Chapter 33 "The only saving grace is that you didn't..."
It was just a joke, but the other party answered so seriously that it caught you off guard. Bai had even studied professional medical knowledge beforehand, just to help you improve your health. You feel that your physical condition is much better than before, so Bai is not only your assistant, but also acts as a doctor.
You pick up the teacup and blow away the steam rising from it. After blowing for a while, when it feels less hot, you take a small sip. The first taste is the spiciness of old ginger, and only after a while do you taste the sweetness of brown sugar.
Let's skip that topic for now. After Bai patiently waited for you to finish the ginger tea, he took your temperature again. It was within the normal range, so your headache was probably just a migraine caused by the cold night wind. It should only be temporary. He stood behind you and massaged your head.
Even though you have a headache, you're still looking at the documents, feeling dizzy from reading. After a cup of hot ginger tea, you feel like going to sleep again.
The advantage of being your own boss is that you can sleep whenever you want, so you took another nap.
You slept in a bit too long, and when you woke up it was already afternoon tea time. Pulling back a corner of the curtains, you saw it was still raining outside. You sighed sadly, "Why is it still raining..."
There was a knock at the door. Who could it be?
You went to open the door and saw Kimimaro standing outside. Oh, it was him. You were still wearing loose pajamas, looking like you had just woken up from a nap.
"Is there something you need?" you ask.
"Are you... not feeling well?"
I don't know where Kimimaro got this news from, but you leaned lazily against the door and said, "You came all this way just to ask how I am feeling?"
"It wasn't exactly a special trip." It didn't take him long to walk over from another suite.
That's not the point, is it? It seems he's focused on the wrong thing again, you think.
"I'm feeling much better now. How about you? Do you have any discomfort?" Speaking of which, he should have been getting regular checkups since he came to the sanatorium. The doctors at the sanatorium had helped him with the checkups the last few times. If you remember correctly, he should be getting his next checkup soon, right?
As it turns out, you were right. Kimimaro said, "I'm going to get checked out soon."
You said "Oh," and then added, "I can check for you too." You said it half-jokingly, not expecting him to agree, but after thinking about it carefully for a moment, he said, "Sure."
Huh? Is he serious? You paused, "Are you sure?"
“I'm sure, it's just a routine check-up anyway.” Kimimaro's expression remained unchanged.
Okay, since you don't want to look at the documents anytime soon and they're giving you a headache, find something else to have fun with to kill time.
The clinic was downstairs, but unfortunately, the doctor had gone for afternoon tea. Yes, the doctors at the sanatorium also enjoyed life. So you casually strolled around the clinic, turned around, and found Kimimaro sitting obediently in a chair. Sensing your gaze, he looked up at you.
After spending some time in the sanatorium, where he ate and drank well and didn't have to go on missions, Kimimaro's complexion became rosier.
You walk up to him, holding a record book you took out of the cabinet. You flip to the pages that record the last examination, and check the examination items, blood pressure, vision, oral condition, and so on.
It feels similar to the check-up you had at school in your past life. Blood pressure and vision tests are very convenient, and the values are all within the normal range. Next is the oral health check.
Pull the light next to you over and point it at your mouth, with your hands wearing medical gloves.
It actually looks quite convincing; you feel like you do resemble a dentist at first glance.
Using a light to examine the teeth, it's important to know that teeth are largely determined by genetics. If you have good genes, you won't get cavities even if you don't brush your teeth carefully. But if you have bad genes, no matter how carefully you brush your teeth, you can still get cavities if you're not careful. And once you get one cavity, several more will follow.
As for why you know so much about this, it's because you had bad teeth in your past life. After you started working, the several root canal treatments you had almost emptied your wallet.
Fortunately, you have very good teeth, so you don't have to worry about that anymore.
Your thoughts have wandered off. No, you should be checking Kimimaro's teeth right now.
His teeth were white and clean, just like the impression he gave off. You would see his wisdom teeth already emerging from the back and say, "You've grown wisdom teeth."
Kimimaro blinked, as if silently asking: So what?
"It's not a big deal, but you'll be in a lot of pain if your wisdom tooth grows in crooked," you said with a smile, especially if it's crooked and presses on a nerve, then it's truly unbearable.
