AN: Well here we are for chapter twelve, honestly i do apologize for the rather lengthy wait from chapter eleven to this one but unforunately life became hectic and i had to replace my old pc to just name a single issue that delayed this chapter.
None the less here we are here.
I do believe those that enjoy this fic will find much to enjoy in particular in this chapter as it contains much interaction between both Pain and Konan and Pain and the Akatsuki and even a few insights from Konan and Pain on the folks who make up their little terror group.
It also contains some shameless if well placed fluff that i couldn't help but include due to just how dark and somber the prior chapters have been.
Disclaimer: As per usual i do not own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden or any of its associated products.
xxx
Nagato became increasingly withdrawn with the appeasement of Madara; the organization was as complete as it reasonably could be under the circumstances, with the addition of Deidara and the replacement of Orochimaru, and with the completion of his own work upon mastering the art of sealing. No longer did he truly have a purpose to fulfill beyond leading the organization now until it was time to move upon the Bijuu.
Now all he focused himself upon was his rule: Rule of Akatsuki and Ame both.
Rule of his fearsome and terrifying divine abilities.
The only thing it seemed that escaped his all encompassing iron grasp was his very body; his frame continued to decay, his health continued to fail and his grasp on his already tenuous sanity seemed to slip further and further away.
Konan noticed the gradual descent into insanity; noticed how even as he became Pain he had retained some level of the empathy he had retained throughout his childhood, empathy that now was absent.
Compassion and mercy were concepts that Pain did not recognize.
There was only Submission, there was only death, and there was only Pain.
xxx
Despite their vast connections, oceans of resources and agents in truth the organization knew very little of the Bijuu they were going to be targeting in the coming years, to that end Madara had advised that Pain assign each and every Bijuu to a member and have their respective teams investigate and research their targets.
Through this strategy hopefully the organization would be well versed in both the capabilities and threat potential of any and all of the Bijuu and vastly increase their success potential against the monsters.
In the years to come this preparation would more then make up for its risk and annoyance with the sheer success it brought them.
Deidara and Sasori: The One Tail and the Three Tails.
Kisame and Itachi: The Nine and Four tails.
Kakuzu and Hidan: The Two and Six tails.
Zetsu was investigating: The Eight and Five Tails.
And Nagato himself had claimed the Seven tailed beast and was conferring about the monstrosity with whatever information Kakuzu or Zetsu could garner about the beast of Taki.
The hologram of the Uchiha projected itself into existence atop its predestined place upon the Gedo.
Leader was already present: Already waiting.
But except for the two of them no one else was present for this meeting, not even the normal fixture across from the Leader and a woman who was all but unknown to them like Leader himself.
"Uchiha.. Welcome, thank you for attending presently to this summons." The Leader of their interest ground out before his Rinnegan orbs fell upon the crimson of the Uchiha Sharingan.
"Sir." The junior Uchiha of their endeavor stated in his usual monotony.
"Itachi you know why you were summoned: Report." The hologram of their leader projected.
"We have successfully learned of the current status of both the our assigned Bijuu; The Four tails and Nine, the details are in the report Zetsu forwarded to you. Combined with the information Zetsu is gathering we should be able to move upon either target when instructed, of course no information is completely infallible but i'd personally stake that this information is reliable." The Uchiha defector rounded off, his speech while monotonous was completely concise and to the point.
"Well done: Continue with your current assignment." While praise from their Leader was a rarity when it came it was sincere.
"Of course sir." The Uchiha stated before his hologram once more left its position upon the Gedo empty.
"Konan." The hazy hologram beckoned from its solitary position upon the right thumb of the Gedo statue.
Within a handful of breathes the Angel of Amegakure had assumed her own position upon the massive construct; her amber eyes staring expectantly at the outline of the Deva.
"Return to Amegakure; We have a meeting to attend." The Leader of Akatsuki's chilled dead voice echoed across the chamber that was vacant save for the two of them. The moisture ridden walls of the cavern seemed to close in upon the pair as she merely gave a half visible nod of the head at the demand from her leader.
"At once." Came the muffled reply from his life long companion.
xxx
God did but rarely walk the streets of Amegakure: His messenger, his Angel was the one who delivered his divine pronouncements to the assembled people of their land.
While Konan herself had confided to God that she felt she was unworthy of such devotion or praise that was heaped upon him, she relented to her role but in the shadows of her mind she still was plagued by the very real fear that she was still just that weak girl that watched as her world crumbled around her time after time.
The few occasions he was present were somber and dead affairs; Years went by between his various appearances, from the initial graduation ceremony of the Academy that supplied Shinobi to his cause, to brief sojourns to various construction sites across Ame merely to reinforce his presence.
When he did appear however the face of God was showered in praise, worship and admiration.
Belief in him was belief in that Divinity had turned once more towards Humanity, that perhaps all the senseless war, suffering and blood that plagued their land had finally reached its end.
It was a symbol of hope, hope in a tomorrow that would be without war, or death or pain.
To the outsider world he was all but unknown but to the people of Ame: He was God walking the earth.
xxx
"Enter." Came the near silent whisper from the rasping corpse like voice within.
"Lord Pain…" His angel intoned dutifully as she entered the familiar darkened chamber.
"Do you have what i requested?" The emaciated figure housed within the throne questioned.
"Yes." Was the monosyllabic response.
Rinnegan orbs regarded her blankly as slowly and with his body offering resistance and agony even for the slight movement a hand rose and awaited outstretched palm longing for its prize.
She could smell the metallic twinge of blood in the air; she didn't need to even look to see its source in the darkness; Nagato suffered when he used his abilities and his paths were both his eyes and body. Suppressing a frown of annoyance she gave the true body of Pain a single look of compliance before she did as instructed.
