Orochimaru assumed that Uzumaki Chigusa was merely surprised that Tsunade and the others liked him. In his mind, she was simply saying strange things with an overly serious expression. In the entire ninja world, he had never encountered girls who openly liked other girls—aside from that peculiar group around him.
"That's not what surprises me, okay…"
Uzumaki Chigusa rested her hands on the white snake coiled around Orochimaru's body and lowered her head, her expression heavy with disappointment. What truly unsettled her was not Tsunade's confession, but the fact that they had acted first.
Uchiha Hikari—only fifteen years old—had already confessed to Orochimaru.
That realization struck Chigusa hard.
For the first time, she felt her chances slipping away. Yet she could not bring herself to give up. At the same time, regret gnawed at her heart—regret for not seizing the opportunity when she had first realized her feelings.
Then reason caught up with her.
That line of thinking is wrong.
At that time, Orochimaru had still been a minor.
How could she possibly have approached him then?
Even if Orochimaru enjoyed reading forbidden books, that did not mean he would actually do anything improper. He read them critically, academically—not for indulgence.
"So what's your problem, then?" Orochimaru said flatly. "You fell from a tree branch and you're still the leader of the Uzumaki clan. Is that all you've got?"
He released Chigusa, setting her gently on the ground. The white snake slid back and wrapped itself around his arm.
"Here."
He handed her the basket he had been holding.
"Thank you."
Chigusa accepted it and glanced at the grass inside.
"Chigusa, I need to head back," Orochimaru said calmly. "The war between Konoha and Iwagakure isn't over yet. The ninja world won't settle down anytime soon."
Just as he turned to leave, a hand grabbed his arm.
"…Chigusa?"
Orochimaru looked back. His red eyes reflected a complex swirl of emotions, and an ominous premonition rose within him.
"Orochimaru," Chigusa said softly. "Could you lower your head a little?"
"Again?"
He remembered her earlier kiss on his forehead and reluctantly leaned down.
"This time is different."
Her soft, lipstick-stained lips brushed against his.
It was brief.
Yet decisive.
"Orochimaru," Chigusa said, her face flushed but her gaze unwavering, "like you said, I'm a terrible adult. I fell in love with you—someone more than ten years younger than me. What surprised me earlier wasn't that girls confessed to you, but that… I was too late."
She smiled faintly, gripping the basket behind her back.
"Do you regret saving me? It's too late to regret it now."
She tried her best to hide the tension in her heart, forcing herself to calm down.
Even if he rejects me, it's fine, she told herself. Maybe I'll meet someone better someday.
"I wish I had arrived at the Land of Whirlpools sooner…"
Orochimaru could still taste the faint trace of lipstick on his lips.
He did not regret saving her.
Even if he had known this would happen—even if he had known he would fall for her—he would not have changed his decision.
"I didn't answer them," he said quietly, "because I couldn't bring myself to refuse them."
Then, mimicking her earlier tone, he added, "Chigusa, you've fallen in love with a volatile person. It's not too late to regret it."
"Isn't that why you were in a bad mood?"
Chigusa chuckled softly, covering her mouth. "That doesn't sound like you at all. The Orochimaru I know is intelligent and clever—just a little emotionally dense. Actually, it's not that you lack emotional intelligence. You simply never imagined that someone would like you, did you?"
"I… hadn't thought about it," Orochimaru admitted. "And please don't call me a 'genius.' I don't like the word."
"Are you going to reject me?" Chigusa asked calmly. "It's fine if you do. I'm an adult—you don't need to carry any burden."
Despite her words, her heart pounded wildly.
This is just a rejection, she told herself.
I'll meet someone better in the future. Someone stronger. Someone more outstanding.
Yet even she found it hard to believe such a person existed.
"Would you mind," Orochimaru asked slowly, stepping closer, "sharing your lover with others in the future, Chigusa?"
Her heart sank.
"How could I not mind…?"
Competing with girls far younger than herself already felt unbearable. If she stayed by Orochimaru's side, she would almost certainly have to share him.
Sharing the same lover.
What kind of absurd situation was that?
"When did you start liking me?" Orochimaru asked suddenly. "When you kissed my cheek?"
"That's impossible!" Chigusa exclaimed, raising her voice. "At that time, you were still a child! I always treated you like one!"
"…Then it seems you're not that bad of an adult," Orochimaru said thoughtfully.
He had briefly wondered whether she harbored inappropriate tendencies. If she had, he would have rejected her without hesitation.
"Orochimaru, you're awful!" Chigusa cried, covering her face. "How could you think that of me?"
She looked utterly wronged—like someone who would die of injustice if the slander were not cleared.
A complete drama queen, Orochimaru thought silently.
Seeing that her performance failed to move him, Chigusa turned dramatically and began to walk away, even adding exaggerated sobbing sounds.
"Stop."
Orochimaru called out, half-exasperated, half-amused. "That direction leads out of the Land of Waves."
"Orochimaru, you're heartless!"
Chigusa finally dropped the act, rushed back, and clung to him. "Tell me! Is it yes, yes, or yes? You don't get a rejection option!"
"No one adds sound effects while crying," Orochimaru said helplessly, pinching her cheeks. "You know I'm indecisive. Why do you still like me?"
"Because you're worth it."
Her smile faded as she pressed a hand to her chest.
"My feelings aren't fake. I wanted to hide them and just be a reliable adult for you—but I overestimated myself."
Orochimaru felt the change in her chakra.
"You're wrong about one thing," he said gently. "Even if you're a terrible adult… you're still very charming."
He exhaled softly.
"I'm also a flawed person. If you're willing to accept someone like me… then let's try."
Chigusa froze.
Then diamond sealing chains erupted from her waist, binding Orochimaru tightly.
"Chigusa?"
"No turning back!" she said, hugging him tightly. "If you go back on your word, I'll cry and tell the entire ninja world that you're the author of banned books!"
"…I know. Release the chains."
She finally did so, stepping closer.
"Then… shall we kiss again?" she asked eagerly.
"Get lost."
Despite his words, Orochimaru leaned in.
Their second kiss was clumsy—but real.
"Chigusa, I need to go."
"I know. Be careful."
As Orochimaru departed, the battlefield awaited.
Far away, in a desolate land scarred by craters, Uchiha Madara tested the power of the Rinnegan.
The ninja world continued to turn.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)