“You’re trying to scare me,” he mumbled.
Just as you're about to pull your hand back, he, for reasons unknown, bites your finger.
What are you doing, biting me?
Without much effort, you asked, "What are you doing?"
A warm, soft touch could be felt through the gloves.
You pulled your hand back, took off the medical gloves, and threw them into the trash can.
Kimimaro was still sitting in the chair, seemingly still in a dream, not quite understanding why he had done what he had just done.
You glanced at the clock on the wall of the medical room and said, "Afternoon tea time is almost over. Let a specialist examine you for the remaining procedures."
Kimimaro's lips moved as if he wanted to say something to you, but in the end he pursed his lips tightly and said nothing, quietly watching you leave the infirmary.
The only good news today is that the rain finally stopped near dusk, the sky cleared, and your mood improved as well.
Bai said he had already booked a boat ticket to the Land of Wine. As soon as you heard that you had to take a boat, you kept sighing and said, "Isn't there any other way to get around?"
"Or should I take Mingxi with me on our journey?"
"No, that would be too tiring."
The world desperately needs trains and airplanes; you need to expedite the process again.
Speaking of airplanes... you might think of Deidara's flying clay white bird, but I've heard that it consumes a lot of chakra. Sigh, it seems like I can only travel by boat.
"If I take seasickness medication beforehand, the reaction shouldn't be too severe, right?" Bai said.
"I hope so." You shrug, knowing you're out of options.
After much deliberation, you hesitated between taking twice as long by carriage or traveling directly by water, but ultimately chose to travel by water.
However, since Bai has already said that he has bought the boat ticket, you probably won't stay here for too long and will leave soon.
Bai noticed your thoughtful expression and said, "Are you going to say goodbye to Kimimaro properly this time? Hmm... I know you're interested in him. Do you want to have fun before you leave? That's fine. I can always change my ticket."
"Sigh, but he's nothing like Bai, who's so understanding."
Bai smiled slightly at your praise, "If there's anything I can do to help..."
"No need, I have my own plans."
As you speak, you look out the window at the sky. After the long, heavy rain, the sky seems clearer. You sit on the bay window gazing at the distant sky and suddenly see something. You exclaim softly, "Ah... that looks like a rainbow!"
I pointed to the rainbow that was floating in mid-air, faintly visible, with a hazy and beautiful quality.
Bai walked over and looked in the direction you were pointing. The rainbow seemed to be wrapped around your fingertips. He said, "Yes, I see it. It's a beautiful rainbow."
There's a high chance of a rainbow appearing after the rain. It's not just on your side; on the other side, Shisui and Itachi, who were returning from a mission, also looked up and saw a rainbow hanging in the sky. Shisui squinted slightly and said, "It's a rainbow. It feels like it's been a long time since I last saw one."
Not long ago, Itachi clearly remembered the last time he witnessed a rainbow. He was by your side then, and you snuggled into his arms, bent your knees, and the two of you sat by the window watching the clouds, the sunset, and the rainbow.
At that time, Itachi didn't know that he would be abandoned by you one day in the future; he was still imagining a wonderful married life with you.
Itachi remained silent, while Shisui said, "It seems like something good is about to happen."
"Just because of this sign?"
“Yes.” Shisui nodded. Although the locator he installed in your diamond necklace last time was discovered by you not long after, he found that you didn’t seem to hate him that much. At least you didn’t resist his approach like you did with Itachi. So, you should thank Itachi. If it weren’t for his comparison, he probably wouldn’t have been able to get close to you so easily.
In short, he was grateful to his close friend Itachi Uchiha for providing him with many opportunities.
After returning to Konoha, Shisui applied for leave. Since the two of them had gone to the Hokage Building together, Itachi naturally saw his leave application. He said, "That's surprising. You took the initiative to ask for leave?"
"Ah...it's because I suddenly realized last time that I had several days of compensatory leave left that I hadn't used yet, and they were about to expire. It would be such a waste to just let that time go to waste, so..."
Shisui patiently explained to Itachi that Itachi wouldn't have much time off in the near future, as there were still many things to do within the Uchiha clan. Although he wanted to find you, he couldn't hand over his work to someone else for the time being, so in the end, he would have to take on all the work by himself.
