Know Pain

by MeepMeep7913

Pain had it all. Family, soldiers, criminals and assets. Now all that was left to do was to move the first pawn, and the game would begin. And create the peace he so desired - at the hands of a tailed beast weapon he didn't even have to control. His empire would rise, and show the world true peace. The world needed pain, after all...

2. Chapter 1 - Plans

EXCERPT FROM 'AMES NINJA REVISION GUIDE':

'...Many different techniques and weapons of varying levels of power have been mentioned throughout this guide. However, without question, the most destructive of all powers would have to be the tailed beasts.

The tailed beasts are themselves figures of legends. Their history is largely unknown, with much of it being lost throughout the clan wars era and the post-apocalyptic and pre-chakra era before that. Indeed, many legends and rumours that circulate about the tailed beasts place their creation before even that of the famed apocalypse, however this is highly doubtful. They are placed at being at least one thousand years old.

What is known about them, however, is a few facts. There are nine of the tailed beasts, with the nine representing a hierarchy of power levels in ascending order, with the weakest being the one-tailed sand racoon, and subsequently the strongest being the nine-tailed fox. Each tailed beast also has one unique ability that they use heavily to fight with - the only exception to this is the nine-tailed fox, who has not actually displayed any prominent ability to this day. The tailed beasts are made up entirely of chakra with no actual physical body or factors - they are beings of pure energy. How this was achieved is unknown. Subsequently, the tailed beasts cannot actually be harmed, only slowed or halted - with only one proven way of stopping the tailed beasts.

That is, by sealing the tailed beasts within a human host and creating what is termed a 'jinchuuriki'. By exploiting the tailed beasts only known vulnerability - the sealing arts - they can by placed within a human being and tied down with a seal to their chakra network.

Jinchuuriki can use the chakra of their tailed beast when fighting. Ninja should be warned that all jinchuuriki who display the chakra of their tailed beasts are regarded as immediate S-rank threats, as per Lord Pain's protocol. This is seen as two versions of a 'cloak' - orange chakra which is visible to the human eye will encompass and form a cloak around the jinchuuriki. Version one is a strong haze of the orange chakra which encompasses the jinchuuriki, but their physical features can still otherwise be seen. Benefits of version one include a decisive increase in speed, physical strength, a protective shield of burning chakra around the body and claw-like appendages on the hands to fight with.

Version two is a lot more dangerous. Version two is a complete covering of the jinchuuriki who can no longer be seen, instead forming a crimson red manifestation of their respective tailed beast. Benefits include upgraded version one cloak powers, the utilisation of a tailed beast's unique ability and the usage of the tailed beast's own raw chakra in explosive and violent capabilities.

Jinchuuriki help form the balance of the shinobi world, where there is an agreement between the five major that should they ever deploy their tailed beast, it will be met by a counter-deployment of an opposing tailed beast. Jinchuuriki should NOT be underestimated - almost all internationally recognised jinchuuriki in history have been put down in the Bingo book of at least A-rank threat.

Details of current jinchuuriki, including their identification and position, are classified.'

SIX YEARS AFTER THE THIRD SHINOBI WORLD WAR.

Nagato Uzumaki sat in a mechanically operated chair, with several chakra rods imbedded within several of his limbs. Whilst it certainly pained him to enter this chair and even then to exit it, it was a good reminder - a good reminder of what he was named for. Nagato Uzumaki was in perfect health, having access to the Uzumaki healing rate as a full Uzumaki and the rinnegan's own unique set of powers. It was just, as a very particular man, he refused to show his face to the world; instead only allowing the visage of Pain through his Paths to be seen. He remained within Pain's Tower most of the time, controlling his Paths and plotting, only allowing Konan access to his space.

But perhaps that was it. Should the world ever see his true face, it would be a day of reckoning.

But his position in Pain's tower was of little importance. What mattered now was that he finally was beginning to see results. After the initial phase of a coup d'état and killing off Hanzo, it had been the long term work of securing Ame from the dissenters left and of bringing the nation back to its feet. As powerful as the man had been, he had also been an egotistical madman who had done little to actually repair the damages done by the world wars that had ravaged the country. And on top of that, Pain had to move quickly to silence rumours and whispers before they spread so that no nation stuck its nose into a potentially unstable Ame.

The Deva Path stood in his office staring at the economic data on the clipboard provided by Konan, it showed a clear upturn in the economy and how wealthy Ame was becoming. The steepening line on the graph showed that wealth was clearly incoming into his nation.

"How secure are the borders still? This amount of wealth must mean a significant amount of business - business I do not want poking into Ame itself." The Deva Path spoke.

