Orochimaru Died, Killed by Itachi Uchiha

"Kimimaro, I'm so sleepy. Don't go too far!"

A Luo stomped twice on Kimimaro's arm, telling him not to come any closer.

He had been living in Orochimaru's base for seven or eight days now and had already grown familiar with Kimimaro.

It was another morning. Since Orochimaru had tasked Kimimaro with making sure he got up early for meals and training, A Luo, who wanted to stay in bed, had his blankets yanked off and was dragged up the moment Kimimaro entered the room.

Yesterday, Kimimaro had tried coaxing him, but unfortunately, it had been about as effective as nothing.

So, clever Kimimaro gave up talking altogether today. He first dragged A Luo out of bed, picked him up, and tossed him into the bathtub that had already been filled with water.

"Your Highness A Luo, your tasks now are getting up, eating breakfast, and learning ninjutsu this morning!"

After tossing A Luo, who was two or three years younger than himself, into the bathtub, Kimimaro thoughtfully brought over a towel and mentioned the upcoming schedule.

"Kimimaro, you know? Right now, you're just like a butler—the nagging old butler from those stories!"

A Luo turned over in the bathtub, shook the water from his hair, then stood up and took the towel Kimimaro had brought.

He glared at Kimimaro, recalling the children's storybooks he had read these past two days...

No matter how much trouble the young master caused, the old butler always remained calm. Loyal and diligent, he carried out the master's arrangements, supervising the mischievous young master and coming up with all sorts of ways to make him finish his studies.

The sense of immersion in that absurd scene was far too strong. Kimimaro...

That was enough. He did not need to be this obedient!

"Before Lord Orochimaru left, he said that once you returned, your required studies could be increased as appropriate—up to three times the usual amount!"

Kimimaro watched A Luo wrap himself in the towel and go brush his teeth. Standing in the doorway, he explained the task and authority Orochimaru had given him.

So whether it was the basic amount of study, double, or even triple, would be up to him, the temporary butler.

No matter how many schemes the naughty young master had, he would ultimately finish the day's studies under the butler's supervision!

Kimimaro thought that kind of story was quite good. The only issue was that the butler was too old; he should have been younger.

"Ease up a little. Teacher Orochimaru went over to Akatsuki. There's no real basis for it, but I have a bad feeling. With Itachi Uchiha's personality, he might have already used his eyes and put him under genjutsu..."

After brushing his teeth, washing his face, and getting dressed, A Luo headed toward the dining room with Kimimaro.

As they walked, he looked at Kimimaro's blank expression and the faint amusement in his eyes, reminding him to make some preparations.

They had taken away a surviving member of the Uchiha Clan. Even if he was a publicly acknowledged good-for-nothing, Itachi Uchiha could not possibly do nothing.

So he hoped Orochimaru would not be hurt too badly. If his soul damage worsened again, A Luo's leisurely days would have to be put on hold.

[New achievement unlocked: 'Itachi Uchiha's Furious Snake-Slaying.' Reward: 2500 points]

[New achievement unlocked: 'Orochimaru's First Death Experience.' Reward: 2500 points]

That morning, A Luo had just said that Orochimaru might be in trouble.

Then, by dinner that evening, the achievements popped up.

Two at once.

Itachi Uchiha had killed Orochimaru?!!

A Luo had considered that something might happen, but he had never imagined Orochimaru would die so easily before Itachi Uchiha.

Still, dead was dead. Other people might not come back after dying, but Orochimaru could survive.

The problem now was, where was Orochimaru's soul...

"Kimimaro, the curse mark... Forget it, I'll look for it myself..."

A Luo looked at Kimimaro, who had come to wait for him to fall asleep, blinked sorrowfully, and waved for him to crouch down.

"What is it?"

Kimimaro thought the young master had been quite well-behaved today and had studied diligently. When A Luo asked him to crouch down, he did so without asking too much.

"Orochimaru... was killed by Itachi Uchiha."

A Luo pressed his finger against Kimimaro's curse mark. The words that followed instantly sent Kimimaro's chakra out of control.

"Ah—"

With just that one piece of news, Kimimaro suffered a mental breakdown. Bones burst through his skin all over his body, turning him into a porcupine of bone spikes.

"So it really was in you. Looks like the safest place he could think of was you."

Ignoring the bone spikes around him, A Luo used the chakra flowing through his finger to activate the curse mark on Kimimaro's neck.

It then transformed into spiritual energy, which burrowed inside like a rope, seized Orochimaru's soul, and yanked it out.

"You little brat, you nearly got me killed!"

Orochimaru emerged. His soul form was somewhat weak, but he could still raise a hand and smack A Luo twice on the head.

After saying so much earlier—about how Itachi Uchiha had willingly chosen to let A Luo die and all that—well...

He had only said that although A Luo's body was indeed fragile, he was obedient, sensible, and considerate; that when held in one's arms, he would adorably say that Teacher was the best...

Then Itachi Uchiha suddenly erupted with chakra, used Susanoo to trap him, and pierced him full of holes with a sword.

Had he not prepared beforehand, he might truly have gone to the Pure Land to meet the Death God.

"I told you not to provoke him. Why did you have to go and rile him up..."

A Luo glanced at Orochimaru's soul, neither fully human nor fully snake, and genuinely found the situation exasperating this time.

Who was Itachi Uchiha? A man who could destroy the Uchiha Clan. Other than Sasuke, he would not show mercy to anyone.

Itachi Uchiha surely already knew about Orochimaru changing bodies. Now Orochimaru had said he had taken back another living Uchiha who was obedient and sensible...

That was obviously bound to be misunderstood as treating an Uchiha as his next vessel.

"How was I supposed to know he would strike so fast? I wanted to say that your body could be repaired and see how he reacted, but he didn't wait for me to finish..."

Orochimaru currently had a human head and a snake's body. As he spoke, he cautiously moved a little closer, leaning toward A Luo to see whether he was afraid.

"How about taking a bite?"

A Luo was not particularly interested in how Orochimaru had provoked Itachi Uchiha and gotten himself killed.

But seeing Orochimaru tentatively edge closer and closer, he suddenly felt like teasing the snake.

So when Orochimaru swayed closer once again, A Luo tugged at his collar, tilted his head, and bared his neck, making it look even more inviting to bite.

"Do not try to test human nature. Greed, desire..."

Orochimaru stared at the neck right before him. After a few looks, he voluntarily retreated.

He had almost failed to resist...

But this child was different. He was certain he could not afford to devour him...

"Take a bite and find out. If you don't try a bite, you'll never be certain. This is an opportunity too. Only by biting me can you completely put that thought to rest. Don't worry, I won't get angry. If you can actually hurt me, I'll even give you this body."

A Luo poked at his own neck with a finger, earnestly urging Orochimaru to take a bite this time.

Only after biting him could Orochimaru stop thinking about it forever.

Even though Orochimaru had no designs on him under the current circumstances, anything unconfirmed might one day suddenly become something he wanted to try...

For the sake of getting along harmoniously in the future, he should hurry up and take a bite now!