However, he's not worried about not being able to find you. After all, he gathered some intelligence when he went to the Land of Waves last time. More importantly, if he were to find you rashly, it might trigger your rebellious side. So, wouldn't it be better to bring Sasuke along? Sasuke must also really want his sister-in-law to return to Konoha as soon as possible, right?
Although doing this might seem like using Sasuke as bait and a shield, he figured Sasuke wouldn't mind.
Shisui smiled and said, "Itachi, do you have a lot of things to do? Even if you're busy, you should still take a break."
Itachi's lips curled up slightly, and he said in a calm voice, "I know."
The other person's smile made Shisui feel rather subtle. Could it be that Itachi had read something from the subtle details? Did he know that he had met you before? Shisui only thought for a few seconds. Oh well, even if he knew, so what? He had never hidden his feelings for you from Itachi. He had never done so before, and he wouldn't do so now.
Even if she were discovered, nothing would happen. Shisui was completely open and honest about it, never feeling that she had done anything wrong. After all, there is no right or wrong in matters of the heart.
Back in her apartment, Shisui went to the balcony and opened the door. The crows perched on the balcony turned to look at her. She said softly, "I'll have to trouble you this time. Just find her whereabouts, but don't disturb her. Report back to me as soon as you find any clues."
As soon as the words were spoken, the clever crows understood what their master had said, flapped their wings, and flew away into the distance.
*
You spent the next few days in the sanatorium. During that time, Kabuto Yakushi wrote a letter asking about Kimimaro's condition. This was at Orochimaru's request. It's clear that he doesn't care much about Kimimaro; he's more concerned about your situation.
Generally speaking, if he doesn't write to you, you won't receive a single letter from you all year round. Oh wait, you will receive letters from you urging them to update you on their work progress. The letters are all work-related and don't contain any other greetings.
So he has no choice but to write to you first.
You hold the letter from the pharmacist in your hand. To be honest, you feel that letter communication is far less efficient than telephone communication. However, the construction of cell towers cannot be completed in just a few years. Therefore, before a complete communication system is established, you can only communicate by letter for the time being.
The first half of Kabuto's letter was fairly normal, mostly about work, but the second half took a sharp turn in style, inexplicably becoming melancholic.
You seriously reflect on what you did that made Kabuto so obsessed with you. To be honest, you're not a good person. Although you opened factories and built a large group, you know very well that you are exploiting labor. After all, isn't that how capital works?
You don't understand, you don't comprehend, and you don't respect Yakushi Kabuto's determination to get close to you.
"Perhaps he was moved by your kindness, Mingxi?" Bai offered this explanation after hearing your question.
"Hmm... I'm not kind at all." You have a clear self-awareness. After you bound yourself to this big capitalist system, you were developing capital, not doing charity. Although you do provide those employees with good living conditions, they have to pay a price for it.
Bai said, "No, for people like us, Mingxi is like the sun. It feels like wherever you are, there is light. It is you, Mingxi, who brought the concept of 'happiness' to everyone."
I understand a little better now. It's because the people in this world, especially the ninjas, have never really had a good life. So even if the social system you create is based on the exploitation of labor, they still feel happy.
Excellent, this is simply a capitalist's paradise.
"That sounds a little heartbreaking." You weren't joking.
That's why everyone cherishes the time they spend with Mingxi.
You put down the letter, pursed your lips, and felt that... because people in this world have experienced too much darkness, they would try their best to grasp even the slightest bit of kindness you showed them, as if they were grabbing a lifeline.
This kind of emotion... is a bit too heavy.
However, it doesn't really concern you. The person who made you unhappy won't appear in front of you again, and so-called relationship problems don't pose a problem for you either.
All you need to do is enjoy yourself. You're already unlucky to have been reborn into this kind of world, with your hand supporting your chin. If you can't find some fun for yourself, then this life is just too pitiful.
"Do you need me to write a letter for you?" Bai asked. You replied, "No, there's no need to reply."
You casually tossed the letter from the Pharmacist into the drawer, changed into your swimsuit, and ran off to swim in the pool on the central balcony. It wasn't Haku who came looking for you first, but Kimimaro. He saw you packing your luggage yesterday and guessed that you were probably leaving. As for where you were going, that was important information.
