Danzo had a medic-nin he brought along to check up on Tsuyu.
"Her body was stable. No signs of injury. Only her physical energy was used up."
Danzo nodded in relief inside. He already paid a lot just to have this deal made.
"When can I see the result?" Danzo was impatient. Seeing Tsuyu's weak condition, she wouldn't be able to show it for now.
"In few hours, she would recover enough. But we can wait. Now… since you are here, old friend, I had wanted to discuss with you about something."
"Hm."
Danzo followed Orochimaru with 2 of his most trusted Root members as his guard into an empty room. As the door was closed, the Root member quickly and efficiently light up the surrounding with oil lamps.
"Danzo. That old man, I am going settle my grudge with him. Hnhnhn…" Orochimaru look at Danzo with expectation, already certain he out of all people would be glad for that to happen.
"Ho…?" Danzo hearing that was actually delighted.
The day has come for you to dissapear, Hiruzen! Danzo thought to himself.
***
Danzo and Orochimaru finish their discussion. Orochimaru's force in Otogakure was already known as Danzo funded it's establishment for Orochimaru in the past. Therefore Orochimaru kept no secret on the matter of using his force to invade Konoha. As for the invasion, it was planned to be done during the Chunin exam this year. Danzo could certify Otogakure as a Shinobi village and have them participate in the exam among other villages. Orochimaru's troops would cause distraction, driving the other shinobi away from him while he would kill Hiruzen.
While on the surface both of them agreed; but neither are truly truthful. Danzo would want Hiruzen dead, but he wouldn't want Orochimaru to harm the village and keep the damage to a minimal. Though in his opinion Orochimaru by himself won't be capable to destroy Konoha. Still, he already planned to prepare just in case to minimise the damage. As for Orochimaru, he hid the fact that he was capable of damaging Konoha enough through Shinno with Zero Tail, the shinobis from Land of the Sky and Ancor Vantian to achieve his goals.
Both of them had their own schemes. Danzo even planned to 'save' the day after Hiruzen was killed so he could gain support by the masses to become the next Hokage.
Tsuyu was resting in an empty room, laying on an empty table while the medic-nin gave some help for Tsuyu's recovery through their medical ninjutsu.
The green light feel cool and soothing, kneading her fatigue and sore tissues. As her body recovers, she already felt the connection to the seal. That her chakra network was already connected deep to it; and it was as if the seal had a living pulse, and constantly calling her to use it whispering temptations of power. Or maybe it was just her imagination from being too tired.
After what felt like hours, Danzo and Orochimaru entered the room to check on her. Tsuyu sat up to pay respect to both of them with a slight bow.
Orochimaru still believed Tsuyu was truly brainwashed because what 10 year old child can become this respectful to Danzo out of all people' and even after showing her how he was blatantly working with a defector of the Leaf? And it was Minato's and Kushina's child out of all people too; who had kindness in their heart. Orochimaru's scientific mind would believe more towards the 99% probability - and never it crossed his mind that Tsuyu belonged to the 1% that was born twisted based on pure chance without any external factor influencing her like himself since her birth.
Orochimaru had adjusted the seal to elevate emotional respond whenever she used them - this would in turn slowly but surely resets the brainwashing and she would eventually come to realisation how she was being used and controlled by Danzo, and the whole of Konoha had wronged her and her family. And then, when the time was ripe, Orochimaru would offer his hands towards her.
"You seems to have recovered well. You should have felt the connection to the seal." Orochimaru still wanted to see the result of the newly improved seal.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru licked his lips. Only his subordinates these days called him with honorifics. He already raised his evaluation towards Tsuyu a few points higher. His eyes didn't hide his greed anymore.
"You are ready to test her…" Orochimaru darted his eyes to Danzo.
Danzo understood the implication.
"Oni," Danzo called out to one of his Root codenamed Oni who were a Jonin level ninja. The bigger man in Oni patterned mask stepped forward.
Tsuyu get down the table and stretched her body a little. Taking a deep breath, she let her chakra flow into the core of the seal.
Szzz… szzz…
With a sound of sizzled, the seal burned with red-orange glow. The markings start to spread into eye-like patterns - and along its path Tsuyu felt deep poking pain slithering along with it but it was bearable. As she mold her chakra, she felt them underwent a drastic change - as if the seals reaching deep into her chakra network became a catalyst to mold it into a more potent, almost heavy and 'madness inducing' chakra. She felt herself craving to release the power, to destroy, and let out this feeling of stuffiness.
Ahhh… this feeling… Nhahaha…
Her heart pounding hard in her chest, It felt like adrenaline was rushing into her blood, the world around her as if slowed down and her body was filled with intense heat and surge of power; along with it, the pent-up feelings to unleash this overflowing chakra. An accidental smiled from the overwhelming craving carved on her lips. Danzo felt a little disturbed even if he was already made aware of the 'acceptable' side effects.
