< in some unknown place in Amegakure >
It is a routine day for Nagato, using the body of his best friend Yahiko, the red‐haired man remained calm, he wanted to remain calm because this time he had requested monitoring in the Leaf Village, his information with Zetsu is very central.
He asked for his information and his occasional check‐up since Yūji is in the exams.
He had wanted to hide it, truly his personality twisted since Yahiko's death, he never opened up again to anyone except Konan, he was submerged in darkness and only in order to execute his plan to collect all the bijuus in his hands and forcefully control all the villages, he will extend true peace.
But this time... at the moment that Yūji and his sister arrived, he had wanted to hide it, he had wanted to close off his human emotions again, he is a god, he would never again behave like a human.
Being the god who will rule everything.
But this time... that child, he looks so much like Yahiko, a personality so sweet and cheerful that had never again been found anywhere else, his innocent look when he met him, he never appears before the people of Amegakure, with Konan being the face of the village. It was his first time meeting a little boy on his own.
At first, he really planned to take him as a new path of pain, as his animalistic path was still lacking, since the child is talented, very talented.
Apart from his lively personality, despite the fact that he controlled Yahiko, the child had asked him a curious question, in which he asked if he was afraid of him because of his eyes.
To his surprise and in silence, the child only tells him that he has unique eyes, and that he is a unique person.
From that beginning, although he began teaching him, occasionally passing himself off as just another villager from the Village of Rain, he had begun to invite the child to eat, he wanted to know him more in depth, he wanted to know more about him and his sister.
The child never refused, always bearing that sweet smile and eating with him, he spent years getting to know that child, that if he had had a son... he would really want him to look like Yūji.
But just as the child behaves, he fears that by his own mistake he will end up like Yahiko.
Dead.
Konan has noticed his change because, after all, his love for her became subtle but he knows how to hide it; Nagato could not hide it, silently asking Konan how Yūji had fared, if he arrived well, how he reacted to the first mission.
He wanted to know everything anonymously, after all, very soon the hunt for the bijuus will begin, and he wanted Yūji to be on other very different missions and far from those villages where everyone has a jinchūriki.
But... the exams began, and by regulation, they had to send Genins, Yūji's team was not an exception to his pity. Now, being once again in that secret place that only Konan knew, the silence was quite tense and gloomy.
Today the sky is crying more than expected, it is just as Nagato says.
Konan was by Nagato's side helping him get into that place so that he could change bodies, when Nagato closed his eyes, Pain opened them, and she remained silent with a relaxed expression.
And after that torturous silence, Nagato spoke
" Zetsu has brought information about Yūji? "
Konan remained relaxed watching as Pain adjusted the Akatsuki robe
" no really, we haven't had any information from the team and it seems that it isn't over yet, two days remain until the conclusion of the Chūnin exams "
Pain fell silent, his forehead, which was always without his Amegakure band, which he had gotten used to not wearing anymore, after all, he was always with Yūji, was slowly having it put on again while his expression remained, as always, cold and calculating. The four‐line band was deeply marked on his forehead.
He only hoped that the little red‐head was doing well.
He left the cave together with Konan while his gaze hardened " in less than a year we will begin the first phase of capturing the bijuus, we must notify all Akatsuki and assign them their tasks of who should and who should not "
" as ordered " whispered the lilac‐haired one without changing her expression.
Pain and Konan had left the cave, as always, the orange‐haired one would be on the Tower of Pain, except that this time he was beneath the same tower.
Konan regarded him without flinching, but hearing a disgusting noise made her turn toward the ground; to her surprise, even though she only opened her eyes slightly, she saw Zetsu, who had made his presence known, it is possible that he has news about Konoha.
" Pain-sama " whispered the plant, directing his gaze toward both " there has been news from the Leaf Village, the Chūnin exams have gone awry, and... the ninjas of Konoha think that Amegakure is planning an attack with them " his voice lowered as he felt that penetrating gaze from Pain upon him.
" And why do they think that? " his voice was intimidating, those purple, ringed eyes looked at that plant, appearing superior.
" something happened with the ninjas you sent to the exams, it is possible that they killed the team of that red‐haired child you mentioned who was giving you information, we hadn't gone in to look but what used to be a forest no longer exists, and all the ninjas of Konoha were on the move "
the hoarse and deep voice of Black Zetsu made itself present.
He was planning to tell him that because Pain was deviating from the plan of capturing the bijuus because of a mere brat, spending more time in the Land of Rain due to living together, it's a joke, even though on his face, which has no form and is completely flat next to White Zetsu, internally he was happy that that brat had died, one less problem for him. And it was much better when he didn't have to take care of it, since he had been planning many ideas on how to kill him.
