The orange twilight stretched the shadows of the two long.
In the distance, Minato silently watched them walking farther away, his expression somewhat desolate.
The person he liked was worrying and happy for someone else. He was unwilling to accept it, even thinking that if he had been on the same team as Kushina after graduating from the academy, perhaps things would be different.
No matter how much effort he put in, it couldn't compare to the one who had entered her heart first.
Minato's right hand, propped against the wall, slowly clenched into a fist. He felt lost, unwilling, but he would never give up. His reason: the cold indifference that Ye Zi displayed toward Kushina.
The two of them arrived at the Grilled Meat House and found a seat by the window.
Ye Zi rested his chin on his hand, looking out at the street outside the window. Kushina, on the other hand, cupped her hands under her chin, quietly watching Ye Zi's profile. She couldn't help but recall how, during their time at the academy, Ye Zi always liked sitting by the window, often gazing out as if lost in thought.
Yes, what was he thinking?
A server approached them, placing the menu on the table. He deliberately avoided looking at Ye Zi, instead turning to Kushina with a strained smile. "What would you like to order?"
That polite smile was a bit forced. Kushina pushed the menu toward him and said, "Fifty servings of grilled meat."
The server was stunned for a moment, keeping the same strained smile. He acknowledged the order before picking up the menu and turning to leave.
Once the server had gone, Kushina couldn't help but ask, "Does it not bother you?"
Ye Zi turned to look at Kushina, calmly asking, "Bother me about what?"
"Those looks, the harsh words," Kushina replied with a serious expression.
Would an elephant care about an ant's opinion?
A faint sneer tugged at the corner of Ye Zi's lips. His expression remained indifferent as he said, "I don't care."
Kushina bit her lip. How could he not care? To be surrounded by such a toxic environment, how strong would one's heart have to be to truly ignore the slander, the hateful stares? If it were her, she wouldn't be able to stand it. Back at the academy, just being given an unpleasant nickname and being bullied by her male classmates made her feel like she was drowning in a sea of loneliness.
She wanted to change that, just like certain others with similar thoughts.
"I'm going to become Hokage," Kushina said earnestly.
"Oh?" Ye Zi looked at her, remembering the young girl who had once loudly declared her goal in class years ago.
"And then I'll shut them all up!" Kushina added, revealing her true motivation.
Ye Zi looked at the serious expression on her face, his own expression shifting subtly. After a moment of silence, he coolly deflated her ambition. "No matter what, you won't be chosen as the next Hokage. If the Third Hokage were to step down, the next candidate would likely be between Orochimaru, Jiraiya, or Dan Kato."
"Hmph."
Kushina puffed out her cheeks in frustration, glaring fiercely at Ye Zi for tearing down her dreams.
Ye Zi, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the atmosphere, turned his head back to the window.
Seeing this, Kushina suddenly beamed with a wide smile. All the resentment she had harbored for being distanced by Ye Zi over the years vanished at that moment.
Soon, the server returned with fifty servings of grilled meat, deftly placing them on the table before leaving.
The familiar aroma was just like it had been years ago.
After a hearty meal, the two left the Grilled Meat House.
Standing at the entrance, Kushina asked, "Will you walk with me for a bit?"
Ye Zi didn't hesitate, immediately shaking his head. "I'm a bit tired."
This, of course, was untrue, just a polite excuse to refuse Kushina's request. If it had been before today, he likely would have turned her down more bluntly.
"Alright then." Kushina seemed a little disappointed.
"Goodbye."
Ye Zi nodded slightly and began walking in the direction of his home.
"Goodbye." Kushina waved toward his back, watching him disappear into the night before turning to head home herself.
The cool night breeze brushed Kushina's face, lifting her spirits and making her smile. Her red hair danced in the wind, seeming to reflect her joy.
The next day, Ye Zi went straight to the Foundation (Root) headquarters and once again visited Nanako's laboratory, only to find it empty once more.
After staying there for a while, he left.
That evening, he returned to the lab again, but it was still vacant.
Another day passed, and he returned, but Nanako was still absent, and there were no signs that anything had been moved in the lab.
Standing at the door of the lab, Ye Zi's brow furrowed slowly.
"Could she be on a mission?"
Not seeing Nanako for two days, Ye Zi could only come up with this explanation.
He closed the door and silently left.
As he walked through the dimly lit hallways of the Foundation, the orange candlelight flickered from both sides, illuminating the corridor just enough.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him.
Ye Zi stopped in his tracks, and so did the other person.
It was Orochimaru. Having been deeply engrossed in his research, cut off from external affairs, he hadn't realized that Ye Zi had already returned.
Ye Zi's gaze drifted over Orochimaru's tired face. He casually remarked, "Looks like you've been losing sleep over your research again."
Orochimaru curled his lips into a sinister smile and rasped, "Some unexpected discoveries can keep me up all night."
While Ye Zi hated—no, despised human experimentation, when it came to his own interests, he couldn't deny his attraction to the benefits, despite his distaste. That was human nature, always drawn to self-interest.
Not wanting to continue the topic of research, Ye Zi asked, "Want to head back together?"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered briefly before he nodded.
Ye Zi started walking ahead.
"It seems you still don't know that Nanako has been imprisoned. Danzo, what are you really planning?" Orochimaru thought as he watched Ye Zi's back, his eyes gleaming coldly. He licked his lips with his long tongue.
Cold, ruthless—this was a fitting description for one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
Snakes were cold-blooded creatures by nature, but even so, perhaps they were capable of warmth.
Nanako was imprisoned, but Orochimaru wouldn't tell Ye Zi this. In his eyes, Nanako wasn't important enough to destabilize Ye Zi. However, if Danzo ever posed a threat to Ye Zi, Orochimaru would not hesitate to step in and stop him.
Time could change everything.
If Ye Zi had met Orochimaru at a later time, he likely wouldn't have gained Orochimaru's favor. Or perhaps, this bond resembled a familial tie, one without blood relations.
Check out the patreon and get 49 chapters in advance
Currently on Chapter 171 - Funds