Chapter 137: Warmth
Orochimaru pulled his thoughts away from the memories of his past life and asked Hiruzen: "Sensei, is the intelligence about the Land of Water reliable?"
"Mm," Hiruzen nodded with certainty: "There shouldn't be any issues. I've already sent Anbu to bring the spy's family into Konoha."
Seeing Orochimaru's grave expression, Hiruzen felt he owed his student, having dragged him into discussing the war the moment he returned. He couldn't help but smile and say: "Alright, you've talked with me long enough. It's time for you to go home! Little Maji has been talking about you non-stop here! If she knew I 'detained' you for this long right after you got back, she'd blame me again! I can't handle the little one's eyes when they get all watery and mournful!"
A look of resignation appeared on Hiruzen's face, showing he often gave in to Maji's wishes.
At the mention of Maji, the wicked smile on Orochimaru's face softened, instinctively showing a hint of tenderness and warmth.
He immediately bowed and took his leave from Hiruzen.
Stepping out of Hiruzen's office, Orochimaru walked down the well-lit, bright corridor. He slowly extended his tongue to lick his lips and let out a chuckle. He knew that the Third War Zone on the Western Front would be a much more interesting stage.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
As Orochimaru walked, his eyes suddenly brightened.
In the brilliant, soft sunlight streaming down, a girl stood at the end of the corridor, listlessly craning her neck in anticipation.
The girl's delicate face held a pair of watery, bright black eyes that seemed to contain a thousand words, giving her an air of frail vulnerability that invited pity.
Her ink-black hair contrasted with her fair skin, making her look as pure as snow and as smooth as jade—altogether pure, beautiful, and charming.
Compared to three years ago, her figure had grown quite a bit and was beginning to show graceful curves. Clad in a pure-white kimono adorned with lily patterns, she radiated an aura of vibrant youthfulness.
The quietly waiting girl looked like a tender lily bud about to bloom—pure, flawless, and delicately alluring.
Orochimaru gazed at the beautiful girl bathed in sunlight, his mind racing. He felt as if he were transported back to the night he adopted her, as if all the goodness, charm, and beauty of the world had converged on this innocent girl.
The girl's sharp intuition sensed she was being stared at, and she instinctively turned her head.
At that glance, her vision froze, and her entire body trembled. Intense surprise and excitement welled up in her bright, captivating black eyes, which instantly became red-rimmed.
Before Orochimaru could react, the girl flew into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest, running at top speed.
Her gentle body clung tightly to Orochimaru. The girl sobbed and cried out: "Big Brother, Waaah!"
Orochimaru's hands hung awkwardly at his sides; for a moment, he didn't know where to put them. Though he was a man reincarnated from another life, he had never experienced this kind of emotional onslaught.
However, looking down at the girl weeping in his arms, Orochimaru could tell she had much to say, but all of it had dissolved into that single, emotionally complex address: "Big Brother."
Feeling her soft body and smelling her faint, sweet fragrance, Orochimaru felt a spring of clear water flow through his heart, washing away the bloodshed and killing intent, leaving him instantly calm and serene.
His pale, slender hands naturally reached up, just as they had long ago, and gently stroked the girl's ink-black hair.
Orochimaru's gentle, deep, and slightly magnetic voice slowly sounded: "There, there, Maji, don't cry anymore, okay? You'll ruin your pretty face if you cry!"
The girl immediately stopped her pitiable crying as told. She looked up at the pale, handsome Orochimaru, a faint flush of shyness spreading across her face. She immediately looked down again, her soft hands only tightening their grip on Orochimaru, greedily soaking in his scent, clinging to him like a cute koala bear.
After a while, Maji finally stood up following Orochimaru's gentle persuasion.
Seeing the large wet spot on his chest, Orochimaru's wicked, tender smile slowly deepened. His right hand, just as in their childhood, gently rubbed Maji's head: "You still love to cry, don't you? See? You've soaked a big patch on Big Brother's clothes!"
Maji, who had initially looked mournful because Orochimaru messed up her neat hair, immediately blushed again at his words. She frantically searched her body for a tissue to wipe the spot.
Seeing his familiar little sister still adorable, charming, and shy, Orochimaru waved his hand, stopping her with a smile: "It was just a joke, come on. Let's go home!"
Maji wiped the glistening tears from the corner of her eyes and nodded heavily: "Mmm! Big Brother, let's go home!"
Going Home
By the time Orochimaru and Maji left the Hokage Tower, it was already late. The blazing sun was slowly setting, leaving only the fading, warm glow of the twilight.
Maji, her face full of joy and happiness, held Orochimaru's hand and mischievously said: "Big Brother, carry me on your back, just like you used to!"
Hearing Maji's sudden, childish request, Orochimaru's head throbbed a little: "Maji, you're big now! Don't you worry about people laughing if Big Brother carries you?**"
"Hmph!" She pouted her cute little nose: "It's your fault for not coming back for three whole years and leaving Maji all alone at home!" Her eyes were on the verge of turning into a floodgate again.
Orochimaru, who was cold and brilliant in his strategies against enemies, was utterly helpless in this situation. He could only comply, squatting down and waving his hand: "Fine, get on. Sigh!"
Heh-heh, Maji immediately burst into a smile, not a trace of her previous sadness remaining. She eagerly leaped onto Orochimaru's back.
As a whiff of fragrance reached him, Orochimaru felt a slight weight on his back. His strong, Jōnin-level body effortlessly carried Maji, who was still small to him.
It was only after being carried that Maji felt a slight strangeness. Her soft chest was pressed tightly against her Big Brother's back, and a unique, pleasant, rich masculine scent from Orochimaru constantly wafted into her nose.
Maji's face was flushed with shyness, but she held tightly to Orochimaru's neck, full of joy and intoxication.
Orochimaru walked quietly in the sunset with Maji on his back, a wicked and tender smile playing on his lips. Their intertwined figures, just as when they were younger, were stretched long, long by the dim twilight.
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