Some time after the Sasuke Retrieval Mission:
Land of Sound, Hidden Sound Village, Underground Laboratory B2
Golden slit eyes watched as the small cell-culture dish was infused with a small sample of blood. The cells were taken from Jugo during one of his "episodes" and the blood was taken from Kabuto and purified. This particular cell-culture was already infused with DNA from Sakon and Ukon. This was the latest in a series of experiments attempting to create a method of absorbing bloodline traits.
Orochimaru's end goal was immortality, but a close second was the complete mastery of ninjutsu. Many techniques derived from bloodlines eluded him unless he possessed the body of a member of each clan. However, he could not remain forever and when he moved to a new host, he could no longer use those techniques. If this experiment succeeded, he would have a body that would not reject him and could assimilate new genetic traits with little difficulty. The key to this experiment was something he was leery of using, however.
Long ago, before the Sage of Six Paths and chakra, the Old World was consumed in a great disaster. Remnants survived and humanity had rediscovered some of the lost technology such as cameras, steam power, and computers. Orochimaru had found an artifact from that time, a relic of biology that was one-of-a-kind. Records found indicated it contained a dangerous substance, one that was originally derived from a fusion of bacteria and viruses. The intent was for it to cure certain diseases and genetic damage. However, the organism was flawed due to how much energy was necessary to propagate and enact repairs. When the organism could not sustain itself, it went dormant permanently and was no longer considered viable. The project was dismantled and the organism was locked away.
The Snake Sannin had found the last viable specimen. The other vials had been damaged, but one small vial survived. Filled with a grey gel, that vial was about to be added to the small cell culture before him. A few of his trusted scientists were assisting in making sure the culture was untainted by outside materials and preparing for future infusions once the organism had grown.
Orochimaru hoped that the combination of Jugo's ability to absorb nature chakra, Sakon and Ukon's ability to seamlessly fuse on a molecular level, and Kabuto's ability to quickly generate new cells would be enough to allow the organism to replicate. If successful, he would have a living mass of tissue that could be harvested and perfected, allowing for new genetic material to be replicated. Eventually, he might be able to grow a new body that would never reject him and could use techniques only accessible with the right genetic markers.
He and his scientists watched as the last sample of the organism was poured into the cell culture. Immediately, the tissue sample began expanding, quickly growing to the size of his fist, then a small animal, even bigger! The scientists stepped back as the mass began expanding rapidly, although one of them was a little too slow.
The unlucky scientist started screaming as the mass engulfed his right foot, slowly creeping up his leg while visibly changing form. Where before it was a shapeless mass of grey tissue, bony protrusions and veins now started forming across the surface. As for the hapless scientist being eaten alive, one of his fellow scientists used a wind jutsu and cut his right leg off before the organism could consume him. The others pulled him away as the organism paused, perhaps needing time to fully assimilate the new genetic material.
It's certainly more impressive then I though. However, the nature chakra in this area was never plentiful to begin with. It will soon run out of energy and go dormant, so I need to seal it away until an alternative energy source can be found. Perhaps a form of photosynthesis? Certain animals in nature have the ability to consume plant cells and make use of their photosynthetic abilities to supplement their normal food supplies. A reduced energy level would make the organism more manageable and hopefully prevent future accidents.
Orochimaru's introspection was cut short by a sudden surge of chakra. The injured scientist was forming hand signs, facing the resting organism. "No! You idiot, stop that at once!" He shouted, unleashing a wave of snakes from his sleeves, hoping to prevent a disaster. His snakes wrapped around the reckless scientist moments after he shot off a large fireball. The flames immediately consumed the mass of tissue, charring flesh and blackening bone. Watching in horror as his only specimen was burned to a pile of ash, he grit his teeth and hissed at the remaining scientists.
"Take that one to the holding cells. He will pay for ruining my experiment." He glared as they bound the one-legged scientist in sealing cuffs that prevented him from summoning chakra. As they carried him away, Orochimaru took one last look at his ruined masterpiece and stalked off to his private offices. As he left he called out to the retreating scientists. "And get someone to clean this up. Just dump it in the usual place."
About 10 minutes later, one of the many low-ranking genin that served as assistants in the laboratories arrived with a large plastic barrel. Shoveling the ash and chunks of bone into the barrel, he carried it down to the Pit.
The Pit was a deep, circular holding area for a particular group of Orochimaru's failed experiments. He kept them around to help dispose of waste materials. The creatures were originally kidnapped Akimichi clan members who were part of an experiment involving the Eight Gates. The Snake Sannin was attempting to permanently open at least some of the Gates without causing drastic injury and death, gaining the benefits without the drawbacks.
Akimichi clansmen were used to channeling large amounts of chakra as part of their clan techniques. It was thought that their bodies could sustain a constantly active Gate. The results were...less than ideal.
