Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, go figure.

Posted: 10/19/08

A/N: First of all, I can't say how taken aback I am at the shear amount of responses this story has received now that Chapter 5 has been posted. It's rather unbelievable - over 150 reviews, 15,000 hits, 50 C2s, 250 favorites, and 300 alerts. Thank you so much for your positive responses and support of the story. As an author, knowing that my work is being read and enjoyed by so many really makes my day.

I went back and reread the whole story (for the first time, hehe… yeah) and was somewhat surprised with how many little errors there were. If you're as nit-picky as me about that sort of thing, feel free to leave a review with any problems you may find. I will go back and fix even small mistakes so long as they are pointed out to me. This story has no beta, and never will. There are a number of reasons for this, but the largest is that I have no patience for waiting for editing to come back before posting. When I finish a chapter I want it posted as soon as possible, and damn the mistakes. This usually means that the chapter only gets a cursory re-read by me before going up. Mistakes are bound to occur, so if you have the inclination please point them out. I won't be upset, I promise.

Yugito! Upset about the lack of Yugito on the character listing, I (as well as many of you readers, thank you) sent emails in order to get her put up as an option. Well damn it people, you did it! Yugito is now an option for the character listing and is, as you can see, the second character for this story. Some of you may be excited, but as I said at the end of Chapter 5, you'll have to wait around 100k words to see her again. I have quite a bit of story planned between now and her reintroduction. I'd say I'm sorry, but as I said in Chapter 1, this isn't meant to be a story that focuses heavily on romance. That having been said Yugito will be a major character down the road, so if you can be patient, look forward to it.

Apparently people liked my Hanzou for the most part. Jiraiya indicated that he was the most famous ninja in the world and that even the Toad Sage thought that "no one man could defeat Hanzou," including himself. The Salamander has to be a monster, right?

This is Chapter 6 of Houses of the Holy, and Naruto is now nine years old. Enjoy!

Chapter Title: Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles.

A nine-year-old Naruto sat quietly under the falling rain. He came here regularly – to a tall, rocky ridgeline just minutes from the cave – to think.

Or not think.

Oftentimes he simply let his mind wander, focusing on the pitter-patter of rain as it struck the stone outcropping around him. He found it relaxing after a day of hard training or a night of raiding throughout Rain Country.

The rain didn't judge him, criticize him, or condemn him. It didn't look at him with hateful or fearful eyes as his enemies did. It didn't harm or help him.

It was indifferent to Naruto.

It simply was.

It had been more than four and a half years – more than half his life – that Naruto had lived hidden away in Rain Country. Even for a nine-year-old, it was difficult to remember the time when he was four - had been just another civilian - had been innocent.

But he wasn't innocent any longer.

Half a lifetime spent in a war zone had made even a child like Naruto into something most people never became – never could become – a hardened warrior. He'd lost count of the number of deaths he'd seen and lives he'd taken over the years.

But it was for a good cause. He didn't make this world of ninjas, but he could change it.

That's what he had learned over the years. Great men built the world. Great men could mold it.

It was at times like this that he wondered what sort of life he would have if he hadn't been rescued from Konoha when he had. Would he have joined the academy? Would he have learned anything? Would the teachers have hated him just as the villagers had? Would he have been a laughingstock or an icon?

Whatever would have happened, he wouldn't be himself.

Naruto's eyes turned up as a brilliant bolt of lightning lanced the sky. "Hello Konan." He turned around at the waist and looked at the blue-haired woman as paper flew out of her cloak's sleeves and reformed her legs.

"How did you know I was here?"

Naruto's eyes squinted as he smiled widely at her. "The rain. It sounds differently when it hits your cloak than when it hits the ground." He let his gaze drift back out over the forest far below his perch.

"You're getting very good." She took a seat next to him on the cliff and followed his gaze to the landscape below. "I still don't understand why you come out here all the time. This rain is just so…"

"Wet?" Naruto again focused his gaze on her in question.

Konan frowned. "It's dreary… ugly…" She looked Naruto in the eyes. "It's depressing." She lowered her head. "Just like this whole country."

She was brought out of her reminiscing by a peel of youthful laughter. Naruto cocked his head to the side and found her confused gaze. "It's just rain, Konan. It doesn't hate you like you hate it. It will fall tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. It doesn't remember what you do – who you are." He leaned back on his elbows despite the rough stone beneath him and looked to the sky as another bolt of lightning reached out across the sky. "The rain is the rain. It falls on everyone in the same way. If you don't like getting wet then you should go indoors." Naruto continued to lay down on the hard stone behind him. "I don't mind being wet so much."

"You're too young to understand."

"Well you're right about one thing. I don't understand." Naruto rolled on his side to look at Konan, who remained sitting next to him staring over the forest beneath them. "The rain was here before people ever settled in Rain Country, right?"

