Sabo looked as if his soul had left his body from the shock, his body stiff, on the verge of petrification.
Orochimaru looked at his appearance, and for no reason, felt a bit uneasy, thinking that Sabo probably wouldn't hold it against him.
Thinking this, Orochimaru still quietly pulled his head back, leaving only a pair of eyes peeking from the shadows.
Sabo snapped out of his daze, trying to calm the anger in his heart, and gently patted his cheeks to clear his head.
Was the photo from yesterday? That means Orochimaru should have been there, right?
Thinking of something, Sabo then whispered a few words to the waiter beside him.
The waiter quickly cleared the tables on the second floor and brought a new set of clothes, handing them to Sabo.
Sabo deftly changed into the new clothes the waiter brought, reached out to take the towel offered, gently wiped his face, and his expression gradually returned to calm.
Koala looked at the suddenly clean Sabo, a bit bewildered. What was he doing? Had he mutated from too much shock?
Sabo gently closed his eyes, as if calmly sensing everything around him.
A moment later, he slightly adjusted his clothes, then extended his arm in a specific direction, a very gentle smile blooming on his face, like the warm sun of spring, making one's heart feel warm.
"You're there, right... come here~ I'm not angry."
Sabo's voice was soft, like a gentle breeze.
Orochimaru listened, but for no reason, felt a chill in his heart, always feeling a subtle abnormality spreading.
He hesitated repeatedly, but ultimately chose to remain hidden, not showing himself.
Sabo's smile remained, still as gentle, and he softly said, "I missed you, let me hug you."
Orochimaru still couldn't suppress the longing in his heart and cautiously poked his head out to look.
After all, Sabo was so gentle, and after two years apart, he also missed him a bit.
Sabo had always showered him with endless, unreserved affection, which made Orochimaru deeply attached to this gentleness.
As soon as he poked his head out, his gaze met Sabo's.
Sabo's eyes were deep and gentle, and Orochimaru's heart tightened, as if that gaze had seen through his inner unease and longing.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment. In their gaze, Orochimaru saw his own reflection in Sabo's eyes, and also the same trust and tolerance as always.
There was no blame, no questioning; he just looked at him gently, as he always did.
For a moment, Orochimaru felt as if he could hear his own heartbeat.
This was a completely different existence from Doffy. For a moment, Orochimaru even wondered if he had gone a bit too far.
But he quickly forgot in Sabo's eyes, drawn tightly by that gentle gaze, unable to look away.
Under the allure of that gentle gaze, Orochimaru almost instinctively leaped from the eaves, fluttering his wings to float before Sabo, who then gently pulled him into his embrace.
The two quietly embraced like this, and the surrounding air seemed to soften. The previous tension and unease gradually dissipated, leaving only the warmth and comfort of each other's company.
Sabo leaned down slightly, his soft lips gently touching Orochimaru's forehead, a very natural kiss. That doting gesture seemed to imbue the air with a hint of intimacy.
Then, with a smile in his eyes, he softly asked, "Are you having fun in Dressrosa? Koala said you're interested in Doflamingo."
Although there was no blame in his words, Orochimaru felt inexplicably nervous. He lowered his head slightly, avoiding Sabo's gaze, unsure how to respond to Sabo's seemingly casual yet somewhat guilt-inducing remark.
Koala's face was full of astonishment, her expression as if she had seen a ghost. She stared wide-eyed at the two in front of her, her mouth opening as if to say something, but she was too shocked to speak.
A moment later, she pointed at Sabo and stammered,
"No... who are you? Get off that messy Sabo! And who is this gentle, understanding big brother? And what about the secret operation we agreed on?"
Koala's voice became sharp from excessive surprise, echoing in the air and breaking the originally seemingly quiet and warm atmosphere. Sabo immediately shoved a piece of bread into Koala's mouth.
"Don't mind her, she's talking nonsense."
Orochimaru didn't pay attention to this interlude. After a brief hesitation, his voice carried a hint of discomfort as he spoke.
"Hmm... Doffy... he's alright... still very valuable."
"Doffy, huh... Is that so...?" The smile on Sabo's lips froze for a moment, and in his heart, he had already silently condemned Doflamingo to death.
"But with Luffy's temperament, he's bound to clash with Doflamingo, isn't he?"
Orochimaru nodded slightly.
"Yes, I promised Luffy not to interfere with his and Doffy's matters, as long as he's not crippled. Doffy still has things to do after this."
Sabo smiled faintly and pulled Orochimaru into his embrace again, gently lifting his chin to examine him closely.
When he caught sight of the striking red mark on his neck, he gritted his teeth in anger, but his words remained gentle.
"Is that so? So that's how it is... As long as he's not killed, then. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Luffy for you, and make sure to leave him with one breath."
Sabo held Orochimaru tightly, sitting on the chair, his eyes gentle and focused. He gestured for the waiter to bring two steaming drinks. After taking one, he gently handed it to Orochimaru, his gaze following Orochimaru like a shadow.
"What made you decide to come to Dressrosa?" Sabo asked softly, his tone gentle and curious.
Orochimaru slightly raised the cup, took a sip, and slowly began to speak amidst the rising steam.
"Two years ago, during the Marineford War, Doffy and I made a deal. I would be his lover for two years in exchange for something."
With that, Orochimaru stood up and gently swiped his hand in the air, retrieving an exquisite box from his system space. He then sat opposite Sabo and pushed the box towards him.
"Eat it." Orochimaru's voice was devoid of any emotion.
Sabo took the box and slowly opened it. When he saw the appearance of the fruit, he couldn't help but be slightly startled.
The white fruit's surface was covered with fine scales, and it had a pair of small dragon horns at the top. This was actually the same Fish-Fish Fruit as Kaido's, only a different color.
Sabo didn't ask any questions or hesitate. He looked at Orochimaru with trust, then put the fruit into his mouth and swallowed it.
As soon as Sabo swallowed the fruit, the taste was truly indescribable. Beads of sweat as large as beans appeared on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly. He quickly gulped down the hot drink in front of him.
Sabo closed his eyes tightly, clenching his jaw. A moment later, a faint halo of light emanated around his body, within which dragon-shaped light figures subtly coiled. As the light gradually dissipated,
Sabo slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. He could clearly feel that his strength had undergone a qualitative leap, and he had established a connection with some mysterious and powerful force, as if he now possessed the ability to summon wind and rain and soar through the sky.
With a thought, Sabo's right hand transformed into a dragon's claw. Sabo looked at his palm with some surprise.
"It really is Kaido's fruit... white, huh?"
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