If we could uncover this information... it would definitely be very beneficial to Lord Orochimaru. So Kimimaro walked to the poolside. The pool shimmered in the night, and the small lights installed at the bottom of the pool emitted a soft glow, which formed ripples on the water's surface.
After swimming two laps, you looked up and saw Kimimaro standing by the pool. You asked with a hint of curiosity, "What, you're here to swim too? You can swim?"
“Swimming isn’t difficult.” Kimimaro sat down and spoke to you with his head down. You leaned against the edge of the pool, looked up, and said, “Really? But you can’t even ride a horse.”
Kimimaro said, "Now I know it."
"Oh, I see. Then I guess I could be considered your teacher?"
Kimimaro reminded himself that he was there to gather information, and didn't want the conversation to go astray. He asked, "Are you leaving?"
"Yes, I've been here for a while now, and I'm tired of it."
Do you get bored so easily? It's only been a month. No wonder Lord Orochimaru said you're heartless.
"She's someone who's hard to keep. The more you try to keep her, the less likely you are to succeed. In the end, she'll only turn herself into a demon. So Kimimaro, you'd better be careful," Orochimaru once warned him.
If reminders were truly effective, there wouldn't be so many instances of people knowingly committing wrongdoings. Kimimaro would clearly become one of those examples. He said, "So, where are you going?"
"Is this how Orochimaru taught you to gather information?" You rested your chin on your hand. "This won't do. You have to show some sincerity, right?"
"What—?" Kimimaro's words were interrupted by your sudden action. You grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the water with a little force, suppressing his struggling movements.
The underwater lights, refracted by the water, became even softer, and Kimimaro's silvery-white hair swayed in the water. He only gave Kimimaro a kiss when his oxygen was almost gone.
She clearly had never kissed before, and her bewildered expression made her even more innocent and adorable.
Your kiss lasted only a few seconds before he fled to the water's surface, his cheeks flushed red, whether from lack of oxygen or something else, it was hard to tell.
His emerald green eyes grew even brighter as he said, "You..."
"Have you learned to swim yet?" you ask, seemingly genuinely concerned about his progress.
"Is this the price I have to pay?" He tried to calm himself down, but it was difficult.
"No, this is just the beginning."
As you spoke, you walked ashore, wrapped yourself in a bath towel, and, dripping water all the way, led Kimimaro back to the room. You even thoughtfully asked, "Your room or mine?"
He didn't respond, so you assumed you were going to his room, mainly because you didn't want to mess up your own room.
Kimimaro had never encountered such a situation. He could kill without batting an eye, but he couldn't calmly await your next move.
Even though it was his room, you acted as if you were the owner of the room. He stood to the side, looking slightly awkward. You walked barefoot to the bathroom, and sure enough, you still had to wash up first. Because you didn't want the hassle, you simply dragged him to the bathroom with you.
Turn on the shower and ask, "How much longer are you going to wear this outfit?"
His clothes were soaked and became heavy, but he showed no intention of taking them off.
In the end, do you still have to do it yourself? How come he has no sense of service at all? Didn't you ask him this time if Orochimaru hadn't taught him this? Because you can be sure that Orochimaru didn't teach him, after all, he's a proper researcher, why would he teach his subordinates this kind of skill for no reason?
The water temperature is just right. Hair that has been in contact with pool water will feel a little rough, so your first step is to apply shampoo to your head and lather it up to coat your hair.
Kimimaro mimicked your movements, kneading layers of foam. Perhaps finding it somewhat amusing, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
"Mint scent? That's so unoriginal. Next time, try the berry scent; it's quite different from this bland fragrance." In this atmosphere, you can still laugh and suggest that he switch to a different scented shampoo.
The minty scent has its advantages, namely its refreshing quality. As you dry your hair and step out of the bathroom, Kimimaro follows closely behind. You turn around and ask, amused, "Are you scared? Or nervous?"
Kimimaro wanted to refute, but he found that your guess was accurate. Indeed, his mood was mixed with tension and a vague unease.
"It's okay, you won't get hurt." You patiently reassured him, feeling like your patience was about to run out.
Anyway, let's start with a kiss. His response was still clumsy. His comprehension is really bad. You mean he's as bad as Obito Uchiha, but it's not appropriate to mention others at this time, so you just keep it to yourself.
