The voice that suddenly rang out immediately put Orochimaru on alert.
He set down his chopsticks and looked toward the voice. A young man who looked to be in his late teens or around twenty approached him, wiping his hands with a cloth.
Looking at a face that matched the man in his memories perfectly, Orochimaru's mind raced.
He suddenly laughed.
"Chiba Tetsuya, Chiba Ryo, Chiba Satoru. Hahaha, it seems you fooled everyone, Boss Chiba. We really misjudged you. Everyone thought you were an ordinary man, but none of us realized you were the one hiding the most.
"I always thought I saw things clearly, but it turns out you fooled me too. Still, all I can say is, well played, Boss Chiba."
Tetsuya looked into Orochimaru's eyes. He saw no panic or nervousness in them, only surprise, astonishment, and excitement.
"Those three identities, those three men active in the Shinobi World, are probably all the same person, aren't they, Boss Chiba?"
Was this simply what made Orochimaru who he was, able to stay calm even at a time like this? Or did he not understand the situation he was in?
But none of that mattered. Tetsuya had a few things he was curious about, and he intended to have a proper chat with Orochimaru.
"Mm, one correction. Chiba Tetsuya and Chiba Ryo are indeed both me, but Chiba Satoru really exists. He really is my grandson."
"Oh, is that so? How do you have a grandson when you don't even have a son?"
"Heh, sometimes you can skip a few steps. Wouldn't you agree?"
Tetsuya had no intention of explaining Chiba Satoru's origins in detail and casually brushed the matter aside.
But after hearing that, Orochimaru began to give it serious thought.
"Mm, you have a point, Boss Chiba.