Orochimaru carefully scanned the Memorial Stone area but didn't find what he was looking for. He felt a little disappointed.
His gaze returned to the Memorial Stone. Following the rows of names carved onto it, he finally found his parents' names in the second-to-last row. Even after rebirth, I still couldn't see my parents one last time. Alas!
Orochimaru hid the sadness deep in his eyes and silently placed the white chrysanthemums in his hand before the Memorial Stone.
The kind and sensible little Maji also placed the white chrysanthemum the flower shop owner had given her on top. She then turned around and said to Orochimaru in a childish voice, "Big Brother, Mama said no matter what happens, don't be sad, because tomorrow will be better!"
Orochimaru looked at the clever and understanding little girl, patted her small head, and a warm smile appeared on his lips.
Maji's large eyes pretended to look "aggrieved and resentful" at Orochimaru, as if saying, Bad Big Brother, you messed up my hair again!
Orochimaru smiled dismissively, put his arm around Maji, and spoke softly to the Memorial Stone, as if addressing the spirits of his parents: "Father, Mother, I have a little sister now. Her name is Maji. See, isn't she adorable? Don't worry about us up in heaven. We will be very well."
Orochimaru paused, then murmured in a voice only he could hear: "Father, Mother, I won't go down that path again! I will become much stronger and bring you back gloriously from the hands of the God of Death!"
By the end, Orochimaru's voice was firm and resolute, like a solemn vow.
Little Maji didn't understand some of Orochimaru's words. Bored, her watery eyes kept looking around.
Suddenly, a strange object entered her sight.
Maji tugged on Orochimaru's hand, pointed to a patch of grass next to the Memorial Stone, and asked doubtfully, "Big Brother, look, look, what is that?"
Orochimaru followed the little girl's finger. A translucent snakeskin, still slightly damp with a milky white fluid, lay quietly on the grass not far from the Memorial Stone.
Orochimaru, who had been disappointed moments ago, now had his eyes light up. He smiled and stroked Maji's adorable little head, praising her, "Maji is Big Brother's lucky star, heh heh!"
Little Maji huffed and ignored Orochimaru. Bad Big Brother, he messed up Maji's hair again!
Orochimaru walked over, picked up the translucent snakeskin, and examined it closely. He suddenly noticed something different.
The translucent skin was indeed the shed skin of a White-Scaled Python, but there were several faint golden streaks on the skin. The fluid residue on the skin hadn't dried yet, meaning the little creature must be nearby.
Orochimaru's pair of dark-golden snake eyes continuously scanned the surroundings. A white streak suddenly flashed across his vision.
Behind a large rock not far from Orochimaru, a small white snake head peeked out curiously, observing the world.
Orochimaru's heart jumped with joy. He waved to the white snake.
Seeing Orochimaru's movement, the white snake instinctively drew back in vigilance. However, perhaps due to the Orochi clan blood in Orochimaru, the small snake head shot out its scarlet tongue, testing the air. It actually started slithering slowly toward Orochimaru.
The white snake wasn't large; it appeared to be a young python.
Orochimaru flattened his right hand and placed it on the grass. The young python hesitated for a moment, then slithered up, coiled itself into several neat rings, raised its head, and continuously observed Orochimaru, occasionally affectionately licking Orochimaru's palm with its tongue.
The little creature was about the thickness of a finger and over half a meter long. Its small head constantly flicked its scarlet tongue. Its two deep red snake eyes were as bright and glittering as the most precious rubies. And on its snow-white body, there were faintly visible golden patterns.
This is actually a Golden Python!
Orochimaru was slightly surprised. The Golden Python was a snake species even more precious than the White-Scaled Python, said to be a thousand-year rarity!
Maji, who had been pretending to be angry, suddenly realized that Big Brother had found something interesting. She immediately hurried over on her small arms and legs. Her two watery big eyes landed on the Golden Python, and she let out a delighted sound like a canary: "Wow, Big Brother, this little lizard is so cute! Lower it down, lower it down, let Maji see!"
Orochimaru looked helpless and explained, "Maji, look closely, this is a snake!"
"Big Brother, what is its name?" Little Maji tightly grabbed Orochimaru's right hand, blinking her big eyes as she asked.
The little creature lying in Orochimaru's palm seemed overwhelmed by Maji's enthusiasm. With a "slish—," a white shadow flashed, and in the next instant, it had coiled around Orochimaru's arm and settled on his shoulder.
Little Maji gripped Orochimaru's right hand, insistent and coquettish: "Big Brother, make it come down and play with me, Big Brother—" The pleasant final syllable was drawn out very long.
Orochimaru remembered the name he gave the White-Scaled Python in his previous life. He said kindly to the little creature on his shoulder, "Yamata, come down! This is my little sister!"
The little creature tilted its small snake head and kept shaking its head, making a human-like gesture of deep thought. After a while, it reluctantly slithered down again.
Little Maji excitedly blinked her bright eyes, watching curiously, asking Orochimaru from time to time: "Big Brother, is its name Yamata? Why doesn't it talk to me?..."
Suddenly, the young Golden Python looked vigilantly toward the path Orochimaru and Maji had taken.
Seeing the little creature's unusual behavior, Orochimaru's heart stirred.
Hiruzen walked slowly. As usual, he had woken up early to visit the Memorial Stone. In his opinion, this was the village's sacred site. He felt that by meditating here every morning, he could somehow communicate with the spirits of the fallen heroes, making his mind clearer and his judgment more accurate. This had slowly become his habit, day after day, year after year.
The difference today was that he had brought a bouquet of white chrysanthemums to pay respects to the recently deceased Second Hokage. Furthermore, when he arrived, he found two children who had come even earlier than him.
Hiruzen walked closer and recognized one of the children. He said kindly, "It's Orochimaru! Are you here to pay respects to your parents?"
Seeing it was Hiruzen, Orochimaru bowed and replied, "Yes, Uncle Hiruzen. I brought my sister to pay our respects to our parents."
A look of admiration flashed in Hiruzen's eyes. What a sensible and filial child!
Little Maji no longer focused on the Golden Python. She bowed to Hiruzen and, sweetly mimicking her brother, said, "Hello, Uncle Hiruzen!"
Hiruzen's smile broadened. He praised her, "What a darling child!"
"Oh?" Hiruzen looked at the young python in Orochimaru's palm, slightly surprised. "That is a young White-Scaled Python, hmm? No, this is actually a young Golden Python!" Hiruzen's tone grew more surprised.
Orochimaru was unsurprised that Hiruzen recognized the young python's origin: "Yes, Uncle Hiruzen. This is my new pet."
Hiruzen involuntarily looked at Orochimaru with a hint of envy. He said, "Child, you truly are lucky! This kind of spiritual creature is rarely seen in a thousand years. It is the king of snakes, symbolizing not only luck and rebirth but also the kingship over all things! Take good care of it. In future battles, it will be a powerful aid to you!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Hiruzen!" Orochimaru replied. Seeing that there was nothing else, he continued, "Uncle Hiruzen, we'll be leaving now."
"Go on then, children!" Hiruzen smiled, bidding them farewell.
"Goodbye, Uncle Hiruzen!" Little Maji waved her hand.
"Goodbye!" Hiruzen watched Orochimaru and Maji walk away, then turned around, placed the white chrysanthemums before the Memorial Stone, and muttered to himself: "Lord First, Lord Second, could this child be the disciple I have been waiting for?"
The surrounding area was filled with the rush of wind and the rustling of leaves. No one answered.
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