In the Land of Water, within the woods outside the Kaguya Clan grounds.
The white-haired child leaned against a tree, his green eyes utterly placid beneath red eyeshadow.
"I'm alone again."
From the moment he was born, he had been locked in a cage by loneliness. The only reason he had ever been let out was to fight.
After every battle, Kimimaro felt nothing but emptiness. He did not know what purpose there was in being alive.
Kimimaro wandered aimlessly along the lakeshore, contemplating the meaning of life.
By the lake, Kimimaro suddenly realized that he seemed to have been here before.
That time, he had discovered a flower blooming amid a weed-choked swamp.
Kimimaro took two steps in that direction.
Sure enough, the flower was still blooming in this lonely, deserted place.
The flower was white and delicate, dotted with tiny beads of dew. A gentle breeze stirred it, making it sway softly.
Kimimaro gazed at the white flower for a long while. "Why are you blooming here?"
Suddenly, anger surged within him. "Why won't you answer me? Are you ignoring me too?!"
"No one can even see you in a place like this!"
A bone blade appeared in his hand. He wanted to destroy the flower, as though he wanted to destroy himself.
"Don't do that."
At that moment, a voice came from behind him.
Kimimaro abruptly turned around and discovered that someone had appeared behind him without his notice.
"Living doesn't necessarily have to have meaning, but if you keep living, you may find something meaningful."
Shamu paused.
"Just as you found that flower, and I found you."
Shamu slowly walked over to Kimimaro and touched his face.
Kimimaro's face visibly reddened.
*Orochimaru really was worthy of being a spiritual mentor. Copying his words was much faster