Konan nodded silently.

"Then why do you hate the rain so much? The rain didn't cause the problems in this country, the people did."

Konan frowned and turned her gaze back to Naruto. "Don't blame the people here for their misfortunes."

"Why not? They chose to live in this place. They can't be considered innocent just because the weather doesn't agree with them."

"Because it was the ninjas that ruined this country, not the people who came here to live in peace."

"But the ninjas are part of this world! The civilians can't just ignore them and hope to be left alone. You told me that this country was crying because of all of the people who lost their lives here. Doesn't that include the ninjas too?"

Konan tilted her head and looked to the dark, sad sky above. "I suppose… no… I know it does." She sighed. "Maybe this place is just cursed to be miserable."

"Are you miserable?" Naruto held his hands behind his head as he lay on the hard ground and stared towards the dark heavens. "I'm not. I've been thankful every day I've been here." He cocked his head slightly to look at the older woman. "If this country is so bad, then what's the point in saving it?"

She had to think for a moment before answering that. "It was our home. Mine, Pain's, and…"

"And who's?"

Konan's mouth stretched into a sad smile. "Our friend Yahiko's. He was the one who said that this country was always crying… always weak. It let the ninjas run over it for too long."

Naruto had never dug deeply into Pain and Konan's background. He had his questions, but it was painfully obvious that the two had buried their feelings about the past behind them long ago. They had been too painful for them to discuss, and just as they had never grilled Naruto about his early childhood, Naruto had never pressured them about their origins.

"He's dead?"

Konan was silent for a moment before nodding rather forcefully. "He's dead."

Naruto knew this line of questioning was hard on her. He wanted to know more, but needed to ask gently. "What was he like?"

"He was like you." A new voice cut into the conversation, mirroring the lightning slicing the sky above.

Naruto and Konan whipped their heads around to find Pain standing mere feet behind them. They hadn't heard him arrive.

"He was loud, brash, and stubborn. He could be more annoying than any man I've ever met." Naruto was a bit surprised when Pain stepped forward and sat on the opposite side of Naruto from Konan. He was rarely this relaxed. "But he saved Konan and I when we were in need. He kept us alive and optimistic. He found us a teacher." Pain's eyes narrowed slightly. "We owe everything to him."

"That's why you're fighting to free Rain Country?"

"Not just Rain. This world - the world that ninjas built. It's filled with corruption, evil, and injustice."

The three companions remained silent as thunder rolled across the dark heavens.

After the roar had subsided Pain began again, slowly. "There's more to a man – to a people – than sheer strength, yet this world of ninja is propped up by those who offer nothing beyond the threat of pain and death. A man like Hanzou has the power to lead a country but not the inclination to use that power to make it better. So long as those with power are assured of their own security and prosperity they aren't willing to lift so much as a finger to help others. Instead they trample those weaker than themselves into the ground for their own selfish satisfaction. It's been going on for so long now that the people of this world simply accept that sad reality – that the strong govern the weak. In this world to be a ninja is to be strong, and to be a strong ninja is to be a king. The daimyos have less and less influence over foreign and domestic policy, especially in the great nations where the ninja villages are so integral to the country's health that disrupting their workings would result in the country's ultimate destruction – whether it be from within or without. The ninjas are the country's strength."

"And the strong rule." Naruto sat up abruptly to look sideways at Pain. "But how is what we're doing different from what the other ninjas do? You're strong. Konan's strong. Aren't you just going to kill Hanzou and take the country over? I know that you're a hell of a lot nicer than he is, but how is this any different? Some people will still be unhappy."

Pain appraised Naruto silently for a moment as another flash lit the sky and a peel of thunder pressed down on them. "Nothing can be changed without the power to make that change, it is true. But what Yahiko wanted wasn't a world where opposing sides of a conflict would constantly clash and create more chaos. He wanted an end to all the wars that cause the innocent pain and suffering."

"How?"

"Empathy, I suppose." Pain's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to gaze through the hazy rain. "He wanted all people to understand one another – to understand that we all have the same dreams… the same fears… that we are all fundamentally the same."

Naruto frowned. Nobody had seemed to think twice about treating him like trash back in Konoha despite the truth to Pain's words. If people there couldn't see the humanity in a defenseless child… "Easier said than done. Like you said, people are selfish. They won't simply bend over for each other when it would be easier to hurt those they dislike."

Konan let out a short laugh. "Just like him."

Pain gave a small nod. "Yahiko believed that as well. Forcing others to perceive the good in all was a worthy ideal, yes, but impossible in practice. The only way to spread the kind of empathy needed to change the world is to inflict it, and you can not inflict charity and good will on others."

Naruto stayed silent for a moment. "The bad in all, then."