Removing a single bound scroll from the interior of her cloak she proceed towards the God shrouded within the darkness of the chamber.
Placing the scroll within his hand; she couldn't help but feel the pale and sallow flesh that clung loosely to bone.
She didn't want to let go; to withdraw her hand from his was to leave him to this...this hell alone.
It was selfish, it was weak.
It was supposed to be beneath her, she was an instrument of the Divine will of God himself. But this weakness plagued her, it was all encompassing and poisoned her devotion.
It was the same weakness that had cost her nearly everything and it was slowly consuming all that had been left to her.
But all the same she didn't remove her hand even after Nagato had taken the bound scroll and set it aside.
Rinnegan orbs met amber in pitched silence for a moment that seemed to stretch on for an age.
"Thank you Konan." The rasping thin voice that had become the only constant in her ears beyond the ever present rain of their homeland congratulated her.
"It is my duty to serve." She intoned truthfully offering a slight bow of the head to show sincerity.
Even as Nagato turned within his throne to surely dismiss her; her hand remained in place.
His skin was wax like and frigid it was as if his body had died that day in the soaking rain and blood that ended their childhood with a finality that few could match.
"Konan; Your hand remains." He informed her as if she did not realize she was still touching him despite him now possessing the scroll he had tasked her with bringing to him.
"It does...Pain." She remarked softly the inflection in her tone undecipherable.
Slowly the throne turned once more; Rinnegan orbs curiously regarded the statue like Angel of Amegakure.
"Is there something else?" Came the familiar rasping whisper.
The eyes of Judgement fell upon the Angel and in that moment she knew she was shamed.
This attachment that went beyond her divine and holy duty, this attachment that infected her was now before the eyes of the very being she had wished for it to never become apparent to again.
As Nagato became more and more absorbed within the persona of Pain; She knew the fondness she had for her childhood friend too needed to be quashed and put aside, she could no longer act the role of companion and Angel simultaneously.
He didn't need her for her weakness.
He needed her to be the strong and capable Angel he had envisioned when he had bestowed that role to her.
Silence prevailed over the chamber for a long moment before her heart seemingly stopped only to restart at a jolt from a sudden and quite frankly unexpected sensation coming over her hand.
Thin almost skeletal fingers intertwined with her own.
The chilled and nearly dead clammy flesh pressing awkwardly against her smooth and warm skin.
She regarded the Rinnegan bearer in mute shock.
xxx
The meeting was somber and the air tense with anticipation; the traitor had not been located that much was obvious to all assembled the very chakra that radiated from their leader indicated severe displeasure, the killing intent that filled the chamber was suffocating. It was the first time since the very founding of Akatsuki that the membership beyond the select few knew the wrath that was their leader's will when it was denied.
Even here, even among the deadliest of the deadly, the strongest of their kind in the known world...all seven felt varying degrees of fear.
The cancerous chakra that emitted from the avatar of the leader was pulsating with a sense of the menace that seemed to infect the very stonework that cast a shadow upon the meeting.
However even the immense tension and fear cloaking the chamber didn't interfere with the seeming insanity of one member.
"For fuck's sake!" Came the agitated and shrill tone of a certain Jashinist.
No one responded to the zealot however all awaited the response from the leader of their organization.
'Imbecile.' a certain bluenette angel of Amegakure thought but didn't voice aloud.
"Moron." Ground out a irate Kakuzu.
"This should be good." Chuckled Kisame.
"Hidan." The chilled tone of the leader of Akatsuki echoed across the room.
"Oh fuc-" The Jashinist began before the ringlet eyes met his own amethyst.
The Jashinist with obvious reluctance bowed his head and remained silent.
"Zetsu: get on with it." Came the leader of Akatsuki's directed and pointed tone; his sudden intrusion after the silence that had pervaded over the gathering since he had called it, it was unexpected and caught all but a few of the members off guard as their widened eyes and turned heads indicated.
"So this Deidara is the boy who has caught you're eye Zetsu?" The puppet master Sasori tentatively put in, his normal brash and guttural tone turned plaintive and almost subservient in effort to push the meeting further towards its conclusion in the absence of their Leader's commanding and chilled tone.
"Yes." Came the collected if somewhat agitated tone from the dark half of the plant like shinobi.
"He is suited for the role of you're replacement partner Sasori." The leader again input his will.
"Of course sir; i apologize for any perceived impudence." Sasori put forth before his leader.
"Now; with Orochimaru still remaining amidst the living the recruitment may be a possible attempt for the sannin to gain advantage over us, despite his fleeing and going to ground no doubt our own aim opposes whatever that...vermin desires. So a solitary recruitment effort would be ill advised, so it shall not be put to chance." The ringlet gaze swept across his followers.
The move was sensible but reeked of a paranoia that seemed to have infected the leadership of their interest; Where once they had been the chosen, brothers in arms, betrayal had been a possibility but not expected of the membership with the consequences a forgone conclusion for betraying a oath to the self proclaimed God.
But since Orochimaru; security procedures had been expanded upon; where once many tasks were given extensive operational control to the shinobi undertaking them, now all phases and steps of the operation required oversight from above...indeed and few were under any illusion that Zetsu was not recording their movements regardless.
"Hoshigaki, Uchiha...You both will accompany our esteemed colleague to collect his possible subordinate; Zetsu has located a stronghold of one of Iwa's many rebel movements that the bomber is currently in the employ of...Recruit him for our cause and make no mistakes, if he is unsuitable or unworthy.
"Kill him and report back; i do not wish my precious time wasted upon the unworthy or those without merit or skill."
"Sir i assure you; Having assembled his entire history and record as best i was able i have no doubt he will be worthy of our cause and a much needed addition." The whiter half of the plant shinobi pleaded, desperate in his need to placate the leader of Akatsuki.
