Cursed Seal, One for Each of Them?

Where was the promised Sasuke Uchiha? How had it become him instead?

Tianming's thoughts raced, and he quickly found the reason!

It was his first sign-in mission after activating the system! The masked ninja atop Hokage Rock had been one of Orochimaru's men!

"Judging by your expression, it seems you believe me." Orochimaru smiled as he wriggled down from the tree trunk.

"Great Fireball Technique!" Tianming opened his mouth and spat out a blazing fireball that struck Orochimaru head-on. Orochimaru neither dodged nor avoided it, passing through the flames as he continued to approach.

Although Tianming possessed Ultimate Chakra, put simply, his chakra reserves and recovery exceeded those of ordinary ninja! But that did not mean it was inexhaustible! Recovery still took time, after all.

And the Tremor-Tremor Fruit consumed an enormous amount of chakra, so his Great Fireball Technique was practically harmless now!

"Tianming!"

After Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno rescued Naruto Uzumaki beneath the tree, they quickly spotted Tianming in trouble.

"You're no match for him! Run!" Tianming shouted. In the original story, Orochimaru had not killed Team 7 because Sasuke had been his target, and he had more important matters to attend to.

But now, Orochimaru's target for a vessel had shifted from Sasuke to him! His motives might change as well!

"I can't abandon my companions!" Naruto Uzumaki charged forward without hesitation.

Although they had not known each other for long, Tianming's strength and the way he had turned the tide in the Land of Waves had long since earned the recognition of everyone in Team 7!

Rumble...

At that moment, the ground split open, and another enormous purple snake burst out, blocking Team 7's path.

"Naruto, let's go!" Sasuke Uchiha instantly activated his Sharingan and gave Naruto Uzumaki a look. Naruto understood and used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Countless shadow clones swarmed the purple snake to restrain it, while Naruto's clones hurled kunai!

Sasuke Uchiha stepped on the kunai and leaped over the purple snake's head. Then, using his Sharingan to lock onto Orochimaru's movements, he fired a barrage of kunai tied with explosive tags.

"Hmm?" Orochimaru's body paused slightly! With a sweep of his snake tail, he intercepted the explosive tags.

"Sasuke, were you impatient too?" Orochimaru smiled faintly. Then his neck stretched out and split into two heads, which flashed behind Qingchuan Tianming and Sasuke Uchiha like lightning before each bit down!

After being bitten, Tianming's pupils contracted! Damn it, Orochimaru wanted both of them!!!

"Aaaah!" After Sasuke Uchiha was bitten, a three-tomoe Cursed Seal appeared on the back of his neck.

At the same time, the Cursed Seal's effects erupted within Tianming as well. Orochimaru's toxins spread throughout his body through the Cursed Seal.

"Die!" At that moment, the purple snake on the ground was torn alive into two pieces!

Beneath a rain of blood, Naruto Uzumaki, partially transformed into a tailed beast, charged at Orochimaru.

Boom!

Naruto Uzumaki punched Orochimaru in the head, but Orochimaru's head wriggled slightly and turned into a chunk of wood!

Substitution Technique!

"The brat carrying the Nine-Tails?" Orochimaru suddenly appeared behind Naruto Uzumaki and sneered coldly.

Naruto Uzumaki turned around and threw another punch!

But Orochimaru was faster. He slapped Naruto Uzumaki's stomach with the Five Elements Seal Technique.

In an instant, the red chakra slowly receded into Naruto Uzumaki's body.

Naruto Uzumaki's scarlet eyes returned to their azure blue. In the end, he collapsed heavily to the ground from exhaustion!

Now, only Sakura Haruno remained in Team 7!

Just as Orochimaru looked toward the terrified Sakura Haruno, a voice sounded behind him.

"Wait!"

"You can't kill her!"

"Oh?" Orochimaru turned back and looked at Qingchuan Tianming, who was struggling to get back on his feet. Somewhat surprised, he said, "You're the first person who can still stand after enduring the Cursed Seal head-on."

"An excellent vessel has the right to negotiate." Orochimaru licked his lips and gave up the thought of devouring Sakura Haruno.

"Qingchuan Tianming, my expectations for you far exceed those I have for Sasuke. Become stronger. Only then will I truly enjoy myself when the time comes. Besides, my Cursed Seal can make you stronger." After saying that, Orochimaru's body merged with a massive tree.

"Barely escaped with my life." The stone hanging over Tianming's heart finally fell. It was no exaggeration to say that if Orochimaru had truly wanted to kill him or anyone else from Team 7, Tianming would have had no way to withstand him.

But later? Tianming smiled at the thought.

From that moment on, Orochimaru's days of doubting his life as a snake began.

Of course, that was a story for later.

"Tianming." After settling Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha down, Sakura Haruno immediately came up into the tree.

"Sakura." Tianming could barely stand, and Sakura Haruno fortunately caught him.

"My condition is terrible right now. I'll need you to protect us for a while." Although the power of the Cursed Seal did not make Tianming suffer unbearable agony, having his chakra drained while forcibly enduring it still felt awful.

"Leave it to me!" Sakura Haruno said resolutely.

She had finally felt just how powerless she was! But as a member of Team 7, she could no longer run away.

Supporting Tianming, Sakura Haruno quickly reached the foot of the tree, then moved the three boys into a tree hollow one after another.

But the peace did not last long, because uninvited guests were already approaching!