Rian nods, and decides to change the subject. "How've you been holding up?"

"Well enough. A few idiots decided to challenge me, I showed them their place. Otherwise people have been fairly deferential. Apparently I have a reputation."

They sigh. Fear is one way to keep people from challenging you, it's just not their preferred way. Tends to breed too many revolutionaries, humans aren't good at knowing their place. The old Orochimaru had mostly relied on it out of a disinclination to spend too much time actually ruling; Rian had hoped they'd be able to delegate more to their sister. Shinobi culture is probably against that, though, the idea of correctness equaling strength is too ingrained.

"Once you get settled in, we'd hoped to start directing people with minor concerns towards you. How well do you think you could handle that?"

"I'd prefer being in charge of military things, if I was in charge of anything. I have more experience with that, and I don't particularly relish the idea of babying random people through their problems. For now I'll go where you put me, though."

"Military works - we don't actually have a jounin commander type, the old Orochimaru thought it'd be too much of a risk - I can handle all the non-military concerns. I'll start easing you into the role tomorrow, then - introduce you to everyone and all. I can give you a copy of current records tonight, though."

"Sounds good to me." There's an awkward pause, then: "So, how're you doing? With - all this." She herself isn't sure if she mean 'the resonance' or 'suddenly leading basically a hidden village' or what.

Shrug. "Well enough. I'm still sorting out who I am, independent of the old Orochimaru and Rian, and the current Orochimaru. For leading, Orochimaru's memories help a lot, everyone treating me as a less-volatile extension of him helps a lot, and having more free time than Orochimaru helps a ton, we're mostly having me handle the public-facing portions, Orochimaru handle the other parts. Though it's taking a bit to reconfigure the experiments to be less... Horribly unethical. I'd think the old Orochimaru was afraid of morality or something, if I didn't have his memories." He was more just too lazy to bother inventing any of several totally possible things, like vat-grown organs. Although they're still stumped on how they'll do experiments involving chakra, which usually requires a full network and an active mind. They're currently hoping they have enough data to a) revolutionize computers, and b) run simulations on said revolutionized computers, to at least make human trials less ethically fraught.

Emi observes them silently for a bit while they get lost in thought, then says, "You really are different."

"Huh? How so?"

"The space between your ears seems less empty of late."

"Hey!"

"Kidding... You're still an idiot."

"You're not funny."

"I'm hilarious."

"Just keep telling yourself that."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm very good at self-aggrandizing."

"You mean being impossible?" they mutter.

Wait... "Aren't I technically older than you now?"

"Nope."

"I have sixty-two years' worth of memories! I am so older than you!"

"Once a squirt, always a squirt."

"Why did I even bring you along?"

"My witty and charming company. And also because you're a reckless idiot who would've died without me, can't forget that."

"I. Am so glad Orochimaru didn't have any siblings. So, so glad."

"Aw, that would've been fun, getting to team up with another big sibling. We could've swapped embarrassing baby stories. You were a cute kid. A bit drooly, though."