"I understand sir." The Uchiha replied in his familiar monosyllable.
"We'll get it done." Hoshigaki affirmed; a fearsome grin adorning his visage already at the prospect of "testing" the new blood.
"Hope the brat is worth the trouble." the puppet master murmured before nodding his assent.
xxx
Akatsuki Western Safe house
Two weeks after the acquisition of Deidara of Iwagakure
The rolling rocky plains of Iwa had little in common with the barren badlands and endless desert of Sunagakure far to the south where Sasori had grown up years before but due to his modifications to his own body he no longer felt discomfort from heat, exhaustion or any elemental condition beyond how it impacted his reserves of chakra or mechanical components of his body.
Since Itachi had handily defeated the boy; The leader of Akatsuki had ordered him to take the young terrorist to their far western safe house for assessment of ability and usefulness; while his technique was hardly what the puppet master would construe as any form of "art" it didn't stop it from being somewhat...useful he reluctantly admitted to his Leader.
It was versatile, powerful and if Deidara actually exercised control a excellent method of conducting short skirmishes and battles but during the days since their arrival and his learning of who he was to be "partners" with in the organization for the foreseeable future he couldn't help but find his frustration with the boy growing with each and every day that passed.
His ideas of transitory art, his foolish need to obliterate everything he created...that horridly annoying speech impediment.
And to top it all off?
The brat was only twelve.
True while Itachi had also joined them at a young age...he had been the exact opposite of the "man" he was now assigned to work with for their collective goal. Itachi was professional, dedicated, unwavering and lethal...Deidara while having no qualms about killing or "exploding his art" lacked much of the Uchiha's precision, skill, tact or manners.
Just what fresh hell had Leader assigned him with this moronic child?
His thoughts however were put on hold as the cavern that made up the Western Safe House began to vibrate, a signal that clearly indicated the seal at the door had been activated and the boulder that served as a deterrent to none members was falling away. The puppet master's thoughts immediately went to who it could be: Itachi and Kisame had departed shortly after Deidara had agreed to join the organization.
Zetsu would have no need to even activate the door...so who could it be?
As he willed Hiruko to begin its ponderous movement towards the entrance he caught a glimpse as the last fading light of the peaked through the flattened plains the safe house was housed within, the silhouette casting a shadow over the approaching person but through the glare and darkness he caught...steeled amber eyes...
Her.
That...paper woman...
She was the last one he expected it to be.
Truth be told; since she had handily defeated him years beforehand...they had never interacted since beyond the meetings of the Akatsuki.
"Mam." Sasori greeted what he suspected was his superior abet there was no real ranking system within the organization beyond "Leader".
"Sasori." She greeted in turn; her own name seemingly not going to be granted. He was going to question her of her arrival which was certain to effect the carefully calculated schedule he had crafted for their time here, he was mixing expanding upon his own arsenal of poisons, retrofitting his puppets and determining Deidara's level of ability and skill.
This interruption certainly would throw those calculations out of their precision aligned and pristine order.
Her cloak shifted as her right arm lifted outward and a hand extended towards him; clenched within slender fingers and immaculate skin was a worn and tightly bound scroll; the parchment so warped and torn that it seemed only the binding was actually holding it back from disintegration.
"Our Leader wished for you to be well acquainted with Deidara's technique so he had Zetsu acquire information but he was too busy to come and deliver this when he was on another important assignment for our Leader." She intoned dutifully and as soon as the wooden fingers of his puppet's hand had clasped across the scroll she turned and seemed ready to depart, perhaps she wouldn't be too much of a disruption.
However this sudden meeting prompted something within him; something that had he wondered since the day she had defeated him upon the sandy dead lands of his homeland many years before.
"You were the first to join him?" He questioned cautiously.
Much of the Leader and his associates background was unknown and purposefully left that way, only a handful of tidbits occasionally had leaked through and those were few and far between.
Like his headband suggested he likely hailed from Amegakure: That war torn land had produced only a single notable shinobi according to the history books and yet...one had emerged seemingly from nowhere. This was not Hanzo the Salamander, nor was he any of his known subordinates; But they obviously hailed from the same country.
He possessed a long thought extinct, legendary Doujutsu: The Rinnegan.
The oddest of all the information that occasionally leaked through? His name.
Pain.
She turned to regard him; her impassive mask set in the very granite that made up these hills but her eyes were positively alight and betrayed her interest.
"What of it?" She questioned; she knew where this conversation was likely to go, but truthfully she was curious.
"Why? How did he recruit you?" He phrased the word as if she had been conscripted as he had.
For a brief instance she had a slight sensation run through her; it was foreign, unfamiliar, she recognized it only hours later as humor...she had found it funny.
Why wouldn't she devote herself to Pain? To his dreams, his hopes, his ambitions?
Her impassive face didn't waver for a fraction of a second; her mask remained intact in front of the crimson haired puppet master.
Her purpose here was not to debate the philosophy of their actions, nor was it her place to sit in judgement of Nagato...None of this earth had that right, to judge him was to be above humanity, only a God could have that right and if any of the Kamis in the afterlife of the heavens sought to judge him if the unthinkable day passed where God died...they still would need to pry her from his side to stand in judgement of the God of Amegakure.
"I serve him because it is required of me to serve him; i am his tool, his weapon, his companion, whatever he requires of me he has." She responded resolutely; her hand drifting to the the piercing adorning her lip, her soft unmarred hands running against the chilled metal of the implanted Gedo steel.
Sasori for his part was incredulous: She served willing? This cause was not anything beyond the most recent attempt at domination of the world, nearly every rogue S class shinobi criminal in history had plotted the very thing they had been conscripted for...and so far none had succeeded obviously.
She volunteered for what amounted to as a delayed suicide...
"Why?" He could only ask.
