Pein Consults

Sasori

I don't own Naruto.

"Leader-sama," said Sasori as he slid into the chamber, nodding at Konan before bowing to his leader. They both returned the greeting in a similar fashion, allowing the puppet-man to sit down across Pein. His joints creaked uncomfortably as his back leaned on the chair; all the rain was making them stiff.

"Ah, the rain is causing you a problem, I see." Pein spoke as he made several hand seals in the air. A few moments later, the rain stopped. "Having a wooden body and being native to Sunagakure doesn't make you familiar to rain, it appears."

"Leader-sama, the last time I've been to Suna was to kidnap the Kazekage," Sasori pointed out.

"Yet it was still home to you once," Pein replied. "It doesn't matter whether you've broken all ties with it now; you can never erase your past and pretend that it never existed."

Sasori tensed upon hearing those words; memories that he had tried over three decades to supress were reacting to what he had heard just now.

'What do you wish to tell me, leader-sama?" He said, trying to pick his words carefully.

"I can't say anything to you unless you are ready to listen," came the reply. "So, for the time being, let's talk about something that you'd actually enjoy: your art."

Ah, now he could see what had caused Deidara's smile as he had walked out of the door. "The brat told you about our... differences, has he?"

"Indeed he has," said Pein. "But I would like to hear your side of the story, just to be fair."

Sasori paused before speaking his thoughts out. What exactly had Deidara told him?

"He must have told you that art is something that lasts for only a single moment," he said, being unable to help adding a snort. "His idea of art, aside from being ridiculous, is hardly fair; if something beautiful lasts for only an instant, then where would that leave the hundreds of people who failed to see that art in the moment? No, that's not how art should be."

"True art should be something that last for a long time, something that can transcend the differences between generations and being able to impress all. True art is eternal, which is why I focus on puppetry, especially those made from living creatures; I have freed those people from the curse of death and decay, and gave them a chance to live forever as an artwork that can last for eternity and give impressions to all who will see it."

Like Deidara before him, he ranted for a good while before he even realized that he was doing so. By the time he had stopped to catch his breath, Sasori could see that both Pein and Konan had been listening carefully, as if analyzing him through his words.

"Your views on art is interesting... not to mention the way it clashes with Deidara's viewpoint," said Pein eventually, his brow frowned as if in deep thought. "Then again, I'm not surprised that you came to hold the opinion of permanent art."

Sasori blinked in confusion. "I don't understand you, leader-sama."

"Recently I've been on a mission with Konan somewhere near Suna," said Pein rather abruptly, leaving Sasori flabbergasted again. "During the mission Konan discovered something... interesting. Konan, bring them out."

Konan silently stirred, as if waking up upon his command, and walked (gracefully, it seemed to Sasori) towards the large closet that was propped up against the corner of the room. Glancing at the blue-haired woman, Sasori saw her bringing out two familiar - TOO familiar - objects from where they had been concealed.

Deep inside the cylindrical core stored inside his wooden chest, Sasori's heart stopped briefly.

"Mother?" A soft gasp escaped his lips. "Father?"

His parent's lifeless - but somehow still managing to look kind - puppet faces stared back at him.

"I thought it would be... appropriate to return these to you, as they're your first puppets," said Pein, allowing Konan to give the two puppets to Sasori, who shakily raised his hands to take them - in the form of an embrace.

A position that he had always wanted to be in ... a position that he had been denied to since he was four.

"Th-thank you, leader-sama," he managed to stutter, genuine this time. Pein gave him the tiniest of smiles, something that he rarely did.

Of course, Sasori's intelligent mind had already worked out what Pein was trying to tell him. The Akatsuki leader was clearly aware that the Akasuna had spent a lonely childhood due to his parents' untimely death; that was why he had made their puppets with the skills his grandmother had taught him. He knew that the terrible loneliness that plagued his childhood was the reason behind his craving for something eternal and unchanging and his dislike of waiting.

However, no matter how much Sasori was aware of it, that knowledge was pushed aside by emotion... such that he had not felt after he left his village.

"I believe we've talked through everything neccesary..." said Pein, who had returned to looking at the profiles again. "Dismissed; just remember to perform as well as you've done so far, and you'll be a shinobi that we will be proud of. Send in Kisame after you."

"Yes, leader-sama," said Sasori, bowing courteously before walking out with his regained puppets.

"What are those, hmm?" Deidara asked curiously as he noticed his Danna exiting the room with two puppets that he had never seen before.

"None of your business, brat," said Sasori as he chuckled good-naturedly at his partner's pout.

Well, I thought that as Chiyo is now dead, Sasori has very much the right to claim his parents' puppets as his own. Few Akatsuki members can boast of a more tragic past than him, I suppose. R&R.