Pein awoke to cold water in his face.

His lips peeled off his teeth in a feral snarl, and he lashed out viciously at the person who had just thrown the water at him. Unfortunately for Pein, the chains around his wrists refused to relent, and he was forced to stop short, jaws snapping and throat growling. Pein struggled to his feet, only to be struck down with a terrible animosity. Ibiki's tall, imposing figure rose above Pein, whose arms were now twisted from falling. Pein hadn't even fallen all the way to the floor: his arms were chained at the right height to be held up when he was kneeling. If he fell over, his weight would rest in those chains and keep him from falling. If he stood up, they would slacken and give his arms more room. Hence the chains around his knees and ankles: they had to keep him in the proper position, otherwise the chains would be virtually useless.

"Morning, princess," Ibiki drawled. He knew it got under Pein's skin, despite the lack of a reaction. Pein only reacted to being rudely awoken, and once he calmed down, he showed no reaction to anything at all. Well, Ibiki was trying something new today. Five days of the same blank, bored expression was getting old. Tim to change tactics. Pein hauled himself to his knees and rested there, taking deep breaths and bringing himself back under control. After three breaths, Pein's expression had returned to cold stone, and his eyes had lost their initial vengeful frenzy. Ibiki frowned. This one…he was interesting. Maybe knocking him out and having him wake up in a traumatic position would elicit a response…

Chang of plans.

Ibiki headed for a different side of the room than before, and this time, reached not for the whips and metal bars, but for a length of rope and a piece of cloth, about two feet long. If Pein didn't react to typical torture methods, it was time to try something else.

"Those eyes of yours…really something, huh?" Ibiki said slowly, pacing towards Pein at an agonizingly slow rate. "Rely on them much?"

Pein did not answer. He simply glanced at Ibiki, then glanced away again.

Progress. Pein's body language indicated that he was slightly edgy. By glancing at Ibiki, he showed that he was curious about what was going to happen, but by looking away immediately, he showed Ibiki that he wasn't happy about it, and might even fear it. Ibiki crouched down behind Pein and pulled the blindfold over dark eyes long closed in anticipation. Now, for the real stunner…Ibiki motioned in two chuunin from outside the door, making sure that they made no sound. The two nodded; they had done this before. What Ibiki was trying to do was confuse Pein. By striking him in succession for a long period of time, and when he only knew one person was in the room, they could twist his mind in knots. Pein's muscles were visibly tightening, and Ibiki knew he had found something that could potentially be used against Pein later.

One strike fell on the left side of Pei's face, and then another fell seconds later on the right side.

Ibiki could see Pein visibly start and try to figure out where the blows were coming from. Then, he settled down again and seemed to fall into a rhythm, ducking and weaving and relying on his ears to warn him of an incoming strike. Ibiki's teeth ground together in frustration: what kind of training had this man had?! He angrily gestured to the two others to back off, and walked to the opposite side of the room again. This time, his hands fell on a length of rope, which he quickly cut in half. He pulled one of Pein's hands out of the shackles that held them above his head, tying it swiftly to his ankles and forcing him to kneel and spread his legs to keep his balance. He repeated this process with the other hand, and then stepped back again. One quick hit to the back of the head, then a harsh slap across the face. Pein couldn't expect the hits anymore-he wasn't given enough time. The strikes came too rapidly, and it seemed there were even more of them than ever. Pein was now thoroughly turned around, and found himself even growing a bit dizzy. A face punch was laid to Pein's cheek, shortly followed by a backhand that sent Pein flying. Pein grit his teeth, trying to hold back a grunt of pain that threatened to break free of his throat when he hit the floor. His face and head stung-someone was finding it funny to wrench his head back using his hair, and two swift blows were dealt to his face again. Finally, Ibiki reached out, pulled him back up, and began winding chains around his slender, fine ankles. Pein could feel the cold metal constricting around his legs, but did not panic. He had gone through worse, and come out alive. He had scars, but he was fine in the end. This was nothing…this was purely mental frustration. Pein took several deep breaths as his legs were restrained, and the tear-down of his mind began again. Pein understood what they were doing: by gradually adding more and more restraints, they were adding to his mental frustration and preying on the natural human instinct to panic in a crisis. Pein had to remain calm. He couldn't let on that it was working to even the smallest degree. The tiniest of cracks had done in the biggest dams.