"It takes incredible resolve to actually create...to look beyond the petty destruction..to be beyond labels like "good" or evil" Our Leader is one such being. He is the vessel of change in our world, he is the absolute needed for this era. Our goals may be years from fruition but have no doubt of this Sasori."
"Dawn is coming and those who do not stand with us shall be cleansed in the coming fire."
She realized then and there...she had never discussed this before...her motivations, her reasoning, her dreams...
It was amusing that the recruit she had humbled years before in the dunes of Suna now listened to her every word.
"Sasori serve and preform your duties and we will be the heralds of that dawn." Konan intoned respectfully; while it was somewhat...refreshing conversing with her junior it was time she returned, her Shikigami could only do so much from Amegakure, at this range the technique was hardly stable.
"Right; Don't let me keep you." The Puppet Master said as his hulking puppet turned his back to the Amegakure Shinobi. Of course Fate being what it was, their peaceful discourse would not end on a uneventful note and a blast in the distance of the cavern that shook the very stonework caused him to wince internally and let out a grunt of irritation and brought a wry glint to the Angel's eyes.
"Brat." The Puppeteer all but growled in a guttural snarl.
With that the blue haired shinobi of Amegakure turned from the Puppet Master of Sunagakure and resumed her exit from the cavern.
Breaking into hundreds of individual paper butterflies as she did so, blanketing the darkening sky in a flurry as thick as snowfall.
Deidara was certainly...more lively a partner then Orochimaru had ever been, that much was obvious to her.
xxx
"It is time Konan: We depart for Iwagakure tomorrow." The crimson haired God decreed." In the darkness of the tower only his piercing ringlet orbs cut through the darkness.
Their stronghold in the mountainous region was to be the place from where he declared the start of their primary mission.
"It has been a long time coming...Pain." Konan commented softly; The road that had led them to this point had been paved by the corpses, the bodies of their enemies, the fallen comrades that had allowed them to reach this day and a ocean of blood behind them.
It would be worth it when the day of their ascendance came...It would have to be.
She would have to be worthy to stand side by side God himself: If she wasn't it dishonored all those who made this day a reality, friend or foe, enemy or comrade they had all given their lives for this moment.
A chance to hold the very world itself in their grasp.
"It has Konan but finally our real work will begin." Nagato intoned rather dryly.
"Have you prepared for the journey?" Konan questioned; as always her first and foremost concern was for the health of the man who stood behind Pain.
"I have stored all the paths besides the Tendo until our return; tomorrow the face of God enters the stage and Akatsuki will move towards its destiny." Nagato stated.
"We are ready Pain; We have prepared, we have grown stronger, while the Great Five have rested in their cradle of power, flexing their ill gotten might we have been dreaming of this day. We have gathered the strongest to us, we have molded them into the power they will need to be, we have established a network that will allow us to fight the last war that this world will ever need." Konan recited dutifully, today God didn't need her misgivings or doubt, Today she would reaffirm their goal, their destiny, their dream.
Rinnegan orbs bored into amber for the countless time as God regarded her.
She believed in him, Amegakure believed in him, Yahiko had believed in him.
For her, for his people and his fallen brother he would complete his destiny.
The prophecy he had been told of as a child from his master would be fulfilled; He would bring great change to the world, He would stand upon the earth as a God and rule it, he would be bring a age of peace unending and without fail.
He owed it to Yahiko, His people and to her...
"Yes Konan...we are ready, finally." He admitted softly his shoulders seeming to sag.
It seemed like years since the last time he had simply slept more then a handful of hours, just enough so he wouldn't risk chakra exhaustion.
"Pain...Nagato; Remember we need your strength for this, without you we cannot preform the ritual you have designed for the extraction, don't push yourself so hard." Konan reminded him; in truth she was concerned more for his own well being rather then his body's own frailty impacting their mission but she had learned long ago that senseless prattle and concern would never sway Pain...no she had to remind him of his duty, appeal to his divine purpose.
"I know Konan; after we return from Iwagakure...the organization will be extremely busy but i doubt i will be needed for daily oversight any longer...Orochimaru knows our ultimate aim but he also knows i can and will kill him if he ever surfaces. So i will have time to recuperate and so will you." He finished his statement rather pointedly.
"Me?" Konan questioned; she was caught off guard by the assertion she would need recuperation as well. While the past months had been trying for all of the organization and she had been caught up in the same hectic schedule as the rest of the of group she would hardly place her condition in the same category as that of Nagato...but like always God had a point.
In their profession, especially in their profession even minute weakness, even slight fatigue could prove fatal, or at the very least detrimental to their mission.
Nagato wouldn't allow that.
And neither would she.
She would rather die then inconvenience or hinder Nagato again, her weakness had obliterated the boy she knew. She wouldn't let it kill what remained of him or impair his goals.
"Yes Konan; after we return i am suspending assignments for you for a solid week, once you have reached your optimal strength again, you will again be deployed." The word of God was law, holy mandate written across the sky and earth.
She wouldn't argue, she wouldn't protest.
It wasn't her place.
"As you will Pain."
In truth...She'd welcome a break.
xxx
The summer heated rolled through the great city of Amegakure; the smoke of industry clouded the sky and despite the ever constant downpours of rain the sounds of business and the townspeople echoed even to the highest levels of the tower that dominated the skyline.
The militaristic buildup of Ame had the benefit of returning at least some motivation to return people to the great factories and foundries that once made Ame a rival even to Konohagakure to the south, industry was breathing life into the war tattered land if ever slowly, Shinobi continued to pour out of the academy, and in the darkness of the post war haze they were rebuilding.
Ame would be the center of the new world; from here its God would ascend to the heavens and rule the world from the long vacant throne of the Gods that abandoned mankind to their baser instincts long before.
