False

As if out of habit, the old man would always wait until the last sliver of the setting sun disappeared below the horizon before preparing dinner.

He refused Ye Zi's offer of help, slowly starting the firewood before beginning to wash the rice and vegetables. The water used to wash the vegetables was then used to rinse the rice. The water was only used once. The old man held the vegetables and rice in his hands, weighing them for a moment with a serious expression, as if estimating the portions for two people.

Ye Zi calmly watched the old man's movements and figure, recalling how the old man had invited them here after they finished clearing the weeds for him. He had poured them a cup of hot tea, then taken a block of yokan from the cupboard and carefully, meticulously divided it into four perfectly equal portions. That was the yokan from the downstairs house, and it was the only piece they had at the time.

Thinking of this, Ye Zi's perfectly straight eyebrows slowly rose. He didn't consider how the old man's actions might be connected to spies; he just remembered the past. Back then, there was an old man who looked very much like the one in front of him.

Night fell, and smoke curled from the house standing alone by the fields. After a long while, the smoke stopped rising, and the table inside the house now had a few items on it: two bowls of rice, a plate of greens, and a small dish of pickled radishes scooped from a jar. This was the meal, a simple meal.

Accustomed to large portions, Ye Zi, with the help of two pieces of pickled radish, finished a bowl of rice in three or four bites and then, wisely, said, "I'm full."

The old man glanced at the empty bowl, not a single grain of rice left, and smiled before slowly beginning to eat his own meal.

Ye Zi got up and took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen stove to wash and put them away, also washing the pot. Afterward, he went into the yard and looked up at the moon, silent. His initial goal had been to probe, but after seeing the familiar back, he had lost all interest.

He gazed quietly at the moon, thinking of Kimura Takuya inside the house, then of the old man in his memory. Finally, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes, which were filled with moonlight.

The old man in the house was elderly. His movements were slow, but steady, so steady that there wasn't the slightest tremor.

Ye Zi silently withdrew his gaze from the moon and turned back into the house. The old man was only halfway through his meal. Ye Zi naturally bid the old man farewell.

The old man gave him a kind smile, and Ye Zi waved goodbye.

Upon returning to his residence, Orochimaru sat alone on the veranda.

Ye Zi walked over and sat beside him, following his gaze towards the flowers and plants in the courtyard, listening to the chirping of insects from the bushes.

Orochimaru glanced at him and asked, "Where were you?"

Ye Zi replied, "On a mission."

Orochimaru nodded and suddenly said, "I've joined Root too."

Ye Zi's eyes widened instantly. He looked at Orochimaru in disbelief and said, "How could you join Root?"

Many people wanted to know the reason for this question, but few knew. Even the Third Hokage was unaware of Orochimaru's reasons for joining Root.

Hearing the disbelief in Ye Zi's tone, a mocking smile touched Orochimaru's lips. He naturally wouldn't tell Ye Zi the reason, only stating indifferently, "Root offers many conveniences."

Ye Zi agreed with this statement, but he knew it wasn't the reason Orochimaru joined Root. There had to be a more crucial reason and cause, but since Orochimaru was unwilling to say, he wouldn't press further.

In the following days, Ye Zi visited Kimura Takuya's home frequently. When the old man asked him the reason, he replied sincerely, "You remind me of my late grandfather."

This was not a lie but a heartfelt truth, so even though the old man had lived for so long, he didn't doubt Ye Zi's words.

After spending some time with the old man like this, Ye Zi initially confirmed that Kimura Takuya was different from an ordinary old man. Firstly, he was very healthy; secondly, he was very strong; and finally, he had no chakra.

He wrote some of his findings in a report and submitted it to his superiors. Then, his superiors sent someone. That person was from the Yamanaka clan, and someone Ye Zi knew.

"Yamanaka Genya." In a secluded part of the forest, Ye Zi looked at the approaching person with a cold expression.

Yamanaka Genya examined Ye Zi carefully, a smile appearing on his face. They say seeing is believing. Looking at Ye Zi's robust body, full of strength, it was hard to connect him with the scrawny child he was initially. After many years, that somewhat special child had become strong, strong enough to handle things on his own.

"Long time no see." Although he knew they should get straight to the point, Yamanaka Genya couldn't help but deviate.

Ye Zi wasn't displeased by this because, in a sense, this person owed him a favor. Moreover, he was very curious about what Yamanaka Genya had seen in his memories that day, something he had become increasingly eager to know as his own strength grew.

