Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

"The meaning of life is actually quite simple.

"Before you noticed this flower, its existence held no meaning. No one knew of its beginning or its end. No one knew of its beauty or its decay.

"But today, you noticed this flower. Its existence suddenly gained meaning. Its bloom and decline became a part of your story.

"Now, this flower lives in your memory. It has left a mark on your life. This flower met you, just as you met me, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sarutobi-sensei.

"You give meaning to our lives, and we, in turn, become the meaning of yours."

Hui's words lingered in the air, leaving Orochimaru silent.

He pondered deeply, mulling over Hui's perspective. 

Yet, something still felt just out of reach, an elusive piece of the puzzle that prevented him from finding the clarity he sought over the years.

Hui noticed this as well and sighed inwardly.

If words weren't enough, then another method would have to suffice.

Boom!

Suddenly, a tremendous aura burst forth from Hui, shaking the ground and causing cracks to spread like veins across the earth. 

Fierce winds roared, scattering leaves and dust into the air.

The sheer force of the outburst stunned both Tsunade and Orochimaru, leaving them momentarily frozen.

Orochimaru instinctively assumed it was an enemy attack, but the next moment, his body stiffened. He couldn't move. His pupils dilated in shock and terror.

An overwhelming wave of killing intent enveloped him, suffocating and inescapable. 

It was as if he could already see his death, his body cleaved in two, his consciousness slipping away.

The source of this oppressive aura was none other than Hui.

From the time he had become an ANBU at the age of six, Hui had killed more enemies than he could count. 

The killing intent he had accumulated was beyond anything Orochimaru, a mere Jonin, could endure.

In that moment, Orochimaru felt death as a visceral, tangible reality.

Each step Hui took toward him seemed to hammer against his heart, blanking out his mind bit by bit.

By the time Hui stood before him, Orochimaru's thoughts had dissolved into emptiness. His body was paralyzed, and even his breathing seemed to stop.

He was dying.

Then, as abruptly as it began, everything ceased.

The overwhelming storm of killing intent dissipated, leaving an eerie calm in its wake.

Orochimaru's thoughts began to return, and his body slowly regained its warmth.

Finally, his vision refocused, and he met Hui's gaze.

Hui spoke softly yet firmly:

"The meaning of life is to live."

"Live…" Orochimaru murmured.

Within him, something cracked and shattered—a thick wall that had long shrouded his heart.

It was as if a dusty gem had been polished clean, revealing its brilliance.

In that instant, Orochimaru had an epiphany.

The meaning of life had always been simple: to live.

As long as one lived, everything else had meaning.

"To live is to possess infinite possibilities," Hui continued. "Only by living can you find the meaning of life beyond mere survival."

For the first time in a long while, Orochimaru smiled.

"I understand now. To live, to search for life's meaning… How ironic that I, who have long pondered the purpose of life, was most afraid of losing it."

He chuckled, a hint of self-mockery in his tone.

"We are here in this world. Wouldn't it be a shame not to see more of its wonders, to meet more of its people?

"I crave life, and I cherish it.

"Because as long as I live, everything is possible—whether it's what I yearn for or what I lack now.

"As long as I live, perhaps one day, I'll achieve what I once thought impossible.

"No matter the wish, as long as one lives, there is hope for its realization."

These words reflected Hui's own personal view of life.

In his previous life, he had yearned for a second chance while trapped in despair. Though he failed, his "death" had brought him a new beginning.

He used quotation marks in his mind because he never truly believed he had died.

Death meant complete erasure—of soul, memory, and existence.

The fact that he could transmigrate proved his soul and memories had endured.

Thus, Hui was still alive. And because he was alive, he had gained everything he once yearned for.

As Hui spoke, his senses caught the sight of an old snake. Its body was frail, and its life was nearing its end. 

Yet, it clung to life with stubborn determination.

Hui disappeared from where he stood for a moment and reappeared a moment lated with the old snake in his hand.

He addressed Orochimaru.

"See this snake? It's old and dying. Its life is filled with pain and struggle. Even if it fights to live, its fate is sealed—it will die by the end of today."

Orochimaru watched the snake curiously, unsure of what Hui was getting at.

"But we met it today while it's still alive. If we had encountered it tomorrow, it would have been dead, and its story would have ended."

Hui gently stroked the snake.

"Because we met it today, while it's still alive, it will gain something it would never have otherwise—life."

With that, Hui's Heavenly Eye activated. A surge of life force flowed into the snake, triggering a transformation.

The old snake shed its skin, its vitality restored.

Now brimming with energy, the snake coiled itself in Hui's hands, clearly aware of its savior. Instead of attacking, it flicked its tongue at Hui in what seemed like gratitude.

Hui crouched and set the snake down. It circled his feet once before slithering back into the forest, its life extended by several years.

"No matter how painful, how confused, or how difficult life may seem, as long as one lives, there is hope. There are possibilities," Hui said, watching the snake disappear into the woods.

Then he turned to Orochimaru, who stood there, stunned.

Hui said nothing more, simply smiling.

It took several seconds for Orochimaru to regain his composure.

"Just now, Hui… you…" Orochimaru stammered, his voice trembling.

"Yes," Hui replied. "Life force. As long as I will it, as long as you will it, everyone I care about and everyone who cares for me can continue living."

For the first time, Hui revealed his mastery over life itself to Orochimaru.

"I see," Orochimaru said, his voice steady but filled with a clarity he did not have before. This time, his smile was genuine.

He had found the answer he had long sought.

…

A/n: Cherish life. No matter how painful, difficult, or confusing things may be, as long as you live, anything is possible!

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