The person who entered was roughly in his early twenties, the peak age for a ninja, and wore a crisp, clean, forest-green flak jacket.
A slightly worn but still clearly visible Konoha (Leaf Village) forehead protector was tied securely to his forehead with a dark blue ribbon. This, combined with his resolute face, neat short hair, and a wisp of beard on his chin, gave him a reliable and capable aura. The intermittent warmth in his eyes, however, maintained an approachable friendliness. The two traits together naturally gave rise to a subtle air of leadership.
This was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Orochimaru stared blankly at this familiar, yet strange, figure, somewhat stunned.
He still remembered the smile of relief and final fulfillment on the face of his deeply gracious Sensei (teacher) in his previous life, after sealing his arms with his own life—perhaps hoping that in losing his hands and all his jutsu, he might finally repent.
At this thought, a hint of guilt arose in Orochimaru's heart.
After entering, Hiruzen saw the tear stains still on Orochimaru's face and sighed inwardly. He slowly walked to the bedside, bent down, and wiped the tears from his face. His dry, warm hand patted the young boy's frail shoulder, and he said gently, "Go on and cry. You'll feel much better once you let it out. You're still a child; don't bottle everything up."
Feeling this long-absent comfort and care, a natural, deep sense of affection and emotion was added to the look in Orochimaru's eyes as he watched Hiruzen.
Hiruzen, of course, couldn't know about Orochimaru's bizarre transmigration. Seeing the extremely deep attachment in Orochimaru's eyes upon meeting him for the first time, his heart was touched.
Did he faint from crying over the news of his parents' death?
Alas, this is a child of true deep feeling. Recalling the dying request of Orochimaru's parents, a deeper thought subtly formed in his mind.
A flash of sorrow crossed Hiruzen's eyes as he remembered the scene of Orochimaru's parents dying in battle.
He took out a scroll, about the length of an adult's palm and two fingers wide, from the pocket of his flak jacket. He placed it in Orochimaru's palm and sighed, offering comfort, "If I remember correctly, your name is Orochimaru, right? This is a message your parents left for you. Orochimaru, you are a ninja now, so you must be strong, alright?"
With that, Hiruzen gently touched Orochimaru's head.
Upon hearing Hiruzen's words, Orochimaru immediately deduced that this was the final year before his graduation from the Ninja Academy, right after the end of a major war, a war in which both his parents and the Second Hokage had lost their lives.
This was the very turning point of his life in the previous world!
It was precisely from this moment that Orochimaru began to deeply feel the fragility and brevity of life, leading him onto the path of pursuing ultimate power and eternal life—a path that would alienate him from everyone he knew.
Taking the last will of his parents from Hiruzen's hand, Orochimaru was filled with confusion and surprise.
In his previous life, after his parents died, he grieved for a long time but never went to the hospital, so he naturally never encountered Hiruzen, and the so-called last will was nonexistent.
It seems my rebirth has already begun to change history!
Thoughts swirled in Orochimaru's mind, but he didn't show any trace of impropriety on his face. He held the last will delicately in both hands and nodded firmly toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen added, "If you have any difficulties in the future, just come find your Uncle. Your Uncle will help you!"
"Thank you, Uncle Hiruzen!" To leave a good impression, Orochimaru replied politely and humbly.
Hiruzen nodded, smiled with satisfaction, and turned to leave.
After Hiruzen departed, Orochimaru slowly opened the scroll. The familiar handwriting within made his heart feel heavy.
His father, using firm, resolute strokes, penned his final words to his son. Though brief, the words were carefully chosen. Beneath the serious tone was a strong reluctance and deep affection.
His mother's handwriting was delicate and elegant. Seeing her light-hearted words despite facing death, the teasing between the lines didn't make Orochimaru happy; instead, it tasted exceptionally bitter.
Their voices and smiles became clearer and clearer in his mind. Even after two lifetimes spanning decades, the memory hadn't faded. Instead, it had settled deep in his heart over time, now surging forth with greater intensity and indelible clarity.
In his previous life, after Orochimaru perfected the Immortality Technique, he immediately used the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) to resurrect his parents. Alone his entire life, misunderstood and companionless, he was like a child who had found a treasure, eager to share it with his parents. But what he received in return were their heartbroken and disappointed eyes. That look was like a sharp knife, plunging deep into Orochimaru's heart.
At the time, he didn't understand. Now, he did.
In fact, the Immortality Technique was not without cost. The more frequently he used it, the more Orochimaru later realized that his soul was becoming weaker and even fractured, which in turn affected his emotions and actions.
His parents, who had been summoned back from the afterlife, must have recognized the consequences of that jutsu.
Slowly closing the scroll, Orochimaru walked to the window and stared intently at the enormous, prominent Hokage Rock in the center of the village. His clenched palms showed the turmoil within his heart.
The warm, gentle sunlight shone on his pale skin, seeming to reflect golden rays.
His body slowly relaxed, and he spread open his palm.
His dark-golden snake eyes were filled with determination, glittering mesmerizingly like two precious gems.
In this life, I absolutely cannot repeat the same mistakes. With the power of a perfect soul merged from two lives and the experience and lessons of decades from his past life, I will certainly erase all regrets, and also...
Orochimaru licked his lips. A flash of excitement—deeply concealed—flickered in his demonic snake eyes.
Where his gaze fell, the busts of the First and Second Hokage on the giant Hokage Rock overlooked all of Konoha!
To the ninjas of all nations, I, Orochimaru, who has been reborn from the endless darkness and risen like a phoenix from the ashes, have "returned"!
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