Pein took himself to another part of his mind, seeking out the part of him that would put him in a fog through most of the torture. It was working so far; he hardly noticed when they finally stopped striking him. His shivered in the cold, hoping it went unnoticed by his tormentors-any sign of weakness could cost him dearly for lives to come. Pein could feel something else cold and metal touch his body-the bitter sting of the lowest of lows. A collar. How dare they?! Pein knew that they thought if they kept degrading him, he would lose spirit. Pein had to admit, there was a part of him that was just begging him to beg for the pain and suffering to stop. But he knew that that part of him, that one traitorous part of him, must never be seen by another. Never was another human being to know he had a weakness-!

The next strike stunned Pein.

It was searing cold, and then burning hot. A long, charred stripe was left down his thigh where the hot iron bar had slammed into it like a baseball bat, and Pein was left in shock and quivering like a strung bow. The next strike fell on the opposite side, and the next one fell on the backs of his thighs. Pein shivered as one hand trailed over his ass, and five gloved fingers tightened around it, searching for a reaction. Pein's entire body wanted to spasm, but was left no room to move. Ibiki seized his collar and dragged him back, and Pein could feel panic rising in his chest. Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic, don't panic…a hot sweat broke out over Pein's body, and he could feel Ibiki's hand trailing down between his spread legs, disgustingly teasing him before tearing his pants away from his body in one swift, brutal motion. Pein could hear the sound of gloves hitting the floor, and Pein could feel rough, callused fingers running over his thigh. Pein braced himself: he knew what was coming…

Frosty cold stung the side of his hip, and, for a moment, Pein thought he was being chilled to the bone. His brain knew better, though: his body was so confused, it thought that the white-hot metal was actually frigid ice. After several seconds, the heat set in, and Pein actually flinched with the pain of the brand. The smell of burning flesh met his nostrils, and he almost gagged with the horrible stench.

The next few minutes passed in a haze. All Pein could feel was the sensation of being marked, and being forced to submit to someone in such a disgusting manner. He fought-or did he? Pein couldn't remember, and didn't want to remember. But for the rest of his life, he would never forget that first feeling, the shock, the pain, the fear, the hate, the terror, the desire to kill, the terrible feeling of hopelessness at being marked as another's personal property-! Pein could feel hot metal repeatedly striking him, and could tell Ibiki was beating him with hot iron bars again. The combination of the bruising and the burning was hard to bear. When it finally stopped, Ibiki stepped back and admired his handiwork for a moment. Smirking sadistically, Ibiki exited.

"We're done for today. I know what I need to know."

OOOOOOOOO

Otoha only felt terror at Ibiki's words. Oh, what was going to be the damage when she walked in-?

He was blindfolded…he couldn't see her…what had they done?

Otoha could see deep bruises along Pein's sides and legs, and even some on his shoulders. The bruises were long and thin, and most of them had burns across them. Otoha glanced at Pein, then took another step into the room and softly closed the door.

"Glad you could make it."

Otoha smiled at the attempt at humor. Feeling a bit better, she set down her backpack of medical supplies and cautiously approached him. She made sure to make her footsteps pronounced, so Pein wouldn't be startled by her distance to him when she either touched him or spoke to him. "Now, I'm going to take this blindfold off," she said softly, reaching out and taking the satin between her fingers. A gentle tug loosened the knot, and the fabric fell away from Pein's face. Dark, spiraled eyes were revealed, unreadable as ever. Otoha sighed and pulled out a small blanket from her bag, casting it over Pein's lower body and trying to provide him a bit of self-respect. "Are you alright?" she asked, gently reaching out to touch him. Pein's body shivered at her gentle touch, but he otherwise made no reaction. Otoha sighed and sat down across from Pein, studying the damage done to his body. "So many burns and bruises," she commented, starting to heal them all. Pein held completely still, not moving at all as she healed him. Otoha would occasionally stop to pull the bonds off Pein, but she kept going at a furious pace. If Pein didn't know better, he'd say she hated seeing him in pain. Otoha finally finished after an hour of forcing green chakra into Pein's body, and she sat back with a sigh of relief.

"You're done!" she proclaimed, standing up. Otoha left the blanket wrapped around his waist, carefully knotting it to help Pein recover a bit. She also left him a bottle of water and a peach, hoping the offer of food would tempt him a bit more. Pein eyed the food and water, but left it. He didn't really want it at the time.

But an hour later, he did.

