Naruto: Reborn as Orochimaru

Chapter 82: New Mission

After conducting re

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Orochimaru wasn't one to offer many words of comfort, even when Tsunade had been mourning her parents. It wasn't that he didn't care—it was simply that in the harsh world of ninjas, death was far too common. His experiences had hardened him, numbing his emotional responses. Losing family, comrades, even children… it was all too normal for him.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Orochimaru asked, noting Tsunade's fully armed state.

"I came back to rejoin the team," she explained. "I didn't know you had a mission today."

"I see," Orochimaru mused. "Then go pack your things. I'll meet you at the village gate."

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Half an hour later, at the entrance of Konoha, Jiraiya was waiting. He was visibly stunned to see Tsunade approaching with her gear, though he remained unusually quiet. Normally, Jiraiya would have made some playful remark, but today, the air between them was heavy with unsaid words.

None of the three spoke much as they set off towards the Land of Grass, moving swiftly through the forested paths. They had been teammates for years, but there was a silent understanding between them now a shared acknowledgment of the recent loss.

As they ran through the trees, Tsunade suddenly broke the silence.

"Orochimaru," she called out.

"Yes?" he replied, his voice as calm as always.

"Can you tell me how you felt when your parents died?" Her tone was eerily calm, a stark contrast to the deep emotions she was grappling with. Even Jiraiya, usually the loudest of the trio, remained silent, not daring to interrupt.

Orochimaru's mind briefly flashed back to a distant memory, a time long ago when he first learned of his mother's death. It had been a moment of overwhelming anger he had wanted to destroy everything, to tear apart the world and make those who had wronged him suffer. The desire for vengeance had consumed him for a long time. But now, those emotions felt distant, muted.

"It's been too long… I've forgotten how it felt," he said, his voice emotionless, as if speaking about something trivial.

Tsunade looked at him, her eyes searching for something more. But Orochimaru's expression remained impassive, giving her nothing further to hold onto. He didn't see the need to elaborate on his pain it was part of the past, and he had already moved on.