"Everyone bleeds. Everyone can feel loss. Everyone can suffer, can feel it…"

"Pain."

"It's something that everyone understands. By spreading pain all people – all the world – can be brought together in empathy. Fighting and wars will be avoided above all else out of fear. Fear of losing those people and things that are most precious to them will prevent people the world over from harming one another."

Naruto lay back down on the hard, cool stone beneath him. "But the world has been waging wars and spreading pain and suffering forever. Why would things change now? Ninjas constantly kill each other. Civilians die. Wars continue. Why would they pay attention to their pain now when it's been ignored for so long?"

Pain raised his right palm up in front of him and watched the rain gather into a small puddle in his cupped hand. "It's simply a matter of scale. The pain the world experiences now – has experienced in the past – is but a small drop compared to the flood that we will unleash." He slowly poured the pooled water from his hand onto the rock beside him. "When people seek to fight one another they first assess the possible risk against the possible reward. If I steal, will I get caught? If I am caught, what will be done to me? What am I willing to do to avoid being punished? The same goes for countries and wars. They must decide if the gain in land, money, and prestige they may win is worth the lives of their men. How many soldiers are they willing to lose to achieve their ends? It is a question every human must ask. What are you willing to give in order to gain?"

Pain paused for a moment as the sky was split by another bolt of lightning that lanced down into the forest sprawling before them. The thunder clapped like a cannon shot when it reached them a second later. Naruto couldn't help but blink as the sound rushed over him. "Until now, countries have always considered that the possible rewards of their conflicts could eclipse the pain caused due to the losses they experience in men and resources. I intend to rewrite that equation. When wars become so large and horrifying that their consequences surmount their possible rewards then there will be no inclination to fight one another. The fear of pain will stay the hands of all enemies."

"So by making everyone miserable they'll get along better?"

"Miserable today and empathetic tomorrow. This world is pathetically naïve in its thinking. The child-like mentality that might is superior to all else must be crushed. The world must be forced to grow up."

Naruto sat silently and let Pain's words fully sink in. "You think you can do that? Make the world grow up? Even if it means destroying so much that everyone lives in fear?"

"It must be done in order to bring peace to this world. Otherwise it will remain in its infancy – forever damned to be indifferent to the suffering of the weak."

"Sounds crude." Naruto spared a sideways glance at the man beside him. "So you're a god of pain, then?"

Konan chuckled at that.

For the first time since sitting down, Pain shifted to look at Naruto. "Pain is the method, not the mark." He paused for a moment and took in Naruto's position on the ground. "I didn't think you'd be one to throw around words like god. Perhaps you've been spending too much time out on missions with the men."

"I don't know why you put up with that garbage to begin with. They can't honestly believe that you're a real god. It just seems silly."

"You're right. But in a sense, their position is understandable. Would you rather believe that you are fighting under the command of a mere man who is capable of making mistakes like every other, or an infallible, undefeatable god? There's no reason to discourage such sentiments."

"I suppose it would be easy to believe that our side was assured of victory." Naruto smiled widely. "Then again, it's not like you've made any poor decisions since I've known you."

The three sat there in silence - but for the rain - for long minutes. "So you don't think you're a god?" Naruto saw Konan's head turn towards the two of them at this, as if she too was curious as to what the answer would be.

Pain's gaze was transfixed on the dark sky above them – his body absolutely still. "No, I do not. I have no interest in being worshipped. I am not infallible. I will grow old and die like any other man."

Naruto nodded his head slightly from his position on the rocky ground.

"But then again, I am willing to do anything – everything - to accomplish my goals. I would gladly sacrifice my humanity to change this world for the better. In that sense… in that sense I suppose I can no longer be considered a man. Like a god, I will allow nothing to stand between myself and the future. I will do what is necessary to come to that end, no matter the consequences."

Konan turned her head away. Naruto wasn't sure what to make of that. Pain's confession warranted a response though, so Naruto spoke. "I understand, I think."

Once again the strange trio quietly watched the storm rage about them. Like Naruto's life, the storm was ever changing yet reassuringly constant – with sudden, violent outbursts. Like the great events in his life, the lightning pierced the calm and reminded him of the dangerous reality of his existence. The bright forks were the wake-up calls that upset Naruto's frighteningly fragile reality – being taken from Konoha, his first kill, learning of the Kyuubi, his first mission with the Ame resistance, Hanzou - all events that shattered and reshaped his perceptions of the world.

Just as the lightning cut the fragile darkness of the storm.

"Two weeks." Naruto's head rolled to the side to look at Pain's outline against the overcast sky. "In two weeks we will be gone from this place. For good."

"After all this time we're finally ready?" Naruto spoke more to himself than anyone else. He looked back and forth between Pain and Konan. "What took so long? Are you just now strong enough to kill Hanzou?"

