Questionable Loyalty
folder
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
61
Views:
2,668
Reviews:
160
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
61
Views:
2,668
Reviews:
160
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do own not Naruto and and I do not make any money from these writings.
Chapter 14
A/N: I dreaded writing this chapter so much, but in the end I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I hope you'd like it too.
CHAPTER 14
“So… How do you find Amegakure no Sato, Kakashi-san?”
Kakashi stared warily at the man behind the desk and frowned for a moment before answering:
“Clean.”
The red-head cocked an eye-brow and smiled at the word.
“Indeed, we have excellent cleaning service. But that was not what I meant, and I think you know it.” He pointed to a chair that stood before the desk.
“Why don’t you sit down?” he asked politely.
“I prefer to stand, thank you.” Kakashi answered just as politely then spoke again:
“What do you expect me to say… Pein, isn’t it?”
The red-head nodded.
“That you have cleaned this place out of parasites and now the rest of the population finds your god complex incredibly endearing?”
Pein watched him without saying a word.
“What about the parasite’s children? What was their crime? That they were born?”
A shadow passed over the pale, pretty face but it quickly disappeared.
“The children had not yet committed a specific crime, I’ll admit that.” He said carefully “But they would’ve, had I given them the chance.”
“And the babies? You cannot argue that they were taught to be like their parents, because, oh, I know! They didn’t have long enough time to teach them anything!”
The shadow this time was darker and stayed for a longer time.
“Who are you to judge me, Kakashi-san?” the man hissed, but did not raise his voice. “You, who have taken payment to take lives, some of them as young as those that I have taken.”
“I have never killed such small children!”
“Now, you and I both know that this is a lie.” Pein said mildly. “How many times have you fought in populated areas in other villages? How much was the collateral damage from the jutsus you hurled at your opponents? Have you ever thought what happened to the people whose homes were brought down by explosions and floods and summons?”
“This is different! I have never intended…”
“Ah, it’s different to you, perhaps. I doubt that the victims, yours or mine, care about our intentions – only the result is important to them, and the result is one and the same.” He finished, got up from his chair and approached the glass wall, staring down at the city.
“Though the result for those who have survived…” he said softly “Is much different.” And he turned to Kakashi again. “Wouldn’t you think so?”
Kakashi could feel an impending headache building behind his temples.
“I think I know why I’m here, Pein.” He said. “You want to recruit me, don’t you?”
The red-head nodded.
“Am I succeeding?”
“No.” Kakashi said flatly. “Why would I want to help you to do… what? Conquer and rule the world? That is what you want, isn’t it?”
“I have interest in neither, actually.” Pein answered.
Kakashi snorted.
“Yes, right. Says the man who considers himself a god.” He muttered mockingly.
“Whether I actually believe that I am a god or not is a wholly different matter than what the people believe, Kakashi-san. And as I said, I am not interested in ruling. You must’ve noticed, I don’t take an active role in ruling this Village. Perhaps at one time, I did. No more. A deity cannot allow itself a direct interference in the lives of its followers, don’t you know that? Yes, I gave them moral codes, I taught them how to be better people… but the organization and actual decision-making about their day to day lives remains with them. I observe…”
“And punish those who do not obey?” Kakashi finished lightly.
“And I allow our judicial system to deal with criminals.” Pein finished, ignoring Kakashi’s words. “But yes, I would interfere and destroy anyone who directly attacks this village and tries to harm its residents. Unless they can deal with the threats themselves, of course.”
“Alright, I’ll humour you.” Kakashi said and walked up to the glass wall to look down at the village too, standing next to the red-head. “Let us assume that you’re as good and benevolent as you say you are. Why did you need to pretend you are a god?”
Pein turned back to the glass and looked down as well.
“People are stupid, prideful, petty creatures by default. Do you agree?”
Kakashi frowned, but did not protest.
“And by default, these flaws of theirs do not allow them to take advice from their peers – they always think they know best. But they would listen to someone who is smarter, better, who is so much above them that they cannot even think to defy him… a god.” Pein finished.
They remained silent for a long time, while Kakashi digested all that the Akatsuki leader had said. Finally, he spoke very softly:
“And what is your plan then? Spread your religion throughout the world? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but your agents aren’t exactly the missionary type.”
Pein turned to look at him.
“No, this plan would take a long, long time, and I do not believe that we have that much time to waste. I have another plan that should produce more immediate results.”
Kakashi looked at him questioningly and Pein began to explain. When he was done, the Jounin stared at him for a few seconds and then finally said hoarsely:
“And for a moment there, I was actually considering your philosophy to be a tad acceptable. You are completely insane!” his tone rose with each word. “You better kill me right now, because I would NOT participate in the active genocide of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people!”
“Kakashi-san…”
“No. I don’t want to hear it!”
Pein’s lips thinned to a narrow pale line.
“Very well. You may return to your room. Kisame will see you down.”
“What is the point? I will not do what you want of me!” Kakashi protested sharply.
“There is one other person whose words I want you to hear and then consider.” Pein told him calmly. “And you WILL hear them, even if I have to tie you up to my own chair for that.”
