Konoha: Offer your heart to the Hokage!

Shen Er raised his hand and pointed his index finger at Orochimaru's forehead: "So, stop asking such weak questions. If your mother were still alive, she would be very sad."

What makes you feel interesting?

Orochimaru honestly replied, "The interesting thing... is probably reading."

"Then reading is the wind you use to turn the windmill. You can take everything into your hands from books, and then see the so-called truth of this world. The closer you get to the truth, the closer you get to your mother."

Shen Er's hand clenched in mid-air, a gesture he had always pursued. To bring everything under control and ascend to the pinnacle of the Six Paths was the ultimate truth he sought.

"See my mother again? Can reading really make that possible?"

"You never know."

Orochimaru said earnestly, "I will definitely study hard!"

With Shen'er's guidance, the inner direction he had been searching for in books but had never found finally became clear again.

Exploring the unknown and solving unsolved problems are fascinating pursuits for him. He wants to learn more, seek the truth, and see his mother again!

Seeing Orochimaru regain his senses, Shen Er was very satisfied.

He has become Orochimaru's spiritual mentor.

I set my heart on learning at fifteen, while Orochimaru, not yet three years old, had already established his ambition to study. This is far earlier than the obsession he developed after losing his parents at five or six in the original timeline.

Study hard!

Once Orochimaru has accumulated enough knowledge and his mind has matured, he will eventually be guided to research cursed seals, resurrection techniques, and immortality techniques.

All of Orochimaru's efforts will contribute to helping Shen go to heaven.

He finished imagining the rewards Orochimaru would bring him in the future.

He smiled and extended his hand to him: "Come be my son, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru instinctively opened his mouth wide.

He wasn't the kind of child who didn't understand things; he was much more mature than other children.

After his mother died, he felt an unprecedented loneliness. That deep-seated loneliness could not be filled by the care of his mother's two friends, or rather, he resisted communicating with anyone other than his mother.

The villagers of Konoha left a very deep negative impression on the young Orochimaru.

But when Orochimaru saw the hand that was being extended towards him, he did not feel any resistance.

He didn't mind getting closer to Shen'er. In this world, only Shen'er's words could truly enter his heart, just like his mother's last words.

Shen'er is different from other Konoha villagers!

Orochimaru obediently replied, "I understand, Lord Orochimaru."

"Hehe." Shen Er chuckled lightly, "You should call me Father."

"Father."

Orochimaru lowered his head, his tone hesitant, "But I still want to address you as Lord Shen, just like my mother."

The teachings of Matsumoto Kazuka before her death were already etched into Orochimaru's heart like precepts. In his mind, Lord Jin was someone who needed to be respected and served, and to address him as a son would be an overstepping of his bounds.

"whatever."

It's just a title, I don't really care.

I've been blessed with a godson...

Adopting Orochimaru as a godson is unprecedented.

Shen Er smiled slightly, took out a pair of glasses bearing the marks of time from his pocket, and handed them to Orochimaru.

"These are the glasses I once gave to your mother. Later, due to some events, your mother returned them to me. Now, I am giving them to you again, hoping that you will carry on your mother's spirit."

"Yes."

Orochimaru took the non-prescription glasses and put them on.

Ten years have passed, completing a cycle of destiny.

This scene feels like a replay of the past.

Shen Er was slightly distracted, and the figure of Orochimaru in front of him quietly overlapped with that of Matsumoto Waka from ten years ago.

His long-lost conscience was awakened at this moment, offering him some solace. Guiding Orochimaru onto the path of science was an acceptable outcome for everyone.

"From today onwards, come and live with me in the Zen Temple community."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru shook his head: "Lord Shen, I don't want to leave. I want to stay with my mother."

The small house was filled with traces of his life with his mother. Even with Shen'er's invitation, the sentimental Orochimaru was unwilling to leave the home where he had grown up.

"Can you take care of yourself if you're left here alone?"

“I can. Aunt Qinyin and Aunt Xue also come to our house on weekdays.”

I respect your decision.

As for where Orochimaru lived, he didn't insist.

Most importantly, he and Orochimaru forged a father-son bond that will sustain them for a lifetime.

