a fateful night in Amegakure (part i)

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, the worry in my voice obvious.  

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” He replies, and without looking at him, I know that he is sure. I can hear the force of his conviction in his deep voice.

I try to say something but the sound of thunder cuts me off before I can get it out. The rain is especially harsh tonight, but that’s to be expected this time of year in Amegakure. Though the rain is continuous throughout the year, it’s always the worst during these months.

I turn and look towards the mountain, where the enemies’ stronghold lay waiting for his attack. The castle once belonged to one of the Lords’ of Amegakure, but The Salamander claimed it for himself several years ago, after taking the life of the Lord and wiping out his army.

A bolt of lightning flashes overhead as I say, “they’ll be waiting for you.”  

“I know.”

“And you’re only going to take the five of them with you?”

“Yes.”

“It just doesn’t make sense. Why not call one of the other members, or let me join-”  

“This is my fight, and mine alone.” His voice is stern, and I know that my attempt it futile. I don’t like the idea of him barging into their stronghold with just the Paths. It’s not that I don’t believe in his strength – I know just how strong he has become in the last few years. But, the sheer number of enemy combatants, combined with the traps that are surely lying in wait. It’s going to be impossible for him to reach The Salamander. It’s ridiculous for him to even try it alone.

I recall our last attempt at confronting The Salamander and his crew, and how badly it went for all of us, especially..

“Don’t worry.” He snaps me out of my trance. “I plan on making quick work of them all.”

I turn to him but then quickly turn away.

“It still bothers you.” He says, solemnly.

“It’s,” I swallow hard, “still difficult, yes.”

Difficult is an understatement. I think. It’s almost unbearable.

I turn back to him and see that he’s turned his head away from me, more than likely ashamed of his look because of my reaction. I want to apologize, but I can’t.

I admire his form. He wears the standard attire of our organization, an all-black cloak with bright red clouds scattered throughout the design. A red trim covers the edges of his sleeves, the bottom of the cloak, as well as the high collar that wraps around his head, slightly obscuring the bottom half of his face. I wish it covered more of his face than it already does.

The face is one that is somehow simultaneously familiar and unrecognizable to me. It isn’t the fact that his skin, which was once so filled with color and life, was now as white as paper; it isn’t the fact that his face and ears are now covered with black chakra rods, which protrude from his skin like piercings; it isn’t even the fact that his once brownish-orange eyes were now replaced with the cold, unnerving Rinnegan.

I could handle those things, drastically different though they may be. But, that wasn’t what really bothered me.

What bothered me was the way he didn’t smile. The way his face was frozen in a permanent scowl, the way his eyes were so filled with despair and loneliness, yet also chocked-full of anger and rage. Like he was both in pain and ready to dish it out.

I hated seeing Yahiko like this.

But, this isn’t Yahiko. I remind myself. Not anymore.

Yahiko is dead. His life claimed by The Salamander.

I remember that day so vividly. A peaceful meeting between our group, the Akastsuki, and The Salamander. Or, that’s what we thought it would be. But then I was kidnapped, and when they finally managed to find me, they were forced into an impossible situation. One that ended with he and I brutalized and Yahiko sacrificing his life for mine.

I feel a rage start to build inside of me. Anger at myself for letting myself be captured, anger at Yahiko for sacrificing himself for me, but more than anything I feel an anger towards The Salamander for orchestrating the entire event. He has to pay for taking Yahiko from us, for the pain he has inflicted on us.

       

He turns his gaze back towards me, and I look into his grey eyes.

The Salamander will come to know Pain.

“I’m going to kill him, Konan.” He says.

“I know you will, Nagato.” I reply.

“With this act, we’ll be that much closer to achieving our goal of true peace.” He pauses as the sound of footsteps comes from the forest behind him, “the world will come to know Pain.”

Just as he says the final word five other individuals jump from the shadowy forest behind him and take their positions next to him. Each one wears an identical cloak, sports similar facial piercings in the form of Chakra Rods, have identical Rinnegan eyes, and have the same bright orange hair as Yahiko.

The Paths have arrived.

At first glance it might seem as though they were all siblings, or at least closely related. But that was by design. Nagato’s design. He wanted them all to resemble Yahiko, perhaps as a sort of tribute to our fallen comrade. I find it somewhat creepy, like looking at different versions of Yahiko – none of them as flattering as the original. All of them just as dead.

Yahiko’s Body – the Deva Path – turns to me and says, “I’m heading out now.”

I admire the Six Paths of Pain for a moment, wanting to put my faith in their – in Nagato’s – ability to complete this mission. Because not only is this mission a personal one for us, it is one that will bring an end to the Civil unrest that has been plaguing our Village for the past seven years. We need this win. And, if anyone can do it, I’d have to imagine that it would be Nagato and his Six Paths of Pain.

I lock eyes with the Deva Path. With the man I once knew as Yahiko.

“Very well,” I start.

Image from Pintrest