Northern Hideout

"Tsuyu. You are taking an S rank mission to investigate one of Orochimaru's hideouts. Report everything you find in detail."

Tsunade pushed the scroll containing details on the mission forward.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama." Tsuyu felt it's surprising that Tsunade is really letting her go on investigation related to Orochimaru. Or is the mission supposed to be from Danzo, but since Tsuyu isn't officially Root member he had to go through Tsunade? She thought it's the latter.

"You will be going with two other people. You should be acquainted with them."

Yamato, an ANBU member with wood release along with Aburame Nao also an ANBU make their appearance. Nao had a typical Aburame appearance, with her black goggles and black facemask covering her mouth a lot left to imagination.

"Remember to come back to the village as soon as possible. Conflicts are breaking out often at the border. We may need your return if unexpected things happen here."

"Understood, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade looks at Tsuyu's respectful gaze with complicated feelings.

"... Wait, Tsuyu, please stay for awhile. The others… leave."

The shadow guard around Tsunade disappears, Yamato and Nao also flickered away.

"Tsuyu, when was the first time you met Danzo?"

Tsuyu frowned. Is this a question of her allegiance?

She recalled the time Danzo appeared from the shadow, letting her test her nature affinity and even gave her an elemental release scroll.

"It's when I was in 1st year of academy, Tsunade-sama."

"... So, at 6."

Her eyes turned serious. To think Danzo had poached her since she's so young… a part of her even felt pity.

"Remember, you are a shinobi of Konoha first and foremost. And you are yourself before being a shinobi, before being a jinchuriki. You are not just Konoha's… weapon." She said the word carefully.

"Danzo only sees you as a tool. A weapon for war. Never forget you are more than just your power. We need your power, but I hope you don't forget you are more than just that. You should learn from your brother on a few matters."

"Tsunade-sama, I understand your concern… I am still myself. No matter what purpose I had, and how much power I gained. You can be rest assured."

Tsuyu understands what Tsunade is concerned about her losing herself to power, probably already thinking she would go astray like Orochimaru most likely, or may undermine her position as Hokage as she seemed to be loyal to Danzo.

"And, my top allegiance is with Konoha and then you, the Hokage. Danzo is a mentor I respect. But his position is never higher than yours, Tsunade-sama."

Tsuyu said her words carefully. She is not submitting to the Hokage nor Danzo first, but works for Konoha in the whole scheme of things - this also lets her excuse herself for shady things she may be involved in. That had always been the motto of Will of Fire after all. Even Uchiha massacre is justified under Will of Fire so it's a safety net for her work no?

Tsunade let out a small huff. It's exactly what she wanted to hear, and hearing Tsuyu being honest about her thoughts on Danzo's methods also makes her want to believe the latter part.

"Good. You may leave."

***

In a matter of an hour, Tsuyu in her standard ANBU outfit with a fox mask departed from the village along with the other two.

"Tenzo, I wonder if you are part of senju lineage."

While out to travel, she tries to chat with the guy. Yamato looks at Tsuyu through his ANBU mask, trying to figure out what to say.

"You can say that." Biologically he does. Yamato wonders if Tsuyu didn't know of his origin, or pretending to not know.

"Konoha does need another 1st Hokage don't you think?" Tsuyu said, relating Yamato to Hashirama.

"... I am not sure what you are implying."

"Peace times end right after his death. It says a lot. If only Konoha had another powerful figure."

Tsuyu was just amusingly praising Yamato for his wood release, implying maybe he could replace him if he's powerful enough. But Yamato understood something else.

Yamato cannot be silent, trying to process her words as he is to report on her.

She's implying she wanted power equivalent to Hashirama Senju… What a terrifying goal. But she still thinks of Konoha as the reason.

Yamato already thought Tsuyu was some extremist much like Danzo at this point. But her allegiance to Konoha can be confirmed. 

"I believe only the right person should carry such power." Yamato added.

"The right person huh. You are right. If a fool had such power, they would achieve nothing." 

Tsuyu gets annoyed at the stupidity of the First Hokage. Giving away Bijuu - equivalent of nuclear weapons to other countries so they can stop each other from fighting. 

But the hypocrisy here is 1st Hokage himself can capture Bijuus like pets. And he let Konoha have the strongest of all Bijuu. So Konoha back then had guns, Hashirama himself is a rocket launcher, while he passed knives to other villages. And seeing how both Senju and Uchiha clan went extinct nowadays, it's clear the village he created had so many flaws inside and the subsequent wars are a testimony to his failures. Even with enough power to be called God, he failed miserably. It's laughable.

I see… so she believes only she can handle it.

Yamato knew Danzo well, and now he's seeing Danzo 2.0 in her. She is definitely his successor.

Yamato recalled his past with Danzo. In a way he was his mentor for years… 

Without a strong root, the tree cannot grow. Kinoe, I believe in your ability.

Come Kinoe. From now on I will personally train you.

Kinoe, here is the scroll left behind by the 1st Hokage. I hope you can master it.

Complicated emotions arise in Yamato, remembering him. In a way, he was a good mentor. He could understand if Tsuyu is loyal to him.

