This is the perfect Pillar Man, the perfect ultimate creature.

"It's the Third Hokki!" The Konoha villager who had dug out the diary from somewhere was surprised and quickly handed it over.

Mitarashi Anko also hurried over.

Even though she hated Orochimaru for betraying Konoha and abandoning her, she couldn't help but be interested in the things Orochimaru left behind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the first page.

"Life... is so fragile."

73. Orochimaru, why don't you smile?

The first sentence at the beginning made Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart tremble.

Life... It was because of Orochimaru's desire for eternal life that he ended up becoming what he is now.

He had a hunch that this diary might allow him to peek into Orochimaru's mind.

"Today, Sarutobi-sensei took me to pay respects to my parents. They are dead, and have been dead for a long time, but their smiling faces seem to still be in front of my eyes."

"Humans, why do we experience death? Why are they the ones who die, but the ones who feel pain... are the living people?"

"I picked up a white snake slough. It was the first time I had seen such a thing."

"Sarutobi-sensei told me that in the past, white snakes symbolized luck and rebirth. My parents might also be reborn somewhere and see me when I grow up."

"But when will that be? I don't know, and neither does Sarutobi-sensei."

"It's just... White Snake, it's so nice."

"It happened at that time." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured.

Even though so much time has passed and he is so old, he still remembers clearly what happened at that time.

I also clearly remember how gentle Orochimaru was at that time, hiding under his ruthless face.

Since when did the hidden tenderness turn into coldness?

He continued to leaf through the diary.

The following content records Orochimaru's daily studies, training with Jiraiya and Tsunade, and his daily jokes.

Then, Orochimaru accepted Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki as his disciple and taught him to practice ninjutsu.

Although it seems dull, both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitarashi Anko can feel some warmth from that dullness.

There is no doubt that Orochimaru is enjoying this period of time.

As they watched, the corners of their mouths began to slightly rise.

suddenly……

"Rope Tree is dead."

"He died right in front of me. He was smiling just a moment ago. He told me that he would become Hokage just a moment ago. But he died so easily."

"At that time, I looked at his back with satisfaction. I thought he was a disciple who could surpass me and a ninja who was qualified to become Hokage."

"But he still died. Why...why...didn't I stop him?"

"His pendant fell under me, unscathed... Life, life, why are you more fragile than the pendant?"

"Tsunade and Jiraiya are here."

"I took out the pendant, without showing any sadness, and comforted Tsunade: There is nothing we can do, this is war, I advise you not to watch it."

"But Tsunade didn't listen to me and rushed in. Then, crying sounds came from the room."

"Jiraiya blamed me for saying that. I kept silent. I just... didn't want her to go through the pain I've already gone through."

"Life, why do you have to experience death?"

"Nawoki was the disciple Orochimaru accepted before me, right? His death made Orochimaru so sad?" Mitarashi Anko pursed her lips.

"Kato Dan is such an interesting man. But I am very grateful to him."

"It was because of him that Tsunade was able to get over the sadness of Rope Tree's death. Although Jiraiya was very dissatisfied with Kato Dan."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand, which was turning the page, paused for a moment.

He was well aware of Kato Dan's fate, and the impact that Kato Dan's death had on Tsunade.

And now, he could more or less foresee the impact of Kato Dan's death on Orochimaru.

"Tsunade..."

"This generous, unconventional, heroic woman, this is the second time I've seen her cry so sadly."

"She placed her hands on Kato Dan's chest and kept begging him not to die."

"This is what I saw when I went to rescue Team Tsunade... I was too late."

"Looking at Tsunade's continued efforts, I can only say: give up, he is already a corpse."

"Listening to Tsunade's crying, a touch of warm liquid slid across the corners of my eyes. I don't know if it was rain or tears for Tsunade..."

"Probably the former. Snakes don't cry."

"Humans are so fragile."

Turn to the next page.

"Jiraiya is injured, and there are a large number of enemies surrounding us."

"Tsunade is treating Jiraiya, but it will probably take at least five or six hours for Jiraiya to fully recover."

"Our long-awaited joint mission as the three ninjas has come to such an end."

"Logic tells me that I must leave Jiraiya behind so that Tsunade and I can survive."

"But if he were simply abandoned, the enemy would surely make him suffer for the information."

"So, killing Jiraiya is the best option."

"That's what I thought in my heart, and that's what I said."

"Tsunade didn't stop healing, she just said coldly, if you get one step closer to Jiraiya, he will definitely kill me."

"I stopped where I was, not moving, not because of Tsunade's rebuke."

"But it's because when I took out the kunai and pointed it at Jiraiya... an unprecedented fear lingered in my heart."