You take his hand and squeeze your fingers between his. Your fingertips touch the scars on the back of his hand, so fine that they are almost invisible unless you touch them carefully. You say, "Don't look away, look at me."
As if he had received a command, his previously wandering gaze fixed on you, and a thin mist gathered in his crystal-clear emerald eyes, making them hazy and indistinct. You looked into his eyes through the mist.
His body temperature is a bit lower than yours, and his skin is fair, like mutton fat jade.
Mutton fat jade is exquisitely carved. If you carefully examine its natural lines, you might ask if anyone has ever praised it for being beautiful.
As you speak, your fingertips gently caress the back of his hand, guiding him patiently without the slightest aggression, as if you were simply asking a question, nothing more.
pretty?
Lord Orochimaru once praised his techniques as beautiful, but that's all. No one else has ever praised him like that. And who would specifically praise a humanoid weapon as beautiful?
But in front of you, he seems to temporarily shed that identity and sit down to be truly honest with you.
What is he in your eyes? Your next move quickly provides the answer.
The delicate mutton fat jade will gradually turn red as the temperature rises. You guide it, just as you guide a lost traveler to find his true home.
"Come here." He seemed to hear you say that in a daze.
The traveler, lost for far too long, felt his heart scorched by emptiness. He pursed his lips, feeling somewhat thirsty.
A warm hand guided him, his nose pressed against something even warmer, and he instinctively took a bite.
Then you grabbed my hair and lifted my head up in an annoyed tone, saying helplessly, "Don't bite."
That's when they learned their lesson and licked it in small, delicate bites.
The dripping water droplets accumulated more and more, transforming into a hidden spring of sweet water.
He choked a bit and coughed a few times because he couldn't catch his breath. His eyelashes were wet with tears. You patted his back to help him catch his breath, and he pursed his lips.
Moisturized and glossy, her lips were pursed together.
Although he lacks comprehension, at least he can follow your instructions and won't act recklessly, which is a slight advantage over Obito.
Your skin is pressed against the mutton-fat jade. The jade, which was cold at first, will eventually become warm and smooth. No matter how you look at it, it is your masterpiece. Just as you are about to stand up, he suddenly grabs your wrist and asks, "Where are you going?"
You may have read that if a baby's need for skin-to-skin contact is not met during infancy, this defect will gradually surface over time, no matter how well it is hidden.
Kimimaro is clearly in this situation. It's obvious without asking that his childhood must have been very tragic. These are standard features in this world: a miserable background, a twisted mind, and obsessive emotions. These three elements appear so frequently that you're almost desensitized to them.
From this perspective, Itachi and Sasuke can both be considered lucky individuals with happy families.
You stand by the bed, look down at him, and tap the tip of his nose with your finger. He blinks, still puzzled, so you say, "Go and clean yourself up."
He still didn't let go. He sat up, his bathrobe piled up in another corner. This time, he was the one who followed you.
You think a simple shower will do, so you turn on the shower and stand under it to wash away the sweat from your skin.
Another figure loomed over your back. You didn't turn around; he just quietly pressed against you, like a small animal expressing affection.
After showering, you were a little tired, but he showed no signs of fatigue. As you walked out of the room in a loose bathrobe, he asked, "Are you leaving?"
Turning around, she said, "Yes."
"Don't you have anything to say?" He frowned unconsciously, his emerald green eyes gazing at you with a deep, unsettling look.
"Hmm... Thank you for your hospitality? Although your skill level is quite average, there is still a lot of room for improvement."
Kimimaro didn't expect you to be so direct, and for a moment he didn't know what kind of expression to use when facing you.
The result was that they were completely stunned.
He looked a little dazed, which was kind of cute. You took a few steps toward him and said, "How about this—I'll give you the reward later. I'm sure your Orochimaru-sama will be very moved by your dedication."
These words immediately reminded Kimimaro of his original purpose in doing so. Yes... he only wanted to extract information from you. He almost forgot his original intention just now.
Since you've already laid everything out in the open, and there will be corresponding compensation delivered to him, why does he still feel empty inside when he sees you leave?
Unable to understand his own feelings, a complex and indescribable mix of emotions filled his heart.
Click, you open the door and then close it, your figure disappearing behind it.
