Genjutsu? When Did That Happen?

"Maybe..."

Shinji neither confirmed nor denied it.

Orochimaru's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head in thought.

Then he suddenly laughed. "I see, Shinji. But... you really have a sharp tongue. You don't spare your subordinates' feelings at all."

"Subordinates?"

Shinji glanced at Orochimaru in surprise and shook his head.

Then he pointed at Hiruko, casually changing the subject.

"You know this man, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru nodded. "Hiruko... he defected from the village long ago. From the looks of it, things haven't gone well for him."

Shinji clapped his hands. "All right, let's talk about this Missing-nin. Orochimaru, treat him first. Don't let him die."

Under Orochimaru's care, Hiruko regained consciousness.

He looked at the two men before him.

Only one thought filled his mind.

Those two bastards finally finished talking!

Orochimaru rested a hand on his hip and stared at his old friend. "Hiruko. It's been years..."

"Hmph!"

Hiruko turned his head away.

"You can laugh at me now, but..."

He gave a sinister smile. "You're no better off. You're a homeless snake yourself. So what if you're a genius? So what if you're one of the Konoha Sannin, or Hiruzen Sarutobi's student?"

"You still hide in a dark hole, scraping by!"

Orochimaru paid no mind to his mockery. "No one looked down on you for lacking talent. Back then, you were the one who gave up on yourself."

Hiruko scoffed. "You're a genius, a genius born among commoners. Of course you can say that!"

Orochimaru shook his head. "What does being a genius matter? We both work under the same person now, don't we? This time, Hiruko..."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "You have a chance to prove yourself!"

Hiruko froze. "...Prove myself?"

Orochimaru fixed his gaze on him. His words sounded ordinary enough, yet Shinji could hear something strangely persuasive