Killing his way through the ninja world, starting from being adopted by the second generation!

"Okay, let's go home and rest."

With that, the two stepped forward and entered the village.

Renya and Tobirama instinctively made way for the two to pass.

As Hashirama passed by the two, he slowly stopped.

"Tobirama, I want to rest for a few days, so please don't bother me."

"Tsunade, let's go home." Mito smiled and extended her hand to Tsunade.

"Yay! Grandpa and Grandma, you're finally back!" Tsunade took her grandmother's hand and left with her grandparents.

"Grandpa, are you not feeling well?"

"Hmm, it's not a big problem, I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest."

"Grandpa, get some rest. We'll play dice together when you're feeling better."

"Haha, no problem. Xiao Gang, do you want to win back the pocket money you lost before?"

"Of course! I'm sure I'll win this time!"

Renya and Tobirama watched silently as the three generations of grandfather, grandmother, and grandson walked away into the distance.

"Uncle, has Uncle Hashirama's body really reached that point?" Renya murmured softly, her expression complicated.

Hashirama just now gave him the feeling of an old man in his twilight years, exuding a strong aura of death...

The oppressive feeling made him feel suffocated.

Tobirama Senju stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless.

His slightly trembling fingers betrayed a lack of outward composure.

His mind was in turmoil from surging emotions, making even breathing difficult.

Tobirama Senju has always been a calm and collected person.

Seeing his elder brother like this, his usually cold and hard heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by something.

Big brother, it looks like he's going to die...

He thought his older brother could hold on for a few more years, but fate played a cruel joke on him, and this day came so quickly.

Seeing Tobirama Senju like this, Renya knew the old man was upset, so she didn't say anything more and stood silently beside him.

He knew perfectly well that, given Hashirama Senju's current condition, he probably wouldn't live for more than a few days.

Lianye's mind drifted back to all the moments she had spent with Hashirama over the years, and her fists clenched unconsciously.

Although he always considered himself an outsider, he was still a person.

A living, breathing person with feelings and flesh and blood!

He always remembered who treated him well and who treated him badly.

Seeing Hashirama's appearance, Renya couldn't help but feel sad.

As Hashirama's younger brother, Tobirama Senju's feelings upon seeing his elder brother in this state are beyond words.

As night fell and the last rays of sunset faded, Renya and Tobirama Senju stood side by side in front of the Konoha gates.

A night breeze swept a few withered leaves past their feet.

Tobirama Senju maintained his posture with his arms crossed, the hem of his black robe fluttering in the wind.

After an unknown amount of time, the bright moonlight shone on Tobirama Senju's face.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was hoarse: "Kid, you should go back first."

Lian Ye subconsciously looked up, only to see the moonlight split that cold, stern face in two, one bright and one dark.

Half of his face was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see clearly, while the face revealed in the moonlight remained cold, with only the red blood vessels at the corners of his eyes revealing a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Lian Ye opened her mouth, but swallowed the words back.

In the end, he simply nodded heavily.

As Renya walked ahead, she vaguely heard the soft rustling of fabric behind her, and then Tobirama Senju's footsteps followed at a leisurely pace.

Two shadows overlapped and lengthened on the stone path, extending into the depths of the leaf-covered forest.

Along the way, Lianye thought about many things.

The power of Hashirama's cells, the reasons for Hashirama's deteriorating health, and what methods can be used to resolve this...?

I thought about it for a long time, but I still had no clue.

He didn't want Hashirama to die like this, but there was absolutely nothing he could do.

At some point, Tobirama Senju walked up to Renya.

Wasn't he thinking about solutions?

Over the years, he has tried many methods, even conducting human experiments, but he still has not found a way to improve his elder brother's health.

Before they knew it, the two arrived at the door of the pillar.

They instinctively stopped and looked at the tightly closed door.

Tobirama Senju wanted to go up and knock on the door, but after hesitating for a long time, he finally gave up.

My older brother had told me before not to bother him.

Tobirama Senju knew that his elder brother didn't want him to see him in his seriously ill state...

Seeing this, Lian Ye pursed her lips, her expression somber.

"Uncle, let's go home."

Tobirama Senju nodded, took one last look at the gate, and then left.