Fortunately, it happened soon.
He saw, in clear vision, how he was attacked consecutively by the ninjas, just as Hatake Kakashi's hand made his heart explode! He saw that he fell inert to the ground, he had to relay this news quickly, because that way Nagato would once again detach himself from the affection of Amegakure, and he would mostly no longer pay attention to Konan, he didn't need to pay attention to trash, he just straightened the corpse, appreciating it amid laughter, and disappeared again from Konohagakure.
Hearing that was a hard blow for both, White Zetsu looked on with surprise at how those two people who are his favorite puppets reacted; Yahiko, or at least Nagato, controlling him, made an abnormal grimace on the face of the deceased, his intimidation became secondary, his fists trembled upon hearing.
He could not lose someone he cared for again.
And again... because of the damned ninjas of Konoha.
Konan made a gesture of fear, something not very common on her face, she saw how Pain clenched his fists " Pain... "
" The child? How is Yūji? I want you to tell me exactly " he approached the plant, who looked intimidated, at least White Zetsu, who moved away a little.
He was behaving very abnormally compared to what they knew.
" He died, we arrived too late to his area, he was cold-bloodedly killed by four Jōnin and three ANBU from Konoha, I couldn't do anything since when I looked at him his heart exploded " Black Zetsu spoke on behalf of White Zetsu, who had become paralyzed, trying to explain what he witnessed.
That was not a lie, when they arrived at the brat's area, they only witnessed his death, they left the Fire Lands because Black Zetsu needed Nagato to fall again into hatred and sadness, lost in his own darkness.
Pain, upon hearing it, lost the courage on his face and staggered away from Zetsu.
His hand went to his forehead, incredulous at hearing it, with a lump in his throat.
Was he really behaving like a filthy human by having these feelings for that little one?
Did he really die?
No... again.
He turned his back on Zetsu while trying to steady himself against the wall, he bowed his head to the ground, and a labored breath emerged from him.
This, hurts... hurts too much.
Konan, upon hearing it, even though she wanted to hide it, had not cried in a long time; tears began to flow from that heavy news, all the memories began to come to her mind, all in which at the moment she met that sweet boy, he was the one who showed her the true honesty and the missing love toward both.
Slowly, they began to see in the little one something more than that of a poor orphan like both.
Visualizing how they both cared for Yūji, how he smiled in gratitude, how he hugged them and told both of them that he felt happy to have them.
It was something deeper than her giving charity to two orphans.
Pain closed his eyes, making a grimace of pain, he clutched his chest, in that body where no heartbeat emerged, but the emotional pain is so great that he can barely stand.
" What... what happened to the other girl? " Pain finally spoke, if Yūji died, he hoped that his sister would not.
" They have her under observation by the ninjas of Konoha, believing that it is an attack by the Village of Rain, all the Genin of Amegakure are under observation in the medical wings, and others are locked up trying to extract information "
The pain slowly turned into anger, the trembling in his labored breathing began to stabilize.
Turning his back on both, Pain straightened up, with a grim expression on his face.
He was losing his sanity.
' Yūji... the true sun of Amegakure, our little one, he was killed by the monsters of Konoha '
" This... is not going to stay like this " his voice trembled with anger, looking at Black Zetsu, in his eyes an unknown rage could be seen.
One that Black Zetsu had never witnessed in Nagato, not even when Yahiko died. He had made that kind of face.
" We will begin the bijuu plan, starting with Suna "
Black Zetsu smiled inwardly, yes, that is what this lovely puppet needed.
He liked this fiercer Nagato, this gesture is perfect for him, to show his true hatred to the world.
" I am not going to wait any more years... not anymore "
Although he knew that they had to do it in an orderly manner, that is why he wants to mobilize the plan, although he was still biting his tongue so as not to say that he wanted to go straight to Konoha to destroy the village.
He himself will take care of avenging Yūji, that little sun that was helping him feel humanity and the missing love.
Because he saw Yūji as a...
" Konan " he spoke to the girl, he turned to look at her, seeing how the woman kept her head down, it seemed she was wiping something.
" Yes, Pain " her voice came out softly, it seemed trembling but remained firm.
" Mobilize yourself to the Leaf Village, and take Yūji's body and bring Karin back, if they dare to question us, make them know the pain " Konan knew what those words meant.
The girl, showing herself already without a shine and not a single expression on her neutral face, looked at Pain, who seemed just like the woman
" ... as ordered, Pain " those words came out with hidden anger, disappearing in thousands of origamis.
She did not question, did not ask, because she knew that Nagato and she shared the same suffering for the little red‐head.
