boyutpedia Chapter 527 Today, is it another beautiful day...?
Chapter 527 Today, is it another beautiful day...?
No matter when or where, Cola Novels is your most loyal reading companion.
The sky was still a hazy, indistinct expanse, with faint glimmers of light rising on the eastern horizon, like a long white veil fluttering in the wind, half-awake and half-asleep.
Ring... Snap!
In the room, the alarm clock on the bedside table rang precisely at six o'clock, but before it could bounce a few times, it was slapped down by a small hand with distinct, slender fingers.
On the bed, Orochimaru opened his eyes, threw off the covers and sat up. His blank eyes gradually cleared as he scanned his room.
The room was tidy, with books neatly arranged on the bookshelves against the wall and scrolls arranged in an orderly fashion on the table by the window.
He got out of bed, put on his neatly ironed dark blue stand-up collar shirt, carefully smoothed out the wrinkles, and then folded the quilt into a square with sharp edges, placing it in one corner of the bed.
After doing all this, he opened the door and walked into the living room.
Morning light streamed through the clean glass windows, casting soft dappled patterns on the spotless wooden floor.
Footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
"woke up?"
A deep, husky voice came from behind him, and Orochimaru instinctively turned his head to look.
There, on the sofa in the living room, sat a person.
He was a tall, upright man, dressed in a dark gray kimono with a haori casually draped over his shoulders.
He had long black hair similar to Orochimaru's, tied back with a simple hair tie, revealing his well-defined profile.
The man's face was not handsome, but his features were firm, and his brows carried a calm and reserved air that came with the experience of weathering many storms. He held a copy of the Konoha Morning News in his hand.
At that moment, upon hearing the door open, a pair of golden vertical pupils slightly lifted, their gaze falling on Orochimaru as he walked out of the room, calm and gentle.
"Good morning," he said, turning his gaze back to the newspaper.
"Good morning, Father." Orochimaru blinked and nodded slightly.
Click.
Just then, the kitchen sliding door was pushed open a crack, and a woman wearing an apron and with her long black hair tied up peeked out.
She had a gentle and beautiful appearance, with fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She was holding a spatula in her hand, her cheeks were slightly red from the smoke of the stove, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
With gentle eyes and a natural upward curve at the corners of her mouth, her eyes naturally lit up with a smile when she looked at Orochimaru.
"Little Snake, why are you up so early today?" she asked softly, looking at her son who was already dressed. "It's still early before school starts."
Before Orochimaru could answer, the man sitting on the sofa didn't even look up, his gaze still fixed on the newspaper, his fingers twirling a page, making a soft rustling sound.
"Forgot again?" His tone was slightly helpless but also habitual. "Didn't we just talk about it at dinner yesterday?"
"The child made an appointment with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others to leave for the training ground early today."
"Oh!"
The woman suddenly realized and gently tapped her forehead with her free hand, a sheepish smile appearing on her face: "Look at my memory, I forgot about breakfast as soon as I got busy."
"Little snake, wait a minute. Don't rush off. Breakfast will be ready soon. Mom will prepare your lunchbox later."
She chattered on and on as she turned and went back into the kitchen, where the soft sizzling of eggs in hot oil and her cheerful humming could be heard.
Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm halo around her figure and the rising steam.
The man looked up from the newspaper toward the kitchen, a barely perceptible hint of gentleness flashing across his golden, vertical pupils before returning to calm.
"I see."
Orochimaru's indifferent face gradually relaxed, and his originally calm eyes gradually softened.
He walked to the low cabinet in the corner of the living room, picked up a ceramic cup, poured himself a cup of hot water, held the slightly warm cup in both hands, and turned to walk to the living room window.
Orochimaru stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on the window, watching the new day gradually come into focus.
I woke up earlier than usual today. At six o'clock in the morning, it was just getting light outside. The area downstairs was much quieter, and the whole residential building was still peaceful.
Occasionally, one or two figures wearing green vests would quickly pass by; they were probably ninjas on their early morning shift.
In the distance, from some unknown house, came the sound of a radio playing the morning news, and downstairs, the old man who always got up earliest was slowly rambling on about his cats and dogs.
Outside the window, white sheets hung out to dry swayed gently in the breeze, their edges edged with a fuzzy gold by the sunlight, exuding the pleasant scent of sunshine.
Further away, dewdrops clung to the lush green leaves, glistening in the morning light. They swayed gently in the breeze, rustling softly like a tranquil song.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window, carrying the fresh scent of earth. It brushed against Orochimaru's face, ruffling the black hair on his forehead, a tingling, pleasant sensation.
"..."
Orochimaru watched all of this quietly, his golden eyes reflecting everything. His expression was calm, even somewhat blank, as if he were in a daze, letting his thoughts drift.
But it seemed more than just a daze; the focus of his gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if he were looking through the tranquil and warm morning scene before him towards some distant world.
The thick calluses on my palms from practicing martial arts insulate against most of the scalding heat, but I can still feel the warmth seeping into my skin and flowing steadily in my palms.
