Now Playing: Fast Forward by Monkey Majik
After reading MmeDae and Sakura-Hime Uchiha Loves KPOP's stories, I was inspired to write this... Thanks so much guys^^ Mwuahhugs!
BTW, this chapter (on the first part) tells how Itachi became part of Akatsuki as narrated thru Pain's POV, and some flashbacks from Akatsuki's beginnings. Sorry if I confused some of you.
Disclaimer: I happen to read, watch, listen and adore Naruto. But I am NOT the creator. Period.
CHAPTER 5
"Yahiko believed that the day would come when war can be stopped and people will learn to live in peace and harmony with one another. He was wrong. He died because of this. Kagura was right. Peace is for fools. And I am no fool. That's why I'm going to end this madness," Pain thought as he sits in his office looking at some scrolls Konan had encrypted, thinking of possible ways to ensure the safety of his family, when he suddenly remembered what Kagura had said about Sakura and Itachi.
"Sakura must stay away from him. For her own good," his jaw set, he was about to call his sister when Itachi's file fall from his desk. Looking back at the past, he remembers the first time he met the Uchiha.
Flashback:
"Do you really want to die, Uchiha-san?" Pain was about to give the final blow to end the life of the bravest Shinobi he ever fought. Uchiha Itachi is still covered in blood. Despite the heavy rain, his family's blood clings to him like second skin. From the information Konan had gathered, Itachi was a child prodigy of the Uchiha clan. Until he killed his own family, all of them, except for his younger brother, Sasuke. And now, he wanted to destroy Akatsuki.
Pain smiled ruefully, he was able to see everything the moment he saw Itachi's eyes as he challenges him to a fight to the death. Another poor soul. Despite everything that had happened, he still wants to protect Konoha from their group, Akatsuki. He sighed.
"You cannot kill me. My life is already tied to another. This miserable existence belongs only to my brother," Itachi's eyes were hollow, like death himself. His Sharingan glares furiously at his Rinnegan.
"Hmmm. Interesting," a shadow appears suddenly behind Pain. Curiosity on her pretty face.
Itachi noticed her immediately. Her rose coloured hair looks like blood especially when soaked in that rain. She looks sick, but her beauty is exceptional.
"You must be Konan. Well, it saves me time. Good for you to come here and meet your end," Itachi made a seal single-handedly and the other hand grips his sword and stabs the woman as he appeared behind the two.
Pain didn't move at all as he observes Itachi's skills, looking quite impressed. Itachi smirked.
"Did he tell you who I am?" the woman asks suddenly.
"We don't talk. We fight," Itachi replied, rolling his eyes in annoyance. This woman is so chatty.
"I never thought Konoha ninjas were so rude. Look what you did to my favourite robe. You've ruined it," the woman shook her head in a disapproving manner, "Attacking a civilian. Such a pity," she added hastily.
"What?"
"For the record, Konan has blue hair. Mine is bright pink. Looks red when wet. I don't know if you are colour blind or something, but definitely, I. Am. Not. Her," she disappeared as petals of cherry blossoms surrounds Itachi, cutting his skin like a sharp edged blade.
"Figures," Itachi muttered silently as he blended in the shadows.
Clashing of blades can be heard from a distance. Pain sighed again. He was about to sit in the corner when the woman reappeared before him, looking gleefully delighted. "Are you sure you can handle him, big sister?"
"Do not mock me little brother," she winks playfully as she disappeared for the nth time.
"She seems to be enjoying herself," Konan makes her presence known as she stands beside Pain.
"My sister happened to found another wounded soul. She couldn't resist the temptation," he smiled gently.
"If she does this often, Akatsuki would become a nursing home for the broken-hearted instead of a criminal organization. HE wouldn't approve."
"Kagura hates him for unknown reasons she doesn't want to tell. So she makes it a habit to irritate HIM to death by recruiting members she deemed worthy of Yahiko's ideals," remorse could be seen from Pain's eyes.
"It's a good thing these men she adopted are all powerful Shinobis," Konan said, trying to change the topic. She saw Itachi attacking Kagura with his crows. Kagura seem to laugh at his attempts to locate her. Konan rolled her eyes and muttered, "Child-like fools."
End of flashback.
"That day, Kagura and Itachi started a friendship far beyond the understanding of others. However, all of Akatsuki members have painful pasts that touched Kagura's soul. Their sufferings. Their pain. In her own way, Kagura healed them to be the better person that they are now.
If Yahiko is the soul of Akatsuki, Kagura is the heart that binds us together.
Yahiko still believes in the old Sannins dreams. His book brought idea to Yahiko to create this group. Akatsuki would be the source of hope for those who lost it in this war stricken world.
I once believed in those dreams." Pain thought deeply as he opened a drawer from his desk and look at an old picture. In it was Jiraiya-sensei, Kagura, Konan, himself and Yahiko.
Another flashback:
"Sensei?" a young boy interrupted Jiraiya's thoughts as he was about to write a new scene for next book.
"What is it, Nagato?
"She told me that 'Peace' is a fool's dream that can never be attained or found," Nagato shyly looks under his hair, obscuring his face from the old man's view.
The platinum haired man smiled knowingly at Nagato. "Do you believe in her?"
The boy didn't answer. He was certainly confused. Then, Jiraiya noticed something from the boy's hands. "Are you reading my book?" Surprise etched on his face. "You're too young to understand its concepts, especially the…" Jiraiya blushed and scratched his head in embarrassment.
Nagato smiled, "I was inspired by the heroes answer when he was confronted by the main antagonist of the story."
"Oh," Jiraiya immediately remember the scene. "Well. What do you think? Can he really save the world from darkness, suffering and pain?"