"What do you think of him, Yosei?"

Tanya squinted her eyes slightly. The gears in her brain are shifting. 

So Tsunade wanted these guys to see my allegiance. Tsuyu already prepared her mind to badmouth Danzo while he's not here.

"I can respect his ability to do what others cannot do, and I respect him for seeing my value and can trust me. But in my opinion, his methods are flawed - though it's better than nothing."

"What do you mean flawed?" Yamato felt curious. Maybe Tsuyu wasn't as loyal to Danzo as they thought.

"His methods disguised cruelty as necessary. A loyal soldier does not need to be born from fear or absolute control. While secrecy is a necessity, secrecy even to the Hokage means he does not want to secure the village, but himself. If what he does is truly for the good of Konoha, the Hokage should be included in the knowledge and he shouldn't hide from it."

"But… I suppose if one willingly turns away from the dark and doesn't dare to stain their own hands - it can't be helped. It's their choice to hand over those grey matters to someone else entirely." 

Hiruzen and Tsunade may have had prejudice against Danzo but the fact that they do not take hard measures to end Root means they understood deep in their heart Root is needed for Konoha.

If it's needed, why not face it directly? Why turn away and let someone else handle it as if afraid your hands would be stained? You are the Hokage, not Danzo.

It's a sign of a weak incompetent leader afraid to dirty their own hand. And when that assigned someone dips too deeply in the dirty water you act surprised and shocked because you never care to know.

She is not badmouthing Tsunade, she's just saying if Tsunade wanted her full allegiance she cannot be too kind. The 3rd Hokage made a mistake on half-heartedly supporting Danzo, giving him independent unchecked power. He set up internal power conflicts himself.

She never was a fan of having different powers in a system as that would complicate and make things inefficient, and power struggle may erupt at any point. Internal conflict will bring Konoha down from within if it comes to that point.

Yamato and Nao are surprised to hear Tsuyu's detailed thoughts. Yamato had a different understanding of her now. Though it's clear Tsuyu doesn't like it if the Hokage is too naive and that they turn their face away from the grey area afraid to face it themselves.

"... About the training camp you suggested to Godaime, I have seen it." Nao try to poke further.

"Tsunade-sama believes it's too extreme…" the Aburame explained in place of Tsunade.

"We are on the verge of war. Only by training them under high intensive stimulation can they improve faster, and prepare them mentally. They would fight day and night, face life and death constantly, and see countless corpses on the way. Sending them to the battlefield now is only sending them to death for nothing. Not to mention most of the Chunin recently graduated are not to usual standard. How much can a shinobi improve from doing a few missions in these months? I don't believe it." 

Tsuyu snickered inwardly. For her, the Chunin recently graduated mostly as canon fodders. Except a few remarkable people. She had pushed the agenda forward to Danzo hoping he could convince Tsunade, but it seemed he might only consider doing that for his own subdivision or his Root members.

Nao blinked her eyes a few times. That actually makes sense… Yamato is also in deep thought. It seems right, but the content of the training seemed questionable. However, perhaps he and Nao could talk to Tsunade if she can find a middle ground.

In a few days, they finally reached the sea north of the Land of Fire. Yamato made hand seals, creating a big wooden boat.

Tsuyu inwardly appreciates Yamato. Even when camping he can make a wood cabin from nothing. It's really comfortable. If there's someone she wants to join the 1st Company of Aerial Shinobi Unit, Yamato is included.

The trio head to the direction where Orochimaru's base, the Northern Hideout was supposed to be located. The insects spread by Nao come back, telling her of the exact location.

"Be vigilant, there's a lot of chakra signatures. Close to a hundred Chunin and even Jonin level chakra levels inside."

Yamato frowned.

"This seems too difficult…" Yamato said instinctively, after all, even if the 3 of them are elite Jonin - facing a hundred of Chunin level opponents would be impossible normally.

But when he looked at Tsuyu, her expression never changed, saying confidence. Yamato remembers Tsuyu wasn't a normal Elite. No wonder Danzo needed her to come personally.

They stepped on the island. The land seemed barren, with tall rocky spires surrounding the land.

The trio walked deeper inland. Tsuyu looks at the watchtower above. But there's no response.

"No guard?"

Nao suddenly spoke. "Someone is coming."

"Arrgh! Die!" A red skinned humannoid monster with two horns jumped from behind a rock, rushing straight towards them in madness.

Yamato already flickered backward and made hand seals, but Tsuyu stood there looking at the fool. 

Herculean! In the right moment she stepped aside and wheel kicked the monster, crushing his side with a powerful blast of chakra from her heel sending him crashing to one of the rocky pillars. He lost consciousness instantly. 

Yamato is shocked inwardly. Her strength without using any of her supposed boost is already not to be underestimated.

The trio went forward to see the monster. The red skin and horns gradually receded, he turned into a normal person after.

"So these lab rats escaped and went crazy." Tsuyu takes out a huge scroll, sealing the unconscious guy inside.

"Yosei, Tsunade ordered to send any captives of his experiments to her first." Yamato said to her.

