He chopped vegetables, beat eggs, and turned on the stove. Sizzle.
The eggs crackled in the pan, and a tempting smell filled Uzumaki Naruto Uzumaki's apartment.
The black cat jumped onto a nearby cabinet and looked down at his busy back. Its tail swayed lazily from side to side.
Though his movements were still a bit awkward, they were far better than before, when Orochimaru had nearly burned the kitchen down. Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto had never known how to cook, and even after having some money, Orochimaru had relied on instant noodles and packaged food.
One day during a lesson in Sealing Space, the teacher suddenly told him that living on noodles was unhealthy and that Orochimaru had to learn to cook. So Orochimaru started making simple dishes.
Fried eggs, toast, miso soup, or basic rice balls. They were simple, but Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto ate a lot.
After finishing an amount meant for three grown men, Orochimaru returned to his Konoha Hospital Special Care Ward to change. Standing before the mirror, Orochimaru carefully examined himself.
He wore a short, stand collar outer jacket with a white outside and red inside. The shoulders were cleanly lined, the cuffs fitted, and a red spiral crest of Uzumaki Clan was embroidered on the sleeves.
The front hung open to reveal the white lining beneath. He wore loose black cropped pants tightened below the knees, showing calves wrapped in dark red Kunoichi bindings.
Black Kunoichi shoes covered his feet, rising to protect the ankles. Yamato wide belt circled his waist, with a metal buckle at its center.
"Teacher, Nine-Tails, is this outfit okay?" Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto asked quietly in his mind.
This outfit had also been chosen by the teacher. He had completely said goodbye to his old faded white jackets in that eye burning yellow color.
"Mm," came a calm reply.
"Of course it is," Nine-Tails said sharply. "Clothes picked by Otsutsuki Clan Main Family Elder and me could never look worse than your old yellow ones."
In the mirror, Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto still looked a bit thin, but far more upright than before. The gloom between his brows had also faded.
His slightly long golden Sui hair was pushed around with his hands. It was still messy, but far better than the old spiky look.
Only the whisker like marks of Six Paths marks on his young face remained clear.
"Alright, let's go."
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto grinned at his reflection, picked up the prepared lunch box, and glanced once more at Xiao Hei curled up in its nest with eyes closed. "I'm heading out, Xiao Hei," Orochimaru called, then pulled the door open and left.
The pale blue horizon had already gained a warm golden edge. Light pierced the morning mist and coated the world in a gentle glow.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto took a deep breath and ran toward Konoha Village Kunoichi Academy under the bright morning light.
Inside the closed Konoha Hospital Special Care Ward behind him, the black cat in the nest opened its eyes. This time, it opened both.
One was a clear amber vertical pupil, and the other was a strange eye of solid White Zetsu traits color belonging to a Guai. This was the cat used when Yunchuan Hyuga deceived Orochimaru for experiments and lured Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage with a White Zetsu traits snake corpse.
The true owner of this cat was Yunchuan Hyuga. That supposedly blind eye was in fact a real Pure Byakugan.
Morning light fell gently on the gates of Konoha Village Kunoichi Academy. At the start of the new Kunoichi Academy year, the entrance was filled with voices, children chattering and parents giving reminders.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto jogged up with his usual bright smile. As Orochimaru stepped into the crowded area, parents who had been smiling and chatting turned their eyes toward him.
Their smiles froze and quickly faded as they saw the clear Six Paths marks marks on his face. Wariness and distance replaced the warmth.
The noise dropped at once. Parents stopped talking and subtly turned their bodies to block their children's view.
They guided their kids a few steps away, leaving an empty space around Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto. The children sensed the change, some looking at him in confusion before being gently warned away.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto's smile wavered and slowly faded. He knew what they were thinking and what they were doing.
It was always the same words, do not get close, Orochimaru is dangerous, stay away. Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage had already clarified that Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto was not a Guai and ordered the rumors to stop.
He had even arranged for Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto to attend Kunoichi Academy, hoping Orochimaru could make friends. Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto had agreed with excitement.
He still remembered his first day, wearing new clothes and running to Kunoichi Academy full of hope. He had thought everything would be different.
The villagers did stop slandering him, but instead they chose a colder way. They ignored him.
Whenever Orochimaru tried to approach, conversations cooled and laughter stopped. People scattered, leaving him standing alone in the sudden quiet.
His situation in Konoha Village had not truly improved. He had gone from being hated as a Guai to being avoided as trouble.
Even among informed Kunoichi, a Jinchuriki like Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto was seen as trouble. Their children followed their parents' caution.
With time, seeing this again no longer stirred sharp pain. It only caused a small ripple before settling.
He was used to it. Or rather, Orochimaru no longer cared.
He remembered words Orochimaru had read, that truth means nothing if no one wants to know it. He also remembered what the teacher said, that ignorance comes from fear and leads only to deeper ignorance.
So Orochimaru would only care about those who cared about him. With that thought, Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto took a deep breath of the cool morning air.
His heart calmed completely, and his smile remained, quieter but firmer. He ignored the averted gazes and walked straight through the Kunoichi Academy gate.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto entered the building and walked down the corridor, stopping at the door of his new classroom. kacha.
Many students were already inside, chatting in small groups and excitedly meeting one another. The new classroom felt fresh and curious with the start of a new term.
The moment Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto pushed the door open, the noise stopped and dozens of eyes turned toward him. He went to the back and took a window seat, where it was quieter and farther from the crowd.
He lowered his gaze, waiting for the reaction Orochimaru expected. Nothing happened.
The silence lasted only a few seconds before the chatter surged back, even louder than before. Some glanced at him with curiosity, then returned to their talks as if Orochimaru were just a small interruption.
Someone even walked over. A black-haired boy in a dark purple stand collar shirt with a fan crest on his back stopped in front of him.
Girls' eyes followed as the boy smiled warmly at Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto. "Hello," Sasuke Uchiha said clearly. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha. We are classmates now."
"I want to get to know everyone, so may I ask your name?"
Uzumaki Uzumaki Naruto froze for a moment as Orochimaru looked at Sasuke Uchiha. At the same time, within Sealing Space, Yunshiki Otsutsuki opened his eyes.