Within the great tower of Ame there was a chamber hidden behind what appeared to be a normal concrete wall; however that wall was merely a facade, it was a chakra sensitive stone rigged with various seals that allowed it to form a door way into the work room were the self anointed deity worked upon his paths of Pain.
It was here that the paths were refined, constantly upgraded, repaired, and if any were ever damaged beyond those measures: Replaced.
Corpses were delivered to the tower daily by the loyal shinobi forces of Amegakure; They knew not what they were used for, or why their Deity required them, but they were given and from the deaths of his people, his path to godhood continued. Death was after all merely the final arbiter of Pain and therefore Divinity.
But today the room was far from vacant; It housed all but one of the paths: The Tendo was noticeably absent from the assembly of its fellows.
Today was the day he had promised, the day that had been foretold of since the beginning.
It was a day of providence.
It meant leaving the sanctity of his tower to physically project to the Tendo but regardless of that, he was calling forth the meeting, Konan would accompany him as well but with the Shinobi academy in place, Amegakure could defend it self...at least for a day.
From the very cavern in the land of earth that he had announced their purpose and the means by which they would achieve it Akatsuki had once again gathered.
All had come; regardless of what their mission had been or where they had been assigned.
This meeting was of the utmost importance: It was time for their real objective to begin.
With their backs to the massive hellish Gedo construct the Akatsuki were assembled before him; The air about the chamber was one filled with ambition and pride.
Today was the day that some had been awaiting for years; Finally the day to begin their mission to recreate the world had dawned.
"The Akatsuki is now assembled." The rounding cold authoritative voice of God began. In truth he would prefer had Orochimaru been killed and his ring recovered before this day had dawned but their time table was rapidly advancing and while none outside of those assembled here were fully aware of just when they would mobilize, it wouldn't do for a hostile power to gain such insight.
To the world they must remain merely a mercenary interest...for a little while longer at least.
"You eight assembled here are the chosen." It was no lie or grand boast; All who had become Akatsuki had earned their place a dozen times over, they had lost members either to betrayal or the explosive temper of other members, or even in battle occasionally but all who stood before him today were by far the strongest.
One by one he called their names.
Acknowledging each and every one as a peer, a colleague, a comrade.
"Konan." His oldest living companion: The woman who had declared she would walk his path to Godhood with him.
"Itachi." The descendant of his Benefactor and skilled shinobi in his own right.
"Kisame." A subordinate supplied by his benefactor and one who had never questioned, never disobeyed and followed command without question.
"Sasori." With his abilities acting in concert with Kakuzu, Zetsu and formerly Orochimaru Akatsuki had managed to slowly but surely place its agents across all of the Great Five Nations and beyond.
"Deidara." He was exceptionally young but his abilities would prove useful.
"Kakuzu." A veteran of the world and its perils and a man with connections that allowed Akatsuki to reach this day.
"Hidan." A fool...but a useful one due to his abilities.
"..And Zetsu." The Akatsuki's Chief Spymaster and another subordinate of Madara who proven himself exceptionally useful.
"Each of you assembled here has your own agenda and your own dreams..." It was true from Hidan's lust for senseless slaughter to Kakuzu's amassing of wealth...All of those here had their own ambitions, their own goals, but they were to be put aside for their common interest.
"We have finally come this far..." It had been a long winding road to this day, to this moment, to this instant in history to were everything be put into place. To achieve it, sacrifices were made, losses sustained, and strength gathered.
"And now, at last, we will move upon our primary goal, our primary objective." The day had come: No longer would they merely be amassing wealth or numbers to their cause, accepting wetwork or war missions from any seedy clients who could never go to a major village...no on this day...They had no master other then themselves.
The auburn God stared down the assembly of his fellows and comrades and he knew that this was to be the defining day of Akatsuki and the future of this very world.
He held his left arm outstretched raised upwards as he continued to speak.
"Our targets are all the Tailed Beasts from the One Tail to the Nine Tails." The organization knew this already but he was reaffirming that this was their true objective, the largest concentrated masses of Chakra in existence.
"Our enemies will be strong but we will gather ALL the Tailed Beasts." Due to their nature as great weapons of war; no doubt all that were in the possession of any Nation would be heavily guarded but...but it was unimportant, they would succeed.
"And bring forth our collective dream, the ambition of Akatsuki to fruition." While he had little doubt that most inside the group cared little for his dreams of world conquest, in truth he doubted many thought they would even achieve it; But never the less they would fight for it, for within Akatsuki all had found a outlet for what they sought from this world.
Their motivations, objectives and dreams all differed but Akatsuki provided regardless, that was what this interest was
Then his hand was pulled tight and close to his chest as he clenched its fist.
"We nine shall accomplish this." There was no one capable of imposing what they sought other then themselves, with the Gedo and Juubi Akatsuki was going to burn this world to ash.
The great boulder that made up the entrance way began to lift casting the darkened chamber into the light; Just as Akatsuki had operated in the shadows to reach this day, it would now work in the light to achieve its aim.
"And understand this: Failure is not an option." They would suceed and change the world or this world of sin and corruption would kill them all.
Two absolutes with nothing in between lay before them.
Success or Death.
There was nothing left to be said: No more grand pronouncements or speeches, no more promises of glory or power...it was time for their work to begin.
"Lets go."
The assembled members of the organization that would go down in history as the most infamous terrorist organization to ever plague the world began to filter out of the cavern with its leader at their head.
The world held its breath for what would come after.
Akatsuki was on the move.
xxx
Amegakure
Tower of God
Primary meeting Chamber
Within the council chamber of the highest echelons of Akatsuki the fate of the world was discussed as if it was common business taking place in a market square down in the city below.
The Masked Uchiha had arrived merely moments before with no warning of his arrival beyond a scant message from Zetsu a handful of hours before to expect his arrival.
