This was a very cliché story: the amnesiac white-haired youth was saved by a kind nun when he was helpless and brought to an orphanage. However, because she offended the powerful and wealthy, the nun was unfortunately murdered, and the orphanage was burned down by thugs. Once again plunged into hesitation and bewilderment, the youth was rescued by Orochimaru.
The cliché and laughable part lay right here: which child taken away by Orochimaru didn’t have a tragic past? Those living in happiness would not follow him away without looking back.
There is a very famous saying: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way [Note].”
Amanozako: “However, in the ninja world, this saying has to be reversed. Unhappy people are all alike, while happy people each have their own happiness. In this cruel world, pain and sorrow are the norm.”
Orochimaru thought of the Kaguya clan and the Uchiha clan, both of which had likewise been exterminated.
Uchiha Sasuke thought of the Jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto and Gaara, who were likewise discriminated against and marginalized.
Orochimaru had already witnessed too much hardship and tragedy in the ninja world. To someone as cold-blooded as him, these miserable pasts were as common as snow in winter or blooming flowers in spring, not worth stirring a ripple in his heart.
Yet that quote was very insightful and worth collecting.
Uchiha Sasuke, however, clenched his fingers tightly. His pitch-black, round, and bright pupils revealed a heavy and compassionate expression; his lips were pressed into a straight line, and the tips of his brows furrowed into mountain peaks.
Amanozako took in both of their expressions completely, gently lifting the white hair hanging by his ear and tucking it behind.
“I am very grateful to Lord Orochimaru for saving me back then and even avenging Sister Nun. I don’t know my origins, nor do I know my destination, and he is the only one who can take me in and help me search for my future and my past.”
“I have offered my loyalty to Lord Orochimaru, and I will also repay his kindness. You don’t need to doubt this point.”
Uchiha Sasuke saw determination and sincerity in that pair of pure white eyes. The reverence and fervor on Amanozako’s face were the most common demeanor Sasuke saw in the Sound Village and various major bases.
They were saved by Orochimaru, and thus were willing to dedicate both body and mind to him, fearing nothing even if it meant death.
Yet such fanatical loyalty was never taken to heart by Orochimaru; the man was cruel and merciless, ready to discard a loyal subordinate like a worn-out shoe at any moment.
Yet they still swarmed toward him willingly, content to assist in wrongdoing.
He suppressed his disgust, expressionlessly groping the Kusanagi sword in his hand, feeling much more at ease in his heart.
Amanozako spoke warmly: “Therefore, Lord Sasuke can rest assured as much as possible, because you are the vessel Lord Orochimaru is going to reincarnate into, so I will definitely not do anything detrimental to you.”
Sasuke accepted this reason, his expression as peaceful as usual. Only those familiar with him could tell that he was a bit colder toward Amanozako.
When Uchiha Sasuke was receiving individual instruction from Orochimaru, he unreservedly questioned him: “Why save Amanozako? Where does his value lie?”
Orochimaru favored researching bloodlines, but preferred geniuses even more, using them as vessels for his reincarnation and materials for experiments.
The youth—who looked like a mix of the Hyuga and Kaguya clans—was not particularly strong. Even if Orochimaru had been curious about his identity and abilities from the very beginning, he would have extracted his blood and human tissue cells to study right at the start, and results should have been researched by now.
In that case, Amanozako’s ending would more likely be becoming a participant in a chicken-dinner battle royale. Whether he could survive by a stroke of luck was one thing, but appearing by Sasuke’s side was still somewhat unexpected.
Orochimaru’s gloomy and soft voice sounded: “I thought Amanozako-kun would have told you when he first met you: his mind is quite decent.”
Sasuke was slightly surprised: “Is that actually true? Is he smart enough that you also place enough importance on his talent in this aspect?”
“So you are weighing his experimental value and management talent on the scale in my mind? After all, I don’t need so many people following along behind me all the time—is that your thought? Sasuke-kun is indeed very smart as well,” Orochimaru said, full of praise.
Characters who weren’t formidable were often dispatched by him to other bases and couldn’t stay by his side for long, let alone beside the container for his next urgent reincarnation. Hence, the true significance of Amanozako was open to question.
An expression of solemnity and sternness surfaced on Orochimaru’s face as he muttered to himself: “Indeed, I initially thought he was a hybrid of the Hyuga and Kaguya clans. Although this is somewhat unbelievable, it doesn’t rule out the possibility that members of the two clans who defected during the Warring States period accidentally got together, resulting in a mixed-blood reversion of ancestry.”
“However, his cells are even more complex and inconceivable,” Orochimaru’s tongue lightly licked the corner of his lip. “Well, if his appearance weren’t just like a human’s and similar to the Hyuga and Kaguya clans, I might really have thought he was an alien from somewhere else.”
Sasuke’s mind went blank for a split second, not expecting Orochimaru to arrive at such a heaven-shaking conjecture.
He raised his gaze, his black pupils reflecting suspicion, accusation, and dissatisfaction.
Yet Orochimaru was gazing in deep thought, his face bearing a rare expression of caution. Then he relaxed his brows, revealing his usual gloomy and infatuated demeanor, and murmured softly: “In any case, by thoroughly exploring this interesting unknown, I will always be able to pursue the truth.”
Sasuke was speechless.
This scientific madman.
Uchiha Sasuke’s training time was scientifically proportioned: studying, practicing, resting… Orochimaru wanted to squeeze this body for its maximum value and manifest its most perfect form.
To this end, Orochimaru did not want any damage or destruction, and Otsutsuki Amanozako followed all of this without a shred of complaint.
When Sasuke put away his sword and closed his eyes to rest, Amanozako was still busy with official duties. The tip of his pen touched the paper, making a rustling sound that ninjas who walked the world with keen senses could not ignore.
