Orochimaru's Gift

Root HQ

"Danzo-sama."

Tsuyu kneeled on one knee as she met Danzo. She received instructions from Kaito right after her second mission.

Her second mission wasn't worth mentioning. Ayame's bug bit the target of assassination and the end was already made clear. Frankly she didn't contribute much and was on a ride. She was made aware that if the target was people without much 'protection', the mission could be tasked towards a single person. It was because Tsuyu was a new recruit that the squad moved together as a whole unit even on easy missions - more towards the intention of mentoring her and it was the same for any squad with new recruits. Not that Tsuyu needed it, it was more for formality and standard operation procedure.

"Stand up. Congratulations on completing your second mission. You delivered as much as I expected from you, Tsuyu."

"Thank you for the praise. I am glad I could deliver."

Tsuyu's sweet words flow naturally.

"Now, let me get straight to the point. As you are made aware, your body cannot withstand the true power of Kyuubi chakra. And I had a help of a friend. Leave a shadow clone. We are leaving Konoha."

Tsuyu was quite intrigued at this 'friend' of Danzo. But she obeyed without much question. She still trusted Danzo as her superior after all.

The shadow clones dissapeared, acting like Tsuyu all day so no one would suspect a thing.

Tsuyu was led by Danzo and a total of 9 Root members escorting them through the dark tunnel.

What's up with the escort…

Tsuyu can already guess Danzo didn't really trust the so-called friend; otherwise he wouldn't bring this much force with him.

At the end of the tunnel, there lies an entrance above shining hint of light down. With a quick flicker, she and others quickly move out of the tunnel. She found herself somewhere in a forest. The observed secret entrance was hidden as part of a tree. She could guess they were already outside of Konoha.

The group move southeast for about an hour thought the thick forest. Just then, one of the Root member made a signal for everyone to stop.

He searched around the trees in the area, and as if finding the right tree he quickly made a hand seal.

With a hand slap, a fuin was activated, the ground nearby split open with a slight shake revealing a hidden staircase leading underground.

So many secret entrances…

Tsuyu made her own commentary. She wondered just how much of these secret entrances and bases did Root had.

Quickly she was led down the secret base, leasing to long tunnel with multiple rooms. Though she noticed it was as if this secret base was already once used and emptied due to markings and dirt here and there.

As they reached the end of the tunnel, one of the Root push the big stone door open…

Instantly heavy pressure descended on Tsuyu, as if she was being stalked by a predator.

But she had no fear, only surprise. The yellow eyes with slit seemingly glow from the dark.

Sounds of snakes constantly echoing from the dark room…

"Danzo… is this how you greet a friend."

Orochimaru stepped forward, letting light reflects on his pale skin… the snakes around him slithered along with his cold steps, letting out hisses and barring their fangs towards them.

"Hmph. You know me, Orochimaru."

"Hnhnhn… Cautious as ever… though, you still trust me enough to make a deal with me…hnhnhn", Orochimaru let out a little chuckle.

Orochimaru…? The defected Sannin…

Tsuyu was quite surprised that Danzo was working with Orochimaru, a known betrayer of the village. As an ANBU member she knew the inside information of Orochimaru inhuman experiment. Not that she cared much about those lives and didn't feel much except surprise seeing the sannin.

"... Let's get to business," Danzo wasn't really going to waste time.

Danzo just eyed the Root next to him. He nodded and quickly appeared in front of Orochimaru, handing over a scroll.

Orochimaru quickly look over at the content. He widened his eyes slightly, feeling a little surprised that Danzo was really willing to trade all these for his expertise.

"For you to really give such a thing to me… you are making me curious just who was it that you need help with to this extent."

His tongue flicked to lick his lips, a sinister smile carved on his face. Orochimaru took the scroll and placed it on his lips, his long tongue darted to wrap around the scroll, his saliva dripping as it was pulled into his mouth and down his throat with a loud gulp.

Why the f***?

Tsuyu was quite disturbed at the scene. Why would you swallow it like that…

Danzo squinted his eyes, not really liking the looks on Orochimaru's eyes. But still he was already making a deal and as far their relationship went, Danzo had always been Orochimaru's subordinate even helping him defect back then. The two never had any clash per se.

"It was a new recruit of mine, Yosei."

Tsuyu stepped forward. She was wearing a mask and a cloak though, not really helping Orochimaru see anything.

"I have made preparations for your requested body enhancement… though, I have my own method. Hnhnhn… but first… I need to know just how strong your subordinate body is. He might not be able to handle it."

Orochimaru licked his lips in expectation.

Danzo had a little reservation but still proceeded.

"Yosei. Show him what you can do."

"Understood." Tsuyu already know what she had to do.