However the meeting lacked much of the tension that many of the prior ones had been infected with; Akatsuki was assembled, its power complete to the extent it could actually engage in its objective.
The sealing technique in theory would suffice for their purposes.
Now they only needed to gather the beasts themselves and their ultimate aim could be accomplished, with the Juubi they had a weapon that was capable of reshaping the global balance of power in a single use.
"Madara." The avatar of God greeted his benefactor as the familiar masked Uchiha entered the chamber in predicted fashion of merely materializing there in a sudden influx of spiraling reality.
Already seated within the chamber were both the Leader of Amegakure and his partner.
"The day of promise finally dawns." The masked Uchiha stated with darkened delight.
"It has been a long road here." Pain intoned his deadened voice escaping the lips of the Tendo in the familiar emotionless baritone.
"Pain you will operate under my instruction but until the time is right...you will be leader." Madara rounded off his darkened voice filled the familiar meeting chamber.
"You dare-" Konan began rising from her chair before she was promptly cut off by a simple raised hand from the Tendo as it rose from its seat.
"Konan now is not the time for this; Madara is our ally and our primary benifactor, his assistance has been invaluable and it was only through him and his subordinates that we reached this day." Pain's voice was dead but it was filled with a conviction that spoke volumes of the man behind it.
A man who honestly believed that they needed the Uchiha and his resources...at least for the immediate future.
"Pain: You are the one who has led us here; Madara has done nothing beyond providing the means to to enable you." Konan protested.
For her part she was growing increasingly sick of this alliance and its effect upon Nagato.
Madara was a cancer upon this earth; She recalled the rainy day when the three of them had been approached by him decades before, when he had told Nagato the first time he had the power to reshape the world through his will...how Yahiko had scoffed at the masked Uchiha and Nagato had rather bluntly told the man off.
She remembered praying to any deities listening to please let that man never trouble them again.
But his corrupting influence had returned and Nagato as he was after Yahiko's death hadn't turned him away and now here they were discussing the Akatsuki...Yahiko's dream...Now Nagato's dream as if it was merely something the Uchiha could step into and direct as he saw fit, they had accomplished what Madara had set before them...The power he sought, could be theirs...Nagato could rebuild, he could rule this world.
If they had needed Madara...the time for his usefulness was now past...surely Pain could see that...
Akatsuki now contained within it some of the strongest shinobi in the world; it now had connections across all of the Great Five nations and beyond...what could some bitter, old Uchiha offer to them to further aid what he had already assisted Pain to build?
"Konan; You will do as i will...and my will upon this is that Madara be treated with the respect of a ally." Pain commanded coldly; his voice had seeped into the spectrum of authority that booked no argument, heard nothing other then the unquestionable will of the heavens themselves.
God had spoken.
Konan merely gave a weary nod of acknowledgement but as she bowed her head in deference of her God she noted the singular twisted and corrupt gaze of the Sharingan of Uchiha Madara.
Amber eyes regarded the spiraled crimson gaze of the Uchiha in silence but even from across the room she could feel the heat and hatred radiating off of the ancient Uchiha.
She wasn't cowed; she had fear of the man...any one with sense would fear anyone with the reputation and abilities of this man...but she wasn't going to let Nagato's dream die in the fire of this man's vanity and greed.
One day...there would be a settling of accounts between them.
She felt it in her bones.
"Pain you will act leader until the time arises for when i deem it necessary for me to assume the mantle myself." Madara reiterated his point once again his pointed withering gaze never breaking from the blue haired angel until it slowly moved over to the rinnegan orbs of his selected emissary.
"I understand." Came the expected response in the expected deadened tone.
Pain kept his own plans, his own dreams and agendas but for now they would be in concert with Madara.
But he doubted Madara wished to see him ascend to literal Godhood and rule the world, no that was merely platitudes and lip service, this man believed in no higher authority then himself so how could he willingly assist a God?
Madara had his own goals; only a fool would deny that and he only had assisted him to this point because it furthered those goals...but their relation had been beneficial to his goals as well.
With Madara's assistance Akatsuki had been reborn into the world shaping power it was destined to be, it now had the method of obtaining all he sought from it.
So this trend of them using each other...it would continue until it became untenable...but not before.
Konan he knew didn't understand the gravity of their situation, not yet.
But someday he knew she would understand his decision to continue their alliance with Madara even after the creation of Akatsuki was completed.
"Good; I will keep in touch periodically and also relay messages through Zetsu as i have done so far..." Madara rounded off visibly he seemed pleased by the outcome but his visible Sharigan eye seemed to veer from Pain and Konan as if he was trying to determine if they would have a problem going forward.
"Of course; I will have the organization prepare for its task to come." Pain assured; the mannerisms of the Tendo were limited and its face normally bore a fairly blank expression but the eyes belied the intensity of its expressionless features.
"Whatever Pain wills." Konan intoned dutifully; while she had no illusion that continued interaction with Madara would end positively she would defer to Nagato.
For the moment it seemed that Pain and Madara had reached an accord that would sustain both parties.
The shrouded Uchiha lingered for a moment longer before his masked visage disappeared in the familiar spiraling vortex of air.
Once the masked Uchiha vanished however the piercing Rinnegan orbs turned from where Madara had stood until mere seconds before to his Angel his features lacked any sort of expression but annoyance was clear in his eyes.
The Angel for her part knew what was coming and resumed bowing her head.
"Konan; I know you do not care for the man but he is our ally." the avatar of Nagato reminded her.
"I know Pain." Konan replied in the manner she knew would appease Pain.
She knew that one day their alliance would crumble; Akatsuki perhaps only existed thanks to Madara but...Nagato had rallied the resources given to him, he had built and expanded the organization...perhaps under the guidance and direction of Madara but did that entitle that vile man to lead their efforts?
