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Only an idiot would gamble on whether someone else might show mercy. Slipping away quietly worked just as well.
Orochimaru reached his conclusion without hesitation.
Based on the information he possessed and the strength of his body, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
Having the power to show off was confidence. Showing off without it was stupidity.
"I already prepared in advance," he thought calmly. "Most of the important things have been moved to the external bases."
"All that's left are a few materials in the lab behind the Hokage Rock."
"And…"
"Anko."
Orochimaru lay back on the bench, lost in thought, silent for a long time.
Over the years, he had deceived and manipulated countless children, turning them into tools for forbidden experiments and jutsu research.
Mitarashi Anko was different.
She was his student. A shinobi of Konoha in the open. Loyal to the village.
And even more loyal to the man who had saved her life.
Unfortunately, she had no special value.
"Keeping a girl like that around is nothing but a burden," Orochimaru muttered unconsciously. "And she's completely useless."
The voice that left his mouth was hoarse, carrying the genuine cold cruelty of a serpent.
He intended to become the ultimate lifeform, the strongest immortal being.
He had no need for dead weight.
And yet.
A faint glimmer flashed in his eyes. His body stiffened.
"Damn it."
"Did Orochimaru really devour the last scraps of my conscience?"
The thought unsettled him.
In his previous life, he had at least drawn the line at disrespecting corpses. Now, he found himself casually weighing the worth of living people.
The lives of others meant nothing.
That was not human thinking.
That was the logic of a cold-blooded creature.
And yet.
He did not truly hate selfishness.
What he hated was isolation.
He wanted power, but he did not want to reduce himself to absolute solitude. Sunlight filtered gently through the window, warmth spreading through the man's body.
Only then did Orochimaru notice a vase in the room.
Inside it stood a bouquet of fresh flowers.
They looked newly bought. Bright yellow petals, vivid and full of life.
"Such a pleasant scent."
Orochimaru lifted the flowers and inhaled softly.
He could almost see it.
The girl carefully opened the window, found the room empty, hesitated, then placed the flowers in the vase before leaving.
Her small face must have been filled with disappointment.
After all, she had not seen her teacher for several days.
The Hokage Tower.
"So he returned to the village this morning."
The elderly Third Hokage sat behind his desk, drawing deeply on his pipe.
Unease flickered across his wrinkled face, mixed with guilt and sorrow.
He still had no concrete evidence. But shinobi had been disappearing far too frequently, and aside from that man, no one else could have done it.
He knew Jiraiya. He knew Tsunade.
Only the student he once valued most, the genius named Orochimaru. Only he could have strayed this far.
Had he truly lost his way?
The Third exhaled a slow plume of smoke.
ANBU agents reported Orochimaru's recent movements. The old man remained silent for a long time.
…
"What a clear day."
"Boss, one glass of juice, please."
Orochimaru appeared on the streets of Konoha, a rare sight.
The green jonin vest. The thin frame. The deathly pale skin. The low, raspy voice.
"Y-Yes... Yes, sir."
The shop owner froze for a moment, then hurried to prepare the drink.
His hands trembled as he accepted the money Orochimaru offered. Only after Orochimaru left did he finally breathe in relief.
As for the other customers, they had already lowered their heads and stepped aside the moment Orochimaru appeared.
"So the rumors really are spreading," he thought.
"No wonder the civilians react like this."
The man walked at an unhurried pace as the crowd instinctively parted, leaving a clear path ahead of him.
Lately, several shinobi had gone missing, and word around the village hinted that Orochimaru might be involved. That was why fear clung so heavily to the air.
"Sensei."
Orochimaru sat on a bench, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a young girl's voice called out from a distance.
She was about thirteen years old. Short purple hair, grayish-brown eyes, and a Konoha forehead protector tied neatly in place. Black mesh stockings, topped with a gray-red coat.
Mitarashi Anko.
His one and only student.
This body had never bothered to hide its activities, so Anko knew her teacher conducted experiments. Even so, she had never reported him.
Because her life had truly begun the day she met Orochimaru.
Even if she had once merely been a tool, those days had still given her warmth.
She respected her teacher deeply.
"It's you... Anko."
Orochimaru smiled faintly and patted the girl on the head, gesturing for her to sit beside him.
"T-Thank you, Sensei."
She nodded politely and sat down.
For some reason, today's Sensei felt gentler than usual. The change felt subtle, yet unmistakable.
"Have you been training properly lately?"
"It's been a while since I checked your progress."
Orochimaru asked softly.
He had inherited his own memories. Naturally, that included his relationship with this girl.
"Reporting to Sensei."
"My summoning technique is already very proficient."
Anko straightened immediately, answering with seriousness.
"You're a good girl, Anko."
Orochimaru praised her.
"Yes."
Anko smiled so brightly it was as if she had received the greatest reward imaginable.
She knew this man was dangerous. At times, utterly cold-blooded.
And yet, every now and then, she could still feel warmth from him.
Before meeting Orochimaru, she had been a timid, lonely child. It was Sensei who taught her ninjutsu, took her out to eat, and gave her a place to live in Konoha.
"This kid…"
"She's the foolishly loyal type."
Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he sighed.
Anko's greatest strength was her loyalty.
Give her even a little care, and she would stand by you at any time. Trust you without reservation. Even die for you if needed.
But she lacked the will to grow stronger.
There was no hunger for power in her heart, no hatred, no rage, no obsession. None of the emotions that forged true strength.
And yet.
Orochimaru was no longer the same man he once was. That former soul was already gone.
He needed subordinates. Strong ones.
But that did not mean he had to discard every weak person.
He was one of the Legendary Sannin. What did it matter if he kept a seemingly useless girl by his side?
"Orochimaru-sama."
Anko asked cautiously.
The man had fallen into thought again, silent for a long while.
"Life in Konoha is truly peaceful," he said at last.
"Look at them."
"They're like a calm lake, and I'm just the wind."
"A wind that doesn't know where it will blow next."
The cold man opened his eyes, his tone flat.
Anko's heart suddenly grew quiet.
The bustling street and passing crowd faded from her awareness, leaving only the strange, sinister man before her.
"Your eyes are very beautiful."
The man spoke abruptly.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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Thank you so much for your support and for reading.