Chapter 99: Ban, I've Come Looking for You!

The Jutsu Barrier inside the house faded slowly, and Lian Ye, with a complicated expression, walked out of the room.

"Kid, how's my big brother?"

Qianshou Feijian's voice actually trembled a little, and a rare tension showed on his face.

He didn't use his perception, seeming not to want to know the result so quickly.

Seeing the expression on Lian Ye's face, he understood.

"Uncle, Uncle Hashirama... is gone," Lian Ye's voice was hoarse.

Qianshou Feijian said nothing, tilting his head upward to gaze at the round moon in the sky.

Xuanwo Mizuto clutched tightly onto Gangshou, the grandparent and grandchild crying without being able to make a sound.

Although he had long prepared himself mentally, it was still extremely painful when it actually happened.

Seeing their sorrowful faces, Lian Ye felt a pang of unwillingness in his heart.

In truth, he didn't want this either, but it was Senju Hashirama's request.

Rather than letting him wander aimlessly in the Village for these three years, it would be better to let him leave the Village...

After an unknown amount of time, Qianshou Feijian suddenly said, "Kid, take good care of my big brother; I'm going to handle some matters first."

As he spoke, his figure flashed and vanished from the spot.

The news of my big brother's death must never be known by anyone!

He needs to seal the information immediately, lest more people learn of it and panic.

Moreover, enemy nation spies must not find out...

"Mizuto Ayi, please accept my condolences," Lian Ye whispered gently.

"Hmm, I understand."

Xuanwo Mizuto's emotions gradually steadied, and Gangshou in his arms had already fallen asleep.

She gently lifted Gangshou and handed him to Lian Ye, "Lian Ye, could you take Gangshou to rest? I want to spend more time with Hashirama."

Lian Ye nodded and left, taking Gangshou with him.

Xuanwo Mizuto entered the room, looked at Hashirama lying on the bed with his eyes tightly closed, and tears welled up again.

————————

Senju Hashirama is dead.

His funeral was very simple; only four people even attended.

As the Hokage, Qianshou Feijian sealed the news at the first moment.

After a night passed, almost no one knew that Hashirama had already died.

Feijian knew too well my big brother's influence in the Ninja World.

As long as he lives even one more day, no one in the Ninja World dares to scheme against Konoha.

After all, the title God of Ninja was earned through battle.

The people of the Ninja World were subdued by Hashirama, which is why they called him the God of Ninja!

Fire Country possesses a favorable geography and abundant resources; to other villages, it is a piece of fatty meat.

Because Hashirama is present, they can only suppress their inner desires.

If they learn of Hashirama's death, they would unquestionably launch a war against Fire Country without hesitation.

Without the God of Ninja, Konoha lacks a strong deterrent.

Even though Konoha Village's overall strength still exceeds that of other villages, they would still wage war for Fire Country's resources.

They will conceal this matter for as long as possible.

In this way, there will be ample time for Konoha to develop.

…………

The drizzle pattered, and the stone path of Qian Shou Cemetery was covered in mud.

Qianshou Feijian, wrapped in a black cloak, stood at the edge of the dug earth pit, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

Lian Ye stood beside him, holding a handful of fresh flowers in his hand.

The rain mixed with fine sand settled on Gangshou's tender face; the five‑year‑old clutched Mizuto's sleeve, watching Second Grandfather and Uncle place Grandfather's coffin into the burial pit, unable to comprehend for a long while.

She had lost the grandfather who loved her most.

There would be no one to gamble with her ever again...

The rain, mingled with tears, slid down Gangshou's cheek, splashing tiny droplets onto the ground.

Xuanwo Mizuto silently lit the Three Pillar Incense, and the green smoke twisted and dissipated within the rain curtain.

After completing all this, she led Gangshou away from the cemetery.

Only Lian Ye and Feijian remained standing in the rain curtain.

After an unknown amount of time, Qianshou Feijian suddenly asked.

"Kid, is my big brother really dead?"

It always felt that something was off; how could my big brother just die like that?

He didn't even utter any dying words...

He was very curious about what my big brother actually said to Lian Ye before passing.

Facing Feijian's sudden question, Lian Ye was a bit stunned, but quickly recovered.

"Uncle, I can understand your feelings," Lian Ye sighed, comforting, "But the dead cannot be revived; please accept my condolences." ………

"Uncle Hashirama's condition is clear to both you and me; there's no way he could survive, so stop deceiving yourselves."

Qianshou Feijian fell silent, turning his head to look at his big brother's grave.

Calling it a grave is a stretch; it's really just a slightly larger mound of earth.

Senju Hashirama's cells are very special; they absolutely must not be studied casually!

To prevent anyone from scheming about big brother's corpse, he didn't erect a tombstone at the grave…

Another ten or twenty years later, who could have imagined that the owner of this little mound would be the legendary God of Ninja?

So this is also a form of indirect protection.

Of course, there are many such graves in the cemetery.

During the Warring States Period, the kind‑hearted Senju Hashirama buried the dead Senju People together with battlefield enemies here.

Those who received tombstones were all Senju People, while those without tombstones were nameless enemies.

Lian Ye saw Qianshou Feijian remain silent and continued, "Uncle, if you truly don't believe it, dig up Uncle Hashirama's corpse and dissect it to see."

Given his understanding of that old kid, he would never do such a thing to Hashirama's corpse.

That's why he said it—to make Feijian believe this.

Just as Lian Ye thought, Qianshou Feijian would not do such a thing.

He turned his head toward Lian Ye, his voice low, "It's not that I don't believe you; it's just that I'm a bit hesitant to believe…"

He had long ago covered all of Konoha with his perception; when he didn't sense big brother's chakra fluctuations, he knew big brother was truly dead.

Even if he didn't believe it, it was useless; the fact lay before his eyes.

Lian Ye's expression remained unchanged, but his heart lacked the outward calm.

Damn it, finally got it past.

"Kid, what did big brother say to you before he died?" Qianshou Feijian asked.

He wanted to know whether big brother had any matters to entrust to him.

Lian Ye nodded; Senju Hashirama really had left a dying wish.

"Uncle, Uncle Hashirama asked me to tell you that the Village is now yours; he hopes you can lead the Village to prosperity."

Qianshou Feijian looked at the mound before him and whispered softly.

"Don't worry, big brother."

The Village was built by big brother; he has the duty to protect it well.

The two stood before the tomb, not noticing a dark silhouette appear in a nearby mound.

That silhouette quickly merged back into the mound.

Heh heh, the reincarnated Asura finally died…

————————

Fire Country, on a cliff.

A figure wearing a conical hat stood for a long while, eyes full of longing and release.

Wind swept over the cliff, lifting a corner of the hat, revealing Senju Hashirama's slightly pallid face.

He gave Konoha Village one last deep look, as if to engrave everything here into his memory.

In the instant he turned, the corner of his mouth under the hat lifted slightly.

He set his steps, and his figure gradually vanished into the rain curtain.

"Ban, I've come to find you!"

ps: I glanced at the backstage and now owe five chapters; the sky's falling!

Add two chapters each on the next two days, plus the usual two chapters, for a total of eight chapters.