"I expect better from you Konan; Your manner reminds me of Hidan." The auburn God chided.
"All i spoke was the truth; Pain you are our leader and he acts as if you are merely a mouthpiece to him!" She growled out in frustration.
Could he truly not see it? How could the all sight bestowed upon him by the Rinnegan miss such a crucial fact?
Madara would only further his own ends.
He cared nothing for the destiny Nagato had outlined for him by prophecy, he had no regard for Akatsuki or its mission...only his own ambition, his own design mattered to him.
"Nag-" She began; did she have to beg? Did she have to plead with him and throw herself upon his mercy to force him to see it.
She would...if it only took her pride, her honor to open his eyes to just who he had aligned with she would...and she'd call it a bargain.
"Enough Konan." He stated with that same dread cold authority she had come to expect from him.
She only bowed her head once more in acknowledgement.
"We will discuss this further; until then return to your quarters and await my summons." The avatar of Pain seemed to regard her with its blank expression for a moment longer before it departed the room the sliding automatic doors closing with a audible thump.
Konan only stared at its retreat; once it had departed she let out a tired breath and ran a thin hand through her bunned hair.
"You'll be the death of me Pain..." She murmured halfheartedly as she walked to the exit of the chamber.
She knew this endeavor would likely kill her; she was no fool...the forces arrayed against them were among the strongest in the world, if the Bijuu weren't enough, then perhaps the might of the Five Great Nations would be...if by some miracle they actually withstood all of that then there would still be Madara...
Would he actually let Akatsuki fulfill what Nagato envisioned? Somehow she doubted it; Whatever game he was playing with Akatsuki, with Pain...with Nagato...she doubted their survival was anywhere in such design.
Once they had reached the point were he no longer needed them; she had no illusion that Uchiha would move against them all.
Pain was strong, Pain had crushed everything that had been set before him with the might of a angry titan but...Nagato was in failing health and restricted to his mechanical abomination merely for movement...in a contest between him and a legendary shinobi like Madara...she had grown up hearing stories of that man.
He had left a bloody river through history that none in the modern age could rival...
She would die before she let that parasite lay a finger upon Nagato.
She could and would tolerate him until Nagato grew tired of this arrangement; but once Nagato declared that his interests no longer coincided with that of their masked benefactor then she would see that he was cast from God's sight...preferably in multiple bloody pieces.
xxx
With the mobilization of Akatsuki and its forces; the organization became more centered in the lime light of the global political structuring, while they strove to locate and gather information upon the tailed beasts and the countries that possessed them that didn't negate the needs of their various clientele who still petitioned to the organization to preform their dirty work.
Other forms of attention also flocked to the organization; much of its membership came from former shinobi of other lands, lands that saw any rogue shinobi of its own as a security risk, from Konoha to Kiri assassination attempts upon the membership of Akatsuki took place. However due to that very membership they were often met and defeated before the organization as a whole even took note of them.
Indeed it was in fact a form of free publicity in a way; What better way to advertise their service then by eliminating those who sought to eliminate them?
Their already lengthy list of clients grew steadily as year after year rolled by and it was one client in particular that continued to pop up their radar: The Tsuchikage Onoki; Due to the close proximity between Amegakure and Iwagakure the Leader of Akatsuki had been happy to accept the bulbous nosed fossil's business to a point.
However that had ended once Deidara had joined their ranks; the man had not contracted their service since the former Iwa Demo Corp member had joined their organization and that withdrawal had hurt their coffers, while they had several other wealthy clients few could match the sheer wealth of even the poorest of the Great Five.
But the Kage felt slighted; And there was no overture offered from Akatsuki, no if their service was not requested then they would merely find someone else to offer their...expertise to.
For that was the business model put forth by Kakuzu; spread a wide enough net and all shall be caught under it, offer lower rates, better results and a higher success rating then the competition and you undercut all of the opposition.
xxx
"Konan." The thin rasping voice called out from the throne that as always was veiled in a shroud of darkness.
"Pain." She greeted in return as the thick iron double doors were pushed inward and allowing the Angel to enter the chamber.
"Close the door." Came the unfamiliar request upon her entry but never the less she complied and pushed the heavy metal door back into the position it had sat it in before her arrival.
Once she had closed the chamber off however a sudden rush of energy seemed to resonate outward blanketed the very air in a sort of static like energy and the Angel gave a cursory glance to the door which now seemed to be pulsing with a unfamiliar technique, the Chakra however was familiar to her.
"Pain?" She questioned; her tone indicated curiosity and her mind was racing with conclusions, just what had Nagato done? Why did the air itself seemingly have a charge to it and that strange energy coating the door itself...was it a barrier of some sort?
"Now we can speak privately." Came the muffled reply as she heard the familiar groaning and twisting of metal as the heavy mechanical device began to ferry over the physical incarnation of her God to her.
As Nagato assumed his position in the forefront of the dark chamber her eyes regarded her childhood friend in clinical detachment; he didn't look any worse or weaker today which was a small miracle in and of itself but his eyes were burning a fervor and passion she knew led only to the destruction of anything that opposed his will.
"Of course Lord Pain." She stated amicably; she would serve whatever whim he had for her, that was her role...she was the instrument of God.
"Konan now that the seals are activated and we can speak privately without interruption or distraction...We have much to discuss." The purple hued Rinnegan burned through the darkness finding her own eyes and she stood resolutely.
The seals interworked throughout the chamber prevented any intrusion or eavesdropping, through combination of noise suppression seals, anti intrusion seals and a general barrier seal; the combination resulted in a sealed bunker that breaching through would require direct and overt force, such fury, such blunt force, such...directed intent however would render any sort of subtly lost and both occupants of the room would be aware of just that someone was trying to intrude upon them long before they succeeded.
