Luffy chased Ace for over three months, day after day, but Orochimaru paid no mind.
At first, he followed a few times with some interest, then gave up. He didn't have Luffy's spirit to be like a fool.
To gain recognition, constantly seeking it out, it seemed to be a standard. Among all those who fell into darkness, there was always a fool seeking.
However, they seemed to come back a bit late today. Looking at the setting sun outside, late at night, Ace and Luffy brought another child back and slept together.
The next morning.
"What is going on!!!!" Dadan stared blankly at the three children sleeping on the ground. "1, 2," she froze, then turned to look at Orochimaru, who was preparing breakfast.
"Ace, Luffy, hmm?" She turned to look at Orochimaru, blinking. "Ace, Luffy, hmm?" ( ･ ⊝ ･ ) She turned her head.
Ace, Luffy, turn head. Ace, Luffy, turn head. Ace, Luffy ๑ _ ๑.
"Ace!! Luffy!! Who is this person!!!! Why is there another brat here! Who are you!" Dadan questioned the children who were groggily getting up.
"I'm Sabo. You're Dadan, right? Please take care of me starting today," Sabo said with a familiar smile, shaking Dadan's hand.
Dadan slapped Sabo's hand away. "Take care of you? You're not planning to stay here, are you?"
Sabo was about to retort with a fart, but Orochimaru carried the breakfast table and stepped between them. "Move, you're in the way. Time for breakfast."
In Sabo's eyes, the morning sun shone on Orochimaru's profile, his half-tied hair falling to his collar, and his magatama earrings glowed warmly, exquisite and gentle, as he half-squatted on the ground, setting the table.
Sabo felt his heart pound faster, unconsciously murmuring, "What a beautiful girl."
Ace, who had just woken up, happened to hear this, looking at Sabo in shock, with an expression that said, 'When did you go blind?'
Luffy rubbed his eyes, grumbling, "Sabo...what are you saying...where's a girl?"
Sabo pointed to Orochimaru, who was serving everyone food.
Luffy tilted his head and picked his nose, earning a death glare from Orochimaru. He pulled his hand back and wiped it on Dadan. "This is my younger brother, Orochimaru."
"Crack! Clatter!" Everyone seemed to hear something shatter, looking at the petrified Sabo. "Huo~"
Dadan looked sympathetically at the overly familiar brat, somewhat unwilling to deal another blow. "I'll provide you with lodging; remember to work."
After eating, Ace dragged the petrified Sabo out, with Luffy following behind.
Ace was grilling fish for an extra meal, looking at the almost shattered Sabo. "What are you so dejected about? That's a monster; what's so good-looking about him?" Ace still remembered his inhuman appearance.
Luffy looked on covetously, panting, looking like he had just been fished out of the water. "Orochimaru is very good; you're not allowed to say bad things about him."
Sabo recovered and looked at the soaking wet Luffy. He went to the river to wash his face and threw the grilled fish tail to Luffy. "Is that really your younger brother? He looks very mature. By the way, are you a Devil Fruit user?"
"Hmm... Orochimaru is too. Orochimaru has always been like this, not very talkative... Occasionally says things I don't understand, very reliable. I'm supposed to be the older brother, and Orochimaru is very strong. He can fight Grandpa for a long time. Grandpa only needs one punch to hit me. One day I'll get strong too; I want to protect Orochimaru too. And Orochimaru is very sly; he only acts spoiled with Grandpa. Although Grandpa says he's faking it, I also want Orochimaru to act spoiled with me. He used to be so cute when he was little (referring to his Snake Snake form)," Luffy mumbled, munching on the fish tail, not noticing Ace's shock.
Time passed with the three of them roughhousing. Ace's friend, Sabo, began living with them after being driven out of the Gray Terminal. These three mischievous children battled jungle beasts in the mountains, town ruffians, and pirates at the docks day after day, occasionally bringing back prey.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru routinely practiced Ninjutsu and Chakra, cooked, and occasionally went to see Luffy, acting as a lone wolf. As he watched Luffy's bond with the three deepen, he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
At the same time, Sabo, who was in the middle of a fight, sneezed. He remembered he was supposed to tell Dadan that a group of pirates might come looking for trouble because they stole their treasure, but he was too busy looking at Orochimaru and forgot... Oh well... It's not very important; he can tell her in a few days. But Orochimaru really is beautiful; he wants a younger brother like that too.
The possibility of tricking Orochimaru into becoming his younger brother ˙ ᗜ ˙