Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes explicit rape, strong language, violence, & obviously a lot of angst.
Note: Deva Path of Pain is the one you probably picture when you think of Pain. You'll want to know who he is for this one. ;) Alright, carry on~
Naruto's Path of Pain
Chapter 1: Pain's Return
--
A fierce wind clawed at the rough terrain, sending dust and sharp bits of gravel barreling into everything in its path. Naruto was no exception, but he didn't seem to mind it. Even if he did, he didn't show it. His focus remained wholly transfixed on the man standing directly across from him.
Nothing else.
He could feel his long crimson cloak snap violently behind him and his unzipped jacket soon joined its rebellion, leaving just a thin mesh shirt to cover his lean stomach. Another minor inconvenience that he didn't bother over. He saw the man's pale violet eyes slide down his exposed torso, but didn't think twice about it.
He should have.
"Answer me, Pain! Where is he?!" Naruto's golden gaze flared red as Kyuubi's power merged with his nature chakra, adding to his own growing rage. He could feel it consuming him- all of it. And he was tempted to let it.
Because he would do anything to protect his important person.
Pain chose not to respond. In fact, he did nothing. He stood inhumanly still, silently regarding Naruto over a vast expanse of dusty dry land. The blonde met his unending gaze, undaunted by it. He glared at him, hating everything about him- from his thick autumn hair, the color of a fatal fall, to the collection of piercings refracting angry light from a dying sun. He could see his tattered Akatsuki cloak shifting around his still frame, and wondered why he even bothered to wear it.
If he's not Akatsuki anymore, then why is he doing this? What the hell is he after?
Is it really just revenge..?
Naruto's patience was growing thin. He took an angry step towards him, and his mouth pulled back in a vicious snarl. "I asked you a fucking question, Pain!" he screamed. "What the hell did you do to Sasuke?!"
The Deva Path of Pain slowly tilted his head to the side as he studied the aggravated shinobi. He gave no sign of having heard him. Nothing. He just.. watched. Naruto felt incredibly uneasy under his intense scrutiny, but he wouldn't look away. He had already defeated Pain once- he would do it again.
I shouldn't have gone easy on him last time, he thought. If I had just gotten rid of him before, then Sasuke-
Naruto forced back the creeping regrets. He didn't have time for it. He needed to know where his person was, everything else could come later.
I will find you Sasuke, he thought- mostly reassuring himself, but hoping his friend picked up on the same energy somehow.
No matter what it takes.
--
When Naruto had defeated the Six Paths of Pain, and confronted Nagato, he thought that it was over. The Pains were defeated, and he had been able to persuade their leader to change his ways. Nagato had even found it in his heart to heal the villagers of Konohagakure, much to Naruto's surprise.. and relief.
But just before the pale, tortured man had released his final breath, a sharp gasp tore from his lips. Wide violet eyes shot over to Naruto.
The blonde stared at him in confusion. "Nagato..? What's going on?"
"I.. I don't understand.." he breathed. "How is this even possible?"
Naruto could feel panic bloom in his chest and drop heavy in his gut. He stepped closer, eyes locked on the horrified remnants of the Akatsuki leader. "What're you talking about?"
"Deva.. he.. he's back. But I have no control over him. I don't know how it's possible, but he has gained his own consciousness."
Rinnegan eyes widened as Nagato fought to hold onto the last bit of his connection to his final Path of Pain. "Naruto, he's seeking revenge. He wants to take some.. thing…"
His voice was fading fast. Naruto ran to his side. He reached out to him, but he didn't know where he should touch him. He seemed so frail, like the slightest tap and his bones would burst to dust. Naruto kept his hand frozen an inch from Nagato's and his eyes shot up to find his instead.
"Tell me, Nagato. Please. What does Pain want to take?"
He looked down, his violet gaze far away, and yet heavy- weighed down by a burden that seemed nearly too great to bear. "Something.. precious to you…"
Naruto was about to speak when his sibling-student suddenly pitched forward, his weakened body gone limp. His eyes rolled back as he dropped, and then with one last shuttering breath, he was gone. Naruto stood there, just staring at his hanging corpse in shock, his mind spinning- struggling to process Nagato's final words.
Pain is alive. And he has his own consciousness now- separate from Nagato's. How would he even do that?
Why..?
Revenge, he realized. He has his sights set on me because I killed the other Paths of Pain. Maybe he blames me for Nagato now too. Because he was weaker after saving the Leaf..
"What did Nagato say?" he murmured to himself.
He wants to take something precious from me. But what does that even mean..?
Naruto buried his fists in his hair, tugging at the blonde mess, trying to get the damn thing to think, when it suddenly came to him. The thought wasn't a reassuring one. In fact, it made him sick to think about it. He wanted to deny it, to make it untrue, but he couldn't imagine that he meant anything else by 'something precious to you'. What could possibly be more precious to Naruto than his most important person- the one he constantly fought to get back.
The man he had quietly loved for as long as he could remember. The one he contantly failed to bring home.
Sasuke.
He's going to go after Sasuke.
Naruto could hear someone approaching and immediately knew who it was. It wouldn't be anyone else. Just as he needed to go to his important person, she had gone to her's. He turned to Konan as she approached, watching as small sheets of paper floated away from her to drift listlessly through the air- the slow unraveling of a girl who had lost the last of her friends.
