"So... Orochimaru, what's your dream?" Sabo was a bit confused. Orochimaru's past sounded like a story, as if it wasn't even him, leaving Sabo puzzled and bewildered ⚆ ɞ ⚆.
Orochimaru looked up at the sea, his expression somewhat complex. "To reach the pinnacle of skill, explore the mysteries of this world, and achieve immortality."
"Soga, hahahaha, so you just want to be immortal, huh? I'll protect Orochimaru!" Luffy chuckled foolishly, adjusting his hat.
Orochimaru scoffed, "So you all want to set sail. Who's going to be the Captain?"
"Of course, it's me!" Three voices rang out simultaneously... then the three looked at each other.
"Sabo, I always thought you were definitely going to be my Navigator," Ace mused.
"You all! Come aboard my ship!" *⁂((✪⥎✪))⁂* Luffy said unconsciously.
"I refuse!!!" The two roared, veins throbbing on their foreheads.
"Come on, I said come on!" Luffy whined, about to throw a tantrum.
"Absolutely not that!" Ace retorted, and Sabo agreed.
"Well... never mind then. Anyway, I still have Orochimaru," Luffy pouted.
Orochimaru put down his teacup and tilted his head. "Did I say I was going to sail with you...? I don't think so."
"I don't care, I don't care!! I want Orochimaru on my ship!" Luffy threw a tantrum, rolling around on the ground, spinning and rolling. Orochimaru watched, even taking a picture with his picture transponder snail. Luffy instantly sat up straight, pouting with a wronged expression.
Under the warm sun, Orochimaru's lips curved slightly, while the other two burst into laughter.
"Well! In any case, let's talk about the future in the future. Maybe the four of us won't even set sail together," Ace said, placing a bottle of sake on a tree stump. "You know, if we clink glasses, we can become brothers. Even if we're not Crewmates on the same ship when we become pirates, let's use brotherhood to forge our bond. No matter where we are in the future, this bond will always be connected." After saying this, the three of them, by prior agreement, looked at Orochimaru.
They always felt that without a connection, Orochimaru seemed like he could disappear with the wind at any moment.
Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then walked over. The four of them raised their cups together, and Ace excitedly clinked them.
"From today on, we're brothers!" ٩(*´◒`*)۶
Congratulations! ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
The group continued to scavenge for Berries at the Gray Terminal, then returned to Dadan's house with their prey. After dinner, the three, including Orochimaru, were stripped naked and thrown into the bathroom. Orochimaru looked at his dirty self, covering his head. It was over... my image, my persona. Then he heard a drip, turned to see Sabo with a nosebleed, and his shark-like face contorted with bulging veins.
"Why are you getting a nosebleed?! I'll kill you!"
A few days later, Makino and the Village Chief came to visit Luffy and Orochimaru. Sabo and Luffy teased Ace, who was acting docile in front of Makino. Orochimaru was helping Makino organize things and prepare food.
Sabo, eating the delicious meal, exclaimed, "Indeed, sailing can't do without delicious food! When I set sail, I'll definitely find the best chef."
Ace, holding a piece of meat, leaned over. "I'll be the first to become a pirate. Your sweet dream might be ruined."
"That's too sneaky! I'll be the first to become a pirate!" Luffy said proudly.
~(¯▽¯~)
Orochimaru came out of the kitchen with a dish, and seeing Garp behind the three, he broke out in a cold sweat. He straightened his clothes, patted his face, and smiled.
(〃'▽'〃)
"Grandpa~ You're back!" Sweetness level increased by 5+.
Luffy's face turned green when he saw Orochimaru like this, as if he understood something, and he stiffly turned his head. Ace also turned around.
Garp's eyes were bloodshot. "Are you still saying such things? Don't you understand that you're going to be Marine Soldiers in the future?!" (╬｀beneficial´)ｺ His fist, the size of a sandbag, landed heavily on their heads, then he gave Dadan a punch too.
Sabo retreated, sweating coldly, thinking, "Is this person Ace, Luffy, and Orochimaru's Grandpa?" He looked at Orochimaru, who was smiling sweetly and innocently, standing with Makino, then looked at the towering Garp. He seemed to understand what Luffy meant by "Orochimaru is the sneakiest." Who is this person...? "Brat, you also said something about setting sail, didn't you?" Garp turned.
Sabo was about to pretend to be good and explain like Orochimaru, but Luffy stepped forward. "He's not a brat! This is Sabo. We drank sake together and swore to become pirates together."
Garp's knuckles cracked. He glanced at Orochimaru, who was smiling impeccably and acting incredibly docile, knowing full well what kind of person he was, but having no reason to act. His anger flared, aimed at the three of them. "So, you're saying there's one more little brat I need to educate, huh?"
Uh... ⊙-⊙! Then screams echoed throughout the entire mountain forest. Dust billowed, broken trees lay everywhere. The three Luffys spun in the air, flying and screaming non-stop.
"That's enough for today. Tomorrow, I'll educate you even more strictly. Don't die, okay? Orochimaru, take them back and clean them up," Garp clapped his hands and turned to leave, shouting.
"Got it, Grandpa," Orochimaru instantly appeared in a tree, half-crouching, looking down at the three pitiful figures below. He swallowed, "As expected of me, who has lived two lives... I can bend and stretch."