Half-Tailed Beast Mode

"Get lost!"

The giant snake's teeth were like syringe needles as it lunged without hesitation to bite Toneri's arm.

But the instant it snapped its jaws shut, a powerful surge of chakra burst from Toneri, and the giant snake, which had looked so ferocious, immediately released him.

As if it had encountered its natural enemy, it even ignored Orochimaru's orders and slunk off to hide in a corner of the laboratory.

Then Two-Tails' lazy voice rang in Toneri's mind. "Kid, you can't even handle something like that?"

The powerful chakra that had just surged out had come from Two-Tails inside Toneri.

The giant snake had sensed the aura of the ferocious beast within him. Its animal instincts had made it fear a superior it couldn't hope to face, so it had obediently let Toneri go.

There was something Toneri really wanted to say to Two-Tails.

Do you think I'm afraid of this snake? I'm afraid of the guy who controls it. If I piss him off, even you in your real form will be in for a rough time.

Seeing his snake reduced to such a frightened state, Orochimaru set down the equipment in his hands.

He sensed the lingering traces of Two-Tails' chakra in the air.

In this Ninja World War, the Sand Ninja had deployed a Jinchūriki on the battlefield against them: a monk named Bunpuku. Using the False Sleep Technique, he had summoned the fully manifested One-Tail, Shukaku, which had rampaged across the battlefield.

Orochimaru had fought Shukaku then. Though Shukaku couldn't defeat him, he couldn't take it down quickly either.

It was his first encounter with a creature known as a Tailed Beast, and it had left a deep impression on him. That was why he had been so interested when he learned Toneri had Two-Tails inside him.

His signature tongue-lolling expression appeared on his face once more.

"So this is the power of Two-Tails? I can't tell how strong it is from this alone, but you seem to have a better grasp on it than the monk Bunpuku did." Orochimaru's hoarse voice echoed through the laboratory.

As he finished speaking, snakes of every color slithered out from around the laboratory and from its corners.

Anyone with a fear of densely packed things would probably have goosebumps all over in an instant.

Looking at Orochimaru's fascinated expression and the countless snakes, Toneri had to admit...

This was so Orochimaru.

"Come on, Toneri-kun. Let me see what Two-Tails can do. Let me see what Two-Tails looks like!

"Oh, and a friendly warning: quite a few of these snakes are poisonous."

Orochimaru was just that unpredictable.

Toneri knew that if he didn't show some strength now, Orochimaru might really have the snakes bite him. With Orochimaru's personality, he wouldn't hesitate.

Toneri would be the one to suffer, and he might not earn Orochimaru's trust in the future.

Though Orochimaru made him deeply wary, for now, the benefits Orochimaru offered clearly outweighed the risks.

As for what would happen to Toneri if Orochimaru defected someday—heh, he'd worry about that after surviving the Third Shinobi World War.

Before he had the strength to protect himself, Orochimaru could clearly offer him the protection he needed.

Soon, Toneri found that he could move again.

He drew the short blade from his waist with his right hand and took up a fighting stance.

If he was going to fight, he had to strike first. Otherwise, once so many snakes surrounded him, he'd have very little room to move, putting him at an even greater disadvantage.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof—poof—

Two Shadow Clones appeared, each holding a kunai, and charged at the snakes.

If he'd been in the same condition as when he'd woken up that morning, he wouldn't have been too worried about the snakes, numerous as they were. But not long ago, dismissing five Shadow Clones had left him mentally shaken, physically exhausted, and severely drained of chakra.

Two Shadow Clones were now his limit.

Dragging his tired body along, he charged in with his blade.

One slash, one snake. Every time his blade struck one, it vanished in a puff of smoke.

Orochimaru stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the laboratory table. Watching Toneri struggle, he crooked his mouth into his signature grin. "Taijutsu that's just about passable for a Genin, a huge amount of chakra that you don't know how to use at all, and... swordsmanship that's a complete mess. Tsk, tsk, tsk—The old man really has found himself a 'fine prospect.'"