He opened his eyes and looked quietly over.
Most of the time, Sasuke didn’t care about Amanozako’s actions. It was entirely normal for a management personnel to handle complex official duties and documents, and there was nothing worth probing deeply into.
But…
What on earth was Amanozako doing, having changed into a white lab coat and wearing a pair of plano glasses while seriously staring at several pots of green plants in front of him?
He asked directly since he had something to say: “What are you doing? Could it be that Orochimaru has stopped human experimentation and switched to studying how to farm?”
Amanozako replied with a look of shame: “It’s not like that, Lord Sasuke. This is my own selfish motive.”
A question mark slowly appeared above Sasuke’s head as he quietly listened to the other’s explanation.
Amanozako sighed: “When doing anything, I hope to achieve perfection, including the aspect of taking care of you—as you know.”
Sasuke nodded in deep agreement.
Amanozako continued with what followed: “Therefore, naturally I must take responsibility for your hobbies. Since you like eating tomatoes, I must cultivate a batch with the best and most delicious taste.”
What he was holding in his hand was the cultivation record for tomatoes. With the help of Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto, progress was advancing by leaps and bounds, and the prospects were very promising.
The black hair of the Uchiha descendant fell down, making his small face look as cold and white as jade, except now one could spot the slight cracks emerging on that indifferent face no matter how they looked.
He emphasized word by word: “You don’t need to go this far; I don’t have such a strong demand for tomatoes.”
Liking them was true, but as long as they were available, it was fine. If he were truly that picky, he should have obediently stayed in Konoha to live a stable life instead of defecting to find Orochimaru.
“I would rather you spend your time practicing ninjutsu, Amanozako,” Sasuke said calmly. “You shouldn’t want the nun who saved you to die and find yourself helpless to do anything about it happen again, right?”
He truly possessed a kind of gentle cruelty, tearing open the peaceful mask and unearthing the pain and dripping flesh, extremely clear-headed.
Amanozako’s scars were touched, yet his gaze was unexpectedly gentle as he acknowledged: “Thank you for your reminder, Lord Sasuke. I haven’t forgotten those things, and I am also training, but I don’t want to be overly hasty. In my view, planting little tomatoes for you is equally important.”
Sasuke saw his determination and did not try to persuade him further.
Amanozako’s desire to grow stronger was not intense; he had no goal of craving power, so everything else could take a back seat. But he himself could not do that—
Behind him stood a silent graveyard, where deceased clansmen were quietly watching. He could not stop and could not deviate.
Therefore, there was no need to use his own life experience as a heartfelt admonition for another’s path; everyone is unique.
This is the last time. Sasuke said this to himself in his heart.
Uchiha Sasuke straightened his body, spreading his arms, with his feet spaced shoulder-width apart.
Such a rebellious and flamboyant youth patiently waited for Amanozako to take out a soft measuring tape to measure his height and vital statistics.
Otsutsuki Amanozako spoke with a calm tone: “Kabuto-kun doesn’t trust me, you see. I am completely familiar with Lord Sasuke’s physique and could rattle off the numbers at a single glance, yet he insisted on measuring specifically. It really makes me a bit sad.”
Everyone could hear the resentment in his tone.
Yakushi Kabuto smiled and said: “There’s no help for it either, Amanozako-kun. The pursuit of scientific research always requires precise data; mere naked-eye measurements won’t convince people, after all.”
Sasuke was expressionless, unwilling to listen to them discussing his bodily data right here, and turned around to leave.
Amanozako called out to him: “Lord Sasuke, I plan to make a few sets of clothes. Do you have any preferred styles?”
Sasuke stopped in his tracks, turning sideways to look at him: “This is fine. The ones that are most convenient for movement, and they must also accommodate the easy execution of the cursed seal.”
He paused, and then emphatically pointed out: “Don’t make them flashy; plain white will do.”
He specifically brought this up not for nothing, but because there was a reason behind it.
Based on his own preferences, Otsutsuki Amanozako had previously procured a set of kariginu featuring a deep black lining with dark purple rolling along the exterior. The cut was loose and casual, completely lacking the sharpness of tight combat attire.
The trouser legs were indeed tied shut, but they were somewhat wider than what he usually wore.
Such attire was magnificent and exquisite, classical and elegant, even bearing the white fan family crest of the Uchiha clan at the cuffs, and embroidered with a red-and-white fan on the back in accordance with his preference.
Yet it was completely unsuitable for regular training.
He had only worn similar clothes during the clan’s New Year festival at the end of the year, a very long time ago. Ever since then, his memory of it had faded, and he had never had memories of clothes in such a style again.
He didn’t need them before, and he wouldn’t need them ever again.
Amanozako answered very promptly: “Yes, Lord Sasuke.”
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Amanozako, who wore all white year-round and seemed as though he were running someone’s funeral at every moment, his eyes filled with an eerie light.
“You really are so good to him, Amanozako-kun.” Enduring and enduring, after Uchiha Sasuke walked far away, Yakushi Kabuto still couldn’t help but voice such a sigh.
Amanozako said very gently: “Lord Sasuke is quite easy to get along with.”
Yakushi Kabuto’s expression warped, feeling as if a lump were stuck in his throat, looking at him as though he were mentally handicapped.
Even following Lord Orochimaru’s orders to properly take care of Sasuke, Yakushi Kabuto would occasionally still be exasperated by that guy and couldn’t help complaining a word or two to Orochimaru, prompting Orochimaru to soothe him with a word or two in helplessness.
Since Orochimaru himself would also get exasperated by him—
Then there was really nothing more to say.
Kabuto said softly: “Amanozako-kun, go ahead and schedule the eye examination.”
Amanozako replied with modest reserve and aloofness: “Thanks, but no need. I am doing fine.”