Chapter 168: From Now On, You Are No Longer Alone

...

Mei Terumi, along with Ao, Chojuro, and the other Kirigakure ninjas, disappeared into the forest, returning to the village to rest.

On a distant hillside, two figures, one large and one small, stood at the highest point, overlooking the village for a long time.

"Haku, after leaving this time, we may never return. You still have time to choose; you don't have to follow me."

"No, Zabuza-san. Wherever you go... I will go."

Haku looked at the village without any trace of nostalgia or reluctance.

"Alright, then let's go."

Zabuza said no more and turned to leave, with Haku following closely behind. Their figures soon disappeared into the mist.

...

In a pitch-black cave.

A young boy lay on the ground, his face pale and devoid of any color, even whiter than his hair.

"Ugh..."

A sudden sharp pain brought him back to consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes, the red of his eyelids faintly visible.

"Where... am I?"

"Could it be... I'm already dead?"

Recalling everything that had happened, seeing the surrounding darkness, the boy felt he was in the afterlife.

"Tsk, tsk... Kid, you're awake."

A hoarse yet gentle voice sounded beside him.

"Who... who are you?"

"My name is Orochimaru. Kimimaro, you're not dead. I saved you."

"..."

Kimimaro looked at Orochimaru with a cold expression and said indifferently:

"What's the point of saving me? I'm someone nobody cares about. I have nothing, and I can't change anything..."

As he spoke, Kimimaro stood up and dusted himself off.

At that moment, he noticed a white flower blooming in the corner of the cave, seemingly always attracting attention and care.

Seeing this, Kimimaro felt a surge of anger, not because the flower was blooming, but because it seemed just like him.

"Why bloom here when no one can see! What's the point of living!!"

Kimimaro shouted as he rushed toward the flower, a bone blade appearing in his hand, intending to cut it down.

Seeing this, Orochimaru spoke softly:

"Stop, child. It lives alone, striving to survive, so that one day someone like you will notice it, just as I have noticed you now..."

"Life doesn't always have meaning, but only by living can one find something meaningful, right...?"

"Child, come with me. From today on, you will no longer be alone..."

"..." Kimimaro was stunned by Orochimaru's words, unable to calm down for a long time.

After a while, Kimimaro seemed to understand something. He picked up a few small stones nearby and arranged them around the white flower like a small fence.

His expression softened considerably.

Kimimaro looked up cautiously and asked, "You really won't leave me like the others?"

Orochimaru's lips curled slightly. "You'll understand in time. I've been watching you for a long time. I saved you today because I don't want to lose you, Kimimaro. Maybe one day... we can become one."

Kimimaro's small head was filled with great confusion.

He didn't know why, even though he was meeting Orochimaru for the first time, and he didn't understand the meaning of Orochimaru's words, he just felt... an unusual kindness from this long-haired 'woman'.

Just because of the words: From now on, you are no longer alone...

...