It was no secret to how Ame was becoming wealthier - Ame had always been a resource-rich country with a high population packed in a small area. This meant plenty of workers and given its central location between three of the major hidden villages, business would always be appreciated by them if there were cheap weapons on offer when they themselves were always trying to build up their ninja forces. Given how industrial the skyscrapers and lower levels of the hidden village in the rain actually was, this was an easier feat to manage than it seemed for a small nation to serve three major ones and conduct other business as well.

But that also meant more opportunity for other nations to discover the truth that lay in Ame.

"The border guard was tripled as you requested, Pain, and this has seemed to deter a lot of reconnaissance at the border by other nations; particularly Iwa was trying to push against the border. But a sudden increase in the amount of ninja at the border seemed to scare them off. Most likely, they seem to think Hanzo is warning them." Konan stated.

Deva nodded at this. "Good." He spoke. "However, we should be careful not to have that backfire, especially as it has been a month since the tailed beast attack on the Leaf - withdraw a third of the troops at the Northern and Eastern borders so as not to start some sort of troop build up by the Leaf and Stone in retaliation. Instead, reposition them in Ame itself. It is time we started to use some of this new found wealth of ours."

"Yes, Pain." Konan spoke, before turning a questioning gaze to Pain's desk. "Although, may I ask, why are you looking at maps?"

"Oh?" Deva turned an appraising eye to the localised map of Ame and the neighbouring countries that was sitting on top of all the other paperwork on his desk. Large red arrows stating large amounts of troop numbers was clearly seen thrusting into the two neighbouring small nations of the Land of Stone and the Land of Grass. Smaller red arrows was clearly seen enacting a pincer movement around the borders, with several drop-off points signalled around the border with the clear intent of cutting the nations off from the world. The Land of Grass seemed to have the brunt of Ame's forces, highlighted by three blue lines were seen reaching directly from Ame on a straight course to the Grass village, with the red cloud of the Akatsuki emblazoned on the blue lines. "These are some... battle scenarios I have in mind. Whether or not I carry them out is dependent on several factors. For instance, it won't be for at least four years that we can begin such ambitious attacks, our forces aren't strong enough yet."

Konan seemed confused. "But why? The Land of Stone has always been the Rain's ally, and the Land of Grass has always been neutral with us, if tense at times of border dispute. I don't see the need for such measures."

The rinnegan eyes of Deva seemed to hold amusement as he picked up two different sheets of paper. "That's why I have been working upon these, Konan. To our dear friends to the West in the Land of Stone, a convincing invitation to merge our nations and to extend the recent economic boom of the Rain village to theirs. Should that fail, a handy insight to our military has been attached - clearly showing our weaker ally how our recently improved army outnumbers theirs by a margin of 16 to 1, even just currently, let alone in four years of improvement. These battle plans for the Land of Stone are really a last resort."

"And the Land of Grass?" Konan asked.

"A straight up demand for surrender." Pain put bluntly this time, reading over the document he had produced - with prominent angry red text displayed in it. "It holds the very border disputes you mentioned as the reason for this demand, however I expect it to be turned down. No military insight has been provided on this one, and given how no spy has actually made it into Ame yet - they may feel that we have gone mad. Whereas previously they held the strongest army of the minor nations in the West, they have no idea of the expansion of our forces from the sheer money I have put into the military versus their lower, consistent numbers in peacetime. Only that devastating consequences await them should they refuse is mentioned."

Konan nodded, silent for a minute as she thought before speaking once more. "You still haven't told me why you are doing this, though."

Deva nodded at that. "Indeed. The reasons are simple, but quite numerous. For one thing, I need a self-sufficient economy that can continue by itself with no reliance on outside nations should we go to war - and you know the plans of the Akatsuki as much as I do. The very nature of the industry of Ame and our high population for a small nation makes that impossible by ourselves. Taking over a mineral-rich nation and one whose primary production is food and other such materials would enable that to begin."

"There is also the problem of security." Pain continued. "Our forces are much improved, but still not even approaching that of the Land of Wind - the weakest of the major nations. As such, assimilating two other militaries would be a boon. As you know, I have several projects underway that still require years until they are completed - I need to start closing down the borders to even most of the trade so as to keep these under wraps. There is the fact of more money being brought in by making our economy even bigger. And of course, there is the fact that by expanding our borders to reach closer to that of the Hidden Waterfalls village, we are in easier reach of yet another jinchuuriki."

Taking and reading several of the documents herself, Konan looked up at Deva who clearly awaited her opinion. "There is no doubt of the advantages such expansion would give us, Pain, and I am certain our military is capable of them. I just have one worry in that of the major nations - whilst the Land of Wind is almost certainly going to stay neutral in such conflicts, both the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth have stakes in the Grass village at least."

