Orochimaru slowly swept his gaze over the bandits' corpses scattered across the ground, each one twisted into a different grotesque pose. In his signature hoarse voice, he said,
"These… people. Did you kill them all, brat of the Uzumaki Clan?"
This time, Karin finally reacted.
She lifted her head and looked straight at him with those icy, impurity-free crimson eyes. Her tone was calm, yet laced with undeniable threat.
"I'm eating. I don't feel like fighting right now."
"Leave."
"Or wait until I'm done… and I'll kill you."
Such a murderous declaration, coming from her still-childish lips—speckled with bits of food—created a bizarre contrast.
Yet instead of anger, Orochimaru's smile widened. He even spoke with a hint of approval.
"Oh? You give a warning before attacking… how very 'polite' of you."
Across the shinobi world, countless unseen spectators might as well have question marks floating over their heads.
Polite?!
How is that polite?!
That's a death notice!
Orochimaru, has a snake eaten your brain?!
Of course, Orochimaru couldn't hear any of that.
He continued casually, sounding almost regretful. "Those bandits… were experimental materials I had my eye on. You've killed them all. That's quite a loss for me."
By then, Karin had finished her last bite.
She stood up slowly and dusted off her hands, brushing away dust that didn't exist.
Then she gave Orochimaru an extremely sweet—almost adorable—smile.
Paired with her delicate features, it would have charmed anyone unaware of her nature.
But her words turned that smile into a devil's whisper(Advanced genjutsu suggestion ).
"That's fine~"
Her voice was clear and pleasant.
"After I kill you…"
Her smile grew brighter.
"I'll send you down to keep your 'materials' company!"
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru let out a low, delighted chuckle, seemingly unconcerned by the killing intent gathering around her.
Just as Karin's eyes sharpened and her chakra began to surge, he abruptly changed the subject, his voice turning persuasive.
"Being alone… must be boring, hm? Wandering aimlessly. Killing. What else do you know besides that?"
His golden snake-like eyes locked onto her.
"Why not… come with me?"
Karin's attack halted mid-motion.
Tilting her head, she sized him up with those cold red eyes before asking bluntly, with a touch of naïve cruelty,
"A human trafficker?"
"…."
Orochimaru's smile froze instantly, as if struck by invisible lightning.
He had roamed the shinobi world for decades. One of the Legendary Sannin. The "Cold Lord." An S-rank missing-nin feared across the nations.
And yet this was the first time anyone had described him with such a crude, down-to-earth—and deeply insulting—term.
He felt his dignity had been severely challenged.
"…That's not an appropriate way to put it."
Even his voice wavered slightly, carrying an uncharacteristic hint of self-defense.
"That's slander."
"I'm merely inviting you to a place where your… talents can be better realized."
Seeing Orochimaru looking as though he had swallowed a fly yet was forcing himself to remain composed, Karin blinked, faintly amused.
She scratched her vivid red hair. The killing intent around her faded slightly as she spoke in a tone almost magnanimous.
"Hmm… you're kind of interesting."
She waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.
"Forget it. You can go. I won't kill you today."
"…Well, thank you very much."
Orochimaru's expression stiffened again, the corner of his mouth twitching.
In all his years, never had a child spared him with such a tone.
Was this little girl always so arrogant?
But when his gaze fell upon her distinctive, flame-like red hair, his irritation was swiftly replaced by intense interest.
The bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan… and this peculiar power and temperament… Perfect, he thought with excitement. A minor 'offense' is nothing compared to her research value.
Orochimaru quickly composed himself, restoring his usual eerie yet cordial smile, as though the awkwardness had never occurred.
He decided to abandon the "human trafficker" matter and shifted the conversation.
"Why are you here alone?" he asked casually, though his golden eyes carefully observed her every reaction.
Karin's reply was simple and direct, carrying a lonely inevitability.
"I'm alone. Of course I'm here alone."
"Hehe… you really are interesting." Orochimaru ran his tongue across his lips and let out a low laugh, slipping into the role he played best—tempter. "It seems… you're a lost soul."
"Lost?" Karin tilted her head again, scratching her hair. Genuine confusion flickered in her red eyes.
She thought her goal was perfectly clear.
To cleanse this filthy world.
For the sake of the Demon God(Cursed Seal influence).
"That's right!" Orochimaru declared confidently, as if he had seen through her very soul.
"How could you truly be alone? The moment I appeared here, it ceased to be coincidence. This is… a destined encounter."
He wrapped their meeting in the cloak of fate, attempting to beguile an immature child.
Karin seemed even more puzzled by his mystical rambling.
Seizing the opportunity, Orochimaru pressed on.
"Tell me—what is your goal? What is it… that you wish to do?"
That question struck something.
Karin's eyes sharpened instantly. Cold killing intent radiated from her as she answered without hesitation:
"I want to cleanse this world!"
"How ambitious!"
Orochimaru had no idea what "cleanse" meant in Karin's vocabulary, but that didn't stop him from voicing enthusiastic approval.
Her true objective was irrelevant to him.
What he wanted was the secret behind her.
Still playing the role of mentor, he asked gently,
"But… how do you plan to do that?"
"How?" Karin's expression grew even more confused, as if he had asked something utterly foolish. "Why think about it? If I see something unpleasant, I just cleanse it."
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