He will make those ninjas suffer, maybe not the ninjas of Konoha.
But yes, his village.
When Konan disappeared in her jutsu, Pain turned to look at Zetsu again, he seemed to be waiting for an order as well " I will contact Deidara, so that he captures the one-tailed jinchūriki "
" Good, also... someone you already know will finally join " White Zetsu spoke when he saw that Pain was controlling his emotions again, returning to being the same as they knew him, a man dead in life.
No longer having anything attached to his heart.
" ... Madara " saying that formed a deeper gesture.
" That's right, he will be in anonymity, he will have a mask and will act under the name of Tobi " Black Zetsu informed with complete calm, one could even hear a hidden happiness.
Pain said nothing more, nor did he make any expression.
" I withdraw, and... I mourn your loss, Nagato " whispered Black Zetsu in a low voice as the earth swallowed him.
Pain remained in solitude, in the moment of being alone.
He felt the rain more heavily.
Without any expression, he searched inside his Akatsuki cloak, and upon finding it, he took it out.
A poorly made bracelet, with a pretty stone, one could see the age of the bracelet as it had somewhat worn marks or that the stone had lost its shine.
But he had never abandoned it.
_________________
It was a normal day in Amegakure, Konan was guiding Yūji.
Since she took him as her pupil, the child showed that he gave his all to excel, and Pain's face never once showed a smile in front of him.
He still sees that child as a candidate for a new path of pain, one that helps his village and repays the hospitality that Konan gave him, and himself for helping him develop faster. After all, he hasn't been training Yūji for long, maybe only a month.
When he arrived, he went straight to teach him, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Yūji shouted
" wait, wait! Before starting, I want to give you something " seeing the smile that never left the child's face made Pain stop speaking.
Well, perhaps fulfilling the child's whim wouldn't be bad, he stopped and analyzed him as he had always done.
The child seemed to be looking for something desperately in his expression, although it was funny " I found it! Look " when he took something and went to them, Pain was a bit surprised
" extend your hands, please "
Without saying anything more, he himself extended his hand; Konan, although she wanted to hide her smile, couldn't, after all, she is the one who treats Yūji the most.
" Taaa-ran! "
" What is this? " Pain spoke in a surprised tone, he saw that the child had given him a red bracelet with a somewhat purple stone on it and for Konan a lilac bracelet very similar to her hair with a yellowish stone in the center, for both.
" Ah damn, I told Karin that they really wouldn't fit you and she remained obstinate! " he saw how the child looked disappointed, but immediately he smiled again " Sister Karin and I made these bracelets for you, we used the threads from our clothes and we found the stones in a deep place where the lake made by the rain is located... I, well, we wanted to give you something... maybe it is not money nor something of value, but, we truly thank you for everything you have done at all times for me and my sister, a detail that comes from our hearts for both of you " the child's voice sounded very grateful, showing his same radiant smile for both.
Pain blinked a little skeptically, looking at that bracelet that of course did not fit his hand.
But still he squeezed it and held it; it was the first time he received a gift from a little boy, and that was given with so much affection, not fear, not admiration, but love.
His expression, which was always stoic, relaxed and his gestures softened.
And in a solemn manner, a barely-there smile appeared on his face.
_______________
From that sincere gift, Pain was no longer seeing Yūji as a candidate for a path of pain; he continued instructing and teaching him, no longer only teaching him his methods of fire-style jutsus, he began to teach him the taijutsu that Jiraiya-sensei taught them, but also incorporating part of his style.
Seeing how the child got excited about such small things and how he told him that he was great, spontaneous, that same smile began to emerge from the darkness.
The child seemed to spend more time by his side; at the end of the training session, Pain no longer left as soon as it ended, he stayed for a while with the child.
He wanted... to get to know him.
Right now, the three of them sitting on one of the perfect rocks for taking a rest, the child showed curiosity about him.
" Brother Pain, why are you always sad? "
That question really made him form a look of curiosity, why did you ask that? He was not sad.
" Sad? "
" Yes, it's the same thing that I had told Sister Konan a while ago, but she has never answered me "
Konan averted her gaze when she felt Pain's gaze on her.
" I... I am not sad, why are you asking me that? "
" It is because I know it " that question seemed too deep, seeing how the child looked at her softly.
But feeling a hug made him tense, for all that time he had never touched Yūji in such an affectionate way; he was the first to give him affection.
" Why are you hugging me? "
" Something told me that you needed it " the whisper had made him tremble a little in his own place.
His insides felt agitated, because it made him wonder why that child had seen through his façade so easily.
He was sure that his face at that moment was a dilemma.