At Orochimaru's words, Toneri's face flushed slightly.

His swordsmanship really was all over the place. Honestly, he'd be just as effective with a kunai.

"Toneri-kun, at this rate, you may end up as snake food today." Orochimaru's words sounded teasing, but his voice held not a hint of a joke.

His hands shifted through a series of signs.

As he finished speaking, he brought the pale right thumb to his mouth, bit down lightly, and drew a few bright-red drops of blood.

He slapped his palm to the ground.

"Summoning Technique!"

Poof—

When the smoke cleared, an enormous giant snake appeared in the laboratory.

Fortunately, Orochimaru's laboratory was spacious enough. Otherwise, a snake several people thick appearing here might have brought the whole place down before the battle even began.

Orochimaru casually pointed, and the giant snake surged toward Toneri.

Seeing a snake whose head alone was bigger than he was, Toneri's face turned green.

Brother, sister, auntie, uncle, aunt, uncle... You can't just play like this...

Unfortunately, Toneri didn't say it aloud. Otherwise, it might not have stopped at one snake. If Orochimaru really summoned Manda, he'd be completely screwed.

The two Shadow Clones exchanged a glance and charged the giant snake first.

Toneri stood where he was, hesitated for a second, then immediately made up his mind.

Damn it, so what if I stop acting human? Who's afraid of whom?!

I'll stop being human too!

You want to see Two-Tails? Then take a look!

"Big Beauty! Lend me your power!" Toneri appeared in the sealing space, hurried to the bars, and called out to Two-Tails.

The lazy Two-Tails stretched, then looked at the frantic Toneri. "I'll lend you my power, but don't go groping me anymore!"

Toneri: "..."

"Fine!"

There was no way he'd give up petting a cat. Not in this lifetime. But first, he had to get through this.

He was forced by circumstances to agree to Two-Tails' "unfair terms."

Toneri's fist and Two-Tails' paw met once more through the bars.

Boom—

A wild surge of chakra coiled around Toneri's body, sending the small snakes flying almost instantly.

Even the giant snake paused after taking care of Toneri's two Shadow Clones.

Orochimaru, standing behind them, watched with eyes that gradually began to gleam.

It wasn't just the amount and intensity of the chakra. The hatred seething within it was every bit as strong as One-Tail's.

As the chakra slowly settled, Toneri's appearance changed as well.

Pale-blue cat ears, black Tomoe on his chest, and Two-Tails' chakra wrapped around his arms and legs, forming the shape of a phantom Tailed Beast cloak.

Half-Tailed Beast Transformation!

The aura surrounding him had grown considerably stronger, but a trace of disappointment flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.

"If he's not fully transformed, is this all there is?

"Did Two-Tails limit the amount of chakra it released to keep him from losing control, and also help him control his body more easily?

"That fits with what the old man said. He's a kid who can coexist peacefully with a Tailed Beast.

"Bunpuku couldn't even do that.

"But his strength... tsk.

"He looks pretty cute, I'll give him that... Shame it's no use..."

The transformation had greatly enhanced Toneri's strength, but to Orochimaru, who wasn't even afraid of Two-Tails in its true form, it wasn't quite enough.

Toneri had no idea what Orochimaru was thinking.

Otherwise, he would definitely have given Orochimaru a big thumbs-up...

You're incredible! Snake Aunt, you're incredible!

He gripped his short blade in reverse. His figure flashed and vanished from where he stood. In response, a streak of blood burst across the body of the giant snake Orochimaru had summoned.

"Your speed isn't bad."

For once, Orochimaru's eyes lit up. The words he spoke were praise.

Um, well... This is a little awkward. The chapter I posted this morning had a title that was a bit too, um, much, so it got a lot of views in a short time. The editor and the moderators both, um, reminded me about it, so I've changed the title...

But, well, now that I've changed it, tsk, it just doesn't have the same feel anymore. Ahahaha... awkward yet polite laughter

Show me some love, and don't forget to like the chapter! Love you all (づ￣ 3￣)づ