After the two had completely left, Hashirama's weak voice could be heard from inside the house.

"Mito, have they left?"

Immediately afterwards, Mito's choked voice could be heard.

"Well, they went back."

"That's fine, that's fine..."

"Hashirama, you have to hold on!"

"I'm sorry, Mito, I may have to go back on my word."

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Lian Ye's Method

As soon as Tobirama Senju got home, he locked himself in his study.

Lianye sat alone on the threshold, staring blankly at the full moon in the sky.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that even someone who was as dazzling as the sun would one day have their light extinguished.

"No, there must be a way, there must be!"

He began to recall details he had previously overlooked…

Hashirama Senju suffered severe injuries during his battle with Madara.

Logically speaking, given his physical condition and recovery speed, this injury should heal quickly.

After all, Hashirama didn't seem to have suffered any fatal injuries.

Injuries of this severity are virtually impossible to repair!

Unless his cells are completely depleted, Hashirama's self-healing ability is achieved by accelerating cell division. In the battle with Madara, he may have overused his ability, causing his cell division to reach its limit and his life force to be exhausted, leading to his death.

It is important to know that the cells in the interstitial space are highly resilient and aggressive.

Even if your body's cells are depleted, you won't die that quickly.

With proper rest and recuperation, living for several more decades should not be a problem at all.

At most, their combat strength will be greatly reduced. As for why it has become like this...

It's very likely that Hashirama's instincts were resisting his body's recovery...

The reason is simple: he personally killed his best friend, Uchiha Madara, with whom he had worked to realize their dream and co-found Konoha Village.

Even though their ideas later diverged and they went down completely different paths.

Hashirama still regarded Madara as his only true friend.

To protect the village, he personally killed Madara...

More agonizing than the physical pain was the guilt he felt.

He probably felt that he had betrayed Ban, betrayed their shared ideals, and he couldn't forgive himself.

He suffered unprecedented physical and mental trauma; the psychological wounds combined with the severe physical injuries caused his vitality to rapidly diminish.

In just a few years, he became extremely weak.

Lian Ye stood up excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

He seems to know the reason for Hashirama's serious illness.

If Hashirama knew that Madara was not dead, his decaying body might be able to regain its vitality!

"Uncle, there might still be hope for Uncle Hashirama!"

Lianye called out into the house, then left the courtyard.

Tobirama Senju suddenly flung open the study door and followed him.

--------

Mito sat on the edge of the bed, her trembling fingertips brushing against Hashirama's pale cheek, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hashirama, are you really not going to call Tobirama and the others over?"

When Hashirama returned home, his injuries were even more severe.

She had a premonition that her husband might not make it.

Hashirama shook his head. "No need. I don't want them to worry."

He struggled to raise his hand and gently took his wife's hand in his.

Mito bit her lower lip and turned her face away, not wanting her husband to see her in such a state of collapse, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her sorrow.

Tsunade lay on the edge of the bed, her long golden hair falling down, obscuring her red and swollen eyes from crying.

"Grandpa, you're lying!"

The little girl pounded her fist on the blanket, tears streaming down her face.

"Didn't you say you'd get better? Waaah, I haven't won my money back yet, you can't die!"

Seeing Tsunade's tearful face, Hashirama reluctantly reached out and stroked his granddaughter's head.

"I'm sorry, Tsunade," Hashirama said with a wry smile. "I lost all the money I won from you at the casino back then."

Hearing this, the little girl cried even louder.

"Waaaaah, Grandpa's a big bad guy!"

"Tsunade, don't cry... Grandpa won't gamble anymore. From now on, listen to Grandma. If you need anything... you can ask Second Grandpa and Uncle Renya..."

Before he could finish speaking, a violent coughing fit occurred.

Spots of scarlet blood seeped from between his fingers as he covered his mouth, blooming into glaring flowers of blood on the bedding.

Hashirama slowly closed his eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease.

The image of Ban appeared before his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

He was finally able to go down and personally apologize to his best friend.

Ban's death was like a thorn stuck in his heart, causing him pain every moment.

Given his physical condition, while he may not be able to fully recover, he can certainly improve his condition.

It's just a subconscious resistance...