Konan shook her head sadly. "Pain could have defeated Hanzou years ago. There's more to taking over this country than killing him."

"Like what? Once he was gone surely you could have taken control. Why wait so long?"

Pain shifted around to face Naruto as the boy sat up. "Acting any sooner would have done nothing less than cause the outbreak of a fourth world war. We had to wait until we could be sure that the country would remain locked down from within."

Naruto's eyebrows creased together in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Hanzou has no real allies – this you know from when you faced him. Had he truly been on friendly terms with others your identity would not have remained a secret and we would have faced severe consequences as a result. He has flaunted his power and caused too much pain to those countries he holds treaties with to ever be considered a true ally by them.

"However, that doesn't mean that the world at large would welcome Hanzou's death. He represents an institution that has existed in the modern ninja world since the end of the First Secret World War. Hanzou is Rain Country. The leaders of the other nations are used to dealing with him. They understand him, in a sense. With Hanzou dead they would be forced to make new treaties and political alliances with Rain Country – something they'd very much like to avoid. Hanzou is predictable and therefore he is thought to be safe by many foreign powers.

"Hanzou is also widely seen as the strongest ninja in the world today. To hear that he has been defeated in battle and his country conquered would cause the nations of the world to panic. Naturally, they would want to know who was strong enough to accomplish such a thing…"

"And you'd be found out."

"Eventually, yes. I can't afford to be brought into the public spotlight… not so soon. There is still far too much to be accomplished with Akatsuki before I am ready to step out of the shadows. If my identity were to be leaked then ninja across the world would do their best to eliminate me. I am too dangerous for them to ignore."

"The Rinnegan? They'd be afraid of you."

Pain grinned at that. "So you have been reading through the library. I was wondering if you'd become curious as to why I found all those scrolls."

"You wanted to find out more about your bloodline, right? That's why there are so many histories of clans with bloodline limits and of the beginning of the ninja world. You're the descendent of the Sage of the Six Paths."

Pain nodded slightly. "The Rinnegan is thought of as only a legend in the world today. Only a handful of living ninjas know of my existence and my bloodline. To announce to the world that another Rinnegan user has surfaced and that he eliminated Hanzou would cause a panic. Many would try to earn my favor. Many would try to have me killed. One thing is for certain though – my actions would be scrutinized so closely that it would be nearly impossible to accomplish my goals.

"It's the reason why I have not faced Hanzou in battle as of yet. Witnessing my abilities or my bloodline limit could cause him to panic. So long as our forces use only guerilla tactics and not overwhelming force, Hanzou will believe that this conflict can be contained within Rain Country. He will not allow news of his setbacks to reach other nations if he believes that it would cause him to lose face. As a result, he has sealed all of Rain Country's borders against outsiders.

"In order to take this country covertly, our forces must be able to gain control of the border checkpoints while conquering the Village Hidden in the Rain simultaneously. In two weeks our forces will be ready and our sympathizers in Ame will be prepared to move. The country will fall to us in a day."

A wide grin spread across Naruto's face. "I have sort of gotten tired of living in a cave."

Konan gave a soft snort and looked at him with a smile. "You ain't kidding."

"Once Rain is under our control and our influence is solidified we can begin working towards our ultimate goal."

Naruto jumped to his feet staring hard at the storm and spread his clawed hands in front of his body as if grasping for the falling rain. He took in a deep breath before releasing it in a shout that drowned out even the storm. "The world!" He let out his best maniacal cackle before falling back down to the ground with a goofy grin on his face.

Konan tried to suppress a smile as she rolled her eyes and shook her head back and forth.

Pain impassively raised an eyebrow at Naruto's antics before standing up and removing a sheet of paper from within his cloak and setting it on the slick rock beneath him. Naruto eyed the sheet carefully, noticing only a basic seal decorating the visible face.

"Pick it up."

Naruto stood before moving forward and peeling the paper off of the ground slowly – wary of any tricks. When nothing seemed to have occurred, he looked up to find that Pain had gone. Turning quickly he found that Konan too was conspicuously absent. He dropped the soggy sheet to the ground and prepared himself to leave as well when he heard a soft shifting of rock behind him. Spinning around and dropping low to the ground in a wide fighting stance, he watched in bewilderment that turned to horror as a rocky blob emerged from the ground before him and formed into a perfect copy of… himself.

Naruto looked around once again to check for any indication that he was being watched, but finding none, turned back to meet his doppelganger face to face.

Then it charged at him, claws flashing through the rain as Naruto jumped to dodge the swipes.

"Crap."

Naruto stood surrounded by ninjas in a massive clearing on the outskirts of the rebel encampment wearing his usual, conservative attire. He and the rest of the men and women surrounding him were awaiting an announcement from Lord Pain himself.

