Half a month later, within a private training chamber of the Akimichi Clan compound.
Mitarashi Anko sat with her back to Tatsuya, whose hands rested gently against her spine. Streams of pale green life energy, visible to the naked eye, flowed continuously from Tatsuya's hands into Anko's body.
As the immense life energy surged into her, a faint expression of pain crossed Anko's face. Beneath her skin, something seemed to writhe, and fleshy growths slowly began to protrude from both of her shoulders.
After a period of dedicated research, Tatsuya had finally devised a method to handle the Cursed Seal of Heaven within Anko's body. Orochimaru truly lived up to his reputation as the shinobi world's foremost enthusiast of dark technology; even with extensive analysis via the bio-chip, Tatsuya hadn't been able to fully decipher his Cursed Seal.
It was a construct of energy intertwined with Orochimaru's will, capable of strengthening itself by consuming the life force of the seal's bearer. According to the bio-chip's calculations, truly breaking the Cursed Seal would require Tatsuya to master a vast amount of medical ninjutsu knowledge.
Although Tatsuya did intend to study medical ninjutsu, Anko's condition couldn't wait any longer. If they delayed for several more years, even if Tatsuya successfully removed the Cursed Seal, Anko's growth potential would have been completely drained by it. The Cursed Seal on Anko needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
To that end, Tatsuya had conceived of the only viable approach: a "brute-force" method. By infusing a massive amount of life energy, he aimed to forcibly mature Anko's Cursed Seal, pushing it to a state where it would no longer continuously drain her vitality. If possible, Tatsuya even wanted Anko to gain active control over the Cursed Seal. While the power of the Cursed Seal wasn't as potent as Sage Mode, the boost it provided to a shinobi's strength was undeniable.
Silence reigned in the training chamber. As the life energy continued to flow, the pain etched on Anko's face deepened.
"Aaargh!"
Over an hour later, a strangled cry escaped Anko's lips. The fleshy growth on her right shoulder, nearly half a meter in size, suddenly began to expand rapidly.
Riiip!
With the sound of tearing fabric, the clothing on Anko's back ripped open, and a pale green wing, over two meters long, unfurled. The shape of this wing differed from Sasuke's pair of fleshy appendages; it was thin, like a membrane, seeming almost fragile enough to tear easily.
Anko propped herself up with her left hand, red lips parted, saliva trickling uncontrollably from the corner of her mouth. Behind her, Tatsuya had already retracted his hands, halting the transfer of life energy.
"How is it?" Tatsuya asked softly, looking at Anko, who was drenched in sweat from the agony.
From Tatsuya's perspective, he had a clear view of Anko's fair back and the translucent wing. At that moment, the pale green wing fluttered unconsciously. Simultaneously, streams of pale green tomoe markings began to spread from the wing's base across the right side of Anko's body.
"I... I can still take it!" Anko gritted her teeth, her voice fierce despite the pain.
On her left shoulder, the wing within the other fleshy growth had yet to break free.
"Good!" Hearing this, Tatsuya responded, his voice low and serious.
He took out a special soldier pill, swallowed it, and once again placed his hands on Anko's back, resuming the flow of life energy. Unimpeded by clothing, Tatsuya's warm hands made direct contact with Anko's smooth, pale skin. The moment he touched her, Anko's body trembled slightly.
The pale green life energy began flowing again, and nearly another half hour passed.
Huff... huff...
Inside the chamber, Anko's heavy, ragged breaths were continuous.
Riiip!
Finally, the sound of tearing fabric echoed once more as the wing on Anko's left shoulder successfully broke through the skin and unfurled.
With another cry of pain, Anko collapsed completely onto the floor. Lying against the cool floor, her pretty face was now covered in the pale green markings, and saliva flowed freely from her lips. She looked utterly wrecked.
However, an unprecedented smile spread across her face.
Success!
Feeling the Cursed Seal's power surging within her, Anko knew she had done it. This power was far stronger than she had imagined!
Behind her, Tatsuya watched silently, saying nothing. He knew exactly how much agony Anko had endured to reach this moment.
Gradually, Anko's breathing began to even out. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet. When Anko saw her almost completely torn clothes, a deep blush instantly flooded her face. But the girl was tough; she simply grabbed the torn ends of her top, pulled them forward, and tied a knot, managing to barely cover her ample chest.
Then, Anko looked up, her eyes meeting Tatsuya's, filled with an eagerness to test her newfound power.
Seeing this, Tatsuya smiled faintly, then flickered out of sight. He reappeared moments later on the Akimichi Clan's training ground. By now, dusk had fallen, and the field was deserted.
Swish!
With a sound like cutting air, Anko, her new wings folded at her sides, appeared on the training ground right after him.
Tatsuya extended his right hand and beckoned slightly with his finger.
Whoosh!
Anko used the Body Flicker Technique, rushing towards him.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The sharp sounds of colliding fists and feet echoed across the training ground as two figures blurred back and forth under the dim lamplight.
Elsewhere in the shinobi world, in a deserted mountain forest, two figures sat silently around a campfire. Both wore the black cloaks adorned with red clouds, radiating a cold aura that warned others away.
They were members of the Akatsuki: Sasori and Orochimaru.
By this time, Orochimaru had joined Akatsuki under the codename Kūchin (Void), and Sasori, with his Hiruko puppet, bore the codename Gyokunyo (Jewel). Bathed in the firelight, Orochimaru observed Sasori opposite him with keen interest, while Sasori returned his gaze coldly.
Within Akatsuki, the two were currently partners. However, their personalities clearly clashed. This time, they were out on orders to complete a bounty mission.
Hm?
Just as they were staring each other down, Orochimaru's expression suddenly shifted. He couldn't help but turn his head, looking towards the Land of Fire. From a great distance, Orochimaru sensed that the Cursed Seal of Heaven he had left behind in Konoha had been fully activated.
"Heh heh heh... finally showing some promise, are we? Though, I doubt you could have achieved this step on your own, could you?"
Licking his lips with his long tongue, a scheming smile played on Orochimaru's face.
In Konoha, there was only one person upon whom he had bestowed the Cursed Seal of Heaven: Mitarashi Anko. She was a pawn Orochimaru had long since discarded, yet unexpectedly, she had delivered a pleasant surprise.