You slowly walked back to your room. Bai, who opened the door, noticed a hint of satisfaction in your expression. You smiled at him and asked, "Aren't you asleep yet?"
How could he possibly sleep under these circumstances? But instead of telling the truth, he said, "Well, I had coffee in the afternoon, so I can't sleep."
"I remember there should be caffeine-free coffee on the market, right?" To be precise, it should be coffee-flavored drinks, which are produced by your company.
"Not being able to sleep is a good opportunity to read more documents."
You feel gratified to have such a dedicated employee.
Wouldn't a ninja die suddenly from such a high workload? Although ninjas are physically fit, there are probably cases of them dying suddenly from their work, right?
You hated the overtime culture in your past life, and you still hate it in this life.
Love may fade away, but hate will endure, so you say to Bai, "Forget it, stop working and go get some rest."
"Actually, I can't fall asleep peacefully until you come back, Mingxi."
"Oh, so I'm a sleeping pill?"
You walked towards the master bedroom, your hair still wet. Bai took out a clean, soft towel to dry your hair. You wanted to go straight to sleep, but Bai still asked you, "Did you have fun?"
Knowing he was asking about what had just happened, you were so sleepy you had your eyes closed, but the corners of your lips were still slightly upturned. You said, "Hmm... it was pretty enjoyable. Actually, it wouldn't be too bad if the other person just listened to you."
Bai paused in wiping your hair, then said meaningfully, "Is it because I can't meet Mingxi's standards?"
You yawned and said, "I'm not talking anymore, I'm so sleepy."
After saying that, you fell asleep. In the end, Bai quietly dried your hair and tidied your bedding. She stayed by your side until the sun rose the next morning. You put your plan to go to the Land of Wine on the agenda and left the sanatorium that day.
When you left, Kimimaro was having a routine check-up in the infirmary. The doctor said, "Your wisdom teeth are growing in very straight."
Is this a good thing?
"Of course, that way it's less likely to hurt."
Kimimaro returned to his suite from the infirmary. As he passed by your suite, he saw the door open and the sanatorium staff cleaning. He stopped, looking surprised. One of the managers ran up to Kimimaro and said, "Are you here to see Lady Akira? She has already left. She gave me this letter before she left, saying she would give it to you when you came back."
As he spoke, the person in charge presented the envelope you left behind with both hands.
Kimimaro took the letter from her hand, his expression inscrutable. On the front of the envelope was a sentence written: "Open it when you return to the laboratory building."
Was it because the information inside was special? Kimimaro didn't stay in the sanatorium for long either; he left almost immediately after you, except that you two went to different destinations.
Kimimaro returned to the experimental building a few days later. He was not greeted by Lord Orochimaru, who was probably busy with other matters.
The first person I met after returning from outside was Kabuto Yakushi, who said with a smile, "It seems you've been recuperating well at the sanatorium?"
He didn't say this out of genuine concern, but rather to try and extract information about you from Kimimaro. He had no choice; all his letters to you had gone unanswered. He had waited a long time without receiving a reply, and in desperation, he could only try to gather information about you through Kimimaro.
Kimimaro realized this as well, and said, "That's not what you want to ask, is it?"
"So you were found out after all? But I am indeed concerned about your health. After all, you are Lord Orochimaru's capable subordinate. If we lose you, it would be like losing our left and right arms."
Enough. He didn't come back to listen to Kabuto's nonsense. He impatiently interrupted him, "That's enough. I need to see Lord Orochimaru. I have something important to give him."
Kabuto shrugged. "Lord Orochimaru is currently conducting experiments. As you know, he doesn't like anyone disturbing him during experiments, not even Kimimaro. Alright, why don't you tell me what you've been through at the sanatorium?"
"I have no comment on that." With that, Kimimaro walked past Yakushi Kabuto. The latter noticed the scratches on the back of Kimimaro's neck, which, although scabbed over, were still quite noticeable. Kimimaro's smile faltered, and he forced a smile as he said, "Looks like you know how to please others, don't you?"
Kimimaro stopped in his tracks, turned around, and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"It's nothing, it's just what it sounds like. I used to think you didn't know how to please others, but now I realize I was being too naive."
