The old monk clasped his hands, silently recited a Buddhist phrase, and called out to Orochimaru and Maji, who were about to leave.
The old monk walked up, took out a small white porcelain bottle and a scroll about two fingers thick from his plain white monk's robe, and handed them to Orochimaru, saying kindly, "These are some healing herbs I prepared myself. They work quite well. If Young Benefactor doesn't mind, please take them."
Orochimaru looked at the old monk with a hint of suspicion and vigilance. Finding nothing amiss, he turned his head and said to Maji, "Maji, take them."
Maji's pair of innocent big eyes looked at the old monk. She smiled sweetly, extended her dirty little hand, took the white porcelain bottle and the scroll, and then hugged Orochimaru's neck tightly.
Orochimaru reluctantly bowed to the old monk and said flatly, "Thank you, Master."
The old monk watched Orochimaru gradually walk away. Recalling Orochimaru's reluctant bow, he smiled knowingly. This child is not bad at heart! Suddenly, the old monk saw Maji, who was lying on Orochimaru's back, raising a delicate little hand and continuously waving goodbye to him. His heart was even more delighted. He clasped his hands and prayed.
Maji lay on Orochimaru's back, hugging his neck tightly. She kept looking around at the scenery, her small hands and feet moving restlessly, making Orochimaru, who was carrying her, feel uneasy, as he was only a six-year-old child himself.
Orochimaru couldn't help but blurt out, "Maji?"
"Hmm?" the little girl responded doubtfully.
"What are you doing? Twisting and turning so much, Big Brother can barely hold you!" Orochimaru said jokingly.
"Ah!" Maji cried out, immediately stopped moving, and said bashfully, "I, I'm trying to remember the way home! I thought if I remember it now, I won't get lost later!"
Hearing the girl's words, Orochimaru fell into a profound silence.
"Big Brother, what is your name?" Maji asked curiously.
Orochimaru smiled. In his dark-golden snake eyes, a sinister charm and stern dominance that no one saw radiated as he said, word for word, "My name is Orochimaru!"
"Orochimaru?" Maji repeated. She seemed to find the name difficult to understand, murmuring, "It's as weird as Maji's name, heh heh!"
Maji's self-talk naturally didn't escape Orochimaru's ears. His smile froze at the corner of his mouth, leaving him slightly speechless.
Remembering Maji's name, Orochimaru asked again, "Maji, why did your parents give you this, this..." Orochimaru paused, carefully choosing his words: "...Why did they give you this strange name?"
"Hmm? Mama was a singer in a traveling troupe, and I don't know who Papa was. Mama said that a name that's a bit lowly is easier to raise, so she gave me this strange name. But Maji really likes this name, it's weird just like Big Brother's!" Maji said innocently. Being so young, she didn't understand the full meaning of the word 'lowly.'
Orochimaru sighed softly in his heart.
He didn't know what the little girl on his back had thought of, but she suddenly started crying again. Glistening tears "pattered, pattered—" onto Orochimaru's neck and ran down into his clothes.
The girl rested her head on Orochimaru's back, constantly sobbing, and recounted haltingly, "Mama, Mama always said, sob, Konoha, Konoha has many, many people, boo hoo, and when we got to Konoha, we could, we could earn a lot of money, and then, and then we could have a good life! But, but, boo hoo, Mama got sick when we were almost at Konoha. Later, later, soon after we got to Konoha, Mama died, woo woo woo! Only, only Maji was left, all alone, woo-ah-ah-ah!"
Orochimaru listened quietly. An indescribable bitterness lingered in his heart, leaving him speechless.
After a long time, Maji's sobs gradually softened.
"Maji, from now on, you are Big Brother's little sister!" Orochimaru's equally young voice held an unspeakable determination.
"Mm, mm!" Maji's voice was mumbled, and then gradually softened.
Orochimaru felt the silence slowly settle behind him. Gentle breathing puffed against his neck. The girl was exhausted and had fallen asleep!
Smiling gently, Orochimaru tightened his grip on the girl on his back and walked home, one step at a time. The bright moonlight, like liquid silver pouring down, quietly shone, stretching the shadows of the two figures walking on the road, long and overlapping, yet not lonely!
Inside the Hokage Tower, in an ordinary office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in comfortable, loose casual wear, sat upright at his desk, reviewing various documents and secrets. At this moment, the warmth in his eyes was completely gone, replaced by a wisdom and composure rarely seen in an ordinary person.
The room was silent enough to hear a pin drop; only the "shhh, shhh, shhh—" sound of Hiruzen's pen reviewing documents could be heard.
A breeze blew past, and the shadow in the corner seemed to become heavier and darker.
Hiruzen's movements did not stop; he continued to focus on reviewing the documents.
After a moment, Hiruzen placed the document he was holding aside, picked up another, and continued reviewing. His hands kept working, but Hiruzen's steady voice echoed within the room: "Gen, you've returned!"
"Yes, Hiruzen-sama!" A low male voice answered from the corner.
"How did the mission go?" Hiruzen asked, his head still bent over the document.
"The target has been eliminated!" The newcomer in the corner, whose voice contained a faint smell of blood and killing intent, continued, "Furthermore, according to reports from Anbu Team Six, the Land of Rivers has been causing some unrest recently!"
"Oh?" Hiruzen's pen stopped. His wise and composed eyes were suddenly replaced by sternness and authority. He spoke with a sense of dominance and power: "Hmph, those insignificant clowns don't have the audacity! I will assign another team to you. You must investigate and find out the people hiding behind them!"
"Yes, Hiruzen-sama!" The newcomer hesitated, stopping short: "However, Danzō-sama's side..."
Hiruzen put down his pen, stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the sparsely lit Konoha outside. His eyes were as deep as an abyss. He said calmly, "Don't worry, Danzō won't make trouble for you over this kind of matter."
With a slight smile, Hiruzen continued lightly, "Gen, stop being so formal all the time. After all these years of friendship, don't you think I understand what you mean?"
The newcomer hesitated. His tone was vague and tentative: "Hiruzen, the Second Hokage has passed, and the position of Hokage is vacant. With your reputation in the village and the Anbu, and your current position as the Hokage's Assistant, taking the Hokage seat would be simple. Why haven't you made your move yet?"
Hearing this, an astonishing aura, vast as the ocean, flashed around Hiruzen and instantly disappeared, rendering the newcomer speechless.
After a long pause, Hiruzen sighed deeply: "Now is not the time."
The newcomer said no more, bowed, and his tanuki mask flashed as he vanished, a breeze passing by as he retreated.
The room returned to silence. Looking out the window, Hiruzen's eyes were exceptionally clear, as if they could see through everything.
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