Everyone made space for Tsuyu and Orochimaru.

"Come."

With curiosity, Orochimaru focused on this Yosei, expecting something good.

Tsuyu took a deep breaths her gaze became serious. Without any warning, she used body flicker combined with chakra expulsion from the soles - immediately delivering a knee strike to the snake!

Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but with casual-ness his neck bent sideways in an almost unnatural way.

Tsuyu widened her eyes in shock at how bizarre the sannin dodged her attack.

Orochimaru continued his attack as his head wrapped slither around Tsuyu's leg and then to her body.

Orochimaru almost felt dissapointed. But as his neck slithered up Tsuyu's body, he felt intense chakra fluctuation from Yosei, screaming danger to him!

Raging Fist - Heaven's Roar!

Splattt-

Orochimaru's neck and head exploded to pieces from the chakra blasted. A Root member quickly flickered in front of Danzo to block the blood and flesh from splattering to his cloths.

Tsuyu turned her gaze to the headless Orochimaru. White snakes grow out from the place where the neck was supposed to be and he regenerated his own head.

His eyes seemed a little more interested now, licking his lips casually.

Is he even human?

Tsuyu asked herself incredulously.

"What powerful amount of chakra. And that technique… using all of your tenketsu. Almost similar to Hyuga's secret technique, though a different application. Hnhnhn… Interesting…"

Orochimaru's knowledge on jutsu was enough to have him see through Tsuyu's technique.

"Come again…"

Tsuyu didn't give it much thought and use all she had. Thought she didn't use any ninjutsu and only stuck to taijutsu and or nintaijutsu.

Orochimaru was also very casual, dodging and using his snakes to counterattack just to see how far Yosei's ability was.

"Hnhnhn… your skills could do some work. But your body was already very strong for your young age. To handle that amount of chakra and power without breaking apart. Your control was truly as monstrous as your body…"

Orochimaru's interest heightened even more. His gaze towards Tsuyu turned into greed. Already thinking of Tsuyu as a potential body replacement. It was very clear Tsuyu's body was abnormally strong. As if she had a bloodline of Senju or Uzumaki.

"That's enough."

Orochimaru said as he dodge an axe kick that caused a meter crater on the ground, blowing dust and debris. It might seem casual, but it's Orochimaru who specialised in being slippery.

In his assessment, even a normal Jonin would have a hard time against Tsuyu's assault and power. He felt very greedy for Yosei after seeing her capabilities. Though, she was Danzo's and he wouldn't know how to lure her in anyways.

Yosei nodded and stopped her attacks.

"I believe you could take it… come."

Orochimaru turned and walked towards the room behind him. Danzo and everyone else also followed. Danzo wouldn't allow Orochimaru to do whatever without his observation.

"Take off your mask. It wouldn't be appropriate during the procedure. And I am very curious to see the face of the person you took, Danzo~" Orochimaru licked his lips.

Danzo hesitated, but it was indeed not very proper in a sense. He gave a slight nod to Tsuyu to give a green light.

But as soon as Tsuyu took off her mask, Orochimaru's gaze almost turned into a burning gaze boring into her face.

It can't be… daughter of Minato…?

The blonde hair and blue eyes, who's daughter can it be other than his.

Orochimaru went silent for seconds, his eyes as if thinking something, and then it turned into a sinister one for a split second.

Hnhnhn… Minato… your daughter shouldn't know about the truth. Hnhnhn. Her body… is MINE!

Orochimaru already turned his honest trade to backstabbing 180°. Knowing Danzo, he had certainly kept Tsuyu in the dark. Knowing her identity meant Orochimaru knew what he could use to lure her into his side. His spy Mizuki had reported to him years back about how the siblings, the children of Minato lived. His first thought was just a sense of pity and mockery, but then he forgot about it entirely since it was not important. But to think Konoha would treat a hero's children in such a way - it turns out to be a good opportunity for himself.

Orochimaru smiled inwardly, thinking how Hiruzen was a fool and Danzo was the delivery man.

Orochimaru licked his lips in greed, already considering her strong body as his own. Even if he wouldn't use it, for he was planning to snatch Itachi's body after he's done destroying Konoha - he would have loved a good subordinate.

In Orochimaru's mind, as long as he could manipulate Tsuyu using her background and harsh environment, the unfair treatment, and the secrecy of the village, Orochimaru would get Tsuyu to his side.

But Orochimaru was ignorant about the fact that Tsuyu wasn't a normal kid. Only that she's a genius. Not her psyche. The info Orochimaru had was outdated from his spies unable to send information all these years.

And Orochimaru had this presumption Danzo did a little brainwashing on Tsuyu thus her apparent calmness and expression all this time. And instead the brainwashing meant her mind was more susceptible to manipulation.

