Guren's question left Yoruha momentarily stunned. Even Guren herself was taken aback after asking it. On what grounds did she pose such a question to Yoruha?
In an instant, her face flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. However, what surprised Yoruha wasn't this, but rather that Guren actually thought Haku was a woman.
Thinking of Haku's appearance, Yoruha nodded, "Yeah, that guy is indeed getting prettier—no, better looking. It's easy to mistake him for a girl. I wonder how people in his village see him. Do they all think he's a girl?"
"With Haku's looks and his personality, anyone who doesn't truly know him would definitely see him as a woman, and a stunning beauty at that.
I can't imagine the expressions on the faces of those men who fantasize about him when they find out their dream girl is actually a guy."
The thought alone gave Yoruha the creeps. What's even scarier is that some people, even knowing he's a man, would still pursue him. That's truly terrifying.
While Guren kept her head down, waiting for Yoruha to mock her, Yoruha instead asked, "Who told you he was a girl?"
Guren was momentarily stunned, not understanding what Yoruha meant. She looked up at him. Yoruha patiently explained, "That ninja just now was a Jonin from the Hidden Mist Village. He's not a girl; he's a boy."
"It's just that his appearance is very feminine, which can easily lead to misunderstandings. Didn't I mention earlier how people from the Land of Water tend to look so feminine? I was talking about him."
"You're a woman, and even you couldn't tell?"
Yoruha laughed heartily after speaking. Guren recalled Yoruha's earlier words and realized that he might be right, causing her face to turn crimson with embarrassment.
"Why didn't you explain it clearly earlier, you jerk? You just wanted to see me make a fool of myself, you jerk." Guren punched Yoruha a few times, but Yoruha didn't defend himself, finding Guren quite amusing.
After she finished, Yoruha chuckled, "So, what do you think? Isn't that guy pretty? Doesn't he look like a girl? No, many girls aren't even as pretty as they are."
Guren glanced at Yuukimaru, who was standing nearby, looking puzzled at her and Yoruha. She felt a bit awkward but had to admit that Yoruha was right; he did look very much like a girl.
She hadn't noticed it before. Guren looked up at Yoruha, "You're a ninja from Konoha, a Jonin?" Yoruha nodded, "Why?"
"Why do you know so much about Lord Orochimaru? Is it just because you both came from Konoha Village?" Guren asked.
Yoruha explained, "That's part of it, but it's also because I understand what kind of person he is. He's very skilled at manipulating people, but he usually targets those with some personality flaws.
He can't manipulate normal people, so he generally doesn't recruit anyone who's even slightly normal."
But as soon as Yoruha finished speaking, Guren shot him a glare. "Are you saying I have a flawed personality?"
"Think about it, a normal person wouldn't understand why you always wanted to become his reincarnation," Yoruha said.
"There must be something you want from him, right? I guess you've always lacked recognition from others since you were young, and you really hope to get his approval.
After all, he must have saved you before, right?" Hearing Yoruha's words, Guren trembled all over.
Her past experiences were indeed like that. Yoruha wasn't wrong. Seeing Guren's expression, Yoruha continued,
"Have you ever considered that with Orochimaru's strength and character, everything you went through as a child was orchestrated by him? He might even be the one who destroyed your family, all to get you."
"After all, you possess the Crystal Release, a rather unique kekkei genkai." Guren wanted to refute Yoruha, but she recalled her time with Orochimaru,
all the things she did for him, and how she witnessed Orochimaru manipulate others into loyalty.
She felt a chill run down her spine. This meant Orochimaru could very well be the one who killed her parents and destroyed her family.
"No, that's not right. Lord Orochimaru wouldn't do that to me. You're lying!" Guren shouted at Yoruha, lifting her head.
Yoruha simply replied, "Look at the little guy beside you, and see how he's treated. To achieve his goals, you're nothing but a pawn. But you're a pretty good pawn, given your strength."
Guren's strength was indeed impressive. She had the capabilities of an elite jonin.
In the original series, she single-handedly fought against several Konoha ninjas and almost took Kakashi down.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been considered as one of Orochimaru's potential vessels. Yoruha's words left Guren without the courage to argue back.
Because if she thought about it even a little, she'd notice how everything she experienced before seemed off.
For a long time, Guren's resolve crumbled, and she collapsed weakly. The beliefs she held since childhood were shattered by Yoruha's few words.
She didn't want to think about it, but Yoruha's words echoed in her mind, forcing her to. The more she thought, the more things didn't add up.
There were too many things she usually ignored, and when pieced together, they revealed numerous inconsistencies.
She had always been by Orochimaru's side, either carrying out his orders or committing crimes for him, leaving her no time to think.
This was likely one of Orochimaru's goals too—keeping them busy with infighting or various tasks, so they had no time or energy to think.
That's why Yoruha said Orochimaru could only deceive those with flawed personalities or not-so-bright minds.
When faced with someone slightly more normal, Orochimaru would usually eliminate them, or if he couldn't, he'd persuade them as he did with Sasuke in the original series.
Sasuke was indeed quite an anomaly, staying in Orochimaru's lair for three years without being brainwashed. Instead, he ended up changing Orochimaru.
Except for the inexplicable guilt and desire for redemption at the end, Sasuke's thinking was quite normal. Guren knelt before Yoruha, her face filled with sorrow. The beliefs she had held for so many years were completely shattered by Yoruha.
This mental collapse nearly caused her to faint. Yukimaru, worried, supported Guren. "Sister Guren, what's wrong?" "What did you do to Sister Guren?" Yukimaru looked at Yoruha, angrily questioning him.