"Yes, the major nations." Deva spoke, eyes seemingly entranced as he stared down at the map, particularly the Land of Grass where the Leaf and Stone villages could intervene in. "They are tricky in that regard. Let's see now - they are most unlikely to approach the Land of Rain itself, and provoke an assumed response from Hanzo - particularly after the massacre of the Leaf forces and defeat of the Sannin just twelve years ago by Hanzo, his elite corp and Salamander summons. But, the intervention of forces into Grass of a 'defensive' nature could be done by either side."

"Luckily." Pain muttered, but Konan could still hear clearly from the other side of the desk. "Geography favours us. Both the Stone and Leaf village would be unwise in sending large reinforcements into the Land of Grass given the canyons and steep drops that make up the corresponding borders on either side. The only real points of entry for quick troops movements is the Tenchi bridge for the Leaf, and the Kanabi bridge for the Stone. Should quick reaction forces destroy these points of entry before any opposing foreign forces cross, then they will be relegated to be have a much longer trip further North for both sides to reach the more gentler plains. Any forces that do manage to cross the rough terrain will be met by Ame forces carrying out the pincer movement - and bogged down."

"It is likely to go our way, Konan." Pain started to conclude. "We can have forces on dummy missions enter the Land of Grass with pretences to be en-route to the Leaf and Stone villages respectively - but will actually have explosives with which to destroy the bridges. I will send elite forces so as to swiftly defeat the border forces. Then, by the time they send forces from the North, an approximate three to four days by my reckoning, as they likely will - the Grass Village will have fallen. The Land of Rain has two sides facing the Land of Grass in an already pincer shape that will allow quick encirclement - and the proximity of the Grass village to us is greater than any other nation, especially if they are stuck coming from the North."

"But how will that stop them coming? They could just continue to push forwards and re-take the Land of Grass, and whilst Hanzo might pose a serious threat to them, it is unlikely to stop the advances of an entire army where we are the aggressors; particularly as much of our forces will remain in Rain to act as defence."

Deva then smirked and quietly chuckled a mirthless laugh at that. "This is where greed comes into play, Konan. We will play both sides. We will offer two things to them which are sure to get them to settle down and even look at us better - we will offer them whatever land we haven't encircled or conquered by the time the Grass Village falls, which will likely only be the rocky plains to the North; and admirable trade rates in weapons. Not only will this stop them - but the Grass will no longer act as a buffer in the deals they will likely accept. The two rivals will be even busier keeping a closer eye on one another that it favours us even more in keeping hidden when we lock down our borders once more, halt some of the trading and hide again after the deals are over."

Konan was silent for a few moments, observing the map before looking up at Pain. "I can see you have thought about this in great detail. Is there anything I may do to assist in this endeavour."

Deva was quiet for a few moments, the corpse remaining stock still whereas a normal person might have 'hmmed' in thought. Purple eyes opening, Pain looked at Konan. "Yes, there are some matters your assistance would be most helpful in, Konan. Thank you." Deva spoke politely, to the person he only ever spoke politely to. "I need all military assets that we have in Ame, a complete military review, brought to my desk by the end of the week. I also need some matters taking care of - I need at least 10,000 ninja to be trained in harsh terrain endeavours by the end of the year. I want you to issue the orders to move that amount of ninja further to Ame's northern regions so this can be done. Oh, and deliver Sasori's latest report to my desk as well, I will read it later. Thank you, Konan."

Konan inclined her head, before then moving out of Pain's office and closing the door quietly behind her as Pain looked back at the map.

"Wow. Now that is ambition." Came a comment from under his desk, causing Deva to cease regarding the map and to instead direct his attention to the space under the desk. There, laying under the desk, was a metre long orange fox whose nine tails were wrapped around his body and under his head to provide comfort for a resting head. Deva then looked over to the sleeping baby, who had been placed on a miniature bed in the corner of the room with baby supplies beneath the bed, from whom the Fox had obviously emerged.

"How long have you been listening in?" Deva asked impassively as he stared at the fox who merely gazed back lazily from under the desk. It was not the first time he'd seen the fox like that - ever since his first appearance outside of the seal, Pain had banned him from leaving the upper levels where his office resided. The Fox had absolutely not cared, stating that so long as he received food, comfortable shelter and entertainment; especially in the form of his time at the TV, he'd follow all of Pain's rules. Pain didn't really know what to think himself, but just accepted that at least he could keep an eye on one of the tailed beasts. He could always try and subdue the Fox if he ever decided to go supernova, but this was a better outcome than trying to take a risk back in the mindscape.

"The entire time." The Fox lazily stated, pausing to yawn before wriggling his head about to get comfier. "Great plan, by the way. Loving the action being planned in this room."

"I see." Deva stated, before he stood up straight and looked back at the map as scenarios began to play once more in Pain's head. "I don't suppose you'd have anything to add, would you?"

"Me? Heh, you really do listen." The nine tails stated, before giving a huff at Pain's unmoving back. "Yeah, sure, I got a few ideas. Make each of your ninja learn the water wall and water projectile techniques, it's mostly water-natured ninja in this land right?"