He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at that. Getting to see Pain practically every day probably took some of the novelty out of hearing him give a speech, he decided.

The fighters around him were chatting excitedly to one another like a bunch of school children. Most ninjas under his command had never seen more than a small glimpse of the man they followed. Considering this, it was no surprise that they viewed him as a sort of mythical entity.

Today was different though. Pain was going to give a speech, give orders, and lead them to victory over the corrupt ninjas of Ame. Despite his familiarity with Pain, Naruto couldn't help but feel a bit giddy thanks to the atmosphere of anticipation all around him.

They were finally going to do it. They were finally going to save Rain Country.

The murmurs picked up as three ninjas assembled on a rocky formation at one end of the clearing that acted as a perfect stage for an address such as this.

Naruto had met these men on numerous occasions, whether to receive orders from them or to fight under their command from time to time. They were the three commanders of Pain's rebels – who issued orders from him to the captains in the field – Iwamoto, Kurosawa, and Kobayashi. The three stood close and conversed quietly amongst themselves – unable to be overheard by the men assembled below them.

Naruto didn't particularly care what they had to say. They were just killing time.

The minutes dragged on and the crowd grew more and more restless. They had all come fully equipped for battle and some were beginning to fidget awkwardly thanks to the familiar weight of their weapons. It was clear that they were itching to use them.

Naruto's attention returned to the platform when a black-cloaked figure appeared next to the three commanders. The mutterings around him subsided as the four men conversed quickly and quietly before the three commanders leaped down and disappeared into the ranks below.

The figure was vaguely familiar to Naruto. The high ponytail that held hair that spilled down past the man's waist and the long bang over the right side of his face identified this figure as the Beast Realm of the Six Paths of Pain. Naruto had been told by other ninjas that had glimpsed this incarnation of Pain that he had the qualities of a member of the Fuuma clan. The men had therefore speculated that Pain might have had his origins in that clan.

They would have never guessed the truth.

Pain stepped forward to the edge of the outcropping and surveyed the crowd with his Rinnegan eyes, appreciative of the absolute silence that met his gaze.

"I am Pain."

The assembly burst into a cacophony of yelling and cheering that stretched on for well over a minute. Pain waited patiently for the din to subside before continuing.

"For years, each and every one of you has shared my vision of a Rain Country free from war." The crowd once again burst into applause. "From injustice." The outburst continued. "From needless suffering." The volume was increasing to a dull roar. "From pain." He paused for a moment and let the tumultuous applause from hundreds upon hundreds of ninja below him roll across the clearing until it had once again died down to silence.

"You who have sacrificed so much for our cause will finally witness the fruits of your labors this day." Again loud cheering broke out over the crowd.

"Let us not forget the pain that we bore to come this far too quickly, nor let the wounds on our hearts close too swiftly. Those scars we will keep for the rest of our lives. They remind us that there is no achievement without sacrifice, no justice without punishment, and no joy without suffering." This was met with a low murmur from the crowd and a sea of nodding heads. Naruto couldn't help but notice that there were more than a few teary eyes around him. It was a bit sobering.

"A dear friend of mine once told me that this country was crying. One drop of rain – one tear – for every ninja who has lost his life, for every child who has gone hungry, for every innocent who has lain cold and scared in the night. For every luckless person who has fallen asleep afraid that the next day may be his last in this world. I say that it is time for this country to stop crying!"

The assembly erupted once again in applause that seemed to grow and grow. Naruto couldn't help but clap and cheer along with the rest of the ninjas as he was swept away in the emotions of the crowd.

But then something happened that no one was expecting.

The rain stopped. The applause stopped.

And the sun came out.

Naruto found himself struck dumb by the impossibility of the storm dissipating in a matter of seconds, but all he could see was clear blue sky with an occasional wispy cloud. The ninjas around him were staring hard up at the bright sky, hands shading their eyes against the bright light, in wonderment. A whispered "release" from a man standing next to him brought Naruto back to his senses and he found himself subconsciously repeating the man's actions in order to break a genjutsu on himself.

Except it wasn't a genjutsu.

As more and more men and women realized that the storm was well and truly gone the blanket of silence that had smothered the clearing was slowly lifted and excited murmurings began to spread like wildfire.

Naruto looked back up at Pain's perch to see the man still standing and staring out at the crowd below him. In the back of his mind, Naruto knew that Pain had somehow done this. He vaguely remembered the rain stopping for a few minutes on his very first mission with Pain and Konan – how Pain had somehow detected eight enemy ninjas in the area before even seeing them. Pain had somehow managed to control the storm raging above Rain Country – or at least the part above his territory. Naruto reluctantly acknowledged that the more he learned of Pain's abilities the more god-like he appeared to be. It was certainly humbling compared to the relatively pathetic abilities that Naruto had mastered.