"Finding peace would be difficult. Especially if everyone is against you and attempts to stop you in every step of the way.
However, nobody is perfect, or all too powerful. I really like what you did to the characters personality and development. He isn't special nor is he powerful. But he is determined and works really hard to achieve his dreams. It's also a good thing that he has friends who helped him along the way. Friends who stand by his side, in times of failure and defeat," Nagato just thought of something, he looks at Jiraiya's book and stares back at his sensei whose smile widened in encouragement.
Kagura appeared and stands behind Jiraiya's back and shot Nagato an odd look. She grimaced silently at her brother's reaction. "I told you not to read that book Nagato. False dreams would lead you nowhere. Eventually, it will only cause you more pain. It might kill you in the process of trying. I won't allow you to waste your life and..."
"No he's not," Yahiko answered back as he entered the room. Determination on his young face as he looks at Kagura's pessimistic reaction. Konan stands by the boy's side, holding a bouquet of wild roses.
Jiraiya stands aside. Looking at their mixed reaction.
"Just like the main character of the story, I don't have any special abilities, unlike Konan and Nagato," Konan rolled her eyes while Nagato smirked back at his friends compliment. "But, I can protect my friends with my own strength. I am also willing to lay down my life to ensure our dreams would come true."
"And what are your dreams?" Kagura asked icily. Her eyes glaring with frustration. Everyone in that room, including the old Toad seems against her. "Fools."
"We will stop this war and bring peace to Amekagure," Yahiko declared bravely.
End of flashback.
Pain closed his eyes.
Yahiko did die. He protected all of them with the last of his breath. Konan still blames herself for what had happened that day. But Kagura did her best to alleviate her pain.
"Yahiko died because of me. I should have been there, protecting all of you. I didn't do my best. I'm so sorry." Kagura said morosely.
Kagura's depression worsens as she remembers that night. Our parent's death. Sakura's disappearance. Kagura thinks that being the oldest, it was her duty to protect us. She then isolates herself once more. I tried to talk to her but her walls seems to thicken. It was harder to penetrate this time. She only responses when someone came to our village to kill or hunt me down.
That time, Akatsuki grows stronger. I was able to pull it together. Everyone knew of our real power. As the bearer of the Rinnegan, I am death to those who oppose me. Because of Yahiko's death, I learned to be tough.
To show no mercy.
XoXoXoXoX
Sakura never had a hard time adapting to her new home. Despite Akatsuki's initial reaction to her arrival in Amekagure, they seem to like her as well. Despite her scary personality when provoked by Itachi himself, she was quite adorable. First, it was awkward with Deidara; he was Sasori's old partner. Eventually they became good friends. He even teaches her how to manipulate her chakra in moving inanimate objects and use it as a weapon.
With her family's ability to use the Rinnegan, she had improved her skills especially in the area of medical justus, even far more advance than the Fifth Hokage herself.
Her brother, she calls him Nagato when they're alone, but prefers to be called Pain in front of everyone else, taught her how to use their blood line limit.
"How come I only had one set of Rinnegan, brother?" Sakura asks.
"The women of our family usually had no Rinnegan at all. But they were tasked to give birth to male offspring's that has the ability to use Rinnegan at a certain age," Pain said. "It is a very rare coincidence that all of us have three forms. I never had the chance to ask father about this because of his untimely death." Sadness passes through his eyes, "That's why you rarely see Konan. She is translating the scrolls that were entrusted to our family which was passed down from the first Sage to his descendants."
"Wow. That is cool," Sakura's passion for books burns at the tip of her fingers, an unknown history. "Sister never told me we had a library. Can I go there, please?" she begged like a child, with that puppy look expression on her face.
Pain shook his head in amusement, "Very well. I'll ask someone to accompany you."
"I can find it on my own," Sakura beams cheerfully, clasping her hands at her brother's sleeves.
"No," Pain firmly disagrees. "The last time I let you wander on your own set Kagura into a killing frenzy. She almost killed Tobi for being careless as your guardian. It took us three days to find you. This place still has untouched areas that can trick anyone who doesn't really know."
"But..."
"No buts, Sakura," finality on his voice. "I'll ask Konan to accompany you, but only, after you finished your training with Kagura."
"Fine," Sakura pouted her lips in irritation. As she steps away, you could hear her muttering obscenities and curses for being the irresponsible one.
Pain rolled his eyes. He really shouldn't allow Sakura to tag along with Kisame.
"You're getting soft, Pain," a shadow appeared where Sakura had been sitting. "It makes me want to hurl." The shadow caught a blade between his fingers.
Pain disregarded him like he never heard him at all.
"Does this mean you're breaking our agreement?" The shadow drew a short breath as he felt the tip of the blade directed at his throat.
"If you ever touch my sisters, or any member of Akatsuki, you will answer to me. Understood?"
"Yes. I understand." The shadow said grudgingly.
Pain left him without a backward glance and slams the door behind not seeing the hatred in the eyes of that shadowed figure.
"Damn it." The shadow spits angrily on the floor. "Zetsu," he called from the darkness behind him.
"Yes?"
"It is time. Tell HIM its starts now."
XoXoXoXoX
Sorry for being late. I guess, it's better than never^^
Lenny was unavailable for three weeks, my sister, my mom and my ever so cute and charming nephew visited for the holidays. So I only had a couple of days to rethink, retype and post this chapter as soon as possible. Hope you enjoy this one though.
Thanks so much for reading and liking my story.
Happy holidays everyone=)
P.S. Please leave your comments, reviews, etcetera…
So that I'll be able to correct anything wrong… Just in case you found some…
Love & Peace (",)v