Pain looked back down at the Fox with a left turn of his head, and a small dip in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, OK. That'd do great against the Leaf's fire techniques, especially all of them Uchiha, plus it wouldn't do too badly against the common earth techniques Iwa has. It'd be much better if you could make the water wall slightly varied, like make it have grinding motions so then jutsu like earth shot aren't so effective. Oh, and fight on open terrain. It might also favour the earthen ninja, but the Leaf ninja are used to trees. Plus the surprise techniques like going underground that the Land of Earth employs would be less effective on open terrain." The nine tails informed, before yawning again.

Deva nodded again, before scribbling a few things down on paper. "That is surprisingly insightful. Thank you."

"Surprising? I'll have you know that this old fox is full of wisdom." The Fox spoke with an offended note in his voice, but the lazy tone also in it offset ti quite a bit. "Did you I'm a master at the sealing arts?"

Pain really did not know what to think of the Fox, but so long as he kept his end of the bargain, he'd put up with his antics. "Is that so?" Deva asked half-heartedly, scanning the map again.

"That'd be telling." The Fox spoke annoyingly as he gave a grunt from underneath the desk, before standing up and sloping out from it, instead lazily trotting over to the bed and jumping up on it. Curling up on it, the nine tails gave a satisfied sound this time as he extended a bushy tail to surround the baby, before yawning and closing his eyes. "Much better." He grumbled out.

Deva narrowed his eyes at the Fox.

KONOHA MILITARY HOSPITAL, CLASSIFIED PATIENTS BRANCH.

Minato Namikaze woke up with a large intake of air, audibly gasping as he sat up. The machines in the room started to beep in a regular tone and sequence, most likely alerting someone within the hospital. Ripping a wire from his hand along with its detector pad, Minato sat up in the white sheeted hospital bed he'd been lying in, before swinging his legs off the side. He looked around his surroundings, taking note of the magnolia coloured walls, the flowers on the bedside table and the machine doing its steady beeping next to him. Trying to stand up, he successfully stood up for a second before having to grab the windowsill next to the bed to help him keep standing.

This was the scene the on-duty nurse ran into, before hurrying her wave over. "Sir." She began, concerned. "You really must take it easy just after waking up, your limbs will be weak after spending so long in a coma."

The nurse helped Minato back into the bed, who had a surprised expression on his face. "I was in a coma?" He asked, receiving a nod from the nurse who began to take vital readings from his body such as his heart rate. "How long was I out? Is the Leaf OK?"

"Sir, the Leaf village is fine, all thanks to you." The nurse answered, before looking at him in the eyes. "Rebuilding is coming along nicely. However, the bad news I have to tell you, sir, is that you've been in a coma for a month due to severe chakra loss and strain. Your body shut down to help aid in the recuperation of your chakra system."

"A month?" Minato asked, before going pale. "Where's Sarutobi or Kushina Uzumaki? I must speak with them on important matters at once."

The nurse nodded. "Lord Third's already been alerted, sir. The Hokage's office in which he took over temporarily has been set up so that they are also alerted to you waking up."

"Oh." Minato let out as he just relaxed and let the nurse take her readings. "That's good."

It was a few minutes later, during which the nurse continued to just mill about and take readings or notes, that Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in. Upon seeing him, the nurse immediately excused herself and left the room, closing the door behind her to give the men some privacy.

Hiruzen turned to Minato and let out a small smile. "Minato." He began. "It's good to see you finally awake."

"Yes, thank you. It's good to see you too." Minato reciprocated, before his face became serious. "I must know something first, please Hiruzen. Where is my wife and son, are they safe? Is the seal properly secured, surely Kushina put in the defensive safeguards herself after I collapsed. I'm not sure what I collapsed from, though..."

Hiruzen sighed, the wrinkles in his aged face seeming to become more pronounced as he did so. He took out his favourite brown smoking pipe and tipped some tobacco powder inside, ignoring Minato's wrinkling nose as he lit it up. Taking a deep inhale from it, he exhaled slowly before staring the powerful Fourth Hokage right in the eyes with a grave expression. "Minato, your wife is fine at least. She's currently in your compound, I think. But that's where the good news ends I'm afraid."

Minato's face turned ashen, clenching the white hospital linen so tight in his hand that his knuckles were strained white. "No... No, Sarutobi..." Minato whispered out, the symptoms of denial awfully prevalent to the Third Hokage. "Not my son..."

"Minato, I will spare your wife from repeating her story once more." Hiruzen stated, briefly closing his eyes as he inhaled on his pipe once more. "To put it briefly, your son has been kidnapped. We don't know where, nor know anything of his present status. I'm sorry, Minato."