"Yes." But not now, he replied, ending the greeting.

Yamanaka Genya gave a slight wry smile, then turned serious. "Once confirmed, leave the rest to me."

Ye Zi nodded silently. It seemed the village took the mission of rooting out spies very seriously, even involving personnel directly under the Hokage. Normally, such shadow operations were handled by Root.

Actually, clearing out spies didn't need to be so troublesome. Once suspects were identified, adopting a policy of "better safe than sorry" would simplify everything immensely. However, this was Konoha. These matters weren't conducted in darkness, but in the shadows, which made things complicated.

A few days later, Ye Zi visited the old man's home again. This time, he didn't arrive near dusk but at the moment the smoke from the house stopped rising.

Entering the house, he saw the old man slowly chewing his rice. If the remaining time of his life had become precious, then he was truly wasting it like this.

The moon was round and bright tonight. Moonlight streamed through the door and windows, illuminating the interior.

The old man looked up as Ye Zi entered, a little surprised. He swallowed his rice, put down his chopsticks, and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Ye Zi sat down in front of him, not answering the old man. Instead, he said, "I lied to you. I don't have a grandfather, and I never had parents."

Astonishment flickered in the old man's clear eyes. He looked at Ye Zi with some confusion, but Ye Zi wasn't looking at him, only staring at the meager meal on the table. He said calmly, "I'm an orphan. I have a sister three years younger than me. We were adopted by an orphanage. When I was six, I ran away from the orphanage with my sister. Just as I was about to collapse from hunger, I met a very thin old man. He... you look a lot like him."

Kimura Takuya released his grip on his chopsticks and quietly looked at Ye Zi. His face, smoothed by time, was filled with worry. He said, "Child, what's wrong?"

Ye Zi suddenly looked up at him, his eyes a little cold. "You look like him, but you're not him. He was genuine; you're a bit fake. Maybe you're tired of it, making your life seem like you're just going through the motions. This isn't like a healthy old man in his twilight years."

At these words, the worry on Kimura Takuya's face instantly receded like a tide, leaving him expressionless. A hint of understanding appeared in his aged eyes. He sighed softly and said, "I am indeed tired of this monotonous life. So, what do you think you can learn from me?"

"I think I can. You have no chakra," Ye Zi said calmly.

Kimura Takuya's hand hastily touched his chest. This sudden movement didn't elicit any reaction from Ye Zi, who continued to watch the old man calmly.

Kimura Takuya felt the seal written on his chest through his clothes. He said with some emotion, "Yes, I have no chakra." Saying this, he lowered his hand, suddenly appearing dispirited.

"I'm sorry," Ye Zi suddenly apologized.

A look of surprise appeared on Kimura Takuya's expressionless face, followed by a faint smile. He said calmly, "Even in the dead of night, I will faithfully be an old man, even though I know there's no one else around. Lately, I've become very dissatisfied with my current life, so I want to leave. But that's just something I can think about. I know very well that I will ultimately die in Konoha, so I've already found a place. It's not far, just under that willow tree not far from my field. If possible, bury me there."

"Okay," Ye Zi agreed readily.

"Thank you. And I also need to apologize. You might be disappointed. Even someone from the Yamanaka clan can't learn anything from me," Kimura Takuya smiled.

Ye Zi said calmly, "That has nothing to do with me."

Kimura Takuya's smile widened upon hearing this, a stark contrast to his previous expressionless demeanor. He then slowly said to Ye Zi, "Don't underestimate someone without chakra."

"I won't," Ye Zi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Kimura Takuya nodded, his smile fading. He turned his head to look at the doorway, where Yamanaka Genya was standing.

"Goodbye, interesting kid."

Ye Zi remained silent, watching as Kimura Takuya was led away by Yamanaka Genya.

Several days later, Ye Zi buried Kimura Takuya's body under the willow tree, facing away from the small lake and towards the open fields. In front of the tombstone, he placed a plate with three pieces of yōkan.

Suddenly, a faint, pleasant fragrance drifted in on the wind from behind him. A familiar, melancholic voice sounded from behind, "A while ago, Grandpa Kimura looked so healthy."

Without turning around, Ye Zi knew who had arrived. He looked at the name inscribed on the tombstone, thinking that this name was merely a false alias, and let out a cold laugh.

"He could have lived for a few more years, but I killed him."

Kushina's expression slowly changed, and she stared at Ye Zi's back in shock.