"I'm sorry, Konan" Naruto said softly. "I.. I didn't want this for Nagato. You know that, don't you?"
The girl nodded. "I know, Naruto."
Naruto turned away, unable to stand the guilt that came with that broken look in her eyes. "I have to go" he said, his voice strained. It felt wrong just leaving her like this, but he couldn't let Sasuke get involved. He shouldn't have to pay for Naruto's mistakes- he owed him that much. "I think Pain is planning to-"
"I understand, Naruto" Konan cut in, her voice gentle despite the abruptness of it. "And I'm sorry, but I can't help you hurt Yahiko. Even knowing that it's not really him.. I won't harm what's left of my friend."
She forced back the tears rising in the back of her throat and looked over at the blonde. She could see that he felt for her, that he wanted to help, and it was enough. There was nothing he could really do for her, but it felt nice knowing that he wanted to. It reminded her of something she used to have. A bond- the kind that lasts through war and pain and loss. A friendship deeper than most, and the strength and comfort that came with it. It had been so long.. she had nearly forgotten about it.
"I wish you luck."
She paused, eyes drifting to the floor. Naruto could tell that there was more she wanted to say and waited for her to speak.
Konan's voice slipped away from her, like so many pieces of paper. "I know what it's like to lose what is most precious to you." She raised her head and locked eyes with the shinobi their master had also come to love.. before he...
"I don't wish that for you" she finished.
Naruto nodded. "Thank you. And.. take care of yourself, Konan." And with that he turned and leapt from the hideout, desperate to find his friend.
Before it's too late.
--
Naruto figured his best bet was tracking down Pain. That wherever he found him, he would likely also find Sasuke. What he hadn't anticipated was that Pain would find him first.
He was out in the middle of a dry desolate plain and feeling incredibly disoriented. He could have retraced his steps and gone back, but he had never been out this way and didn't really have a clue as to what was there or where to start. It did seem like a place where the Akatsuki would hide a base, which was somewhat reassuring- if you could call it that. He wasn't really looking to confront all of them, and hoped he didn't just put himself in the middle of a trap, but it made sense for Pain to return to a place like this- even if he didn't necessarily belong there anymore. He figured that meant he was on the right path and forged ahead, determined to find them.
Naruto leapt past a deep crevice and rounded a wall of boulders when suddenly there he was, blocking his path. He skidded to a stop, a growl tearing through his throat as he locked eyes with Nagato's final puppet. The only one who had managed to break its strings. "Pain."
The man stared at him, unblinking, quietly observing him.
"Where is he?" he demanded. "Tell me what you've done with Sasuke!"
Naruto could feel the Nine Tails' chakra flowing through him, altering his sage mode. His body felt hot, and a fearsome snarl stretched his face taut. He could feel his canines elongate, it's sharp edge slicing into his lip. He welcomed all of it. He still had yet to fully gain control over the Kyuubi's power, but there were many times he was relieved to have it.
"Answer me, Pain" he growled, eyes flickering gold and red, gold and red, as their chakras combines "Where is he?!"
He remained expressionless, watching.. waiting.
It pissed Naruto off, and his patience was already stretched thin. "You will tell me."
With another deep feral growl, Naruto lunged towards him. Pain dodged his first few attacks, but Naruto's speed was unmatched and after a few misses he was able to land a powerful hit. Pain flew backwards, struggling to stay on his feet.
Naruto's body bubbled with Kyuubi's power as his fury took hold of him. He could feel his control wavering, and he ground his teeth in his attempts to regain it. He wanted the fox's strength, but he needed to keep his head if he was going to get answers.
"Dammit, Pain- answer me! What did you do to Sasuke?!"
The man slowly stepped towards him as he finally broke his silence. "What makes you think I did anything to him?"
"Your lies won't work" Naruto snapped. "Nagato already told me what you have planned. I know you're after what is precious to me, and it's no secret that that's Sasuke. Now tell me- what the fuck have you done with him?!!"
Pain tilted his head again, eyes shining with amusement. "You are sorely mistaken, Naruto."
A terrifying grin started to pull at his pale face, and Naruto took a step back. Deva took another step towards him, his smile widening as he scrambled to stay away. "This has absolutely nothing to do with Sasuke."
Naruto stared, confusion flashing across his face. If it has nothing to do with Sasuke, then what the hell is all of this? Is he lying to throw me off?
The grin tightened, twisting into something less than human. "You may have defeated Nagato's Six Paths" he said smoothly, "but I have a new path in mind. I have faced countless forms of suffering throughout my life- it is time that you do the same."
Fear unfurled from deep in Naruto's gut, crawling up his throat. Another Path? What does that even mean..?
"What are you talking about?" he breathed. "What new Path of Pain?"
Naruto shuddered as Deva slowly licked his lips.
"Let me show you."
Author Note:
Yep, I decided to go back and revise this one. I feel like my writing is improving a lot and when I went back to reread this story I could reallyyyy tell the difference. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to reread it to see its improvements & thank you to all who are reading it for the first time.
I hope it doesn't disappoint :)