speaking, he pulled back his sleeve, revealing a slender wound on his arm.

It was a plant scratch he got two days ago; two days later it still hadn't improved.

These three months he toured the Ninja World, only to see one last time the peaceful world he created before leaving.

"Meow~" Lihua licked Hashirama's face.

"Haha, did I make you worry?"

Hashirama pulled down his sleeve again, his face returning to a cheerful look, lifted his leg and caught up with Lian Ye in the distance.

"Xiao Lian Ye, let me lead the way; otherwise we'll lose the path again."

"Hashirama uncle, trust me, this time we'll definitely reach Konoha safely."

"Alright, I'll trust you one last time."

———————

Konoha Village, Qianshou Feijian Laboratory.

Qianshou Feijian stared expressionlessly at the ninja bound to the ground, struggling desperately, and said coldly:

"The value of you spies is to become sacrificial subjects for experiments."

"Using flesh as a conduit, soul as a contract." Qianshou Feijian formed hand seals, "Impure World Reincarnation!"

He slapped the ground with one hand, a complex formation spreading toward the ninja on the ground; the blindfolded ninja kept struggling, emitting a chilling scream.

White dust rose from the formation, covering the ninja.

Soon, his body was completely covered in dust, leaving only a white humanoid silhouette.

"Using living people as vessels for the dead's souls." Qianshou Feijian narrowed his eyes, "It seems I succeeded."

As soon as the words fell, the white dust on the ninja quickly faded.

Miraculously, as the dust vanished, what emerged was no longer the previous ninja but a ninja clad in armor.

"Where am I?" the ninja asked, looking around bewildered.

When he saw Qianshou Feijian, he froze, his face showing shock.

"Lord Feijian, is that you?"

Usually unsmiling, Feijian rarely showed a hint of a smile,

"Kaede, long time no see, sorry to disturb your rest…"

The person Feijian summoned was his former subordinate, unfortunately killed inadvertently in the war.

"Lord Feijian, what's happening?" Senju Kaede looked down at his body, "Wasn't I dead?"

"This is a ninjutsu I've been researching…" Feijian explained.

"Truly worthy of Lord Feijian, to have invented such a powerful ninjutsu!"

Senju Kaede gasped in shock, unable to hold back his praise, and said:

"If the clan head knew, he would surely be happy!"

The clan head he referred to was Senju Hashirama.

Hearing this, Feijian's mouth twitched, and he gave no reply.

This must never be let the big brother find out!

Toying with the dead's souls is a grave disrespect…

Senju Kaede was about to speak again when he saw Feijian form hand seals; before he could react, the Impure Earth Reincarnation was dispelled.

He could only stare blankly as his Impure World Body slowly faded away.

"Lord Feijian, farewell…"

Qianshou Feijian said irritably, "Can you at least say something auspicious?"

"Haha, sorry, Lord Feijian."

As Kaede's body vanished, the Laboratory immediately fell into silence.

Qianshou Feijian took out the Scroll, began recording on it, then closed the Scroll again.

"The Impure Earth Reincarnation has been mastered; next we can study Ninjutsu that can pair with the Impure World Body…"

The Impure Earth Reincarnation's body is not bound by ordinary life limits, possesses infinite chakra, does not feel fatigue, needs no food, and requires no rest.

If deployed in war, it would be an undead army.

If it also learns specialized Ninjutsu, the power it displays will only grow stronger!

Qianshou Feijian grew increasingly excited, took out paper and brush and began scribbling.

Anyway, the big brother is not home now, so no one can stop him from researching Ninjutsu.

He hoped the big brother would stay out longer, preferably returning only after his research was finished.

While he was immersed in the experiment, he suddenly sensed a familiar chakra.

Qianshou Feijian stopped his actions, his mouth twitching.

"Why is big brother back at this hour?"