While he ultimately found the art of sealing and the creation of seals a tiresome and horrendously long and time consuming act, the sheer benefit offered from even a rudimentary understanding and skill at the craft allowed truly fearsome and impressive benefits...he didn't regret his years of studying and trying to perfect his application of the craft.
"Of course." She agreed; if she was to receive discipline or punishment for her outburst today she would accept it; God dispensed justice to all his servants...She should be no different.
He took no pleasure in it she knew; Nagato was no monster, no sadist like Hanzo or his minions no...Sometimes a God must punish his children, and Nagato could be no different.
The air seemed to physically thicken with the ferocious killing intent that radiated off of the crimson haired male; his chakra pulsed and compressed outward in nauseating waves.
"Madara seeks to use us to obtain the power he seeks; such are you're thoughts upon him aren't they?" The voice of God rang out in a pulsing heat hotter then the burning sun above.
"That he would merely do such to gain ultimate power; the power that rightfully should be mine...do you think me a fool Konan? Do you think i cannot see the malice and avarice that drive him?" How dare she, How dare she believe him to be that weak, that feeble, that some Uchiha pretender could ever hope to steal his destiny from him.
"Yes. Yes i do believe he is merely using us to further whatever agenda he has..." She responded clearly; he was furious and she suspected that her earlier thoughts upon him being beguiled by the masked Uchiha were...inaccurate to say the least.
She had wondered; just why had Nagato argued against her speaking against Madara; clearly he was aware that Madara was merely using them to further his own objectives, his own schemes, the ascendance of Akatsuki and Nagato were clearly no more then a smoke screen to him...Obviously Nagato was not as blind as she had previously believed him to be, for a moment she felt a ache within her that she couldn't identify.
She recognized the sensation as shame a second later; she had believed in Nagato, swore herself into his service, killed for him, cared for him...she would die for him but for all that devotion, all that belief...
She had doubted him.
"Konan do you believe me to be the fool in this tale? The hero led astray?" Nagato ground out; his teeth clenched.
"Never." She stated with a absolution that bordered upon fanaticism.
She had believed that...she had believed that Madara was just a poisonous influence upon him; preying upon him in his time of weakness, dragging him into the darkness and...perhaps Madara had, but that did not make Nagato his puppet, his pawn...As long as Nagato lived, even if it was in the shadow of Madara...his dream could become reality.
"Then do not question me on our course again." Nagato rounded off coldly; He wouldn't allow her to question him any further; the time for philosophy and debate upon morality had long sense passed; they were committed to this course, Akatsuki would operate under his instruction, his rule...Madara could cling to the shadows of this world and offer guidance, advice...he could even order the organization...He would allow it all, but it would be his decision, his will...Not the influence of that masked Uchiha.
"Whatever your will is Pain." Konan recited the mantra like a prayer; She wouldn't doubt again, she wouldn't question again, she would bury any misgivings, any hesitance beneath the resolve she felt whenever she was in the presence of the God of Amegakure.
"...I know our aims will not align forever Konan, i know he will eventually view this organization...Me as more risk then asset. But by the time that day dawns...My Destiny, Our Destiny will already be on course. Believe in me Konan, Believe in my resolve, Believe in my strength and through me the will of..." His rolling speech cut off for a moment and the Rinnegan bearer seemed to wince slightly as he pressed a thin almost skeletal hand against his forehead before letting out a snarl or irritation.
"Pain?" She questioned softly; already stepping forward, his body hadn't seemed any worse today but...usage of the paths was a constant drain upon him, she could only imagine what it was like having to keep a entire body in operation through his own energy and will continuously...and that was merely additional strain on his body, ever since he had been directly connected to the Gedo even though it was for a handful of minutes...he had been dying.
She knew it; she felt it, somewhere deep inside of her, like a toxic growth, a bundle of cancerous cells...it gnawed at her and hounded at her thoughts...she knew that eventually the boy she had found upon that roadside...the man she had devoted her life to following, obeying...worshiping...would eventually die.
If he died before his destiny was completed...no, she wouldn't darken herself or her mood further by thinking that heresy today, not with him but a handful of feet away.
He waved her off before his hand fell back to the side of his throne and his weary, blood shot eyes refocused upon her.
"Yahiko...it will be done, all of what we fight for will be done...Whatever Madara seeks, whatever his aim is, his ultimate plan...it is irrelevant."
She finally understood...the struggle of wills between these two titans of Uchiha Madara and Pain would not be a overt battle, it would be a slow and delicate game of Shogi ultimately culminating in the victory of one or the other with the world itself as the prize.
Both men had a vision, both men had a destiny...but only one could and would win and she would ensure that man was Nagato. That when this game finally reached its conclusion; Madara would lie dead and Pain would fulfill his dream...Nothing would stand in his way, he would honor his promise to Yahiko, to her, to the very world itself and every man, woman and child dwelling upon it.
Peace unending would be reality through Pain.
xxx
AN: Well there we have chapter twelve; a little bit longer then normal, but i thought folks deserved a longer chapter especially for the delay that it caused in the story plus i covered all of the major plot points that needed to be covered.
Akatsuki is on the move, Deidara is recruited and the build up to the hunt of the Bijuu has begun.
I would like to thank everyone who has Reviewed, Favorited and Followed this piece and i appreciate all of your patience in the time it has taken for this chapter to be uploaded.
Hopefully Chapter thirteen will take far less time. (No promises though :P )
With that said: I hope to see all of my readers for the next chapter in Inception of Pain and as always please review, follow and favorite.
Reviews that actually offer constructive criticism and fault with the story are always welcome.
I hope everyone has a pleasant day and a good reading experience.
-Reborn Akatsuki