"All hail Lord Pain!"

The lone shout tore through the clearing and broke Naruto's pondering. All around him men and women took up the chant praising their leader – their god.

"Lord Pain!"

Naruto didn't know whether to join in, laugh, or frown. He stayed silent. Minutes later the crowd's hysterical chanting had subsided and Pain made to speak again.

"It is a new, brighter day in Rain Country. Let us build a truly peaceful future here together!"

"Lord Pain!" The chanting began again, though this time Pain raised his hands after only a few moments causing the outburst to subside.

"You all have your battle groups assigned. Disperse now and report to your captains and commanders to receive your missions. You will take control of Hanzou's border outposts so that no outsiders may interfere in our revolution. You will surround Amegakure and subdue any ninjas or civilians attempting to flee, but remember that our enemy is Ame's regime, not its people!"

The cheering picked up once again and Naruto found himself running a quick check on his own gear even as his neighbors did the same.

"And I…" The crowd became deathly silent.

"I will tear out the corruption that plagues Amegakure once and for all. Surround the city but do not enter! Those are Pain's orders!"

The crowd erupted one final time in tumultuous applause and a fair amount of screams.

"Now go!"

And they went. Naruto was rather shocked to find himself standing in an entirely empty field only a bare few seconds later. He turned back to Pain and moved to join him atop the natural stage where he was joined by six other robed figures. Looking about quickly he found Konan giving him an appraising once-over before offering a small smile.

"Are you ready?" It was Pain's main body – his God Realm.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Beast Realm stepped forward and held out his hand palm up. "I'll need some of your blood."

Naruto removed the glove from his left hand and clenched his fist tightly, allowing his claws to pierce his palm. He allowed a few drops to fall on the outstretched hand before looking back at his own, bloody palm. The wounds had already healed but sticky, red blood was still clinging to his skin.

He shrugged and licked it off, ignoring Konan's small look of disgust, before sliding his glove back on.

"Didn't want to ruin it."

Pain ignored him and turned to look north – towards Amegakure.

"Let's go."

Black eyes narrowed as they stared through four inch thick reinforced glass. It was fucking sunny in fucking Ame. Something was about to happen and Hanzou was not happy about what it could be.

Storms did not break up that quickly on their own – not ever – and certainly not in this country.

His fucking country.

It had to be some sort of advanced ninjutsu – he knew it. He just didn't know of any ninja that knew of such a technique.

Perhaps this "Pain" would finally be paying him a visit.

He didn't know whether to be apprehensive or gleeful. For a long time now he had assumed that the man stayed hidden away out of fear of confronting him. But this…

Only a very skilled ninja could accomplish something like this.

He remained standing, staring out the thick window overlooking the Great Reservoir in the very center of Amegakure. He had taken no chances when this place – the equivalent of the Kage Tower in the great ninja villages – was built. There was only one thin, concrete bridge that stretched out across the Reservoir in which the administrative building sat. At only four stories it wasn't tall like so many of the towers in the city were. It was more of a bunker than anything – having sloped walls built with thick, explosive-resistant windows and foot upon foot of reinforced concrete.

Hanzou didn't take chances with his life. Not now. Not ever.

Quick footsteps approached him from behind. "Sir, the rain…" The man wore the standard forest green cloak, body armor, and re-breather of Hanzou's personal guard.

"Has stopped. I'm well aware."

"Sir, perhaps we should get you to a more secure location…"

"More secure than here, captain? No, I don't think so. If he wants to come and face me then he will come. And I will be waiting."

"But sir, if…"

"Leave me, captain."

"Sir?"

Hanzou turned around, his hard eyes staring into those of his subordinate - who couldn't help but flinch under their scrutiny. "Evacuate the building, put all security forces on high alert. Take up defensive positions on the outskirts of the city and prepare for a full assault. Do not disturb me again."

The bewildered captain could only watch as his commander strode determinedly from the room and towards the stairwell leading towards the roof. Shaking himself from his shock he turned to complete his last orders from Salamander Hanzou.

Eight figures stood on a bluff overlooking Amegakure. The city was truly massive. Hanzou had had it built right on the shores of the largest river in Rain Country – one that began far north in Earth Country and snaked its way through central Rain and then south to River Country and the sea. From their position they could catch a glimpse - between the city's tall towers - of the massive lake that had formed from damming the river within the city. From the reservoir countless canals ran throughout the metropolis providing water and power to the huge, modern structures that littered Amegakure. They ended in a thick moat around the entire city. The watchers could even see Hanzou's fortress sitting alone in the center of the lake looking like a sickly gray turtle on the water's surface.

