"Hey! Why did you spit at me?! Apologize now!" Luffy glared furiously at the boy riding the wild boar. If Orochimaru hadn't pulled him back, the spit would have landed right on his face.
"Luffy, Orochimaru, that's Ace. He's three years older than you. From today on, he'll be living with you," Garp announced.
Luffy continued to glare.
"You'll get along well!" Garp ordered, swinging a fist at Luffy's head, but Orochimaru swiftly intercepted it.
"Grandpa, maybe you should tell him to get along well—the one spitting everywhere," Orochimaru retorted.
"Is that settled, then?" Dadan protested, unconvinced.
Garp, already in a foul mood, turned a menacing glare on Dadan and her group. "What? Got a problem with that?"
Dadan and her crew bowed politely. "Not at all."
Orochimaru observed the listless Ace, resisting the urge to stick out his tongue in his usual flamboyant manner. 'I must stay composed while Garp's here. These children raised in darkness always hold a strange allure for me. I wonder if he'll be even more... delicious than Sasuke.'
"That's settled, then. I'll drop by again when I have time," Garp declared, ignoring Dadan's complaints about the lack of child support.
After Garp left, Orochimaru finally twisted his stiff neck. 'Pretending to be well-behaved is exhausting.'
Orochimaru ignored the group's childish squabbling over food, choosing not to help Luffy. He believed Luffy needed to grow, and his constant protection would only hinder that.
As he ate his bowl of rice, Orochimaru listened to Dadan complain about the daily ration of only one bowl of rice and water, leaving everyone to fend for themselves. He didn't object; survival of the fittest was perfectly natural.
This was standard practice in the ninja world, and Garp had taught him the same thing for the past two years, even in this world.
Luffy readily agreed, adding that his grandfather had taught him the same.
Dadan was so shocked she fell to the ground. The others helped her up, while Orochimaru thoughtfully cleaned up the mess. The filth was unappetizing, and these people would be his new companions for the foreseeable future.
Watching Luffy run off, Orochimaru remained unhurried. He methodically organized his belongings, listening to Dadan's stream of curses.
"Hey, where are the rooms?" His voice chilled the air.
Only after settling in did Orochimaru follow. He arrived just in time to see Ace knock Luffy off the rope bridge.
Perched on the bridge's rope, Orochimaru studied Ace's dark expression. His voice, slightly raspy, whispered, "Such an interesting soul."
Startled, Ace swiftly retreated several steps, ignoring everyone as he turned and left.
That night, as Ace listened expressionlessly to Dadan's drunken ramblings, Orochimaru watched from the shed roof, hanging upside down and chuckling mockingly.
"Oh dear... how pitiful," he whispered.
Ace glanced around warily, then looked up and spotted Orochimaru. Startled by the bizarre sight, he said nothing and walked away.
Having retrieved his clone's memories, Orochimaru knew Luffy was safe, merely surviving in the forest as usual. Unconcerned, he hunted for Dadan's family during the day, mimicking Ace's earlier efforts, and occasionally kept an eye on the boy.
A week later, Luffy returned battered and exhausted. Orochimaru calmly bathed him and tucked him into bed.
Two months passed. Luffy relentlessly chased after Ace, regardless of the weather, driving Dadan's family into a panic. Orochimaru often trailed behind with a large bowl of his homemade miso ramen, slurping contentedly. "Mmm... mine still tastes best," he mused, wistfully remembering Ichiraku Ramen.
"Luffy's off chasing Ace again, huh?" Dadan grumbled, legs crossed and cigarette in hand, a frown creasing her face. "After all he's been through, you'd think he'd learn. He's always making us worry."
"Hehehe... Are you worried?" Dogra smirked, cradling his teacup.
"W-what? Of course not! Don't be ridiculous!" Dadan snapped back, trying to sound tough.
Orochimaru placed the ingredients into the pot Dadan had been using to heat water, then lit the fire. "We're having sukiyaki hot pot tonight."
"Oh, oh, right!" Dadan hurriedly stubbed out her cigarette and instinctively grabbed a bowl. She never expected the coldest-looking guy to be the easiest to deal with.
"Σ(°ロ°) AAHHHH!!!!" The group suddenly shrieked at the sight of a face swollen like a pumpkin. "What the heck is that thing?!"
"(?`ェ′?)" Luffy mumbled incoherently, "A hornet's nest fell down..."
Orochimaru's bowl slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
His mind once again railed against the System. Why hadn't it warned him sooner? He refused to acknowledge that thing as his brother.
To be continued...