"Hey! Orochimaru! You...!"
Jiraiya's outstretched hand froze in midair. Looking at the empty space where Sora had been beside him, he finally lowered it helplessly after a long moment and muttered to the air,
"This guy... he's such an experiment fanatic!
When inspiration strikes, he doesn't even care about his companions... Forget it, forget it. Let him go."
He shook his head, picked up the air gun again, and muttered at the target,
"Hmph, if you don't want to play, then forget it. I can have plenty of fun by myself! Boss, another round!"
The stall became lively again, while the figure walking away had already ignited with a blazing passion to construct the blueprint for an entirely new weapon.
Konoha Research Institute, corridor outside Energy Conversion Laboratory Three.
Orochimaru returned to the Research Institute building at nearly the fastest speed he could currently manage.
His usual calm and composure had been replaced by a rare inner heat and excitement. His golden slit pupils gleamed sharply beneath the somewhat dim corridor lights.
In his mind, the concept woven from the game air gun, rune target, and violent electrical energy kept churning, colliding, and combining. It urgently needed to be put onto paper and anchored with data and logic.
Just as he was about to push open the door to Laboratory Three, it opened from within. Senior Sousuke, looking somewhat tired and preparing to leave work, nearly collided headlong with him.
"Huh? Junior Orochimaru? Weren't you going to the shopping street with your friends to relax? Why are you back so soon? And your expression..."
Sousuke looked at Orochimaru's unusual expression in confusion.
"Senior Sousuke, don't leave yet."
Orochimaru stepped aside to let him through, then gently pulled the laboratory door shut behind him. He spoke much faster than usual.
"I