Aburame Shisuke stood beneath the studio lights wearing a hoodie and dark sunglasses. A large container filled with buzzing insects was strapped securely to his back, and a microphone was clutched firmly in his hand. His expression was solemn, his voice deliberately calm, as though he were about to announce something of great historical significance.
"First," he said evenly, "I would like to make an important announcement to everyone watching."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Then—
The corners of Aburame Shisuke's mouth curled upward into a grin that could only be described as manic.
"Our clan's Chimera Beetle has successfully hatched!" he shouted. "New Chimera Beetle larvae have been born! This marks another critical step toward the Aburame Clan's ultimate dream—conquering the skies by riding Chimera Beetles!"
He raised a fist dramatically.
"From this day forward, the people of Konoha will no longer need to fear attacks from Sky Ninjas, Flying Ninjas, or any other airborne threats! Leave everything to the Aburame Clan—hey! Give that back!"
Before he could finish, the microphone was abruptly snatched from his hand. The broadcast cut out mid-sentence, leaving the screen frozen on his wild grin.
"…?"
Uchiha Hikari stared at the television in silence, his expression blank.
Slowly, he turned his head and looked at Hyūga Mio, confusion written plainly across his face.
"…Um," Mio said awkwardly, "let's… change the channel."
She reached for the remote and hurriedly switched channels.
Unfortunately, whether by coincidence or some kind of cruel fate, every channel she flipped to seemed plagued by problems—static, interrupted broadcasts, malfunctioning visuals, or bizarre programming. With each failed attempt, the confusion on Hikari's face deepened.
Television was incredible.
How could people appear inside a box?
"Orochimaru…" Mio muttered through clenched teeth. "Isn't dinner ready yet…?"
Her face flushed faintly as she struggled to suppress the urge to smash the television. In the end, she reluctantly switched back to Konoha TV.
"I—I'll go check on Orochimaru," she said abruptly. "Maybe he needs help."
She dropped the remote as though it burned her fingers and hurried toward the kitchen, her steps bordering on a retreat.
While watching the screen, Hikari heard a dull thud followed by a sharp intake of breath.
He turned just in time to see Hyūga Mio bent over, clutching her foot in pain. She had clearly stubbed her toe against the cupboard.
"Mio… my dear sister, are you alright?" Hikari asked anxiously.
"I'm… fine," Mio replied, nodding stiffly.
She forced herself upright and limped toward the kitchen.
The kitchen door slid open, and Orochimaru poked his head out, immediately noticing her awkward gait.
"What happened to you?" he asked curiously.
"I hit my toe on the cupboard," Mio replied, lowering her head in embarrassment, her cheeks burning.
"It wouldn't hurt if you wore shoes," Orochimaru said calmly.
His gaze drifted downward, landing on her snow-white feet. One toe—small and red—was clearly swollen.
"Wearing shoes at home isn't very comfortable," Mio replied quickly, tucking her injured foot behind the other and hurriedly changing the subject. "Is dinner ready? Can I help serve it?"
"Hm… better not."
Orochimaru glanced at her hidden foot and politely declined. He formed hand seals, and a shadow clone appeared beside him.
Orochimaru and his clone carried the dishes out, while Hyūga Mio followed behind them, shoulders slumped in defeat.
At the dinner table, Uchiha Hikari ate enthusiastically, eyes fixed on the animated program playing on the television. Once imprisoned deep underground, he had once harbored an intense hatred for ninjas—and for the entire ninja world.
At one time, he had even wished to destroy it all.
But now…
That hatred had quietly faded.
The life he was living now—warm meals, gentle voices, peaceful nights—was exactly the life he had once dreamed of but never believed he would obtain.
"Another bowl!" Hikari said, holding out his bowl, his lips smeared with rice and soup.
"Eat as much as you want," Orochimaru replied calmly, taking the bowl and refilling it. "You're still growing."
"Mm!"
Hikari's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled brightly.
I wish this life would last forever.
The thought surfaced quietly in his heart as he looked at Orochimaru with a dependence he didn't yet understand.
