Unfortunately, things didn't go as he'd hoped. The Sealing Jutsu inscribed all over his body had failed to drive Fuma Ichiro out of him. Ichiro's voice still echoed in Orochimaru's mind. "Why resist your instincts? You should know that only by continually absorbing divine arts do you stand a chance of defeating that man!"
"You damn bastard!"
Orochimaru cursed.
Fuma Ichiro's voice continued, "If you stop now, you'll die at his hands before long. Maybe in a month, maybe in a week."
"Shut up!"
As if Ichiro had touched the fear buried deep in his heart, Orochimaru growled under his breath.
He was furious, because he knew Ichiro was right. If he stopped now, he would lose all ability to stand against Shinji. But at the same time, he knew all too well that if he carried on, absorbing one divine art after another, he would lose himself completely.
No, not lose himself!
If he continued, Ichiro would take over his body, just as the Otsutsuki Clan used Karma to parasitize others.
Fuma Ichiro gave a disdainful chuckle. "Heh, you have no choice!"
Orochimaru's expression grew more and more vicious. "If I die, you won't escape either! He's an Uchiha. He won't spare anyone who has ever betrayed him!"
Fuma Ichiro laughed. "So why should we stop?"
Orochimaru said, "Damn it. Then you should tell me how you did it! How can your consciousness hide inside a divine art?"
"Phew, I don't know either!"
Fuma Ichiro let out a breath. He sounded as if he'd shifted into a more comfortable position, a look of ease on his face.
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
With Shinji looming as such a tremendous threat, Orochimaru had no real bargaining chips left in this negotiation.
After a long while, Orochimaru said in a low voice, "Tell