The first issue came up when the Akimichi method of body expansion activated due to the chakra usage. Normally, their clan techniques involved physically transforming their bodies using massive amounts of chakra converted from calories. Under the influence of an open Gate, however, their bodies randomly activated the expansion jutsu in parts of their bodies, forcing them to consume nutrients continuously to offset the expansion jutsu.
At first, soldier pills were used, but that grew too expensive, since the pills were not cheap or quick to produce. After that failed, the experiments began consuming anything within reach. Plants, rotten food, corpses, anything. Eventually, they were moved to the Pit and put to use consuming the remains of failed experiments. Or any poor sap who managed to annoy Orochimaru.
Over time, the misshapen creatures had become completely psychotic, the constant hunger and knowledge of what they had become driving the captured shinobi insane. Only pain, rage, and a mindless desire to eat remained. A few chunin guarded the rim of the Pit, using mud clones to manage the crazed monsters. They handled the creatures, dumping in refuse and objects better left to the imagination.
The Pit had another purpose: it was also where a small bolthole had been excavated. The tunnel led to a series of underground bunkers that contained food, supplies, and a source of fresh water provided by an underground river. A sealed door was put in place over the tunnel entrance although one of the misshapen behemoths had cracked it in a fit of rage.
It was to this area that the genin eventually arrived. Passing the plastic barrel to one of the chunin guards, he quickly left, not wishing to see the disgusting behemoths. The chunin tossed the barrel down to his mud clone and watched as one of the larger creatures, a former jonin if he remembered, quickly shambled over and swung at the clone with a massive arm. The clone crumbled under the force of the blow and the barrel shattered under the immense pressure.
A cloud of ash and bone fragments settled in a small pile and the behemoth quickly devoured everything it could, even licking up the powdery ash. The chunin watched idly as the beast gobbled up a rather large chunk of bone about the size of his fist. He turned back to a rather entertaining Icha Icha novel, only to look back as a horrifying mixture between a moan and a shriek erupted from the Pit. The chunin guards looked down and saw the former jonin thrashing about, grasping it's head in pain.
The creature roared and rammed the walls, causing the ground to shake. As the chunin guards began forming multiple mud clones, one of them ran over and activated an alarm, sending a signal to the rest of the facility. The mud clones tried to corral the beast using ninja wire but the Gate-enhanced Akimichi ignored them as it continued to go berserk.
Finally, it body-slammed the door to the underground bunkers, shattering it and the surrounding wall. A large cloud of stone fragments erupted, blocking the creature from view. As the guards waited for the cloud to clear, Orochimaru and a squad of jonin arrived. One of the chunin, who hid his Icha Icha novel before the Snake Sannin could see it, quickly explained the situation.
Thinking quickly, Orochimaru used a low-powered wind jutsu to clear the dust cloud. A pile of rubble comprised of door chunks and wall fragments blocked the entrance to the bolthole. The roaring of the monster was heard in the distance. A quick earth jutsu pushed the rubble aside and they all rushed down the tunnel.
A trail of broken stone led down to the underground bunkers. Partway down the tunnel, small blood spatters joined the trail of destruction caused by the behemoth. A long piercing shriek echoed throughout the bunker, cutting off with a gurgling noise. The other behemoths paused in their consumption for a few moments, looking toward the tunnel entrance, before going back to satisfying their insatiable hunger.
When Orochimaru heard the noise, he rushed ahead of his jonin squad. If what that chunin said was true, then his specimen may not have been completely destroyed. He spotted the beast face down at the edge of the underground river, head and shoulders submerged. Turning it over, he stared calmly at the gaping hole where the behemoth's face once existed.
Part of it's brain and skull remained. The rest looked as though something had eaten its way out of it's skull. He looked down into the water and considered his options. Obviously, something had survived of his original specimen. The organism had vanished into the depths of the river. He knew that river extended far underground, branching off into the Land of Fire, Land of Hot Water, and eventually the ocean near the Land of Whirlpools.
He knew there was no way to track the organism, much less retrieve it. He could only hope that it made its way into the depths of the earth with no way to replenish it's energy. Nature chakra
He turned back to the corpse of the behemoth. Looking at it's distended belly, he realized that at least some of the organism was ingested and could have remained in the stomach. The jonin squad that arrived found their leader leering over the corpse of the deranged behemoth, a sinister smile on his face.
Meanwhile, a lumpy mass of flesh tumbled along the bottom of the river, the current taking it deep underground...
A/N:
Okay, I know I haven't updated Yuiitsu-Shin in a while. I just had to get this thing out of my head and on to my computer.
The organism is roughly based on The Thing, Prototype's Blacklight Virus, and Naraku from Inuyasha.