"You're practicing?"

Orochimaru once again voiced his own question.

This question was answered lightly yesterday.

Shuo Mao nodded slightly, walked to Orochimaru's side, and pulled out the short knife stuck in the tree.

"I don't like people to see me when I'm practicing, so don't hide and peek around in the future." Shuo Mao said in a low voice.

Orochimaru smiled and said, "Okay." ”

Shuo Mao looked at Orochimaru, this overly handsome teenager seemed to be a little different from ordinary people.

"Why are you here?"

Shuo Mao didn't know why he asked, but he just asked.

Even when he asked, even he himself was surprised.

"Because I'm waiting for you."

Orochimaru said without thinking about it, with that smile on his face all the time.

Shuo Mao was stunned for a moment and said, "Wait for me?" Why? ”

"Because you're amazing."

Orochimaru said, pointing to the big tree that had been cut down by Shuo Mao yesterday.

"Just because of this?"

"And because you're funny."

"Interesting?"

Orochimaru nodded and said, "You look a lot smarter than that guy from Jiraiya. ”

"Jiraiya?"

Another unfamiliar name.

Shuo Mao thought about it, and it seemed that he was being targeted by strange guys.

The short knife was inserted into the scabbard behind his back, and Shuo Mao turned to leave.

Orochimaru suddenly spoke, "Shuo Mao, why are you practicing? ”

Hearing this, Shuo Mao paused in his steps forward.

Why practice?

Shuo Mao himself didn't know about this question.

Because he has always been asked of this by his father.

The Qimu family was originally not prosperous, and when it came to Shuomao's father's generation, there were only a few people.

And Shuo Mao is now the only teenager in the Qimu family.

He was pinned on high hopes.

Fortunately, at a young age, Shuo Mao showed great potential.

The Hagi sword technique seems to be tailor-made for it, but after reading it once, I will master it.

Although only in its form.

But for a child who is only seven or eight years old, it is already extremely rare.

Shuo Mao's father believed that Shuo Mao was the hope of the Qimu clan for a resurgence.

Therefore, in the practice of this lesson, he has never stopped Shuomao.

That kind of training is not something that any child can easily imagine.

But Shuo Mao gritted his teeth and persevered.

Although the knife technique has not been completed, the willpower has long been far beyond ordinary people.

Shuo Mao was just carrying out these training tasks mechanically, and when he wanted to ask him why, he didn't know how to answer for a while.

And he was originally a person who was not good at expression.

"I don't know."

Finally, Shuo Mao gently spat out three words.

This is his truth.

Of course, this kind of answer is impossible to satisfy Orochimaru.

"If you don't know, why do you have to work so hard?" Orochimaru was puzzled.

"Because I don't want to live up to my father's expectations."

"Father?"

Orochimaru was stunned, and his right hand under the wide sleeve was slightly clenched.

This title is a bit heart-wrenching for him now.

His parents had just died.

Just like all the ninjas who died trying to protect the village.

The same is true of them, and they are two of the most mundane of them.

During their lifetime, they didn't seem to expect much from themselves.

If anything, it seems that I hope I can live an ordinary life.

It's just a ninja, and how bland.

A few days ago, Orochimaru was already favored by Sarutobi because of his outstanding talent, and after graduating from the ninja school, he would become his disciple.

He is a man who is destined to become a ninja.

Orochimaru's expression changed, and it did not escape Shuo Mao's eyes.

Although Shuo Mao is not big, that look has been seen too much over the years.

That's the look of a lost loved one.

Bitter and helpless.

At the same time, it is full of confusion.

I don't know why, Shuo Mao suddenly felt some sympathy for this handsome young man.

Even if he is a child who has lost his mother.

"I'm sorry." Shuo Mao said softly.

Orochimaru came back to his senses and wondered, "I'm sorry? Why? ”

"Judging by the way you look, you should have lost a loved one."

When Orochimaru heard this, he didn't show a sad look, but said, "You are really much smarter than that stupid guy from Jiraiya. ”

Seemingly surprised by Orochimaru's change of mood, Shuo Mao didn't know what to say for a while.

"Are you a ninja?"

Orochimaru pointed to the forehead guard on the top of Shuomao's head and said.

He knew that it was something that would only be awarded if he became a ninja.

Symbolizes the glory of ninjas.

"Yes."

"Why did you want to become a ninja?" Orochimaru asked.

Shuo Mao was stunned again.

The teenager, who seemed to be a little younger than himself, always seemed to ask questions that he didn't know how to answer.

Shuo Mao knew that this person was just like himself, a precocious person.

Because these problems are not at all the problems that children of this age should consider.

"Because of other people's expectations." Shuo Mao thought for a moment and said.

"Really?"

Orochimaru lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking.

"I'm so envious, this kind of reason."

Orochimaru smiled, and smiled very gently.

Under the sun, that smile makes people's hearts softer.

But Shuo Mao felt a little distressed.

Does he already have no one who expects that?

The word orphan is really distressing.

"Can becoming a ninja change life and death?" Orochimaru said suddenly.

Shuo Mao shook his head without thinking about it, and said, "How is it possible, I have never heard of this kind of ninjutsu. ”

"Really?"

Orochimaru was a little disappointed, but then smiled confidently.

"I haven't heard of it, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, maybe, I can create such ninjutsu in the future. Perhaps, I will never be able to meet my parents. You tell me? Shuo Mao? ”

Orochimaru looked at Shuo Mao expectantly.

Shuo Mao knew that he wanted an affirmative answer.

Orochimaru wanted someone to join him in thinking that it wasn't an impossible thing.

Jiraiya, the big fool, after knowing what he thinks, will only think that he is going crazy.

Shuo Mao nodded subconsciously, not knowing whether he really thought it was okay, or simply didn't want to disappoint the handsome young man in front of him.

Sure enough, after Shuo Mao nodded, Orochimaru smiled with joy.

"Thank you, Shuo Mao."

Orochimaru said it with a smile, but tears filled his eyes.

In the sunlight, there seemed to be something strange flowing in those eyes.

Tears ran across the pale face, across the corners of the mouth, and dripping down the green grass.

Shuo Mao was startled.

He cried.

Why?

Nobody knows.

Shuo Mao took out the white cloth from the ninja bag and handed it to Orochimaru.

"Here you go, don't cry. A man is not allowed to shed tears. ”

A gust of wind blew, and Orochimaru's tears seemed to be dried as well.

"Really? Then I won't cry anymore. ”

Instead, there was a faint smile.