Minato's teeth visibly clenched, audibly as they scraped, as his head lowered and his long spiky hair covered his face. Hiruzen could tell he was trying to put on a brave face, but from the gentle wheezing the man produced as well as the shakes that occasionally racked his body, Minato Namikaze was gently sobbing. "It-it was that man, wasn't it?" He whispered out through clenched teeth.

Hiruzen's face softened as he sighed once more, wishing to take another inhalation from his pipe but stayed his hand to answer Minato. "If you mean the Uchiha that Kushina says attacked you, then yes. He was the one to knock you out as he apparently teleported right behind you, before grabbing the baby from Kushina's weakened arms before she could do anything. Apparently he was too fast to counter as he took advantage of your preoccupation with the sealing."

A tear dripped from down Minato's face as the shaking in his body died out. "Is Kushina alright?" He asked, his voice now straight and completely neutral, having raised in volume to be slightly above his usual pitch of voice.

Hiruzen grew concerned for the man who seemed to just close off his emotions. "Yes, Kushina's fine, Minato. Like I said, she's currently at home. She may have passed all of the time necessary for physical recuperation, but she's still... recovering, mentally. You should go home, and see her too, Minato."

Minato nodded, still not revealing his eyes. "Yes, I will. Thank you, Sarutobi." He tried to stand once more, but Hiruzen placed a hand on his shoulder this time.

"You, Minato, have not yet passed the time necessary to allow your limbs to heal. I'll bring the nurse in." Hiruzen stated, before exiting through the door to the room.

He quickly returned, this time back with the nurse who was pushing a wheelchair along. The nurse parked the wheelchair by the door before stepping closer to the Fourth Hokage. "Lord Fourth, although your mostly fine and your chakra is completely full again, you chakra system is still slightly strained and your limbs have weakened considerably. My advice to you would be to use no chakra for at least a month, and carrying out only very light exercise that exceeds no more than half an hour each day for that month. Then, slowly build up your exercise regime to get your muscles back to full fitness. I have appointed you a return appointment, here at the hospital, so as to ensure you are doing well by the month's end."

Minato nodded. "I see, thank you." He simply stated.

Hiruzen pushed over the wheelchair to the bedside. "Come on Minato, let's help you home." Hiruzen spoke in an aged yet caring tone.

Minato could only nod as he shifted his body to get out of the bed again.

AME.

Nagato was in the kitchen with two people on the second highest floor in the building, as well as one fox. Fortunately, even at 10am in the morning, Pain was yet needed to do any work and so Nagato could spend time with those he'd come to love - and appreciate the company in terms of the Fox. He still didn't know what to think of the being, but after a month of generally behaving himself Nagato was slowly warming up to him. A deal had been struck, after all, and Nagato still didn't see any reason not to honour it. Besides, there was still years to plan ahead.

The two upper floors of Pain's Tower were banned to any and all individuals within the building, only allowing the three people and one fox already there to be there in order to mainly keep Nagato hidden who wished to keep the alias of Pain alive though the Paths. The only people allowed anywhere near were the two guards from Pain's elite division, and even they couldn't get through the entrance to the floor beyond the security station they inhabited, that Konan and the Paths filtered through every day.

Konan was currently sat at a laminated wooden table in the middle of the kitchen which could seat two on each side, watching over a baby Naruto who was currently spitting in his high chair and wiggling his arms about. Konan raised an eyebrow at the spitting, whilst the nine tails who sat on the other side of the baby on a proper chair just looked unimpressed as some of the spit landed on his fur.

"You know, I'm still not used to seeing a fox sitting at a table with us." Konan stated to the Fox, making small talk.

The Fox wiped his unimpressed expression in exchange for raising an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?" He questioned.

"Two things. One is the fact that a tailed beast is literally joining us for breakfast, and the other is the fact that an animal is sitting at the table with me." Konan answered, amber eyes watching as the Fox lowered his eyebrow and instead assumed a dry expression.

"First of all, please do not call me such a derogatory term again. I am a sentient immortal being, you yourself would be much closer to being an animal than me with your disgusting habits of waste disposal, unlike my magnificent self. Second, even a tailed beast for all my jokes want company - I'm just smart enough to drop my pride to try and attain it unlike the rest of those idiots." The Fox spoke out with a dismissive gesture with his left hand before placing it back on the chair to stabilise his posture some more. "Plus, I could say I'm not used to seeing people such as major criminals act like a normal family like this, instead of acting like you do in that office of yours in world conquest." The Fox had directed his speech to Nagato then as he turned his head to view the man.