Pain stood before them all on the edge of the bluff staring intently towards the city. "The detection elements have been eliminated."

"What do you mean?" Naruto's eyes flicked quickly to his right as Beast Realm dove off of the cliff rather recklessly and disappeared below.

"That moat is usually filled with a subtle electric charge that will detect anyone trying to walk over it. It's so wide that it's nearly impossible for a ninja to cross it without touching the water."

"So it's been disabled?"

Konan nodded. "Ninjas within the village that are sympathetic to our cause have disengaged it."

"I see." Time ticked by slowly as Naruto waited for something to happen. He squinted his eyes and looked towards the city to try to make out the small black figure that was Beast Realm entering the city.

He never did see the man in black. What drew his attention was the numerous fire and lightning jutsus being launched from the far side of the moat. He supposed that that was where Beast Realm was.

"They've already established a defensive barrier. The lack of rain must have put them on alert." Pain turned to meet Naruto's eyes. "Prepare yourself. We're going into a battle zone. You and Konan are to prevent any ninja from engaging me while I deal with Hanzou. Create as much chaos as you possibly can to buy me time. Kill any who get in your way."

Naruto nodded his head and watched as what looked like a giant worm appeared on the wall of Amegakure below them and started tearing through the stone towers and other defenses.

"It's time."

Naruto stumbled but caught himself before he hit the ground. He looked around quickly in an attempt to regain his bearings and found himself and his seven companions on a large balcony halfway up a massive skyscraper. Looking behind him he could see dust and fire billowing up at what must have been the defensive wall at the outskirts of the city. Before him he could see the massive lake at the center of the city over the rooftops of the structures below.

Time to go to work.

"Scatter."

Naruto moved quickly through the city towards the lake, stopping from time to time only to create a few shadow clones before sending them on their way to cause as much destruction as possible. He couldn't help but flinch as a looming tower nearby erupted in huge balls of flame and tilted precariously to the side before falling across the canal below and into a business district.

For the first time he wondered if maybe he wasn't ready to handle this level of combat. Who was he to try to invade an entire city with just seven allies – six of which were about to be wrapped up in a full scale battle and unable to assist him?

Naruto created more clones and had them separate. He could only do his best, after all, and he wasn't the one who was going to be fighting Hanzou today – though the thought still made him shudder.

A hail of kunais rained down from above and to Naruto's left, forcing him to dodge quickly. Three ninjas wearing the re-breathers and cloaks of Hanzou's personal guard were bearing down on him from over his left shoulder.

Naruto landed on a rooftop and quickly flashed through the seals of the shadow clone technique. In moments three identical clones joined him and spread out. The ninjas followed quickly behind him and were about to land not twenty feet away when Naruto leapt into action.

It had taken Naruto quite a bit of time and patience to find the Wind Element: Bleeding Pressure jutsu. It was uncommon to find a B-ranked jutsu that consisted purely of elemental manipulation. In fact, as far as Naruto knew, there were no elemental jutsus of A-rank or above that didn't involve some element of spacial manipulation. This was undoubtedly the strongest wide-area jutsu in his arsenal.

The three jounin-ranked ninja apparently didn't expect a jutsu of this level to be thrown at them and - thanks to their precarious mid-air position - lost their composure completely in an effort to avoid the massive blast of hurricane plus-force winds.

The two on the sides of the trio landed and leapt awkwardly to the left and right – just barely avoiding the worst of the damage.

The one in the center hadn't been so lucky.

He had landed flat-footed and stumbled in his panic before taking the jutsu head on. Half the roof had joined the poor man in his descent to the roadway five stories below.

Taking advantage of his enemies' unsteadiness, one of Naruto's clones pulled a brace of kunai out of his hip pouch and launched them at the rightmost Ame ninja. The ninja drew his own kunai in preparation to swat the offending objects aside, but Naruto wasn't done.

The clone flashed through a series of seals before the kunais began to duplicate in mid-flight. Where previously there had been four of the metal missiles, the air was now thick with more than forty of the objects. The ninja had no choice but to prepare to leap away or risk being turned into a bloody pincushion.

He hadn't noticed another clone finish its own set of hand seals. All he could do was gasp as the kunai sped up to impossible speeds in a cyclone of wind before they tore through his body.

The final jounin had only moments to take in the demise of his two comrades before one of the small copies had charged at him with kunai in hand. The man pulled out his own kunai to defend and nearly gasped in surprise at the strength behind the small ninja's attack. The boy swung his off-hand towards the jounin's wrist in an attempt to break the weapon lock but the man was quick enough to bring his other hand forward in order to intercept the attack – only to jump back in alarm.

The man stared at the deep gash in his empty hand before coming to his senses. The boy had been using some sort of wind blade – a blade that would have severed his arm at the wrist had he not stopped the attack.

