Kabuto was briefly startled—then smiled and replied, "Yes."
This wasn't the first time he and Orochimaru had physically merged. During the First Hokage cell transplant experiment, their bodies had to fuse temporarily to facilitate chakra transfer. By now, they were more than used to it.
Once Kabuto entered Sage Mode, their chakra signatures blended so seamlessly that even the most sensitive sensory ninja wouldn't detect a second will inside him.
"Good work," Orochimaru said telepathically. "Leave the rest to me. During the procedure, I'll be taking full control of your body."
"Understood."
After verifying everything was ready, Kabuto opened the door and calmly walked toward Nagato's secluded chamber.
Following Nagato's agreement to undergo surgery, he had granted Kabuto limited access to his private residence. As Kabuto neared the black spire-like tower, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.
Konan.
She stared at him coldly, as if trying to peel away the mask on his face—and his mind. But all she could see was that ever-smiling, unreadable expression.
"So you're ready?" Konan asked icily.
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Of course. After all, I'm about to operate on the man behind a god. I wouldn't dare be unprepared."
"You'd better not try anything," she warned.
Her arm disintegrated into sheets of paper that hovered around her like wings. With a snap of her fingers, a few caught fire—exploding midair despite the falling rain. The shockwave parted the mist.
"All of this—this tower, these buildings—are constructed with explosive tags," Konan said, her voice a low threat. "If you betray us, you'll die here with him."
Kabuto glanced around, then let out a low chuckle. "Quite the extravagant arrangement. Impressive."
To him, however, it was laughable. A threat only works if the target fears the consequences.
But what if someone doesn't fear death?
If Orochimaru had truly wanted to trade his life for Nagato's, none of Konan's fail-safes would've mattered.
Konan narrowed her eyes at Kabuto's smug attitude, about to say something, but he waved it off.
"Save the posturing. If I waste energy entertaining your paranoia, the operation could fail."
"...Hmph."
Konan grit her teeth, but said no more. The massive black doors of the tower creaked open. She floated ahead to lead the way, while Kabuto followed at a leisurely pace, completely unconcerned by the dangers around him.
They soon arrived at the patient's chamber.
Nagato lay on a wooden bed—still thin and frail, but visibly cleaner, inside and out. He had followed Kabuto's pre-surgical instructions.
"You've done well. Pity it'll all be wasted," Orochimaru mused from within Kabuto's mind.
Just then, his control fully took over.
Orochimaru, now operating Kabuto's body, pulled a scroll from his robes and retrieved a small vial, which he handed to Konan.
"Have him drink this."
Konan's eyes narrowed. "What is this? It wasn't listed in the procedure notes you submitted."
Though she wasn't a medical expert, she had split Kabuto's procedure into parts and consulted trusted sources—Shinno and others—to verify its safety. Every detail had been reviewed.
After losing Yahiko, Konan wasn't going to let Nagato suffer due to a careless oversight.
"This?" Orochimaru smiled. "It's poison."
Konan's eyes blazed with fury. Paper exploded around her again—but before she could act, Nagato raised a hand to stop her.
"Kabuto," Nagato said, his voice stern, "That's a poor joke. I know Konan's caution may annoy you, but this is no time for games."
"No joke," Orochimaru said coolly. "It really is poison."
Nagato's expression darkened. "Explain."
"You've been paralyzed for years now, despite your Uzumaki lineage. That kind of regenerative power should've healed your injuries long ago. Which means your condition isn't purely physical."
Orochimaru's voice was calm, almost clinical.
"From what I understand, it's the result of the Gedo Statue. Summoning it has bound your life force to it—it siphons your vitality constantly."
He leaned closer, inspecting Nagato's gaunt form. "But it's not just the statue. I suspect even your Rinnegan plays a role in draining your body."
Nagato said nothing, but his gaze turned cold.
"Sharingan is already an eye that devours its wielder. The Rinnegan? That's worse. Even Madara couldn't use it freely without preparation. You're like a walking contradiction—powerful, but constantly eroding."
Orochimaru's grin widened.
"You need stimulation. Your body has grown too used to weakness. Without something potent—like this poison—it'll never recover."
Nagato frowned. "I didn't ask for treatment. I asked for surgery."
"And I wouldn't have brought this if it weren't critical to the procedure," Orochimaru replied. "The Senju cells you're receiving will force your body to grow rapidly. But left unchecked, they'll twist you into something inhuman."
Konan hesitated.
She didn't care what Nagato became. But if a few steps could prevent irreversible mutation, wasn't it worth trying?
"…Then I'll drink it," Nagato said finally.
Konan accepted the vial and handed it to him. Nagato drank in small sips.
Then—
A sudden strangled gasp. He clutched his throat and collapsed back, choking violently.
"Nagato!" Konan screamed, reaching for him.
Then she turned, expression twisted with rage. "You bastard!"
All around the room, walls shifted—detonation tags primed. Orochimaru would be obliterated along with the tower if she gave the signal.
But he remained completely still, smiling.
"Go ahead. But if you want to save him, you might want to wait."
Konan froze.
Sure enough, moments later, Nagato's spasms stopped. His breathing stabilized. Slowly, he reached out to her.
"I'm… fine," he said weakly. "It hurts, but I'm okay."
He glared at Kabuto. "What was that?! Why would you do that?"
Orochimaru's smile turned sharp.
"That was a warning. It was real poison. And I got you to drink it without resistance."
Konan seethed, but said nothing.
"The operation will be far more painful than this," Orochimaru said flatly. "And if you're going to keep this place rigged to blow, we might as well stop now."
The implication was clear—he wouldn't work under threat of death.
Nagato was silent for a moment.
He knew Orochimaru was right.
"I understand," he finally said. "We lack trust."
Orochimaru nodded. "But if you want me to perform this operation, we need at least a little of it—even if we're faking it."
"Enough." Konan cut in sharply. "Do your job. I won't interfere. But if Nagato dies during surgery…"
Her voice was like ice.
"…no matter where you run, I will find you."
Orochimaru gave a mocking shrug. "Duly noted. I'll do my best not to provoke a madwoman."
Without missing a beat, he pulled out another vial and offered it with a pleasant smile.
"Here. A different kind of solution. Once I start realigning your muscles and setting your bones, drink this—it'll ease the pain and restore your stamina."
Unlike the first, this was the chronic poison Tsunade had crafted for him—a slow-acting agent that weakened bones over time.
The Uzumaki's flesh might regenerate rapidly, but their bones? Not as much.
But the poison wouldn't interfere with the transplant. And it would leave Orochimaru's subject… interestingly altered.
_____________________
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