Shunji lay on a bed in the laboratory. Before Orochimaru beside him could administer a painkiller, Shunji had already torn off the bandages around his eyes.
"No! No..."
"I can't reach him!"
Blood and tears streamed from Shunji's eyes, and his usually optimistic face was filled with pain.
Clutching the heavy coat of Takahashi Yū's that Mizuki had brought from the Farm, he curled up on the laboratory bed, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes spinning ceaselessly.
Orochimaru watched the suffering Shunji with a grave expression. His hands, steady enough to perform any difficult dissection, trembled slightly.
"Hiruko!" Orochimaru said quietly.
"Yes?" Hiruko answered from beside him.
"Produce Tobirama Number One at full capacity! And..."
"Activate the Chimera roster."
"Tomorrow, we officially begin implanting Explosion Release and Lava Release!"
"Within a week, I want to see Konoha's 'Lava Explosion Brigade'!"
There was a madness in Orochimaru's voice that even he could barely detect!
He did not believe anyone in the current Shinobi World could pose a lethal threat to Takahashi Yū!
Not even if the Warring States Era's Two Great Heroes came back to life!
But when even the Mangekyō that could communicate with the Pure Land could not reach Takahashi Yū, Orochimaru knew something beyond his understanding must have happened.
Orochimaru turned Shunji's head toward him and carefully examined the area around his eyes, confirming that nothing was wrong.
"Let's go! There's a whole group waiting for us at the Hokage Building!"
Bang!
With bandages wrapped around his head, Danzo smashed the table before him to pieces with a single punch in the Hokage Building's conference room.
"You've confirmed that my brother Takahashi is missing?!"
Danzo rose from his seat and looked at Orochimaru's group, who had just entered.
"That's right!"
Orochimaru entered the stifling conference room with