But slowly the affection that Yūji had given him deliberately was reciprocated, his hand caressed his back softly.
It seems that the child does not want to separate from him, he continues hugging him tightly and with the added affection.
Now his smile, when it appeared, looked more natural than in the beginning.
" You are so stubborn, Yūji " was a tone that Konan never thought she would hear, as she was appreciating everything that was happening before her, with a surprised gesture.
It was the first time since Yahiko's death that Nagato accepted affection, because not even she had been able to get close as in the old days.
Yūji... has something special that seems to make Nagato feel secure.
_______________
" Today I don't want to train "
" Huh? But you have to keep training, Yūji " Konan was a bit confused upon seeing the renegade child.
" I want to eat with you! After you finish training, you disappear from my sight and I never see you again until tomorrow, could we spend the day together like a normal day? " that made both Konan and Pain open their eyes at how the child seemed to plead to spend a calm day with them.
" Uhm... well, you see, Pain has things that- "
" It's fine, but you will take us to the place where you want to eat " Konan fell silent when she heard how Pain seemed to easily accept Yūji's request.
He is still surprised by the change that Nagato has with the child; he went from seeing him as a threat, then as the next animalistic path, ultimately becoming very close to the child.
Yūji smiled excitedly, jumping small leaps
" Yes! Let's go eat! I am very hungry, my sister Karin, when we help an old lady, she makes very delicious meals, I am sure you will like it too "
the little red‐haired boy held Pain's hand firmly, wanting to guide him.
Konan stayed behind watching that scene; appreciating it made her realize that Nagato had reopened his heart to affection and love.
Walking together like that, she couldn't help but think of Nagato and Yūji as a sweet image of a father and his son.
" Sister Konan? Sister Konan, you also have to come with us! " Yūji stopped, and Pain turned to look at Konan, seeing the gesture she had.
It was a gesture that he had not seen her do in a long time, a gesture of tenderness.
But what caused that?
Yūji went straight to Konan to hold her hand and bring her to his other side, and Konan made a sweet gesture holding Yūji's warm hand.
Pain did the same; the difference was drastic, with Yūji emanating the sweet warmth that could lull both of them, who possessed a rather unique coldness.
The three of them left the training area holding Yūji as he had said.
____________
He doesn't know why, since he spent those relaxing moments with Yūji, his cold mind that only had one thought, to obtain the bijuus, slowly became flooded with images of Yūji, always in everything he thought.
It was in that little one.
" Boss? "
Hearing a voice made him snap out of his thoughts; all the projections of the Akatsuki were there, appearing like holograms, he had gotten distracted again in that thought.
" ... for now, we will postpone the plan to capture the bijuu for a longer time " was said seriously, he did not care if the renegades nor the ninjas that he had invited to Akatsuki got angry.
He will postpone the plan, now that he had Yūji and would finish educating him himself.
He wanted Yūji to grow up and become independent, so that he could become the new pillar, so that when he grows up, he can be given the command to control all the bijuus and he himself can be the true peace.
His charisma and his love for people, along with that determination that he has always carried, made him the true heir to peace as Yahiko had been; he is already tainted, he could not govern as he had always thought.
The one who will inherit his will, Konan's, and Yahiko's, will be that little one that he himself is taking care of forging. He has potential, he has a lot of power that has never been seen in any other child.
When he grows up, no one will even be able to oppose the hard-handed regime against all the countries.
Thinking of that made him break into a smile, the beautiful image of true peace, having a ruler who truly cares about the weak and helps those very much in need.
Yes.
Yūji is the one who will be in charge of being the true lamp that will light up this world full of pain, who will help those in need, his heir.
Because he thought of Yūji as a son.
...
But now...
Seeing that bracelet, in the solitude of the tower, some tears began to fall, can a dead body really release emotions?
His tears soaked the bracelet that that sweet boy had made for him, he already had everything ready, Yūji would be his heir, he would have everything in his power to achieve true peace.
And now...
" Damned ninjas of Konoha... they are the true plague that must be exterminated " he gripped that bracelet with anger, his teeth clenched, that gesture of agony.
This pain... is very different from when he lost his best friend, Yahiko. If he thought he had truly known real pain
He was wrong.
This was something he had never experienced before; it was the first time.
It hurt so much.
He didn't want to believe that Yūji was truly dead.
He couldn't.
He didn't want his little sun, the one he had placed his hopes in, to be gone. All of this had to be a cruel and vile lie.
But… reality had always made him understand that his suffering was inevitable.
He would never be happy.
Now that he was in a crucial solitude, he allowed himself to cry.
Because gods can also cry, at least once.
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[ Today's illustration! If it doesn't appear here, it appears in the comments
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