Nagato did not speak as he brought over a baby bottle filled with milk and placed it down on the high chair tray, and then placed a metal bowl filled with bacon in front of the fox. Making a second trip to scoop up two plates, each holding a bacon sandwich upon them as he placed one in front of Konan who thanked him; before sitting down beside Konan. Nagato picked up his sandwich, but chose to speak then as he looked the Fox in the eyes, who paused munching on his bacon. "I have to appreciate what is before me, Fox, before I can attain greater things. And I tell you now, I certainly appreciate the people I have gathered now. It is true, Pain's ideology comes directly from my beliefs and goals that I will strive to attain, but that does not mean I am about to poison what life I can have just for that. I may not have a carefree attitude like you do, but I appreciate what I have. I would be a hypocrite to this family if I didn't let them have their own enjoyment because I plunged fully into the hateful being that Pain is."

Konan frowned mid-way through what Nagato had said, before cheering up slightly at what he said last. The nine tailed fox resumed chewing the bacon in his mouth as he literally guessed that it could be food for thought, thinking over what Nagato said. It was true, what he'd said about personalities, for the nine tails had never actually seen Nagato laugh - only smile at Naruto and Konan. He'd basically admitted that Pain and himself were separate personalities, almost as if walking up the stairs into the attic (from which he was banned) where he went before the corpses started moving made him become a different man entirely. But perhaps, that was how Nagato wanted it - to keep such distinctions separate, so as to enable the real Nagato Uzumaki himself a semblance of normality, something to cling to, to stop himself drowning from whatever emotions were swirling inside. The Fox soon concluded, that he was glad he met Nagato Uzumaki a month ago, and not Pain.

Breakfast past in a much calmer way as nobody talked after that.

"Fox." Nagato spoke, getting the being's attention whom stopped staring into the bowl in favour of looking at him. "Me and Konan will be busy in the office today. Can I trust you to keep an eye on Naruto?"

"Uzumaki, I literally keep an eye on him every day due to the fact that my very existence dissolves if I stray too far. But yes, I will watch over the boy." The Fox stated, before scratching at a part of his face.

"Good." Nagato stated, as he stood up from the table and deposited the plates in the sink. "Konan, please take Naruto through to the living room."

Konan nodded before unstrapping the baby from the high chair, and then carrying him out the kitchen - the gurgling sounds of the baby and the flapping arms signalling his happiness. Nagato turned around and looked at the fox, before opening his mouth.

"Before you speak, I already know the rules, you've said them before." The Fox spoke before Nagato could, holding up his hand and counting off as he spoke. "Be careful, don't let him eat anything, try not to upset him, no angry stuff or you'll seal me away, and you know where I am at all times with the sensing seals placed all over the building."

Nagato didn't look too happy at being interrupted but nodded nonetheless. "Konan will check on you two from time to time. Goodbye." With that, Nagato walked out of the room.

The Fox rolled his eyes. "Sheesh, you'd think I'd get a bit more trust or respect after a month of behaving myself." Having successfully gotten the last word in, the Fox sloped off the chair and made his way to the living room down the corridor. Trotting down the carpet and then making his way through the open door into the living room.

"An economic boom has taken hold of the nation for a while now, and analysts show that this trend is only going to increase in future. From when we struggled to feed ourselves under the tyranny of Hanzo to where we can now actually sit and enjoy our own TV station under the prosperity of Lord Pain. We owe our..."

"More propaganda?" The nine tails voiced as he walked into the room and heard what the TV was preaching. Idly taking note of the room, which was mostly shades of vanilla white except for a splash of navy blue paint which coloured the back wall. A black, boxy TV had been pushed up into the top left corner of the room with two sofas angled to view the TV at a good distance, one pushed up against the front wall to the left of the door and the other facing the left wall at a right angle to the other sofa so as to almost bisect the living space in half. A black armchair was set into the top right corner and all along the right hand wall were boxes - mostly filled with toys like wooden blocks.

There wasn't a picture in sight, the Fox noticed. Almost as if they didn't want to view any memories they might have before Naruto.

"It's a good way for people to remember that they owe Nagato for the betterment of Ame." Konan responded as she stood up from the sofa, Naruto having been placed on the floor along with an assortment of toys on top of the carpeted mat that filled the floor between the sofas.

"Very well, very well, I never really understood all your human ways..." The Fox grumbled as he just sat his rear down on the carpet next to Naruto.

"Now, do be careful with him, OK? We don't want a repeat of where he bumped his head on the floor." Konan told the Fox.

"Got it." The Fox responded, before looking at the baby then the woman who was about to leave. "Besides, I like the kid - he's quiet, lets me nap with him, doesn't tug my fur and it's nice. Couldn't ask for a better host. You don't have to keep warning me..."

"We don't warn you, Fox, we just lay out some rules and conditions. Believe it or not, your much better acquainted with Nagato than even his commanders or such. Just, keep behaving and eventually you'll see a better side of Nagato." Konan spoke before walking out the room.

The Fox watched her go before looking at the TV, occasionally looking at the baby who was just hurling some blocks together. "They really are different people from what I expected of S ranks." He muttered to himself.