Hyūga Mio noticed Hikari's gaze linger on Orochimaru. Given her own experiences, she found the child's reliance entirely natural.
Later that night, steam filled the bathroom as Orochimaru poured bath salts mixed with baking soda into the tub. The air became infused with a sweet blueberry scent.
"Hikari," Orochimaru called out, mildly surprised. "Aren't you ready yet?"
Does it really take that long just to undress?
Outside the bathroom, Hyūga Mio crouched near the door, holding clean clothes. Her expression was troubled. She gently patted Hikari's shoulder.
"Hikari, what's wrong?"
"N… nothing," Hikari replied, shaking his head and clearly avoiding eye contact.
Let Orochimaru handle it… Mio thought helplessly.
She opened the door and nearly collided with Orochimaru as he stepped out.
His long dark hair cascaded over his shoulders, his pale skin smooth and cool, marked only by blue-violet diamond-shaped seals along his abdomen and wrists.
Mio froze.
She pointed weakly at Hikari, who stood there awkwardly, opening and closing his mouth without a sound.
Orochimaru nodded in understanding.
Mio quickly slipped past him into the bathroom. The moment the door closed, her mind went blank. Her pale face turned red as fire.
She turned on the shower, letting cold water pour over her to calm her racing heart.
"Hikari?"
Orochimaru crouched down beside the child, who seemed unusually withdrawn.
"…I have too many ugly scars," Hikari whispered. He glanced at Orochimaru's smooth, unscarred body and lowered his head in shame. "They're… really ugly. Can I wait until you're done before I bathe?"
"You used to do the same thing," Orochimaru said gently. "When Tsunade and I fell asleep, you'd sneak off to the river alone."
Hikari's eyes widened.
"H-How did you know?"
"Unfortunately," Orochimaru replied calmly, "I'm very sensitive to movement."
He placed a hand on Hikari's head and gently patted it. "You're standing in front of a scientist who's supplied countless formulas to the White Snake Pharmaceutical Company. Your scars mean nothing to me."
"Come," he added softly. "Lift your arm."
Hikari obeyed.
Orochimaru quickly removed his clothes, his pupils shrinking slightly as he took in the scars covering nearly the child's entire body.
What a deranged group, he thought grimly. Doing this to a child… truly a clan born of madness.
"Don't look," Hikari said softly, trying to cover Orochimaru's eyes.
"I need to see them," Orochimaru replied calmly. "Trust me."
He gently lifted Hikari and placed him into the bathtub, where the bubbling liquid shimmered with a deep blue-violet hue, resembling an ancient witch's cauldron.
"…?!"
Hikari's eyes widened in alarm.
"It looks strange, but it won't hurt," Orochimaru said. "I added blueberry-scented bath salts. You used to like blueberry juice, didn't you?"
"It smells really nice…"
The water was warm—not hot—and though it bubbled continuously, it didn't burn.
Hyūga Mio watched quietly, her heart aching.
Those scars…
Even branch family members of the Hyūga clan never suffered like this.
Later, Orochimaru sat at his desk, jotting down notes on Hikari's condition.
The transplanted eye jutsu functions normally… but it places a heavy burden on his body.
To fix this, the jutsu must either be removed—or fully integrated.
The power stabilizing his chaotic chakra… it must be the Eight Thousand Spears eye technique.
His pen snapped in half.
They treated him as nothing more than a weapon.
Knock, knock.
Orochimaru opened the door to find Hikari holding a pillow.
"…Can we sleep together?" the child asked timidly.
"…Alright."
That night, Hikari explored Orochimaru's simple room, stopping at a glass case.
"Is this… snake skin?"
"A white snake," Orochimaru replied. "A symbol of rebirth."
"Meeting you and Tsunade was my greatest fortune," Hikari said quietly.
Orochimaru closed his notebook and lay down.
"Inside or outside?" he asked.
"Inside."
Hikari slipped under the blanket, wrapping his small arms around Orochimaru.
"Sleep," he whispered.
And for the first time in a long while—
He slept without fear.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)