If Zetsu could be compared to a Tailed Beast, then sealing him inside the body would be relatively harmless. But consciousness and a Tailed Beast are fundamentally different. Kita had never imagined that one day she would become a so-called vessel. Fate truly is strange—she had no kekkei genkai, no special abilities, not even a remarkable identity, yet she had become the container for something.
"How does it feel?"
Orochimaru in his white lab coat was a rare sight, but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of wearing it. Kita slowly opened her eyes at the sound, noticing needles and tubes inserted into her, pumping an unknown liquid.
—Terrible.
"I've only temporarily restrained Zetsu with medicine, but this won't last long. Sealing consciousness inside your body… you really do come up with the most absurd ideas," Orochimaru said with clear glee.
Kita slowly sat up on the lab table, legs dangling, but the effort was dizzying, her mind briefly swimming. Orochimaru, observing, poured himself a glass of vivid red wine while serving one to her as well.
"Skip unnecessary movements. Weakening Zetsu also weakens you," he said, placing half a glass in front of her. "Enjoy the wine while you still have your own consciousness."
Her throat was dry. Kita accepted the glass and drank, dizziness worsening but not enough to faint.
—Is there any way around this?
"You're fine now because he hasn't fully awakened, and I've slowed his awakening further. That's why you can still communicate with me."
Kita nodded, draining the sweet wine and setting the goblet aside.
—What do I do?
"Nothing difficult," Orochimaru said simply, not trying to take advantage of her. Kita was slightly surprised, looking at him with curiosity. Asking Orochimaru for help always came at a cost—like last time, with blood.
"Remember the corpse from the Land of Water?"
Kita nodded.
"That helped me a lot. This time, it's free."
At that moment, a tremendous BOOM shook the lab as the door shattered into rubble. Obito stood there, eyes full of fury, a palpable aura of killing intent around him.
"Orochimaru, what the hell are you doing to Kita?!"
Orochimaru shrugged, a faint, teasing smile on his face.
"I should ask Pain for repair fees," he said, patting Kita's shoulder. "Unbelievable… Obito, really, growth is such a beautiful word."
Obito froze at Orochimaru's closeness to Kita.
—An old acquaintance?
"Briefly acquainted," Orochimaru answered simply, taking the goblet Kita had placed aside. "Rest a bit. I'll imprint my curse seal on you next. The survival rate is only ten percent. Part of my consciousness will enter your body to guide you in devouring Zetsu. Once successful, I'll leave."
—Understood. Please take care of it.
"Wait! You trust him?!" Obito exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face. Both Kita and Orochimaru turned to him. Orochimaru's expression was still teasing, but without any elder-looking-down-on-you attitude. In fact, Obito now surpassed Orochimaru in strength, so there was no hierarchy.
Kita simply nodded, saying nothing, but her intent was clear.
—Don't tell Pain about Zetsu yet. I'll deal with this inside me first. Obito, please.
"I don't trust him," Obito said bluntly, eyes narrowing. Orochimaru didn't defend himself, arms crossed, watching the two with interest.
—He has no reason to kill me. For him, my life is more valuable than my death. And not everyone dares provoke Akatsuki.
The latter meaning: Not everyone dares provoke Akatsuki like you do.
"Such harsh words. How about I just kill you now?" Orochimaru said with a grin. Kita sighed inwardly.
—Stop complicating things. Let's start.
"You should prepare, maybe say your goodbyes. If you die, I won't take the blame," Orochimaru teased.
—I won't die, even with only a ten percent chance.
"Fine. If you do die, I'll just tell Akatsuki you requested it yourself." Orochimaru's joke made Kita twitch her lips into a small smile.
—When will I wake?
"Twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Maybe sooner if everything goes smoothly. Don't worry—if Zetsu awakens during this, he'll feel the same pain you do."
—Pain?
"Ah, yes, some minor pain." Orochimaru said, then his neck extended like a snake toward her. Kita flinched as pain shot through her neck, then spread across her body. Staying conscious was impossible; even maintaining posture was beyond her. Just before hitting the floor, she was caught by Orochimaru in his white coat.