Seeing that Naruto was keeping himself busy, the Fox leapt up onto the sofa and lounged upon it, stretching out to lie down as he grabbed the remote control. "Let's watch something other than propaganda, hey Naruto?" The Fox jokingly asked Naruto, who only gurgled in return.

Giving a small snicker, he flicked over the channels. He did find it annoying that technology in TVs couldn't have something like a menu to choose channels from unlike programs on the clunky computers the nine tails had seen, but he just kept changing the channels. Given the fact that 90% or so of the Land of Rain lived in once city, there was plenty of choice - forty TV channels broadcasting or so. Stopping on one of the two cooking channels, he stayed his hand as he saw his favourite meal being prepared - steak.

An hour into watching a chef marinate a steak, the Fox felt something on one of his tails. Casting his eyes down, the Fox saw Naruto patting one of the orange tails that was hanging over the side of the sofa, obviously having grown bored of the blocks and instead switched his attention to petting the fur. Naruto looked up and gurgled at the Fox before holding his hands out to him.

"Sorry, I don't understand you. What is it you want?" The Fox asked the baby, who only gurgled at him before reaching higher with his arms. Giving a sigh, the Fox just decided to surrender to whatever the baby wanted and climbed down from the sofa, instead lying on the carpet and looking up at the baby from resting his head on the floor. "Well? Is this what you wanted? To see me or something?"

It seemed that was exactly what Naruto wanted, for he gave a much happier sound before starting to pet the fur along the torso of the Fox. The face of the nine tails lifted a bit, pursing his lips as if to say 'not bad' before just laying his head more comfortably into the carpet with a content expression.

When Konan came back to check on them, that was the scene she arrived to see - gazing impassively, she made no reaction except to take the camera off the shelf.

KONOHA.

A small convenience shop lay on the corner of a particularly affluent street, being on the ground floor of a building block that was mostly made up of flats from the first floor and up. The street was home to quite a lot of influential people, for example the walled Inuzuka compound lay on the opposite end of the street, the Aburame compound took up the middle of the street on the left side; and the Hokage's residence lay just outside the shop at the top of the street just at the crossroads. Suffice to say, the shop received a lot of business alone from Inuzuka clansmen coming in quickly to buy forgotten dog food, Aburame clansmen who bought herbs here for their insects and even the head of the now minor Uzumaki clan visited there for some reason.

In fact, the red headed person behind the counter noted that there was the lady now, coming in pushing something. "Good morning, Lady Uzumaki. How may I help yo- Lord Fourth!" The man spoke as he spotted what the woman was pushing, a wheelchair with an impassive Minato Namikaze sitting in it, causing the brown eyes of the man to widen as he stood up straight from leaning on the countertop.

"It's alright, Timo. We're just here for some food." Kushina Uzumaki, the clan head of the fifty-something strong Uzumaki clan, spoke.

The identified Timo only nodded as he leant back on the counter again, but his posture seemed nervous; his short stature seemingly highlighted as he did this on the counter. The couple did not stay long however, as they only picked up a few cans and groceries before heading to pay.

"That will be $18 please, ma'am." Timo requested as he entered the total price into the cashg register.

"Here you are." Kushina spoke as she handed over the money. "Thank you, Timo."

"No problem, Lady Uzumaki." Timo spoke as he handed over their shopping in a bag. "Have a pleasant day."

Kushina only nodded as Minato said nothing, before the two of them left the shop. Timo watched the two go, before he pulled out a notepad and pen.

"Interesting. Who'd have thought they'd be together? Looks like I'll have to report to Pain again." Timo spoke as he jotted down the details of what he'd seen, before quickly moving to hide his notebook as the bell above the door rang - but relaxing as he saw exactly who it was.

"Ah, Ebizu. Come here." Timo greeted warmly as the jonin nodded before making his way over to the counter. He was quite the distinctive ninja, commonly seen out and about with a bleu bandana and sunglasses on. "Please tell me you found out the identity of the baby born in the affair."

"Yes sir." Ebizu spoke, thought today he was not wearing his sunglasses, which made the mystified expression in his eyes all the more clearer.

"Then please tell." Timo ordered with a frown - he needed to remember to give precise orders to the people he indoctrinated.

"Yes sir." Ebizu repeated. "It is the Aburame clan heir, sir, as it was reported that the Aburame clan head's wife cheated on him with a foreign ninja in the Land of Wind. Reports are the baby is very likely to have a bloodline, that of the swift release. The Aburame clan head's wife was soon divorced after-"

"I do not care for the wife." Timo interrupted, cutting off Ebizu from launching further into the subject. "Give me more detail on the baby, especially that of the security around it."

"The information is not public knowledge, I had to go into classified files for the information as it is a clan matter between the Aburame and Hokage. Likely the security details have been left to the Aburame clan." Ebizu finished up.