The warmth spread gently from my fingertips to my whole body, quietly dispelling the slight drowsiness and confusion, just as the sun dries the morning dew.
"Phew~"
A moment later, Orochimaru gently exhaled, blinked, and his thick, long eyelashes cast shadows under his eyelids as he snapped out of his dazed state.
He lowered his head, childishly blew on the steaming hot water in the cup he was holding, and then took a small sip.
The warmth slid down his throat and flowed into his body, bringing a comforting warmth that made him squint his eyes in contentment, like a cat basking in the sun.
He had a dream he hadn't had in a long time.
A very long dream, bizarre and fantastical, seemingly filled with chaotic figures, blinding light, cold and sticky touches, and a yearning for something and... emptiness.
But upon waking, the content of the dream is like writing on a beach after the tide has receded, quickly blurring and fading away, leaving only a vague and inexplicable trace.
Is it a beautiful dream?
That doesn't seem to be entirely true.
Was it a nightmare?
I didn't seem to feel any palpitations or fear.
but……
"It doesn't seem that important?"
Orochimaru looked out the window at the distant horizon, where the clouds on the horizon were pushed by the wind, slowly unfurling and rolling.
He suddenly felt an impulse and stretched his free right hand out of the window, his five fingers slightly spread, and the sparrows outside the window fluttered away.
The wind immediately became clear, no longer a blurry feeling.
It slipped nimbly through his fingers, swirling at his fingertips, bringing a cool and real touch.
Feeling the wind flowing through his fingertips and watching the ever-changing clouds in the distance, a gentle smile spread across Orochimaru's face.
"Today..." he murmured to himself, his voice so soft it was as if he were talking to the wind, or perhaps to himself, "another beautiful day."
Just then, her mother's cheerful voice came from behind: "Little Snake, honey, breakfast is ready! Come and eat it while it's hot."
"They're here."
Orochimaru responded and turned his gaze away from the window, the touch of the wind still lingering on his fingertips.
He held the cup with half a cup of hot water left, turned around, and the slight bewilderment on his face had completely disappeared, returning to his usual calm.
She walked towards the fragrant dining table, towards her father who sat at the table, having put down his newspaper and looked up, and towards her mother who was setting the table, her eyes crinkling with a smile. (A book club member was discussing: What exactly happened? Join the discussion at Cola Novels.)
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm dappled patterns on the wooden table covered with a checkered tablecloth.
The steam from the miso soup rises gently, and the aroma of grilled fish mingles with the fragrance of rice—simple yet comforting.
My father eats very quietly, making almost no sound.
The mother talked more, asking if the food suited her taste, telling Orochimaru to eat slowly, and mentioning which fish at the market was the freshest that day.
After the meal, the father naturally stood up and began to clear the dishes.
The mother turned around and took out a bento box carefully wrapped in a square cloth from the kitchen, and handed it to Orochimaru, who had already slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Here you are, lunchbox." His mother said, as she habitually straightened his already neat collar. "Make sure you eat it on time, it's not good for your stomach if it gets cold."
"It contains apples, grilled fish, and tamagoyaki, all of which you like, and there are also some pickled plums to whet your appetite."
"Oh right, we can share some with Tsunade, she seems to like grilled fish... and don't forget to let little Jiraiya have a taste too."
"Be careful when you go out to play. I heard that a lot of businessmen from other places have come to Tanzaku Street recently. There are a lot of people and things that can go wrong."
"Even though we're in the village, you should stay with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others. Don't go off to some secluded corner by yourself, understand?"
"By the way, did you bring enough money? Do you want Mom to give you some more? Just in case you see something you want to buy..."
Orochimaru listened quietly, his gaze fixed on his mother's gentle face, nodding occasionally without showing the slightest impatience.
Such instructions are repeated almost every day in different forms.
He had long been accustomed to it, and even found a luxurious sense of security in this repetition.
Just then...
Ding Dong!
The crisp sound of the doorbell interrupted the mother's rambling.
"Oh my, it must be Tsunade and the others!" The mother's eyes lit up, and her face instantly lit up with a smile. She quickly walked to the entrance and opened the door.
Outside the door, Jiraiya and Tsunade were indeed standing side by side.
Jiraiya, sporting slightly messy white hair, was trying to strike a "cool" pose, but it only made him look more like an over-energetic puppy.
Tsunade, standing beside him, was dressed in a light green outfit, her golden twin tails gleaming slightly in the morning light, and her expression was much more composed than Jiraiya's.
Her large, bright green eyes looked at the woman who opened the door, and she gave her a sweet smile: "Good morning, Auntie. We've come to see Orochimaru."
"Oh my, Tsunade's here! Come in, come in!"
The mother's smile widened immediately, completely ignoring Jiraiya posing beside her, and she reached out to take Tsunade's hand, her tone full of undisguised affection.
"Have you had breakfast? Would you like me to get you some more miso soup?"
