"Xin, are you interested in the Two-Tails?" Orochimaru asked with a sly grin.
"Yeah, I've heard the Two-Tails is a rather unique biju among the tailed beasts. I was curious to see for myself, but it looks like the Hidden Cloud isn't giving me the chance. I guess we'll focus on the Eight-Tails," Xin replied.
If the Two-Tails isn't available, then the Eight-Tails would be the next best thing. As long as they could cause a little chaos in the Hidden Cloud, that was enough for him.
By the time the Hidden Cloud got their next Eight-Tails jinchuriki, it would probably be that goofball, Killer Bee.
"What do you think is the meaning of life?" Orochimaru suddenly asked as they continued on their journey.
Xin paused, glancing back at him, then sat down on a nearby rock. He decided to take a short break.
Orochimaru sat down as well, his gaze never leaving Xin.
Xin pulled out a scroll, retrieving some supplies. He was planning to grab a quick bite before they continued.
"Probably... just staying alive," Xin said casually.
It was a question everyone had a different answer to. For Orochimaru, it was immortality. For Xin, he wasn't as ambitious-just living was enough. In a way, it was the same as immortality, just without the obsession.
After all, who wants to die if they can keep on living? Although, in the world of shinobi, not dying was easier said than done.
"Just staying alive?" Orochimaru repeated.
"Of course. What else?" Xin replied.
"And why is that?" Orochimaru asked, clearly intrigued by Xin's answer.
It wasn't the kind of response you'd expect from someone Xin's age. Most kids at this age would struggle to answer such a deep question. Many wouldn't even know what to say.
Orochimaru had asked the same question to Nawaki before, and his answer... Well, Orochimaru could only describe it as underwhelming.
"Because life only has meaning while you're alive. Once you lose it, you lose everything."
Orochimaru was still thinking over Xin's words. Was this question coming from a place of personal reflection?
Nawaki was still alive and well. So what was triggering this line of thought in Orochimaru? Xin wondered.
Maybe something happened to Orochimaru on the frontlines in the Land of Rivers. He had been acting a little strange since he returned from the battlefield.
After a while, Orochimaru suddenly chuckled.
"Xin, your answer is... fascinating. The meaning of life is to live, and once life is gone, so is everything."
"Mmm..." Orochimaru seemed to be lost in thought again. He quickly stopped walking, pulling out a scroll and a pen, and started jotting down notes.
Xin had no idea what Orochimaru was doing, so he waited, watching the snake-like shinobi scribble away.
This was why Xin had to be careful around him. Orochimaru, once he went down a darker path, would become utterly ruthless. It was safer to keep a distance from someone like that.
Especially since a darkened Orochimaru would develop a particular fascination with the Sharingan, and Xin didn't want to get caught up in that.
Once Orochimaru had finished writing, he smiled, pleased with himself, and tucked away the scroll and pen.
The two resumed their journey.
The world wasn't exactly peaceful at the moment. While the war between Konoha and the Hidden Rain had ended, a fierce conflict was now raging between Konoha and the Hidden Sand in the Land of Rivers.