Debt Repayment

"Go call your sister Tsunade back for dinner."

Seeing Shizune's impatient look, Orochimaru sent her away. After she left the kitchen, he continued, "If she refuses to come back, tell her the money she owes me has doubled."

Shizune gave Orochimaru a strange look upon hearing that, but said nothing and happily ran off.

"Hmph! Borrowing my money to gamble? You've got some nerve. If I'd known, I wouldn't have lent him a cent even if you beat me to death."

Orochimaru curled his lip. Money like that would be hard to get back.

When Tsunade had first come to borrow money from him, he had thought she was facing some sort of hardship. After all, Shizune's daily expenses had been considerable when she was little.

They had not taken on missions for a long time, so they had been living off the savings they had accumulated over the years.

Altogether, Tsunade had borrowed more than a million ryo from him—over two hundred thousand yuan by his reckoning.

Besides, money still had plenty of purchasing power these days. A bowl of ramen only cost thirty or forty ryo.

Thinking about how the money he had worked himself to the bone to save had been sweet-talked away by Tsunade, he shuddered. If he had not found out in time and cut his losses, the three of them would be eating dirt by now!

"More than two hundred thousand! Meeting Tsunade ruins a man for life!"

Shaking his head, Orochimaru cast those thoughts aside. Instead, he unconsciously began humming a tune, easing his weary mind.

This was the most relaxing moment of his day. A scientist who could not cook was no qualified scientist.

When Shizune dragged Tsunade back home, they happened to see Orochimaru's back as he stir-fried in the kitchen, humming an unfamiliar song:

"I still drift through life as though drunk in dreams, smiling as I watch the world change like flowing water. My beloved sighs, unable to exhaust the bitterness of longing, recalling our glorious years...

Do you not see me dancing lightly? Do you not see me playing the zither in lingering melodies? Do you not see my radiant smile and intoxicating beauty..."

Orochimaru's current voice was still rather androgynous, not yet as deep and heavy as it would be in his forties or fifties.

He had deliberately lowered his voice, making it sound even more feminine. If one heard only the voice and did not see him, they would surely think some woman was singing.

Tsunade, who had just been forcibly dragged back by Shizune, was stunned. She had been fierce and furious moments ago, but seeing Orochimaru sing—and sing so well—left her in a daze.

Could someone like cold, stoic Uncle Snake really write such a melody and such lyrics?

Tsunade was full of doubt, and even Shizune was hearing this strange melody and lyrics for the first time. Still, it sounded quite nice.

Just as the two of them were immersed in Orochimaru's singing and unable to pull themselves away, the song abruptly stopped.

Orochimaru had realized that Tsunade and Shizune were already back.

"Uh... I've been under a lot of pressure lately, so I started singing without realizing it. Sorry you had to see that."

Orochimaru explained awkwardly, nearly wishing he could burrow into the ground. My cold and ruthless Uncle Snake image... How did I forget this isn't my own home?

If he had still been the original Orochimaru, let alone singing, he would have been too lazy even to cook.

Though the current Orochimaru acted far more cheerful than before, it was not to such an outrageous degree. If anyone truly noticed that his personality had changed drastically, someone from the Yamanaka clan would probably come investigate whether his body had been possessed.

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario. Uncle Snake still carried plenty of authority in front of others.

"Not at all! Uncle Snake, you sing so beautifully! What's this song called? Can you teach me?"

Faced with Orochimaru's awkward expression, Shizune did not mind at all. Instead, she asked about what she cared about.

"'Black Hair.' I'll teach you another day when I have time. Eat first."

As he spoke, he did not dare look at Tsunade's expression. It was far too embarrassing; he had nearly died of humiliation. Good thing this was home.

"Black Hair... the name does fit."

Tsunade murmured unconsciously.

"Uncle Snake, why are some people so smart? Kakashi from our class graduated early today!"

Shizune said gloomily, clearly envious of Kakashi, who had skipped grades one after another and graduated from the Ninja Academy early.

"Kakashi? Seems he's quite talented."

As he spoke, Orochimaru did not forget to glance at Tsunade. The Sannin had also graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of six, and Orochimaru had been the most gifted among them.

"Those who can graduate at that age usually achieve great things in the future. But you do not need to compare yourself to him. Geniuses are a minority, after all."

After a pause, Orochimaru continued, "What truly supports you is a wealth of knowledge, a solid financial foundation, lasting emotional stability, a controllable rhythm of life, and an undefeated self. You only need to keep working hard to reach that stage. Others are merely one step ahead of you."

His words did not involve talent. As long as one put in the effort, most people could reach that point.

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Shizune stopped dwelling on it. Tsunade also agreed with him. One could say that these were the qualities a qualified ninja should possess.

Except for someone like her, whose life was good in every way yet still a complete mess. Without Orochimaru's intervention, she would probably still be muddling through life in a haze.

Seeing Tsunade remain silent, Orochimaru brought up the matter of her paying for meals.

"Impossible! I don't have money...!"

Sure enough, she did not disappoint him. Her reaction was just short of flipping the table and turning hostile.

"Heh... either repay your debt, or pay up!"

Orochimaru had no intention of indulging her and continued to argue his case.

Seeing that Orochimaru would not yield an inch, Tsunade knew she could no longer deny it.

"At worst, I'll go to the gambling houses less often from now on."

Tsunade knew Orochimaru had caught her red-handed tonight and now had a reason to lash out. She was in the wrong to begin with.

"You said it! But you still have to pay the monthly food expenses!"

Seeing Tsunade yield in disguise, Orochimaru did not press the matter too hard. Who was he doing this for, if not for this "family"?

Hearing that she still had to pay for food, Tsunade objected again. But before she could speak, Orochimaru added, "You can put the food expenses on credit for now and pay them all at once when you have money, but they must be settled before the New Year."

Hearing she could put it on credit, Tsunade finally relaxed. As for settling it at the end of the year—hmph! Wouldn't that just take one win?

Besides, the monthly food expenses were not much. She was not even in a hurry to repay the money she owed Orochimaru. They had completed just as many missions, and she knew exactly how much savings Orochimaru had.

What she did not know was that small amounts added up. And with her gambling luck, winning even once would be impossible unless Orochimaru started fighting the Third Hokage beforehand.

"Hmph! Orochimaru, let's make this clear first. You're not allowed to get money from me through Shizune!"

Seeing her act as though she were guarding against a thief, Orochimaru found it amusing. She usually gave Shizune plenty of pocket money, but Orochimaru would never reach into Shizune's pockets. What did she take him for?