When Shinji appeared beside Orochimaru again, he frowned.
The Laboratory was full of people. Hiruko stood nearby with more than twenty people behind him, none of them wearing Forehead Protectors.
Every one of them glared at Orochimaru.
Yuguri stood in a corner of the Laboratory, protecting the two children, Haku and Kimimaro. Her face was full of caution.
"What's going on?"
As soon as Shinji spoke, the tense atmosphere eased.
"Lord Shinji," Hiruko said grimly, "Orochimaru attacked you. That cannot be tolerated, so I detained him to await your judgment!"
Shinji was speechless.
He turned to look at the smiling Orochimaru.
"So the people behind you are what you've been working on lately?"
Hiruko smiled proudly. "That's right! Lord Shinji, every one of them possesses the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai. Once they activate it, they can blow the entire laboratory sky-high in an instant!"
What?
What kind of bizarre demolition squad is this?
Shinji shook his head helplessly. "All right, Hiruko. Have them leave. Orochimaru can't do anything to me, and he won't."
Hiruko frowned. "But he's disloyal to you!"
"Stand down. The fact that I'm standing here should tell you everything."
Hiruko gritted his teeth. "Yes!"
As the crowd of "human explosives" withdrew, Shinji looked helpless. "He really is a mad genius."
Orochimaru smiled. "Isn't he? And he's certainly loyal to you, Shinji."
Shinji pulled out a chair and sat down. "All right, enough of that."
He reached out and patted Kimimaro, who had come over, then glanced at Yuguri. She was watching him with shining eyes, and he paused.
"Hm? What's this about her?"
Shinji sensed a familiar aura from the girl. It wasn't merely her Chakra. The resemblance went deeper, all the way to...
Bloodline?!
What the hell?
Orochimaru smiled confidently, one hand on his hip. "Shinji,