Now that Neji had a training plan from Orochimaru, Gua told him he no longer needed to come see him.
He could just follow the plan. The main issue was that Neji took up half an hour of Gua's time every day, making this purely charity work.
Gua might have been kindhearted, but he could still get annoyed.
Neji wasn't as cute as little Hinata, nor was he as likable as little Naruto.
Neji was stubborn as a mule.
Not that being stubborn was bad, but stubborn people weren't well liked.
At any rate, Gua didn't like them.
He really didn't get along with Neji.
Holding the scroll, Neji bargained, "Then can I come once every three days instead?"
Gua refused on the spot.
"Once a week. No more than that."
Neji happily agreed.
Neji left with the scroll.
Gua: ...
He felt he'd been tricked.
Neji had gotten crafty.
Still, Gua didn't take it to heart. Half an hour a week was still within what he could accept.
"Gua-kun, you really are good to everyone around you."
Watching Neji walk away, Orochimaru spoke meaningfully. Gua cherished everyone. Once upon a time, a certain white-haired person had been the same.
Orochimaru shook his head, shaking the image of that "little white-haired boy" out of his mind.
"It's everyone around me who's good to me."
Gua nodded, casually answering Orochimaru's question.
Orochimaru smiled. Snakes were cold-blooded creatures, yet he had actually felt a trace of... warmth.
Gua left with Itachi.
Orochimaru stood where he was, not following them.
He watched Gua's retreating figure from a distance, his thoughts unreadable.
A long while later,
once Gua was completely out of sight, Orochimaru slowly turned and left alone in silence.
"How much longer until the Laboratory is ready?"
"Lord Orochimaru, a week at