He had promised Matsumoto Kaori that he would take care of Orochimaru; money and education were the key, and as for daily life, others could take care of it if they wanted.

"but……"

“You can continue to live here, and I will regularly check your weekly academic progress. You can’t slack off on your studies.” Shen Er said, taking a booklet out of his pocket.

This is the "Notes on the Study of Cursed Seals" that he gave to Kaori at the Gospel Hospital back then. The contents of it are now outdated, and Kaori's achievements in the field of cursed seals have long surpassed his.

However, in the field of spell seals, this remains the only introductory text.

"Take a look at this journal first. It's okay if you don't understand it. Just treat it as reading for your interest."

Interests and talents should be cultivated from a young age.

Shen Er knew perfectly well that he currently had no way to learn Sage Mode, and he was also unsure whether he had any talent for it. Orochimaru's Heavenly Curse Seal was his last trump card when it came to Sage Mode.

Superhumans rely on bloodlines, ordinary people rely on technology.

"Yes."

Orochimaru accepted the notebook.

He went on and on about some trivial matters.

Orochimaru asked, "Lord Shen, do you know who my biological father is?"

"..."

Then he realized that Orochimaru was unaware of his own artificial human origins.

The issue is……

He didn't know either; Matsumoto Kaori kept both the production method and the origin of their bloodline a closely guarded secret from him.

One can only conclude that this is a form of asexual reproduction unique to Orochimaru's family, much like how Orochimaru created Mitsuki in the future. Matsumoto Waka cloned and nurtured Orochimaru using her own genes.

"How did your mother tell you about this?"

“My mother said that my father was an excellent ninja who died while on a mission.”

"He is indeed a very skilled ninja. Since your mother didn't tell you the truth, she must have her reasons, and I won't say more..."

In short, those who understand will understand, and it's useless to explain to those who don't.

There's no benefit in revealing the truth about the artificial humans to Orochimaru; letting him know he's an artificial human would be pointless. Let him discover the truth himself when he's more mature.

Shen Er stood up and said to Orochimaru, "Let's go."

"Leave?" Orochimaru looked bewildered and asked, "Leave where?"

"Of course, we'll go to the commercial street outside."

Shen Er naturally adopted a strict fatherly stance: "Your two aunts can't get you to go out, but as your father, I have to take you out. Besides, your diet needs to be supplemented."

Although he didn't have direct contact with Orochimaru recently, he never stopped paying attention to him.

Hyuga Kotone and Yamanaka Yuki consistently reported Orochimaru's situation to him. He knew that Orochimaru was a complete shut-in, refusing to go out no matter what, spending his days engrossed in books, and eating only enough food to barely survive.

That won't do.

Orochimaru currently has no connection to Ryuchi Cave, and if he doesn't leave, he has no chance of ever coming into contact with Ryuchi Cave.

At the same time, an unbalanced diet is absolutely unacceptable for a scientist.

It's worth noting that Shen Er even used food science to stimulate Uchiha Yan's Sharingan.

Orochimaru disliked sunlight and did not want to be exposed to the villagers' sight.

His experience when he was one year old left a deep shadow in his heart.

The villagers were initially unwilling to let the mother and son stay in the shop, so why did he go out?

However, due to his strict father's insistence, Orochimaru still left home.

...

The little Orochimaru followed Shen to the shopping street.

He had a good memory and clearly remembered the shop owners who had turned him and his mother away.

But this time is different...

Wearing the glasses given to him by Shen Er, he followed closely beside Shen Er, greeted by the almost fawning enthusiasm of the crowd.

"Oh my! It's Lord Shen!"

"The child next to you is so cute."

"Little friend, uncle will give you a piece of candy, it's really sweet."

"Come here and let Auntie give you a hug."

Orochimaru remained silent the entire way, avoiding all the villagers' attempts to befriend him. The little white dog on his shoulder kept flicking its tongue, seemingly understanding the ugly faces of the Konoha villagers and filled with disgust.

【ugly】

These were negative terms Orochimaru had learned from books, and they were perfectly suited to describe the villagers before him. His coldness remained undiminished by any deliberate attempt at warmth.

Some people spend their whole lives healing from their childhood, while others can use their childhood to heal their entire lives.