"Are you going to kill him? Are you going to kill him? If you kill him, there will be no Jiraiya in this world anymore! Just like Nawaki, just like Kato Dan..."

"No, don't! I don't want him to die! I don't want Tsunade to die! I don't want Sarutobi-sensei to die!"

"I, I, I... I never want to see anyone die again!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his eyes a little blurry and couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe them.

My heart ached slightly, both for Tsunade's tragic experience and for Orochimaru's eventual going astray.

He opened the next diary, which contained a large number of Orochimaru's experimental records.

Since then, Orochimaru has begun to research immortality, and even contacted Danzo Shimura to study the cells of the first Hokage.

Judging from the experimental records, Orochimaru's behavior became increasingly cruel and ruthless.

till the end……

"The experiment has made another step forward. I will finally get eternity! Hahahahaha! Eternal life, immortal life, I will get you!"

“………………………………”

"I always feel like I've forgotten something. My original purpose didn't seem to be like this..."

"Hahaha, Orochimaru, look at how Sarutobi Hiruzen is crying. I'm afraid the impression he had of you in his mind has been completely erased by the diary."

Kaz patted the shoulder of Orochimaru, who had just arrived here, and laughed softly.

"Hey, Orochimaru, why aren't you smiling?"

After changing his appearance, Orochimaru looked at the copy of "Orochimaru's Diary" in his hand, silent.

Kaz retreated tactically: "Did I hit the nail on the head?"

"..." Orochimaru smiled: "How could that be? Snakes have no emotions."

74. Human beings really have limited abilities.

"If we do too much human experimentation, we will lose our humanity."

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, and the next moment he suddenly opened them, and the loss and regret in his eyes instantly turned into vigilance.

"Am I right, Orochimaru?!"

"Hehe, old man, I didn't expect that you are so old that you can still see through my transformation technique." Orochimaru walked slowly out of the crowd, and his appearance gradually returned to his own.

"Orochimaru, it's the traitorous ninja Orochimaru!"

"Everyone, run away!"

"Go Luda!"

The villagers of Konoha fled one after another, and Orochimaru's laboratory, which was crowded with people just now, became as quiet as a morgue in an instant.

But the next second, someone broke the silence.

"Orochimaru, you actually dare to come back to Konoha!" Mitarashi Anko's pupils turned blood red in an instant, and she quickly formed seals with her hands.

"Stop, Red Bean." Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped Mitarashi Red Bean, feeling quite speechless.

No. Can you have a little Hercules in you?

You are proficient in one move, Hidden Snake Hand, and you rely on this one move, which was taught to you by Orochimaru. How dare you fight with Orochimaru?

You are a red bean, not a pufferfish, so how can you swell up like this?

"Hehehe~" Orochimaru looked at Red Bean and let out his signature hoarse laugh.

I don't know whether he was mocking her for overestimating her own capabilities, or lamenting that the little girl back then has grown up so much.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru like this, and his expression suddenly softened:

"Orochimaru, as you said, I am already very old, so old that I can't see your transformation technique at all.

“The reason why I can sense your presence is because you just revealed some flaws… Is your heart disturbed because of this diary?

"Orochimaru, you still have a conscience in your heart, right? You remember your past self, don't you?"

When he said this, there was expectation in his eyes. He expected that this disciple, whom he once relied on the most, would cry and tell him that the immortality experiments were all a lie.

“……” Orochimaru pulled over a chair and sat down slowly with a very complicated expression.

"Such gentleness is indeed your style, old man. Sarutobi-sensei, I know this is willful, but I have something to ask of you.

"This is the last time. Please give me time, time to atone for my sins."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked. Even though he hoped that Orochimaru would be able to recall his past thoughts because of the diary and turn over a new leaf, he never expected that Orochimaru would have such a pitiful expression.

Orochimaru had quietly taken out his kunai and stone mask, his face still showing regret for his past sins:

"I regret my past life! Because I noticed the fragility of life, I became obsessed with the study of immortality, but I actually did such a stupid thing.

"Sarutobi-sensei, my return to Konoha is proof that I regret everything. If I wanted to escape, there would be no need to return to Konoha."

"This, is indeed..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was persuaded.

Coupled with the diary he had just read and his increasingly weak heart, he really wanted to believe that Orochimaru had feelings in his heart!

Whether it is to Tsunade, to Jiraiya, to Sarutobi Hiruzen, or to Konoha.

"Mr. Sandai, be careful and don't believe what that guy says."

The sudden voice interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen's expectations. He turned his head and saw that Kaz had lit a match without him noticing.

"Huh?!" Orochimaru frowned fiercely, as if his plans were interrupted and he was annoyed.