Chapter 85 Choosing the Value of Life
Orochimaru?
Hearing Haruko's voice, Orochimaru snapped out of his reverie and watched as she walked toward him.
As Haruko carefully examined the tombstone in front of her, Orochimaru explained in a low voice.
"These are my parents, who died in the Fourth Shinobi World War."
His calm narration seemed to be an attempt to show his indifference, but after hearing his words, Haruko felt a deep sadness welling up inside her.
Orochimaru's parents are also heroes worthy of praise.
"Um……"
Orochimaru, unusually, refrained from uttering any harsh words. He simply stood quietly with Haruko Hayama in front of the cold stone monument, keeping them company.
After a long while, Orochimaru spoke.
"Life... is such a fragile thing."
Haruko in the morning agreed with him, but when Hiruzen Sarutobi came to mind, she changed the words she was about to say.
"Perhaps this is the realization of the value of life; some lives can exist for a long time if they are carefully nurtured."
"But some lives are not content with merely surviving; they only want to realize their life's value through 'salvation'."
"The resilience and fragility of life often lie in the choices we make."
His gentle and calm words seemed to be both comforting Orochimaru and enlightening himself.
Orochimaru looked at her and asked, "And what about you? What will you choose?"
Haruko hesitated under his gaze and said, "I...I don't know."
"So you don't even know what to choose?" Orochimaru seemed disappointed by her answer.
Haruko Hayama paused for a moment, noticing his reaction.
So, Orochimaru, like himself, is unable to face the passing of life...?
Thinking about this, Haruko felt a sense of kinship, perhaps because she wasn't the only one who felt lonely. Haruko's long-standing fears were finally relieved at this moment.
"Orochimaru is just like me."
Orochimaru gave her a strange look. "You know me?"
Haruko smiled and said, "That's a life-or-death decision. Orochimaru will know when I make my choice someday."
"The future?" Orochimaru relaxed at her words and returned to his usual attitude. "I don't think we'll have any connection in the future."
“I will find a way to keep Orochimaru by my side.” Haruko Hayama looked at him earnestly and said, “I want to treat Orochimaru as family.”
Orochimaru remained silent.
"I will also find a way to stay by Orochimaru's side, so Orochimaru, you must wait for my choice!"
Orochimaru looked at his parents' gravestone.
Life is fragile, and even the mighty are crushed like ants in war.
But some idiot said you're doing this to realize the value of life. I don't understand... I don't understand why you should die for others. Isn't the value of life to strive and do your best to find a way to survive?
I wish someone could give me an answer, but unfortunately you can no longer speak, no longer tell me how you feel.
Faced with the choice of life's value, what would I choose? Actually... I don't know. I don't know now, and I might not know in ten or twenty years.
Perhaps, when I see her future choices, I will also be able to make my own choices...
"That is..."
Hearing Haruko Hayama's voice, Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts and looked in the direction she was pointing.
It is something that resembles the White Snake but is not the White Snake.
Orochimaru picked it up and turned it to Haruko Hayama, saying, "I didn't expect to find a snake's shed skin here."
"Snake molt?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.
"It's the skin shed by the white snake. Don't underestimate it; it symbolizes good luck and rebirth!" Haruko Hayama recalled reading in a book.
“Luck and rebirth…” Orochimaru murmured to himself.
Haruko raised her hands and cupped his hands from bottom to top, wrapping his hands and the snake skin together.
"It's almost as if it existed solely for Orochimaru."
Haruko's words at that moment, even after years of trials and tribulations, would still echo in his ears in the quiet of the night.
It was just a random thought that struck her, but for some reason it took on a special meaning in her heart.
＊
It wasn't obvious at first, but later Jiraiya's progress was incredibly rapid.
With Haruko Hayama as his witness, he gradually became more adept at training. Even Tsunade and Orochimaru felt threatened because of him, and Hiruzen Sarutobi changed his usual ways and began to praise him highly.
Year after year, Jiraiya finally gained Fukasaku's approval when he was nine years old.
“Leave your blood on this scroll, and you can summon us at any time,” Fukasaku explained to Jiraiya.
Haruko examined the large green scroll closely. "It feels even bigger than Jiraiya's."
Jiraiya, on the other hand, bit his finger and excitedly pressed his handprint onto it.
"I will definitely be stronger than Orochimaru in the future!" Jiraiya proudly boasted to Haruko Hayama.
"Orochimaru? You mean that vampire-like guy you mentioned, Haruko?" Fukasaku asked.
Haruko nodded. "He and Jiraiya are good friends who have made progress together."
"Who's friends with that guy?!" Jiraiya stood up like a hedgehog facing danger.
Fukasaku chuckled a few times. "It seems to be a very interesting bond."
"Fukasaku should smoke less in the future, otherwise he'll end up old and dark-skinned like that big toad Bunta." Haruko Hayama hadn't expected that the big toad would even have a custom-made pipe.
"Smoking?" Jiraiya looked at Fukasaku with a blank expression.
How come I didn't know my master smoked?
Fukasaku coughed guiltily, "Alright, it's getting late, you should go back."
As Haruko and Jiraiya were saying goodbye and preparing to leave, Fukasaku suddenly called out to Haruko.
"Human girls, life is a cycle, one cycle after another, there is no beginning without an end."
Haruko asked curiously, "Fukasaku, why are you being a riddle-maker again?"
"They definitely want to establish him as a mysterious master at the end!" Jiraiya answered confidently.
"But Fukasaku was originally a mysterious and highly skilled person, wasn't he?"
Why don't you mention that I am the chosen one!
"Jiraiya is so smug..."
"It's true! It's true!"
＊
"I've discovered... Hiruzen seems to be hiding something!"
The three kids huddled together and whispered among themselves. To prevent Orochimaru from feeling excluded, Haruko even had the others gather around Orochimaru's training area.
Orochimaru: ...You're such a nuisance.
Jiraiya wondered, "What secret could he possibly have? Hiding unwashed socks?"
"He must have been caught peeping at a beautiful woman!" Tsunade guessed eagerly.
"How could it be such a trivial matter!" Jiraiya retorted. "Konoha must be in great crisis, and they need me, the hero, to charge into battle!"
Tsunade gave the agitated Jiraiya a smack on the head, "No matter what, it's not your turn to save the world, you loser!"
"Then what do you think it could be?" Jiraiya pouted and looked at her.
Tsunade thought for a moment, "Could it be... that he's having an affair?!"
"An affair?" Haruko repeated, "But Hiruzen doesn't even have a wife."
"Hmm... why don't you tell me what's wrong with him?" Detective Tsunade needed more clues.
Upon hearing this, Haruko counted on her fingers as she spoke: "Hiruzen has been coming home late lately. When I ask him where he's been, he says he finished his mission too late. Hmm... Also, he always has a lewd smile when he's alone, and he's always absent-minded when he talks to me."
"That's for sure, it's infidelity!" Detective Tsunade declared.
******
Thank you for reminding me of the update reminder charm a dear friend sent yesterday! Your bonus chapter has been delivered! ヾ(≧∪≦*)ノ
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