Realizing the true meaning of Kabuto Yakushi's actions, Kimimaro said, "Is it because I accomplished something you couldn't do despite your best efforts? She genuinely dislikes people using underhanded tactics to get close to her, so no matter how you look at it, it's your own problem, isn't it? Are you holding a grudge?"
A long silence, a deathly silence, finally the pharmacist forced a smirk and said through gritted teeth, "How could that be? I'm happy for you. Should I make you red bean rice to celebrate?"
Kimimaro didn't waste any more words with Kabuto Yakushi, turned around and left, leaving Kabuto standing there with a sinister expression.
Why are you able to accept Kimimaro yet so dissatisfied with him? What went wrong at some point? While Kabuto was racking his brains trying to figure it out, Kimimaro had already arrived outside Orochimaru's laboratory with the envelope you gave him. He didn't rush into the laboratory but stood outside quietly waiting, and it was unclear how long he had been waiting.
With a click, the laboratory door opened, and Orochimaru stepped out. He glanced at Kimimaro standing outside and said, "Oh, it's Kimimaro... You're back from the sanatorium? Didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"Because of the emergency, I rushed back," Kimimaro said succinctly.
Orochimaru looked him up and down, noticing that he was indeed in much better shape than before he went to the sanatorium, but that wasn't the point. Orochimaru asked, "So how are things going with Aki? How does she treat you?"
"Very good." His relationship with you cannot be summed up in just the word "very good," but for a moment, Kimimaro didn't know where to begin. Should he tell Orochimaru that you taught him how to ride a horse? Or something else? Even though he hadn't spent much time with you, why did images of your time together keep appearing in his mind?
He doesn't know what's wrong with him. Is there something wrong with his body? Or did you cast some kind of spell on him?
No, none of that matters. The important thing is to deliver the reward you gave me to Lord Orochimaru. That's the purpose of his trip. So, before he could even finish speaking, he handed your envelope to Lord Orochimaru.
"Oh, this is...?" Orochimaru asked curiously.
"This is the intelligence I've gathered."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, took the letter from Kimimaro's hand, opened it, and the air seemed to freeze for a few seconds before he let out a strange laugh. "Sigh... Kimimaro, didn't I tell you before you left not to try to get any useful information out of her? Why didn't you listen? Now you've gotten yourself into trouble."
Huh?
What is Lord Orochimaru saying...? Kimimaro slowly raised his head. Just then, Orochimaru returned the letter to Kimimaro, who was then able to read the contents of the letter. On the letter was a short sentence: My next stop is the Land of Wine. I gladly accept your subordinate. Thank you for your hospitality.
There was something else in the envelope; it felt like a photograph. Kimimaro took the photograph out of the envelope; the person in the photograph was him.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were slightly narrowed, and her lips were moving.
he.
His hand was trembling slightly as he flipped the photo over. You had written a sentence lightly with a marker: "Disheveled yet adorable."
For a moment, Kimimaro's head seemed to buzz, and it took a few seconds for him to regain his sense of sound. Orochimaru, looking completely unfazed, said, "Luckily, you weren't completely ruined. Well, that's why you have to be careful when dealing with businessmen."
Moreover, you're not an ordinary businessman.
Kimimaro was speechless. He clutched the photograph tightly, feeling angry, but that was all he felt.
Actually, he wasn't as angry as he imagined. He even had time to wonder when you took the photo. Did you only take this one? No, knowing your personality, you must have taken several more.
He stared at the photo for a long time, but in the end, he put it away.
Even he himself couldn't understand why he did that.
"But aren't many things just things you want to do, and then you do them?" Your words echoed in his mind again.
He seems... to have really changed a lot because of you.
*
On the other side, after you left the sanatorium, you first took a carriage and then a boat. This time you took seasickness medicine in advance, so the seasickness reaction was not very strong, but it was not much better. Halfway through the boat ride, you became listless and buried your head in Bai's arms, smelling the scent of grass and trees on him, as if that would make you feel less uncomfortable.
Bai gently stroked your hair and said, "You look just like when you went to the Land of Waves."
No, not at all.
When you went to the Land of Waves, you were seriously seasick, so seasick that you couldn't even speak a complete sentence. Now at least you can chat with Haku in a casual way.
