"Forget it. I won't think about it."
She stretched lazily.
"Anyway, Sensei told us to look around, so let's do that.
Tomorrow, I'm going to check out the local attractions—apparently, the Land of Hot Water is famous for its hot springs, and those open-air views... Are you coming?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "No. I have things to do."
Tsunade was not surprised.
Orochimaru had always had his own arrangements. She had long since grown used to it.
"Alright."
She turned to head back to her room, but stopped after taking two steps.
The corridor was quiet. The distant streets carried a faint bustle, though it could not be heard clearly from here.
She suddenly thought of that figure who was always making a racket.
"Ha..."
Tsunade rarely sighed. "I wonder how Jiraiya's doing."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted slightly before returning to calm.
"No need to worry about him."
His tone remained indifferent, yet if one listened closely, there was a trace of certainty beneath it. "He's lucky."
Tsunade glanced at him, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
"True. Scourges live a thousand years."
She waved a hand and pushed open the door to her room.
"Enough talking. I'm going to sleep."
The door closed, leaving Orochimaru alone in the corridor.
He stood where he was, gazing through the window at the end of the hallway into the night outside.
The Land of Hot Water's night was quiet. In the distance, white steam rose from the hot springs, like a thin veil beneath the moonlight.
Jiraiya...
The image of that white-haired idiot bouncing around flashed through his mind.
Lucky?
A nearly imperceptible curve touched Orochimaru's lips.
Let's hope so.
He turned and returned to his own room as well.
In a room at the end of the inn's corridor, candlelight flickered.