Anko's Warning

"Huh!?"

Anko was stunned for a moment.

She took the notebook Uchiha Ao handed her, scanned it with her eyes, and was instantly jolted awake.

"How could this be!?"

Anko muttered to herself.

It recorded all the changes in her physical data over the past three days.

After the implantation of the Heaven Cursed Seal.

Her physical strength had increased by thirty percent within the first day, her Chakra volume had nearly tripled, and she had undergone a qualitative change.

At the same time, she had gained a certain degree of improvement in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and comprehension.

Her overall strength had actually undergone a qualitative transformation.

She had gone from a Chunin with a barely passing score of 25 to a Jonin with a score of 62.

One must know that this was a comprehensive ninja strength rating system formulated by Orochimaru based on years of experience, under the guidance of Ao, and according to the Ninja Academy's grading mechanism.

It required a comprehensive assessment of multiple aspects including physical fitness, mental power, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Chakra.

Even Orochimaru himself, at the time the system was formulated, had only reached a rating of 89 points.

In the system established by Ao, 20 points was the threshold for a Genin; breaking past 20 points made one a Chunin.

20-40 points was the range for a Chunin, and exceeding 35 points could be called an elite Chunin.

40-60 points was for a Special Jonin, who possessed a relatively prominent aspect in one or several areas, with at least one individual category score reaching over 60 points.

A total score exceeding 60 points meant one was a Jonin, having almost no obvious shortcomings and belonging to the elite of the entire ninja world.

As for 80 points and above, that was the rating for Kage-level.

There were no obvious shortcomings in any aspect, and one could reach world-class strength in a certain field, possessing extraordinary combat power and strength that could crush the Jonin level.

The reason Orochimaru could reach this score was entirely because his strength was too comprehensive.

At present, he did not yet have the shortcoming of soul instability, and he held a massive, gap-like lead over ordinary Jonin in terms of Chakra volume, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and mental power.

"All of your improvements are the power bestowed upon you by the Cursed Seal of the teacher. If you do not control it, you will only become a useless shell in the future."

"You don't want the teacher to be disappointed in you, do you?"

Ao said with a warning tone; this was a white lie.

He knew that Anko worshipped Orochimaru and that her dream was to become a ninja just like him.

Therefore, he used this psychology of hers to make her develop a desire to survive.

Anko's rate of improvement was very fast, faster than he had imagined!

This was also because the changes brought to her body by Orochimaru's soul imprint were too enormous.

This was due to the two souls being overly compatible.

Nowadays, the perfect Heaven Cursed Seal reflected not just the transformation boost, but also an imperceptible physical strengthening.

Even Orochimaru had not thought of this point.

The overbearing soul imprint would gradually assimilate Anko's body. If she did not master the ability to control the Cursed Seal next, she would gradually evolve into a "clone" of Orochimaru!

A "Shadow Clone" that possessed a physical body!

A body possessing the complete soul memories of Orochimaru.

After reviving, it might even compete with Orochimaru's original body for the identity of "Orochimaru."

This was the first side effect that emerged from the improved Heaven Cursed Seal.

Ao did not write these speculations in the experimental records.

This was to avoid being discovered by Orochimaru and having Anko left to be assimilated by his soul.

Ao knew that Orochimaru was a very narcissistic person. If he had the opportunity to create another "himself," he would definitely abandon Anko, a disciple who was there in name only, without hesitation.

And he himself would lose a lot of comparative experimental data.

There would be no way to master the various reactions after the Heaven Cursed Seal transplantation.

Anko took these words to heart.

She silently began to grit her teeth and persist, resisting a temptation from the depths of her heart.

That voice kept guiding her to accept the power provided by the Cursed Seal on her neck, to abandon her own identity, and to forget some important memories...

A week passed.

Anko's strength stabilized at the Jonin level, not far from an elite Jonin.

Her total Chakra had increased by about four times compared to before the experiment.

In the span of a week, her figure had grown five centimeters taller, and even her flat chest had developed a deep cleavage.

Her once loli-like figure had also filled out a bit.

Her short hair had grown to her shoulders, tied back into a ponytail.

Her bangs obscured her forehead protector.

Beneath them were a pair of eyes filled with vigor.

"Ao, is the examination finished?"

She looked at the man in front of her, full of hope.

"It's finished. All the data has been organized."

Ao nodded, put away the notebook in his hand, and placed it neatly on a bookshelf, where an entire shelf was dedicated to the name Anko Mitarashi.

Half of it consisted of data Orochimaru had collected regarding the Cursed Seal production process, while the other half was data gathered before and after Anko's experiments.

In one week, a total of twenty-one notebooks had been recorded, all containing data on Anko's various changes.

"Then can I go out and find Teacher now? He hasn't appeared in the laboratory for so long; I'm afraid he's run into some trouble..."

Anko said anxiously.

Aside from needing experimental materials, Teacher basically never left the laboratory for too long.

Not seeing Teacher for such a long time caused great panic to well up within her.

As early as the second day after Orochimaru left, she had been a bit worried, and by the third day, she had nearly come to blows with Uchiha Ao.

At this moment, Anko's strength far exceeded that of Uchiha Ao, who was still a genin; even if he wanted to stop her, he couldn't.

It was only by using the handwritten note Orochimaru had left behind that Ao had managed to convince Anko to stay.

"Go ahead, but I think that if Teacher is unable to extricate himself, your current strength won't be of any help if you go."

Ao said truthfully.

This world was fraught with danger, and even in the safe Konoha, there was the major threat of Danzo.

Without anyone to protect him.

Aside from staying in Orochimaru's base, nowhere else was safe.

"The meaning of our existence is to assist Teacher in completing all his research. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect Teacher and ensure he returns safely!"

Anko looked at Ao with determined eyes, speaking every word clearly.

"I don't know what your motives are, but while Teacher is alive—you had better not have any ulterior motives, otherwise! I will make you regret coming into this world."

Although Ao had performed very well recently and had gained Teacher's approval.

She still hadn't let her guard down.

All along, she had believed that Uchiha Ao's motives were impure.

"Rest assured, I respect Teacher very much, and I also hope to inherit Teacher's research... This money is a reward Teacher gave me; please help me pass it on to my younger brother, Uchiha Ran."

Ao didn't mind Anko's threat and pulled a stack of banknotes from his ninja tool pouch, handing them to her.

The stack of five hundred thousand ryo was thick enough for his younger brother and sister to spend until they graduated.

It would temporarily alleviate the family's financial situation.

"You really are a family man..."

Anko was silent for a moment, took the money, and replied.

She hadn't expected that when Uchiha Ao's life was being threatened, he would entrust such an important matter to someone like her, who was hostile toward him.

This feeling of being trusted was something she had only ever felt from Teacher Orochimaru.

Ao was the second.