Darkness enveloped her. Kita lost all consciousness.
Orochimaru paused, glancing at Obito, who held a weapon at his back. "I have no reason to kill her," he said calmly.
"What reason do you have to save him?"
"Friend, is that enough?"
Obito didn't reply, but did not lower his weapon. Orochimaru sighed softly.
—Kita sometimes brings me interesting experimental materials, understand?
Obito lowered the stick. Orochimaru chuckled and carried the unconscious Kita toward the adjacent lab.
"Touch her and you'll die horribly," Kita thought fiercely.
"Do as you like," Orochimaru replied.
Helpless.
…
It hurt. Neck, body, cells—all ached. A nearly uncontrollable force surged from every corner of her body. She clutched her neck, twisting her face in pain, as if something burned inside her. Simultaneously, an immense power surged, difficult to control.
Obito entered, eyes wide at the black irregular curse marks crawling over her face. She clutched her neck tightly, pain obvious.
"How are you?! I'll call Orochimaru!!!"
Before he could move, Orochimaru's voice echoed in the small, well-equipped rest lab.
"Time to wake."
Kita could barely focus, curling up from pain, body trembling, sweat soaking her clothes in moments.
"Orochimaru, what's happening?" Obito growled. Orochimaru ignored him, placing a hand on Kita's neck. The black marks retracted, revealing her true appearance.
Breathing heavy, body regaining control. Kita squinted at Orochimaru, vision gradually clearing. Once the mild pain was bearable, she asked:
—What's happening? This force is devouring my body.
"A small price for gaining power," Orochimaru said, smiling, indifferent to the question. He grabbed two vials of liquid from the table, handing one to her.
"Rest, replenish energy. Then we'll deal with the thing inside you. Hungry?"
—Anything's fine.
She drank the bitter liquid in one gulp.
"Figured you'd say that." Orochimaru drank the other.
—Water.
"Not yet." Shortly after, Kabuto arrived with food: steak and vegetables, no water or wine.
Orochimaru ignored Obito, cutting steak while speaking to Kita. "Eat. Fuel yourself. Then start. No time to waste."
Kita nodded, reluctantly approaching the table.
"I'll enter your consciousness via the curse seal. You should be able to sense me, locate Zetsu in your mind, and devour him—taking his chakra. I assist, but there's a risk: if his chakra overpowers you, he devours you. That's why I'll assist."
Kita nodded, putting down utensils.
—What is the power of the curse seal? How do I remove it?
"Others risk their lives for power. You get it for free and still hesitate," Orochimaru laughed. "Once done, I'll remove my consciousness from the seal. No worries, it won't burden you too much."
Kita ate swiftly, finishing everything in moments. Orochimaru had Kabuto clear the table.
"One more thing: after devouring him, you'll gain his memories. You must distinguish what belongs to you and what belongs to Zetsu. Understand?"
Kita paused, glancing at Obito. As expected, he was watching her too.
"Why didn't you say this sooner?!" Obito frowned. Orochimaru blinked.
"What's the matter? It's not a big deal."
It's huge. Zetsu's true body is Uchiha Madara.
—Is there another way?
Seeing her hesitation, Orochimaru was curious. "It's just memories; some habits may influence you. Over time, you'll recover. Or is it Zetsu's consciousness that bothers you?"
—Yes. I don't want to be influenced by him.
"Then no choice. Residual remains will be devoured. You'll feel compelled to complete his unfinished tasks, but after a while, it fades."
—How long?
"Months. At most a year."
Bearable. Madara's main obsession was Infinite Tsukuyomi. With Obito around, she could prevent herself from being used. But Obito had said he wouldn't abandon the plan.
—Understood. My decision stands. I'll do this my way. If you betray your own will, I'll stop you even at the cost of my life!
Even if she doubted, Kita had no other choice.
Orochimaru, "…"
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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