Then the boy was on him again. The best he could do was to use his longer reach to keep the smaller fighter at arm's length and avoid any more wind attacks. He almost didn't see the kunai flying towards his left shoulder until it was too late to dodge it. As he ducked down to avoid the projectile he turned back to look at the two clones standing together on the opposite side of the rooftop. One of them had thrown the kunai, it seemed.

Two clones…

How many had there been again?

He didn't even blink as a kunai was driven into the base of his skull from behind.

Naruto wiped the blood off of his hands and kunai on the dead ninja's cloak.

He made another twenty clones and ordered them to spread out in groups of four.

It was still early in the day.

Hanzou gritted his teeth as the Migurashi Tower exploded and fell into the West Grand Canal. No one attacked his city like this and got away with it.

No one.

He paced back and forth across the concrete roof of the administrative building in anticipation. It was only a matter of time before this pitiful usurper came to meet him.

And rain or no rain, Hanzou would triumph. There was a reason why this bunker was surrounded by millions upon millions of cubic feet of water. This was his home field.

He always made sure that he held the advantage.

Hanzou was brought out of his impatient musings by another massive explosion. He snapped his head around to see the headquarters of one of the city's most influential merchant conglomerates shiver horribly and begin to fall.

He watched dispassionately as the building - which sat just on the edge of the reservoir - toppled off of its foundation and into the water – directly towards Hanzou's bunker.

Dark eyes narrowed as an enormous wave rose up from the collapsed building and rushed towards his perch. He barely flinched as it broke on the side of the structure with a crash – not quite high enough to pass over the top of the roof. The toppled tower formed a massive bridge more than three quarters of the way to the island fortress from the shoreline.

The man at least knew how to make an entrance.

And there he was, standing on the very end of the makeshift bridge and gazing silently up towards the bunker's roof. He was young, as Hanzou had expected him to be. Young with messy hair and absurd piercings.

Hanzou sneered. This was the man who had been a thorn in his side for so long?

Black eyes followed the paths of more ninjas – five of them – as they too made their way expertly across the fallen tower to join the first man below him.

"Clones? I see that your apprentice takes after you in more than just your shared insolence."

The man called Pain just stared back up at Hanzou, ignoring his taunting.

"I hope I didn't damage him too much in that exchange. He is an interesting specimen."

The dark-cloaked man cocked his head to the side. "I should thank you for that. It seems your meeting motivated him more than any of my methods could have." He straightened again and turned his head back to the city where buildings were being torn apart bit by bit before their eyes. "I believe he is having some fun with your wayward subordinates. Do not expect them to save you from me."

Hanzou narrowed his eyes. "Did you honestly believe that you could walk into my city and defeat me? Come, brat, and I will show you the extent of your power."

"I highly doubt that you are capable of such a thing. Regardless, this is your last day among the living, Hanzou. Perhaps you should make your peace now."

Hanzou let out an angry growl. "Better ninjas than you have fallen to my strength. I look forward to testing the limitations of a so-called god. Today is the end of this charade. Prepare yourself!"

Pain watched the man leap with terrible speed off of the bunker and onto the water's surface while flashing through hand seals. He had barely touched the lake when an enormous eruption of smoke obscured the man's form completely. As the white mist cleared Pain gazed upon a massive amphibian – nearly three stories tall and over a hundred feet from nose to tail.

A small smirk crossed his lips as he prepared to do battle.

"The end? Oh no, old man. This is just the beginning."

A/N: Short chapter I know, but it is what it is. 10k is the mark, but sometimes you get 12.5k word monsters like chapter 5 and sometimes you get 8k word shorties like this one.

This was by far the most difficult chapter for me to write. How do you try to rationalize and humanize a guy like Pain? He certainly comes off as a bit unstable in the manga considering recent chapters.

On the other hand, I started loving Pain's character when he was still the featureless AL that was always calm, cool, and on top of things. He clearly isn't a crazy nut-job if he can run an organization like Akatsuki. In fact, I found him incredibly out of character in his fight against Jiraiya and with his whole "I am a god" speech. I couldn't help but think that deep down he trying to tell Jiraiya to get the fuck out of Dodge before he got killed.

The guy has some logic and humanity in him – that much is certain.

Some of you may have noticed that I borrowed the "style" of attack that Pain utilizes from the recent chapters of the Konoha invasion. Pain has his own way of doing things. What can I say but, "awesome!"

There's only one more chapter in this opening "Rain" arc. Hopefully it won't take quite so long to bring you:

Chapter 7: Achilles' Last Stand by Led Zeppelin.

And since we'll be starting a new arc, you get some extra time to ponder:

Chapter 8: Twilight Zone by Golden Earring.

As always, feedback is much appreciated and constructive criticism doubly so.