With scheming already planned in his head, Orochimaru asked Tsuyu to sit down on the stone altar and take off her upper clothes.

Danzo and the others were watching closely, wary of the snake.

Tsuyu was a little uncomfortable at being watched this intensely, but she had gone through this during ANBU checkup and still did as told.

But the gaze she felt from the snake specifically made her spine tingle, as if he's eyeing her body with greed.

She gulped a mouthful of saliva. No way… she felt disgusted deep inside at the thought. She wouldn't want to meet another one…

Orochimaru started to apply seals with his finger on Tsuyu's skin, starting from making 3 black tomoe symbols on her left shoulder. The Fuin Shiki were then written and extended outward.

"This is the Cursed Seal of Heaven. You must be familiar with Jiraiya, Danzo."

Danzo stayed silent, as if wanting more explanation.

"Hnhnhn… the seal would allow her to access nature's energy and transform them into senjutsu chakra. At the same time… her body would slowly adapt to the power, strengthening them in the process."

"Then why don't you have it yourself?," Danzo wasn't that stupid and as cautious as ever.

"Hnhnhn. Because my body couldn't withstand it unfortunately."

"Hmph… is that so…"

Orochimaru smiled sinisterly. Once the cursed seal was placed, Tsuyu's mind would be corroded, and Danzo's (assumed) brainwashing done prior also meant it would be easier to break her mind and be manipulated to join his side. Orochimaru didn't have any guilt for backstabbing Danzo.

Orochimaru continued molding the Fuin Shiki on Tsuyu's skin.

As he completed the fuins, he looked at the seals as if it was art.

He then took one last step to complete the finishing touch. He threw up a scroll from his stomach, much to everyone's silent disgust. It was a storage scroll.

As he opened it, poof! A jar containing a lump of wood-like flesh floating in the nutrient fluid appeared. With a twist, the cap was opened as the airtight mechanism unlocked with the gas flowing out.

He took the flesh with his raw hand and planted them right on the core of the seals he made. That thing was none other than the living flesh of the Gedo Statue, which was revived through Zero tails chakra.

He made a slight adjustment to them by splicing Jugo's DNA with the Gedo Statue DNA, making the cell producing enzymes of Jugo's clan while having greater capabilities to absorb nature energy and hold senjutsu chakra. The Cursed Seal of Heaven was also designed so that it provide a boost in physical energy - as Senjutsu as a whole required balance in Nature, Spirit and the Body. Tsuyu had more spirit, therefore the Cursed Seal of Heaven was implanted. This also aligns with what Danzo requested.

He needed long extra preparations to include this thing into the improved seal, and it was a very complex fuin Shiki.

Orochimaru laughed inwardly; feeling very satisfied at his work and his future body or subordinate.

You are now MINE!

Juinjutsu - Cursed Seal of Heaven!

Orochimaru made a hand seal, and the lump of flesh started to melt into the seal with a sizzling sound. The Fuin Shiki all lights up in red orange light and begins to wiggle and contract inwardly, causing severe deep pain on her entire being.

"Nnnh…!" Tsuyu gritted her teeth as she held onto the altar, gripping tight on them to a point of her knuckles turning white holding herself together from screaming from the overwhelming pain. Unintentional tears dripped down her eyes from how much her body had to endure. Her entire body trembled.

So much pain! Please be over quickly!

Tsuyu was whining inside, holding back tears.

Danzo felt worried that anything would go wrong, but Orochimaru simply said it was normal to feel pain and even lose consciousness.

Tsuyu felt as if a foreign chakra was seeping into her, burning her flesh inside out to the very bones, especially on the core of the seal at her shoulder.

But she endured and resisted throughout the minutes the seal was completing.

As the seal was completed, Tsuyu eventually collapsed from exhaustion. Her body was drenched in sweat and in extreme pain all over. Her fingers were bleeding just from the sheer force of her own grip onto the altar. She felt she had lost all strength on his muscles and cannot move at all now, as if her entire physical energy was used to even accept such a thing.

"To think she was still conscious…"

Orochimaru's eyes glimmered with craze seeing how Tsuyu's body compatibility with the seal was really great. No one had even endured them to this point. Her talent was monstrous! Indeed, she carried the blood of Minato and Kushina.

Worthy of becoming my body! If only she had a Sharingan along with her…

Too bad she didn't carry the Uchiha bloodline. Nevertheless, she was still already Orochimaru's best option next to Itachi. Perhaps after Itachi's body cannot be used anymore he would use Tsuyu's next.

Orochimaru was thinking how Danzo hadn't realised Tsuyu was not in his hands anymore. While at the same time Orochimaru was unaware of how his own overexpectation and greed was already leading to the path to his failure.

***