The Real Me

60

Pain stood at the window and watched the rain fall heavily on the streets below. It wasn't unusual at all, and the villagers were quite used to it.
After all it was the "Village Hidden In The Rain".

A woman stepped out of the shadows behind him and spoke slowly, "Attacking the villages?"

Pain turned around and nodded at her.
"His orders."

Konan let out a small "hmph" and said, "Why do we have to change our plans-"

A deep laughter echoed in the empty space, stopping Konan from speaking any further.

A man in orange man materialised into existence from the shadows.
The single eye turned into a Sharingan and stared at Pain.
He spoke up, his voice deep, "Any problem Konan?"

Konan faltered, but then spoke anyway, "Why do we have to change our plans? Didn't you say that we needed all jinchuuriki for the destruction of the Hidden Leaf? Isn't that what we were working for?"

The man stepped forward and stood near the window as well, staring at the heavy downpour. He tilted his head and listened to the chatter of the common folk. They were so oblivious, selling porridge to workers and laughing at petty things. They had no idea who had built them this safe haven, who had saved them. All they knew and did was pray to their saviour. Pitiful.

He turned around and grinned, but of course, the other two couldn't see it. "We don't need them."

Konan raised her brows.

"Why waste time collecting all those stupid jinchuuriki and extract their powers slowly when we already have the strongest of them?"

"The new kid." Pain said.

"The new kid." The man agreed.

Konan, still dubious, voiced her concerns, "Are you saying that the Nine Tailed Fox is stronger than all the Tailed Beast together?"

"Of course not," the man scoffed, "but he is pretty strong. Also, why waste time?"

"I still don't understand! Why are we ignoring the plan we had worked so hard on?"
Konan said loudly. "Who are you to tell is what to do?"

The man snorted at her words, "Who am I? Haha, who am I? Who do you think I am Konan?"

Despite his aggressive tone, Pain didn't move an inch, nor did Konan back down.

"Just someone with who is apparently 'showing us the way' after Yahiko's death."

"Huh. Who do you think...founded this organisation? Who do you think...gave you the power to still be able to see your dear Yahiko like this?" He motioned towards Pain, who stood still, staring at the man.

Konan paused. The latter part was a weal spot for both her and Nagito, the man who hid behind the identity of 'Pain', doing his best to put Yahiko's plans into motion.

"Yahiko founded Akatsuki." Konan said, her tone firm.

The man didn't back down for a while, but eventually started laughing in a low voice and stepped back, holding his chin under his mask.

"Just, just do as I say ok? If you still want to see your dear Yahiko." He said and turned away from her, unaware of the fact that she would rather not see Yahiko like this.
Yahiko was not like this. He was not some kind of killing machine. He had dreams. But...
She clenched her fists.
Those damn Hidden Villages. They thought if themselves as high and mighty and didn't think twice before crushing someone else's life just to walk one step ahead.
It was all their fault.
They killed Yahiko.