"Understood." Tsuyu didn't object. In fact, a medical nin genius like Tsunade getting involved may be beneficial, whether her intention is just to save or to control Danzo's research.

Yamato felt uncomfortable deep inside. He himself was a product of human experimentation, and saw himself and people he saw die one by one back then. But he swallowed his discomfort behind his indifferent mask.

"There's a riot further. Massive chakra fluctuations, a fight is happening." Nao analysed what the insects told her.

Tsuyu stood in front of the steel gate, casually infusing Earth chakra into her arm before punching the gate down in a blast.

The gate fell in a loud thud. Scents of blood permeate from the tunnel and corridors. The sound of screams and madness echoed in the surrounding.

***

Reibi opened his eye, sensing the massive amount of negative chakra ahead. Saliva dripped from its mouth.

Food…!

Nue also noticed it, his saliva also dripping. He wiped it with his paw before sending it's intention to her.

***

Tsuyu sensed these guys wanted to come out immediately. She looks at Yamato and Nao, wondering if these 'secrets' should stay secret.

But then again, she would use these guys eventually anyways. Besides, Tsunade cannot do anything to her at this point. Konoha relied on her.

"Come out then you two."

A mass of dark chakra burst from Tsuyu's body. Reibi in its original glory shows itself as a giant jelly snake-like being. Tsuyu's eyes turned purplish red from the negative chakra running in her system from Reibi's presence.

A devilish smile carved on her lips subconsciously. Yamato and Nao quickly take a step back warily.

Nue appeared from a mass of purple chakra on her front, landing on its 4 paws with a small roar.

These guys are getting bigger…

Nue is as large as an adult husky at the moment. While Reibi is almost as tall as 2 floors of building - but it seems it can adjust its own size somewhat.

"Yosei, what are those…!" Yamato called out, he's ready to use his wood release at any moment.

"You could call them my subordinates. You two, don't kill anyone wantonly. Only render them immobile or unconscious. Eat their chakra however you want, just don't kill. Reibi, don't forget to protect Nue. He's not strong enough."

"Yes~" Reibi replied in a mixture of voices before they rushed together, with Nue clinging onto Reibi's body as it slithers forward.

As the two went ahead, the sound of fight became even larger. To bring out negative chakra from people, they stimulate them and bring those chakras to the surface, causing even more madness in them.

The trio went forward, looking at countless monsters rioting. Regular guards as per their clothes already turned to corpses.

Reibi stretches its body, turning it into multiple limbs and hands grabbing onto partially transformed prisoners. 

"Arrghh!!! Die! DIE!" The prisoners struggle, swinging their limbs to beat Reibi. Even if it caused damage, it got repaired instantly. Masses of purple dark chakra visibly appear from them being drained by Reibi. 

Nue slapped its paw, creating vines that binds some of the monsters, absorbing their negative chakra. Though its bindings only last for a few seconds.

"Nn~ NN~!" Reibi made satisfied noises as he tried to find more victims.

The two creatures visibly grow a little bit bigger as more of those monsters come to attack them and get drained.

"Let's leave this place to them. We can find information at other places." Yosei suggested.

Yamato let his guard down before agreeing.

Flash. The three of them flickered in a similar direction led by Nao insects, trying to find the right person or information.

They passed by cells containing untransformed prisoners. Some look hopeful seeing them.

"Konoha shinobi…! Please release us!" They begged for their help. They were unfortunate souls caught by Orochimaru or his men after all. They heard the two sannin of Konoha killed Orochimaru. That was what the rumors said. They are glad Konoha shinobi actually sent people here.

Yamato didn't refuse and is the first to unlock the cells.

"Wait Tenzo. We have to clear out this hideout first. There's those people rioting outside too." Tsuyu reminded him.

Tenzo seems to realise his blunder. 

"We will release you later. It's unsafe."

He reassured them he would set them free, but asked the prisoners to stay put as it can be unsafe outside. Besides, these people have been experimented on, and may turn into monsters at any time. He can't just let them out free. Tenzo hopes Tsunade could help them.

In Tsuyu's opinion some of these people can be taken away as research subjects. But all of them? Is Tenzo planning to build a wooden yacht to carry all these people to Konoha? She would just leave them here, and at most had Konoha send a few chunins to take these people away after her mission was over. They aren't here to save these people.

Nao is the first one to find something in a laboratory with the help of her insects. A few logbooks, neatly arranged scrolls and papers were taken away from a few laboratories. They found a living lab worker in an underground shelter. 

The middle aged man immediately surrendered claiming Orochimaru forced him to work for him. Sounds typical.

"Where's the source of this enzyme…?" Tsuyu asked coldly while flipping through the pages roughly, understanding the transformations are based on some enzyme.

"Ah… that person, Jugoo, is dangerous! He will kill anyone that gets close to him. I suggest you don't…"

"Direction." Her voice turned colder, her eyes as if wanting to kill him alive if he didn't answer.

"E-Eastward. He's in a solitary tower…"

"Don't go anywhere." She reminded nicely before the trio disappeared to the direction.

***