Hiruko looked at Pakura, who was currently curled into a soft, shivering ball under the sheets. He decided not to torment her further, giving instructions to Rin Nohara and Pakura's young disciple, Maki, to look after her before heading off to work.
Rin and Maki exchanged hesitant, flickering glances as they looked at the form of Pakura beneath the covers. Their eyes darted back and forth, minds racing with unspoken thoughts about what had transpired.
On the morning of the third day, Hiruko woke up early. After a quick jog around the block, he hurried over to Tsunade's house.
Knock, knock, knock, knock! He hammered on the door relentlessly.
"Are you looking for a death wish, you brat?!" Tsunade's voice exploded from inside. She pounced like a ruffled cat, greeting Hiruko with a prompt fist to the shoulder as she swung the door open.
"You're the one who told me to come early," Hiruko said, looking up.
He was immediately met with a view of Tsunade in loose-fitting pajamas; the neckline was draped so low it was practically a public showing. Tsunade noticed his gaze lingering on her chest, froze for a second, and then—with a newfound lack of bashfulness—calmly walked back into her room to change. Ever since the "bathroom incident," she had become increasingly uninhibited around him.
After grabbing breakfast at a roadside stall, the two walked down the main street.
"Where are we going?" Hiruko asked, curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"The Yamanaka flowershop."
As soon as Tsunade spoke, Hiruko instinctively thought of Nawaki. His expression grew heavy, a shadow of genuine sorrow crossing his face. It was a day of remembrance.
They arrived at the shop—the very one owned by the parents of the not-yet-born Ino Yamanaka. Tsunade bought two bouquets of chrysanthemums, handing one to Hiruko. The white petals symbolized their shared mourning.
They made their way toward the Konoha Memorial Stone, the final resting place for shinobi who fell in battle. It was, for all intents and purposes, the village's public cemetery. As Hiruko followed silently behind Tsunade, he spotted two familiar figures: one heavy-set, one lean.
The lean man wore a black flak jacket, his long black hair flowing freely. It was Orochimaru.
"Tsunade, it's been a long time." Orochimaru's feminine, handsome features and unique aura were unmistakable. He had clearly just come from the lab; a thick, metallic scent of blood still clung to him.
As Hiruko stepped out from behind Tsunade, Orochimaru instinctively licked his lips. "And you... the fellow lab rat has finally crawled out of his hole as well."
Hiruko nodded in greeting.
Jiraiya, standing beside him, laughed heartily. "The three of us haven't been gathered like this in ages!"
Orochimaru flicked his tongue again, his eyes darting between his teammates. "Tsunade, this is the first time I've seen you bring an 'outsider' to pay respects."
"Indeed," Jiraiya added, a trace of loneliness crossing his face. "The three of us have never brought anyone else to the Memorial Stone before."
Tsunade remained silent. Jiraiya looked away, a silent admission of his own "defeat" in his eyes. Orochimaru glanced at Nawaki's headstone and let out a soft sigh, stepping aside to make room. In truth, Orochimaru's favorite disciple had always been the foolishly honest Nawaki. Complex people often gravitate toward the simple-hearted; they are the only ones who truly never betray you.
As Hiruko and Tsunade laid their flowers, Orochimaru's thoughts seemed to drift.
"What have you been up to lately?" Tsunade asked, turning to Orochimaru.
"Working in the Research Division... with Hiruko." Orochimaru's voice turned quiet in front of Nawaki's grave.
Jiraiya watched them, feeling the distance grow. Since Nawaki's death, Tsunade and Orochimaru had changed. He felt as though they were drifting further and further away from the days of their youth.
"Since it's a rare occasion for us to be together, my treat! How about some BBQ?" Jiraiya turned to the group with a forced, cheerful grin.
They all agreed. Jiraiya led the way, boisterous as ever. As they walked, Orochimaru immediately pulled Hiruko into a deep technical discussion about his latest inspirations and data points, causing Tsunade to furrow her brows in annoyance.
Jiraiya had been traveling the world searching for the Child of Prophecy, but the Third Hokage had summoned him back. A great enemy loomed over the Leaf, and the village needed his presence as a deterrent.
They stepped into the BBQ restaurant, and the owner immediately bowed. "Lady Tsunade, the Third Hokage is already here. They are in the first private room."
Tsunade scowled. What is that old man doing here, crashing the party?
She slid the door open to find Hiruzen Sarutobi in the seat of honor, with Minato Namikaze beside him. Jiraiya and Orochimaru took the flanking seats, while Hiruko sat at the foot of the table. Tsunade sat directly next to him.
As the sake flowed and the meat sizzled, Jiraiya and Orochimaru inevitably devolved into their usual bickering. Hiruzen watched them with a helpless sigh. He wanted to chat with Hiruko, but his three students were a handful—none of them possessed the polite decorum of someone like Minato.
Minato watched the lively scene with a smile, though a shadow of gloom remained in his eyes when he thought of the escaped Obito.
"Well, since a big shot is paying today..." Hiruko didn't hold back, ordering the most expensive cuts on the menu.
"You really have no shame, kid," Jiraiya twitched.
"Learn whatever you want from these three," Hiruzen interjected, looking at Hiruko with concern, "but do not learn how to gamble from Tsunade." He was genuinely worried about Hiruko being corrupted.
"He's not a child, I can't control what he does," Tsunade retorted with a shrug. "Gambling is a matter of personal will."
"Old man, why do you nag so much?" Jiraiya added, flipping a piece of meat on the grill.
"And you? When do you plan on leaving again?" Hiruzen redirected his fire.
Jiraiya paused, then sighed. "I'll stay until the village is in the clear."
Orochimaru ignored his bickering teammates, engaging Hiruko in a spirited conversation instead. Thanks to the village's recent cooperation, Orochimaru had amassed a mountain of research material—not just biological samples, but secret techniques from various clans.
In this moment, Orochimaru still felt "human." Compared to the cold, distant snake he would become in the original timeline, there was still warmth here. Hiruzen felt a sense of fatigue, but being with his students brought him a fleeting happiness.
It was a tragedy that this harmonious scene, in the established future, would eventually turn into a clash of blades and blood.
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