OOOOOOOOO

The next day was no different for Pein. More torture, much of it in the same manner. But now Ibiki was playing with him more than ever. He wasn't hiding the fact that there were others in the room, now, but he was mocking Pein in new and somewhat creative ways. This time, there were four other chuunin in the room, and Pein wasn't blindfolded anymore. In fact, he was still free from when Otoha had let him go and healed him. Pein was sitting on the floor, curled up and leaning forward into his bent knees. His arms were wrapped around his knees themselves, and his face was buried in his arms. His eyes, however, produced a deadly glare that had the chuunin shivering.

"Well, well, well, your little girlfriend left you something, huh?" Ibiki commented, noticing the empty water bottle and the peach pit. His face clearly expressed his displeasure. "I'll take care of that," he muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "You shouldn't be getting anything I don't want you to have. And what do you know? You're even getting food! This is disgraceful. No wonder you're not cracking."

Pein made no movement at all. He was planning on just watching and waiting, and rolling with the punches. He could lessen the impact if he retreated to a corner of his mind that even he knew existed, but Ibiki was using mental and physical torture at the same time. Pein knew of his status as the chief of the torture and interrogations unit, and he knew why Ibiki had been the one appointed. Pein would have to fight hard if he wanted to break free-or get out alive.

Speaking of which, what was Konan up to?

Konan, hurry.

OOOOOOOOOO

Konan received the message loud and clear, and it lanced through her like a spear-Konan, hurry. Pein! Was he hurt? Were they torturing him as they spoke? A call for help from Pein only occurred when it was desperate. Konan knew Pein was good under torture, but it was doubtless that Konoha was sending in their best. Was Pein afraid he was going to give? Konan's heart fluttered like one of her little butterflies, fearing for Pein. The worst thing they could discover was their secret. And not just about Madara-Konan was hiding something together with Pein, as well. She had sent a message to Amegakure yesterday, asking them to rally their forces and meet her at the lair, but so far, she had heard nothing. Akatsuki was growing restless: Itachi, Kisame, Zetsu, and Tobi had settled for taking orders from her, since she was taking them from Pein, but the second he died, the men would probably cash their checks and scram. Konan's feet flew as she ran down the hallway, paper gathering at her shoulders and spreading into wings. Konan flashed out the main entrance of the Akatsuki's lair, heading straight for the village. They would come once they realized their leader was in danger. Konan just hoped they would do it quickly. She activated her psychological connection to Pein and sent a reply:

I'm coming, my love. Don't panic, and don't crack. I will be there for you as soon as I can, and the entire of Ame behind me. Don't give up!

She could only hope she was in time.

OOOOOOOOOO

Mikoko paced.

Konan's words troubled her, but as an Ame ANBU, she had been put in charge of making sure that every able-bodied ANBU report to her and get ready to ambush Kono. Mikoko tapped her foot, shouldering her bow and quiver while she waited. She was not dressed in a typical ANBU uniform for Ame: instead, she was wearing a tan tank top and shorts of the same color with tall black boots that came halfway up her thighs. Two leather straps were looped around her waist, both attached to a dagger sheath that held a lethal weapon a foot in length. Around her stomach were to straps, on that held her quiver and the other that held her bow. Mikoko also had leather straps wound around one arm, and a piece of green cloth secured at top and bottom with leather bands around the other. Her wolf, Akana, paced at her feet before finally settling seated in front of Mikoko.

"Mikoko-dono, we're ready!"

Mikoko nodded once and put on a mask, the only part of the ANBU uniform she actually wore. It was, of course, the wolf mask. Akana shot to her feet and bolted ahead of the ANBU, leading Mikoko and the squads to Konoha. Mikoko followed at her wolf's side, bounding effortlessly through the trees. Her eyes narrowed in anger as they ran. Konoha had some nerve, taking her leader hostage! Mikoko took this personally. She had reported to Pein personally, as he was the Kage of the village. She knew the man: he cared about his people, and his ninja. Their previous leader was, frankly, not a good one. And then Pein had come and taken him down, freeing them all and ruling them fairly…Mikoko had been appointed ANBU almost immediately, and she was shortly thereafter made a captain. She had finally been recognized…and she and Pein had grown rather close in the past few years. Or, as close as one could get using the words "personal" and Pein" in the same sentence. She felt like she knew Pein, and couldn't stand the thought of someone else taking over the village.

Besides, it was pretty awesome to have a Kage with facial piercings and tattoos. That was pretty hardcore.

A/N: Just felt like adding tattoos to Pein's already-impressive collection of needle-imposed body mutations. But ya gotta admit, it's pretty damn sexy. : ) Por favor review-o…