Red skull

Natasha's heart thudded in her chest as she approached the figure, her knees almost buckling with the weight of the moment. The Red Skull looked her up and down, his gaze cold and calculating.

"Welcome, Natasha," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You've come far in your training. Farther than many of your peers. I have noticed your...potential."

Natasha swallowed hard, trying to keep her fear in check. She had always known that her abilities were being closely monitored, but to be singled out by the Red Skull himself was something she had never anticipated.

"Thank you, sir," she replied, her voice steady despite the racing thoughts in her head. "I am honored to serve Hydra."

The Red Skull's grin was cold and sinister beneath his mask. "Your dedication is admirable," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "But I have greater plans for you, Natasha. You have the potential to be much more than just another agent. I see a leader in you—one who can stand by my side and help me shape the world according to Hydra's vision."

Natasha's heart sank. She knew what that meant—total immersion in Hydra's doctrine, her thoughts no longer her own. The choker around her neck was a constant reminder of her status, a symbol of her submission to the will of the Red Skull and the serpents that whispered in his ear.

SUMMARY^1: The Red Skull acknowledges Natasha's potential and reveals his intentions to mold her into a leader, which Natasha knows will mean complete surrender of her autonomy to Hydra's will.