The prisoners listen obediently, none of them speak up, out of fear more so than anything. However, they all nod their heads, knowing that any grudges they continue to hold onto would result in an unhappy ending for them. 

Shoma is not as afraid as the other prisoners, simply nodding as well, although he doesn't have the timid stance that others do. He's just glad that he no longer has to be an experiment anymore. "What sort of things do you want us to do?" he speaks up, the other free prisoners looking at him with surprise. Shoma simply ignores it, genuinely interested in what was to be done.

"Long term? That'll depend on individual skills and inclinations. For now? I need to finish sorting out this base - a lot of people didn't leave their cells. People they might trust would help with that. I also need to know if there's anything the surrendered guards are hiding from me."

Shoma nods at hearing what he wants them to do both long term and short term. He knows that the prisoners will only trust other prisoners. "Others can help get prisoners out of their cells. They trust those on the same playing field as them than those higher up," he says. 

The guards don't say anything, simply shaking their heads to indicate they weren't hiding anything. Shoma eyes them, not sure he entirely trusts them but doesn't say anything as he is not the one leading this, nor does he have any authority.

"We should get moving on that now, there's some people injured."

Some of the prisoners quickly move to find those that have remained in their cells, the ex-guards not moving, knowing that the prisoners would not trust them to get them out of the cells. 

Shoma is more concerned about the guards, keeping an eye on them. He notices one of the guards shift, his eyes noticing a sharp gleam which he easily recognises as a knife. He's quick to move as the guard aims to attack one of the weaker prisoners. Shoma easily takes the guard down, flicking the knife out of their hand and grabbed it, pointing it at the guards neck as he put a foot on their back.

"Good work," Sasuke says, having moved to crouch behind the guard right as Shoma was taking him down. "I'll have this one dealt with." To the guard, "I said no grudges. The offer to leave was extended to you all, too."

Shoma nods, looking down at the guard who's gritting his teeth, a look of anger on his face at having been taken down so easily. "It wouldn't be wise to trust everyone so easily. There's plenty of those still loyal to Orochimaru here," he says. "Many will want to stay and stop this coup that you've created," he says.

Shoma keeps the knife at the guards neck in case he tries to make a wrong move. 

"I was expecting they'd have a modicum of common sense."

"Letting these prisoners go is a mistake. They have been made into weapons for us," the guard says. "That's all our work gone down the drain," he says.

"I'm impressed by your stupidity," he says. "You have a bounty in Iwa, don't you?"

The guard glares at Sasuke, knowing what he's trying to do. "You can't force me into submission with that weak threat," he says. 

"No. You have a choice. I execute you and collect the bounty on your dead body, or I hand you over to their justice."

"I'd rather die than let them have the satisfaction of putting me in prison to rot," the guard says. 

(There is a distant screaming inside his head. Sasuke had successfully avoided killing anyone until he took down Orochimaru. Sasuke has not killed anyone since killing Orochimaru.)

"Very well," is all he says. The sharpest message to send might be breaking the guard's neck, but... He doesn't want to be another dictator. He gestures to one of his own loyalists. "Have him secured. He will be facing a tribunal with the other traitors."

There haven't been other open traitors yet. Most people are trying to ride out and see which way the wind blows. Many have left. Sasuke supposes they can make an example of this particular idiot.

The loyalist nods and moves to take the guard, Shoma steps back so they can take the guard. A few other prisoners move to help in case the guard tries to break free. 

Shoma steps back with the other prisoners who were unsure of what was going to happen. He pockets the knife the guard had in case any others show their true colours and try anything.

Sasuke starts directing people more in depth, keeping a better eye on anyone who looks like they're feeling like being stupid.

Every keeps their eyes down, behaving so that they don't end up being the next ones. They do as they're ordered, no-one argues.

Then he'll have the prisoners still in their cells sorted soon enough - 

Juugo had been cowering in the corner of his cell, but when there's activity, it's like a switch flips and he comes barreling out, already transformed - 

To be met by Sasuke, who stops him with a single glance - and reverses the transformation.

Shoma works with the other prisoners, moving to check on any prisoners that were still hiding in their cells. He manages to gather everyone out of the cells and into the open area of the hideout. He checks to see if there are anymore prisoners, and sees Juugo barelling out of the cell. He's about to turn back and warn the others but sees Sasuke has easily stopped him. 

Sasuke talks to Juugo quietly for a bit - from what little Shoma can overhear, Juugo's mentioned Kimimarou, and a cage...

Sasuke seems to convince Juugo not to lock himself away again, because the teen follows the other.

Once things have settled - Sasuke hangs back now that he has Juugo shadowing him, focusing more on keeping an eye on everyone - Sasuke approaches Shoma slightly apart from the others.

Shoma returns back to the group, seeing that everyone has settled down and everything seems in order. He stays back from the group, not keen on socialising with the others. He likes to be more quieter in large crowds.

He notices Sasuke as he approaches, the males' stance relaxing a bit however still on guard. He stays silent, waiting for the other to speak with him. 

"You've done well here," Sasuke says as an opening.

Shoma nods and looks at the group. "After you spend so long around them, you learn how they act," he says. "It also helps that we're all in the same boat," he tells him. "I think they're all just relieved that the experiments are over for good," he adds.