But his worry dissipated as Tsuyu took a deep breath and controlled her expression to remain professional.
"Hnhnhn… you could control the seal power well. Truly unprecedented." Orochimaru lustedafter Tsuyu even more. He was certain Tsuyu's body could handle Senjutsu chakra fully in time. And taking her body meant he, too, would be able to use them. Hnhnhn…
"Begin," Danzo muttered to begin the test.
In the next second -
Flash-
Danzo's eye contracted, shocked at seeing the speed at which she moved almost increased by half a point. Oni managed to block Tsuyu's kick coming from the side with his hands, but-
The heavy kick felt like a crushing weight - crack, crack - the pain drilled down to his very bones as it was cracked from the heavy impact and the force sent him flying meters away before crashing onto the walls with a loud bang.
"Amazing…" Danzo had to give it to Orochimaru. Even he felt tempted to have the seal for himself. But Orochimaru had mentioned even he couldn't use it due to his weak body. His old body wouldn't suit it either.
Orochimaru licked his lips in amazement as well. The new curse mark with the addition of Gedo Statue's cells exceeded his expectation. All his test subjects only improved a little. But for Tsuyu, it was as if the new Seal fit her so perfectly it improved by half a point. Or by another whole multiplier. Orochimaru didn't know that Tsuyu hosting 9 tails and her chakra mixing with it meant the Cursed Seal was way more effective due to the inherent nature of Gedo Statue - the Ten Tail husk cells.
Danzo sent another 2 Jonin fodder to test Tsuyu. The two Jonin were handled easily through brute speed and power, even if Tsuyu's actual skill was more on the high Chunin. Tsuyu felt her senses were much keener, her reaction felt faster, as if her body and muscles contraction was faster than before - and this feeling of using the heavy chakra - it was almost addictive. It felt… SO GOOD. As if the chakra was making her slightly deranged from the dopamine it gave her the more she used them. But she was aware and wouldn't fall to mere temptations and controlled herself.
"Hm. I am very satisfied." Danzo genuinely said to the snake.
"Hnhnhn… even I was impressed." Both of them eyed Tsuyu like a treasure. Both wanted to harvest her - one with Kotoamatsukami, another taking over her body.
Suddenly, Tsuyu felt pain all over her body.
"Nnh-!", the markings flared up in red-orange glow abruptly as it receded automatically. Tsuyu felt the strength inside her left all of a sudden, causing her feet to wobble. She had to hold on to the walls as the seals dissapeared.
"What's happening?" Danzo frowned at this sudden deactivation.
"Her body still needs to get used to it. It was natural. In time, her body would adapt to the seal, also strengthening herself and allows her to use it for longer. I wouldn't recommend using them blindly early on - as you can see…"
Just as Orochimaru said that, Tsuyu collapsed to the ground, unable to move a single muscle.
Danzo quickly ordered his men to check on Tsuyu. In her mind, Tsuyu felt like she was treated like a lab rat today. At least it was worth the power, probably…
But she had this thought… Using Kyubi chakra already made corrupt her mind slightly. Now this seal even made her feel like good and wanting to destroy everything. Would she lose her mind if she used both? She didn't think so. She still felt she could handle it mentally speaking. And if worse comes to worse…
Just enjoy the feeling.
Tsuyu had a small smile carved on her lips for a second, thinking there's nothing wrong with feeling hatred, madness, and even the enjoyment as long as she could properly think, never lose herself and still achieve her goals. Whether that's a sign of corruption; who knows?
The cooperation marked its end as Orochimaru already fulfilled his promise. Danzo was looking forward to the next 3 months, when the Chunin exam this year would be held. And the time for Hiruzen would be over.
Danzo took the initative to layer an Evil Sealing Method on top of Tsuyu's Cursed Seal - allowing her to activate and deactivate it on her whim and hiding it from everyone for the time being. Though it was more towards the deactivation aspect as it seemed Tsuyu couldn't stop it on her own for now and the Seal would overdraw too much from her body before she was able to use it fully.
Tsuyu was carried on a Root's member back to Konoha and silently return to her home to rest.
Tsuyu sat on her bed, though relieved that the 'experiments' were all over, she was still feeling all lethargic. She remembered she still had a clone outside and dispelled it… the memories come back flooding in.
…
???
Why was she sitting on top of Kiba as he's doing push-up in the evening? Hm? Strengthening his core for his Beast Ninja Art: Four Leg Technique? Sounds reasonable, since that technique was the very basis of all of Kiba's derived technique. Tsuyu nodded at her clone's thought. And Kiba was very particularly spirited, it seemed, as Kiba was pushing up very slowly up and down. Though why was Naruto at the side keep looking at herself and Kiba and was laughing by himself?
Naruto saw something naturally. Tsuyu's clone being on top never saw it, and that's for her own good.