Bai then asked, "Was the envelope you left behind a letter addressed to him?"
Thinking of that slightly mischievous letter gets your spirits up. You look up and say with a grin, "Yeah, he'll be so surprised when he sees it."
“…Mingxi, you treat him quite specially.” Bai said meaningfully.
"Hmm...maybe it's because his white hair is so beautiful? His hair and eyes, don't they make him look like a beautiful pet cat?"
Not at all. Rather, Shiro is full of hostility towards Kimimaro. At first, he thought you only treated him as a toy, but now it seems you treat him as a pet?
This is a bit troublesome. He said, "What if he comes knocking on our door again later?"
“I know Bai will handle it for me. You can easily get rid of him, right?” You hook your finger around his little finger. “After all, you’re my assistant. I trust you very much.”
Bai finally smiled with relief and said, "Yes, I will do it. I will definitely not let you down, Mingxi."
You didn't eat much on the ship, mainly because you didn't have an appetite. When you got off the ship, the person you had contacted in advance was already waiting for you at the dock.
"Let me carry your luggage for you two." The person in charge of making the contact was named Chunqi, about fourteen or fifteen years old. Because she was often out and about, her skin was a healthy wheat color. As she spoke, she was about to take the suitcase from Bai's hands, but Bai said, "No need, I can carry it myself."
"Ah... alright then, I'll lead the way for you two." The destination you asked Chunqi to take you to was a vineyard, of course, a vineyard in a less-than-ideal location. She talked to you a lot along the way, recounting how lively the vineyard used to be, and how the grapes that grew there were sweet and delicious, perfect for enjoying directly or for making wine.
"But everything changed after that group of people came. There used to be many varieties of wine on the island, and each family's wine had its own unique flavor. But then, an organization from outside monopolized the wine business here, and gradually, the local vineyards became dilapidated."
It sounds like a common business monopoly, but from her description, you always feel that the so-called business monopoly is just a false appearance, used as a cover to protect the real industry behind it.
After all, this world is so dark, and you've already seen through its true nature.
It's probably human trafficking, but not just simple human trafficking. It inevitably involves illegal organ trafficking and may also include the sale of contraband. In short, this kind of thing is a chain reaction; if one link exists, then the next link must exist.
You smiled at Bai and said, "Then we've really come to the right place."
"So...you're just here for tourism?" Chunqi asked tentatively at the end.
"Yes, I'm just here for a short trip." You were very precise. Yes, I'm just here for a short trip. As for what will happen later, that's hard to say.
Chunqi smiled at you, "Really? Well, then I wish you a happy holiday here!"
Just as she was about to leave, you slipped her several more bills. When she saw the amount, her eyes widened in surprise, "This..."
"Consider it a tip," you said.
"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed excitedly, gesturing wildly to express her gratitude. She carefully folded the cash and put it into her pocket before leaving.
You and Bai stood at the entrance of this dilapidated vineyard. You had already contacted the owner, who was quite old. You stood at the entrance for a while before slowly walking over. She was an old woman with gray hair, wearing a brown shawl, but she was in good spirits and spoke with a clear mind. She said, "You must be the people who have come to buy the vineyard. You are much younger than I thought."
The old woman's name was Yuko. She was born and raised here, and finally grew old here. She said that she aspired to be a brewer when she was young. "It's a pity that people don't need brewers now. They just need more money, no matter where that money comes from or whether it's clean or not."
At this point, she couldn't help but sigh, "I'm sorry, I seem to have talked too much with you. Maybe that's just how people are; they start to gossip as they get older."
You don't think she's a chatterbox; in fact, you feel she's provided you with a lot of information. You say, "No, please continue. I think there are definitely many stories here, just waiting for someone to tell them all."
“Really? That’s great. You won’t find me annoying.” Yuko walked to the door. “It’s getting late. You can rest in the guest rooms upstairs for the night. I’ll take you to visit the vineyard tomorrow. Although most of the grapes there are dead, we need you to see it in person before deciding whether to buy the vineyard.”
As you walk up the stairs, the guest rooms are at the end of the second floor. The rooms here all have an old feel to them, probably a hundred years old.
You walk into the room, and suddenly a crow flies by outside the window, caws twice, tilts its head at you, and you see the crow's dark red eyes.
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