With Sabo, the naturally friendly and cunning boy, joining them, their feelings gradually warmed. Sabo, in his shameless attempt to abduct Orochimaru, would drag Orochimaru out with him every day, using the excuse, "You're Luffy's younger brother. People your age should act together. Don't take care of an old woman who acts like a man."
Without Orochimaru to cook, Dadan's family was full of complaints. It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality... Although Orochimaru's cooking was just average, it was still much better than anyone else's, and he would even help clean. Compared to the other three naughty children, Orochimaru, aside from his cold expression and occasional breakdowns, could be considered a rare good child.
In the back mountains, Sabo and Ace were in a heated fight. Luffy was throwing a tantrum on the ground, demanding another round. Orochimaru closed his eyes, standing on his head in a tree, circulating his Chakra and simulating combat.
After the battle, Sabo tallied the scores on a blackboard.
"Luffy lost to me and Ace 50 times. Ace and I are 24 to 26. Ace and I each lost to Orochimaru 50 times. As Luffy said, Orochimaru is really strong, damn it!"
As for Luffy and Orochimaru? (Orochimaru stated it was pointless; they should beat Ace and Sabo first before fighting him.)
"You guys just wait! When I turn 10, I'll definitely send you flying!"
Ace scoffed, "By then, we'll be 13, and isn't Orochimaru the same age as you?"
Luffy puffed out his cheeks in anger.
The harsh environment of Mount Colubo made them stronger day by day. Occasionally, they could even have a back-and-forth fight with Orochimaru. And Orochimaru, though still not saying much, somehow also acquired a pipe in his hand.
After some time, the three of them—Luffy, Ace, and Sabo—secretly went to Goa Kingdom for a dine-and-dash. They were discovered, and Sabo was also found by his father, returning in a sorry state.
The mountain was silent. Ace and Luffy questioned Sabo, "Do we still have any secrets between us?" Sabo lied and Ace choked him until he rolled his Byakugan.
"Say... I'll say it, alright?"
"Before that... do you have something to explain to me?" Orochimaru's chilling voice rang out from behind Ace, a cold Snake Snake tongue flicking out, his Snake Snake body coiling around the three, gradually tightening. During their time together, the other two had come to know Orochimaru's abilities.
The three huddled together, trembling with fear.
"Wh-What?"
"You three went behind my back to eat ramen, didn't you? Is my cooking that hard to swallow... that you'd go through all that trouble to dine and dash?"
The three shook their heads frantically. Luffy, for once, was smart. "Because Orochimaru was cooking for Dadan today, and we wanted to eat ramen, so we went to the Kingdom."
The other two nodded frantically.
"{ (° △ ° ; " }! Uh-huh... Uh-huh!"
Their answer was reasonable, so Orochimaru let the three go and resumed his aloof demeanor, leaning against a tree.
"Alright, Sabo, you can continue."
"I am a noble's child."
Luffy and Ace picked their noses, ignoring Sabo's noble status, which earned them Sabo's roar, "You're the ones who asked! Ah! What kind of expression is that! Noble, noble!"
Sabo recounted his past, "If I can't marry a royal woman, then I'm useless. I'm a burden in that family. Although it pains me to say this to you all, even with parents, I'm alone. I don't want to suffocate in that High Town and have my next few decades of life decided for me."
"Ace! Luffy! Orochimaru! We're going to leave this country and ride freely. I want to see this vast world and then write it into books to be passed down to people."
Ace also vowed to always win, to prove his existence, and to make those who didn't acknowledge him look at him with new eyes.
Luffy declared, "I'm going to be the Pirate King's man!"
After their roars, the three felt something was off and encircled Orochimaru, who had been watching the show.
"Orochimaru... aren't you going to say something? We've all confessed... it's just you left. You're not Luffy's biological brother, are you? You don't look alike at all," Ace said, pressing his large face close to Orochimaru's.
"And your cultivation system is different from ours, your clothes and habits are different from ours, and Luffy even excitedly said you're a Ninja. Ninjas are legendary figures from storybooks!"
Orochimaru tilted his head innocently, "Ehehe~"
"'Ehehe' my foot!! Hurry up and tell us!! Do you believe I'll catch bugs to bite you?!" The familiar scene of the three grabbing his neck struck again. Seeing Orochimaru unmoved, Ace turned to Luffy.
"Hey! Luffy! Does this guy have any weaknesses?! Or something he doesn't want to talk about?! Hurry and think!"
Luffy's small head thought hard! Then he slammed his fist into his palm!
"I got it! When Orochimaru was 5 years old... Grandpa..."