"Already joined?"

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hichisa was a little later than the party's confinement, and received the news that Rukawa had joined the "root" in the winter night.

The index finger was habitually bent and stretched out, but it was just quietly against the table, his eyes slowly opened, revealing a cold edge, and the wrinkles engraved by the years at the corners of his eyes also relaxed, and he looked at the quiet office and was silent.

Obviously, everything seemed to be going according to expectations, but he still felt inexplicably irritable.

"Hopefully I'm not doing anything wrong." In the end, only the words of self-talk remained, gradually fading away in the deep silence.

······

That night, Winter Night, who escaped from prison, returned to the hospital honestly after consuming her excess [boredom], and no one seemed to find out about it, but Winter Night was still able to, obviously seeing confusion and uneasiness in her eyes from the breakfast delivery the next day.

Time passed day by day, and while it wasn't clear what Hizo had done, Tsunade was getting back to her original lazy state, and there was a good chance that Winter Night would decide that he was safe.

Then, one day, Tsunade kicked himself out of the hospital as if he was bored.

The day when the winter night finally regained its long-lost freedom.

The day he fled home in a strange gaze that was stared at.

······

Unexpectedly, I found that the home that had not been cleaned for a long time was still tidy when I first left, and I walked around briskly with a little confusion, and then found it in the middle of the open-air backyard.

After sending away the Maite father and son, who had been taking root in his backyard for so many days, because they were worried about the winter night, the time had unconsciously disappeared into the night.

Because I have been well rested in the hospital, I have no sleepiness for the time being, and I am ready to exercise my body to kill time after a long time.

Suddenly, heard.

There was a short, slightly spaced knock on the door.

A guest who was by no means expected came home on a winter night.

"Orochimaru-sama."

His eyes were fixed on the other person's face, and the person's name was pronounced, and then the body was staggered to allow the other person to enter the house.

This should be his first time here! Winter Night, who closed the door behind the man, thought so.

Even if he is often guided by the other party's care, he doesn't have the impression of inviting him in his memory, but it is better to say that except for Matt and his son, the scope of communication on a winter night is extremely narrow.

"Tea, please."

There are idle tea leaves in the kitchen, and based on the memories that have not become unfamiliar because they have been away from home for too long, freshly brewed hot tea is served on winter nights.

Don't like it?

Orochimaru, who tasted it at a shalt and put down the teacup. Or maybe he is a cat tongue, Winter Night can't help but guess another possibility.

······

Konoha refused Iwashinobi's request. In other words, you don't have to worry about being sent to Iwa Shinobi Village. ”

"Really? That's terrible! ”

For this result, Winter Night had a look of chagrin.

"Maybe, because I'm alone, I'll be at war with Iwa Shinobi soon, and as long as they don't hand me over, they'll start a war."

The words are wrapped in two distinct emotions, one is the simple desire to fight, and the other is the disdain of mockery.

It is not clear who the taunts and disdain were directed at who was not present.

"Whether you accept or reject Iwanin's request, war will definitely break out, it's just a different time."

He didn't react to the mood swings of the winter night, and as always, he saw through the truth calmly with those eyes.

"I'm more curious about what a group of people who were stubborn not long ago, and now, why did they change their minds?"

"Who knows? I just need to know that I can stay in Konoha Village for a while without being sent to Iwa Ninja Village, and I am already very content. ”

In the face of Orochimaru's inquiry, the fluke expression on his face seemed to be a true portrayal of the heart of the winter night at this moment.

"Roots? You're on board."

"yes, I think if it was that place, it might be a good fit for me."

Because it's not a secret thing, it's not impossible for Orochimaru to know his details.

"Of course, I've also considered the situation of the team, now that Mitarai is dead, Hinata Xue and I shouldn't have room for relaxation, and Orochimaru-sensei doesn't look like someone who will care about these things, to be honest, I don't think there's any value in continuing to force on!"

"Hmm."

Softly agreed, he took a sip of the tea that had turned cold.

"Mitarai is dead?" Suddenly, his gaze was flat but oppressive as he stared at the winter night, the first time they had met eye contact today.

Why do you know? Those eyes passed on such an inquiry.

The unexpected mistake was discovered by the most troublesome person in front of him, and his heart began to accelerate, and the beating voice became louder and louder, so that he was afraid of being discovered.

Winter Night took a deep breath and replied.

"I saw his body."

"You lied before?"

"That's right, I lied."

Now that you've confessed, you don't mind telling the truth more.

I thought that the questioning would not end for a while, but it quickly stopped, and with Orochimaru's silence, my heart began to calm down.

"You're more likely to lie than I thought."

With such a comment, I continued the topic that began.

"Really? That's a compliment to me. ”

"So, you lied, all? Or are you the only one who found his body? ”

Ignoring the perfunctory rhetoric of the winter night, Orochimaru continued his last sentence.

As a result, has it been seen through?

"You saw Mitarai's corpse."

"Was it Hinata Yuki who killed Mitarai and then you found his body?"

"Or is it because you killed Mitarai and then you saw his body?"

Answer me! The man's gaze, as well as his clearly emotionally mixed questioning, carried a strong sense of compulsion.

So, what kind of reply should be made here, and what should be said here, is it a lie? Or is it true?

There is no need to hesitate at all!

"It's me, I killed Mitarai with my own hands!"

For Winter Night, this is the truest sentence he has said today, and the memory has not yet completely erased from his mind, so he still remembers very clearly the scene when he stabbed the water bloom into his chest with his own hands.

So, will Orochimaru believe it?

He'll believe it!

Just because it's the truth! Not a lie.

That's why he showed a somewhat grim smile, and then, that smile also represented, he was sure.

Recognized the truth that Winter Night had said.

"It's time to go back."

Where will this topic go next? When he was entangled in such a problem, he said suddenly, and then he was alone, and under the gaze of the winter night, the straight back continued to the end of the street corner.

······

"It's too much to underestimate him!"

"You're underestimating him!"

The deep voice, mixed with the shallow laughter of Orochimaru, makes people pay special attention, who is he? Who are you?

"The pawn will also be promoted, I'm really looking forward to it!"