Orochimaru performed the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, creating three clones. Each clone carried one of the unconscious trio back to Dadan's House. There, they washed up and treated their injuries while waiting for the others to wake up.
An hour later, the three slowly regained consciousness. They glared at Orochimaru with resentful expressions, as if he were a traitor. Orochimaru ignored them.
"You're awake? Go back to sleep. Garp will be waiting for us tomorrow."
The three boys huddled around Orochimaru, looking furtive and guilty.
"If this keeps up, Grandpa's going to kill us tomorrow!" Ace hissed.
"Even if we get lucky and survive," Sabo added, "as long as we don't give up being pirates, the result will be the same."
"I don't want to die!" Luffy wailed.
"There's only one way out!" Ace declared. "Let's strike out on our own!"
Orochimaru sighed. "Look, I don't mind you going independent, but Garp's training is essential. Sure, his punches hurt like hell, but he's one of the strongest fighters on this sea. He doesn't have much time left, and learning from him is far better than figuring things out ourselves."
"Besides, the Marines have tons of powerful martial arts techniques. Luffy and I are Devil Fruit users, but there are plenty of others out there. What happens when you run into a Logia user someday? You won't even be able to touch them! With Garp's guidance, we can avoid so many pitfalls. You don't want to get beaten and captured by the Marines right after setting sail, do you? I guarantee Garp will be visiting you in Impel Down every day to bring you meals."
The three boys stared in horror. "No way!"
Orochimaru spoke gravely. "Yes! You can't even beat me, and Garp could take me down in a flash. It's either endure his training now and get stronger, or hide and have him personally deliver your meals in Impel Down every day!"
The three frantically shook their heads. It was too terrifying. They all agreed that facing Grandpa now was the better option. They resolved to strike out on their own once Garp left.
For the next month, the four of them lived on the edge of death daily, Orochimaru included. It seemed that because they'd never been able to catch him misbehaving before, Garp was determined to beat the crap out of them during training. Exhausted from the brutal training, they visibly grew stronger day by day.
Finally, the day Garp left arrived. Everyone tearfully waved him goodbye.
The four of them collapsed into sobs. Luffy whimpered, "Waaah... Grandpa was so scary! He's finally gone! I feel like I died a hundred times this month!" The others nodded in agreement—it had been a living nightmare.
After dinner, they soaked in the bath together and discussed their plans to leave. Orochimaru spoke up. "We should tell Dadan. She's genuinely worried about us, and we've been living with her family for over a year now. Especially you, Ace—she'll be heartbroken if you just disappear without a word."
After some deliberation, the others nodded in agreement. The next day, Orochimaru approached Dadan to discuss their plans for independence. After all, they would eventually need to strike out on their own, and it was better to start sooner rather than later. Dadan, though outwardly tough, couldn't hide her worry. She thought it was too dangerous for the four children to venture out on their own and insisted they return to Dadan's House twice a month, promising to bring back game each time.
Luffy, Ace, Sabo, and Orochimaru ventured into the forest near the Gray Terminal, searching for the perfect spot for their secret hideout. They discovered an enormous tree and decided it would be perfect.
Sabo excitedly pulled out his drawing supplies and began sketching the design for their hideout on a piece of cloth. He drew the outline of a ship, and everyone loved it, approving the design immediately. Just as they were about to head to the Gray Terminal to gather wood for construction, Orochimaru suddenly stopped them.
For once, Orochimaru stood with his hands on his hips, tilted his head back proudly, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Leave the rest to me," he declared. "I'll show you the wonders of Ninjutsu!"
Orochimaru had been researching Hashirama Cells for years, even cultivating countless test subjects. It was impossible he hadn't injected himself, but his proficiency was lacking—even Yamato surpassed him—which is why he rarely used them. But this was another world; who knew what was possible? Building a small house proved surprisingly easy.
"Wood Release! One-Room-with-a-Living-Room Technique!"
The rudimentary frame of a ship suddenly materialized on the tree.
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Awesome! It's exactly like the blueprint!"
Orochimaru tilted his head smugly. "Piece of cake. Now that we have the basic structure, let's decorate it ourselves. After all, this is our secret base. I've already got all the supplies we need—no scavenging required."
The four eagerly began decorating their secret hideout, hanging their homemade flag and gazing out at the sea, fantasizing about their future seafaring adventures together. Even Orochimaru couldn't resist indulging in the childish daydream.
Exhausted from playing, they lay sprawled out, staring at the sky and giggling foolishly. This life wasn't so bad after all.
Days turned into weeks, then months, filled with training, games, wilderness survival, and regular check-ins with Dadan. Over a year flew by in the blink of an eye. When they returned to Gray Terminal, they were ambushed by a group of thugs. But their target was Sabo—his wealthy father had paid them handsomely to keep an eye on him.
Realizing he was the target, Sabo resolved to return home and resolve the issue himself.
When Sabo returned home, he found his adopted younger brother and learned that the Celestial Dragons were arriving in the Goa Kingdom in three days. The royal family, determined to hide the kingdom's shame from the Celestial Dragons, planned to burn down Gray Terminal, with all its homeless inhabitants inside. Sabo refused to believe it, repeatedly questioning everyone until he confirmed the horrifying truth. He was disgusted by the fact that everyone knew about the impending massacre yet continued to smile and act as if nothing was wrong. Sabo fled, his heart racing.
His greatest fear was that Orochimaru and the others would be caught in the inferno. He desperately tried to escape, but a group of thugs beat him unconscious and locked him in a basement. Sabo refused to give up. Despite his injuries, he managed to escape his pursuers, collapsing on the ground. There, he met a man in a green cloak and tearfully confessed his disgust at being a noble.
Meanwhile, Luffy, Ace, and Orochimaru learned the truth from the Bluejam Pirates and set out to rescue Sabo. Thanks to Garp's training and Orochimaru's expertise, they had already defeated the pirates by the time Dadan's Family arrived. But the battle had left them wounded. Though Orochimaru was far stronger than Luffy and Ace, his power was limited by his child's body. Two fists couldn't fend off multiple attackers, and even Ninjutsu required stamina.
The three of them collapsed to the ground, watching the Gray Terminal burn. The raging fire rendered their Water Release techniques utterly useless, and only a sudden, inexplicable gust of wind saved them all. Dadan took Orochimaru and the others back to Dadan's House to recover.
Orochimaru clutched his head, a nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something. He delved deep into his soul, searching for the memories left by the human from Earth. 'Sabo... Sabo...' There it was! Sabo had seized the opportunity to escape, stolen a fishing boat, and been critically wounded when a Celestial Dragon sank it.
Without pausing to explain, Orochimaru raced toward the port as dusk settled. He found only shattered wreckage. He knew Luffy's father would save Sabo, but 'what if he didn't?'
Orochimaru sprinted across the water's surface. It had been years since he'd acted so selflessly for a comrade. 'If I don't find him soon, I'll run out of chakra and drown.'
Finally, Orochimaru spotted the ship. He heard voices inside, someone mentioning they'd rescued a boy and needed a doctor. He hauled himself aboard, his voice hoarse.
"I can save him," he croaked, stumbling forward. He channeled chakra into the Mystical Palm Technique, his strength failing with each passing moment. Exhausted, he collapsed unconscious beside the boy.
To be continued...