"Excellent, you have done well Ebizu." Timo spoke, before clicking his fingers and drawing all of Ebizu's attention to him. "Now here is what you will do. You will invite Kakashi Hatake to go on a walk with you at 8pm, and insist that he joins in exchange for coming here and receiving the latest news on the Icha Icha series from me in my shop, who you know."

A seal lit up from across Ebizu's scalp before the ninja nodded. Turning around and departing from the shop, Timo gave a smile before turning around himself and going to the back of the shop. It was time to start packing if tonight was going to be the night of action, and he especially wanted to leave before the Namikaze started regaining his strength.

EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

Kakashi Hatake strolled down the pavement with Ebizu that night, apparently just to give the man some late night company. At the age of sixteen and a B rank ninja, Kakashi could hold his own, but ha was awfully unsocial - a lone wolf. He'd almost refused Ebizu's invitation, they were just acquaintances after all, but he'd changed his mind once Ebizu told what was in it for him.

The pair soon stopped outside a corner convenience shop, two lights inside twinkling as a red headed man leaned on the counter reading a book. Kakashi lowered his own book that he'd been reading as he regarded the place. "This is it, is it?" He asked as he turned his lone eye to Ebizu.

"Yes." Ebizu spoke, in a faint monotonous voice. Kakashi found it weird that Ebizu was acting that way, but given his own aloof nature he didn't pay it much thought.

The two of them entered the shop, Kakashi stepping in first as the bell above the door tinkled - and causing the man behind the counter to look up.

"Ah, welcome!" Timo greeted as he laid eyes on the two ninja, his right hand giving a welcoming wave as the left hand moved under the counter.

Kakashi gave an eye-sweep of the shop, finding it to be rather... average. It was just a normal convenience store after all - what did he expect apart from tinned goods, magazines and vegetables?

Timo watched as the pair of ninja drew closer to the counter, before he himself then pulsed chakra into a seal under the counter - and hen watched the results.

It was instantaneous. Hundreds of metal senbon, tiny little needle weapons, rained down from storage and projectile seals in the ceiling in some deadly shower of metal and poison. Kakashi himself only heard the slight whistle milliseconds before dozens of stinging, penetrating cuts suddenly erupted across his body. Wasting no time, Kakashi dived backwards away from where stood and away from the counter which undoubtedly contained the perpetrator. Ebizu, who made no effort to dodge, merely stood as the senbon rained down and sliced into his body.

Kakashi was back to his feet quickly, pulling out senbon from his body as he withdrew a kunai, however he knew he had to quickly get out of this trapped area due to the darkness already lapping at his vision - it seemed taking the poison in veritable amounts in all major parts of the body sped up how fast the poison works.

Stumbling a bit before righting himself and hurrying for the exit, he found himself heavily distracted as the floorboards to his right suddenly exploded, upheaving as a figure burst through the floor. Kakashi had to jump back a bit as he brought out his sharingan eye to help him perceive what had happened. A life-sized mechanical puppet was revealed, made of wood and metal as it heaved itself through the hole it had made before lunging at Kakashi; the chakra threads attached to the puppet linking all the way back to the arm Timo had used to wave with. A metal blade detached from the inside of the puppet's arm as it swooped in to stab Kakashi's arm.

Kakashi brought up the kunai to block it, successfully defending himself as the two weapons clashed but found himself getting sluggish in his actions, requiring more energy to move at a slower rate. Darkness was creeping upon him now as he rolled back from a second strike, having to tilt his head to avoid the strike of some senbon launching from the puppet's torso.

He didn't even both trying to use ninjutsu, already knowing that using handseals whilst this sluggish may be his death warrant - instead withdrawing a smoke bomb and detonating it within the confined space of the shop. Taking advantage of his opponent's inability to see, Kakashi rolled forward towards the door or window, whichever was closer as he prepared to make good his escape.

It was for nought, however, as another human-sized puppet exploded from the floorboards, mouth opening as it clawed its way up before making a sweeping motion with its head - more senbon launching from within the mouth which arced and fired in all directions as the head moved. Kakashi, having just dived forwards, could not attempt to dodge as he received several strikes to the torso.

Kakashi gave a groan as he collapsed to the floor, the amount of poison within his system having just more than doubled. The darkness finally closed in as both eyes shut, Kakashi's body forcefully put into a state of unconsciousness.

The smoke dissipated as a wind justu ran through the shop, revealing both Kakashi and Ebizu collapsed and out for the count upon the wrecked and debris-strewn floor. Sasori stepped forward from behind the counter, clutching a jar of green liquid in one arm as the other hand lit up a lighter shade of green with a medical technique.

"Well, Hatake." Sasori muttered as he stooped over the unconscious young adults body "Let's get that eye out, then I've got a baby to collect."