"Hey! What about me? I'm here too!" Jiraiya, who had been completely ignored, immediately jumped up, pointed at his own nose and shouted loudly, his face full of dissatisfaction.
Only then did his mother seem to notice him. She turned her head, a mischievous smile on her face, and reached out to ruffle Jiraiya's already unruly white hair.
"Oh, Jiraiya's here too. Good morning."
Jiraiya covered his disheveled hair, his cheeks puffed up in anger, and turned his head away, grumbling.
His mother laughed out loud at his joke, and even his father inside the house shook his head slightly.
At that moment, Orochimaru also walked to the entrance with a bento box in his hand.
"Good morning." He nodded to the two people at the door.
Orochimaru!
Jiraiya immediately forgot his earlier grievances, his eyes lighting up: "Quick, let's go! I heard that the new dango shop in Tanabata Street is pretty good, they might sell out if we go too late!"
Tsunade also looked at Orochimaru, her emerald green eyes curving into a smile: "Good morning, Orochimaru."
"Okay." Orochimaru carefully placed the bento into the side pocket of his backpack and said to the house, "Then we're heading out, Father, Mother."
"Be careful on the road, pay attention to safety, and don't stay out too late!" the mother reminded her again with concern.
Inside the house, the father's somewhat helpless voice came: "The child is about to graduate from school and will soon be able to stand on his own. Why are you still acting like you're sending him off to his first day of school?"
"So what if he graduates? Does graduating mean he's no longer my son?"
The mother immediately turned her head, raised her voice slightly towards the room, and scolded, "Who told you to send him to the Land of Fire to study at a boarding school? I only see him a few times a month."
Orochimaru interrupted his father, who seemed to mutter something under his breath, with a hint of exasperation, "Understood, Mother. We're leaving now."
After saying that, he waved to his mother, and then was pulled away by Jiraiya, who was so impatient that he almost jumped up.
"Let's go, let's go! If we dawdle any longer, the meatballs will really sell out. I even dreamed about those red bean paste ones last night, hehehe!"
"Goodbye, Auntie, we're leaving now!" Tsunade bowed to her mother again to say goodbye.
"Okay, okay, go ahead, have fun!" The mother nodded with a smile, but her eyes kept following them.
The three boys left the house. The mother leaned against the door and watched them disappear around the corner of the stairs. She stood there quietly for a few seconds before gently closing the door.
The stairwell fell silent again, with only the slightly empty footsteps of the three boys and Jiraiya's ever-energetic shouts echoing in the stairwell.
"I'm telling you, I've found out!"
Jiraiya hopped down the stairs two steps at a time, shouting, "That shop's most famous dango is the matcha, red bean, and original flavor three-color platter."
"But I heard there's a limited-edition cherry blossom flavor on the secret menu, it's only available seasonally, we definitely have to try that!"
"Can you be a little more careful? Don't jump down the stairs."
Tsunade followed behind him, glaring at the back of Jiraiya's head with annoyance, and complained, "Be careful not to fall and lose all your teeth, then you won't be able to eat any dumplings."
"Tch, no way..." Jiraiya suddenly turned around and jumped backwards, almost falling into the air. He was so scared that he quickly grabbed the handrail, which earned him a sneer from Tsunade.
Orochimaru walked a step behind the two, quietly listening to the almost daily arguments that his companions had.
The morning sunlight streamed in through the stairwell window, cutting out streaks of light and shadow on the steps, with dust motes dancing in the beams of light.
The lunchbox in the small bag on his back bounced gently against his back with each step, feeling heavy.
This weight and touch, together with the noise of my companions, the flickering light and shadow before my eyes, and the dust floating in the air, created an incredibly real sense of reality.
He slightly raised his head, his gaze passing over Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were arguing in front of him, and looked towards the end.
The exit of the building was right there, illuminated by the stronger sunlight outside, like a glowing square framing a corner of the clear blue sky and a few wisps of drifting clouds.
It was an ordinary morning, nothing out of the ordinary.
My parents are alive and well, my family is harmonious, I have friends I can joke and bicker with, and friends I can go on trips with, there is bright sunshine that is almost dazzling, and there are warm bento boxes packed in my backpack...
Everything was perfect.
It's so perfect, like a picture meticulously drawn on paper.
"..."
Orochimaru's eyes suddenly became misty for a moment, but the next moment he was slapped on the shoulder, making him subconsciously turn his head to look.
"What are you thinking about?" Tsunade tilted her head and said, her golden hair falling from her shoulders and gently brushing against Orochimaru's face.
"..." Orochimaru came to his senses, shook his head and smiled, "It's nothing."
pretty good.
This kind of life is pretty good.
Calm and warm, within reach.
[Stop criticizing the water. I don't want to write about Obito Uchiha. Orochimaru is alright, but I still hope to write Orochimaru as a three-dimensional villain. After all, he's the protagonist's go-to tool, so at least his death should be more nuanced. OR2]