With a huff, Kakashi left the room. The double doors opened and closed and he stared at the huge man standing next to it.
“And you? Why do you follow this madman?” he asked sharply.
Kisame looked at him thoughtfully.
“My reasons are my own. Perhaps I’d share them with you some day, but not now.”
After he brought the Jounin back to his room and locked him there, he returned to Pein. The red-head hadn’t moved from his position by the window, staring down at the village.
“You heard everything?”
“Yes.” Kisame answered. “It didn’t go so well.”
“No, it didn’t. He’s a stubborn man.”
“He has lived with his village’s hypocritical ideals for a long time.” Kisame observed.
“Indeed.”
Pein turned to him.
“Itachi must speak with him.” He said flatly.
For a moment, the Mist nin closed his eyes bitterly.
“I knew it’d come to that.”
“I am sorry, Kisame.”
“Save it.” The man barked. “He doesn’t need your pity, and nor do I.” He took a deep breath and his tone softened. “I know that it has to be done. Isn’t it the kind of world we live in? We do what we have to do, and the consequences be damned.”
CHAPTER 14
“So… How do you find Amegakure no Sato, Kakashi-san?”
Kakashi stared warily at the man behind the desk and frowned for a moment before answering:
“Clean.”
The red-head cocked an eye-brow and smiled at the word.
“Indeed, we have excellent cleaning service. But that was not what I meant, and I think you know it.” He pointed to a chair that stood before the desk.
“Why don’t you sit down?” he asked politely.
“I prefer to stand, thank you.” Kakashi answered just as politely then spoke again:
“What do you expect me to say… Pein, isn’t it?”
The red-head nodded.
“That you have cleaned this place out of parasites and now the rest of the population finds your god complex incredibly endearing?”
Pein watched him without saying a word.
“What about the parasite’s children? What was their crime? That they were born?”
A shadow passed over the pale, pretty face but it quickly disappeared.
“The children had not yet committed a specific crime, I’ll admit that.” He said carefully “But they would’ve, had I given them the chance.”
“And the babies? You cannot argue that they were taught to be like their parents, because, oh, I know! They didn’t have long enough time to teach them anything!”
The shadow this time was darker and stayed for a longer time.
“Who are you to judge me, Kakashi-san?” the man hissed, but did not raise his voice. “You, who have taken payment to take lives, some of them as young as those that I have taken.”
“I have never killed such small children!”
“Now, you and I both know that this is a lie.” Pein said mildly. “How many times have you fought in populated areas in other villages? How much was the collateral damage from the jutsus you hurled at your opponents? Have you ever thought what happened to the people whose homes were brought down by explosions and floods and summons?”
“This is different! I have never intended…”
“Ah, it’s different to you, perhaps. I doubt that the victims, yours or mine, care about our intentions – only the result is important to them, and the result is one and the same.” He finished, got up from his chair and approached the glass wall, staring down at the city.
“Though the result for those who have survived…” he said softly “Is much different.” And he turned to Kakashi again. “Wouldn’t you think so?”
Kakashi could feel an impending headache building behind his temples.
“I think I know why I’m here, Pein.” He said. “You want to recruit me, don’t you?”
The red-head nodded.
“Am I succeeding?”
“No.” Kakashi said flatly. “Why would I want to help you to do… what? Conquer and rule the world? That is what you want, isn’t it?”
“I have interest in neither, actually.” Pein answered.
Kakashi snorted.
“Yes, right. Says the man who considers himself a god.” He muttered mockingly.
“Whether I actually believe that I am a god or not is a wholly different matter than what the people believe, Kakashi-san. And as I said, I am not interested in ruling. You must’ve noticed, I don’t take an active role in ruling this Village. Perhaps at one time, I did. No more. A deity cannot allow itself a direct interference in the lives of its followers, don’t you know that? Yes, I gave them moral codes, I taught them how to be better people… but the organization and actual decision-making about their day to day lives remains with them. I observe…”
“And punish those who do not obey?” Kakashi finished lightly.
“And I allow our judicial system to deal with criminals.” Pein finished, ignoring Kakashi’s words. “But yes, I would interfere and destroy anyone who directly attacks this village and tries to harm its residents. Unless they can deal with the threats themselves, of course.”
“Alright, I’ll humour you.” Kakashi said and walked up to the glass wall to look down at the village too, standing next to the red-head. “Let us assume that you’re as good and benevolent as you say you are. Why did you need to pretend you are a god?”
Pein turned back to the glass and looked down as well.
“People are stupid, prideful, petty creatures by default. Do you agree?”
Kakashi frowned, but did not protest.
“And by default, these flaws of theirs do not allow them to take advice from their peers – they always think they know best. But they would listen to someone who is smarter, better, who is so much above them that they cannot even think to defy him… a god.” Pein finished.
They remained silent for a long time, while Kakashi digested all that the Akatsuki leader had said. Finally, he spoke very softly:
“And what is your plan then? Spread your religion throughout the world? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but your agents aren’t exactly the missionary type.”
Pein turned to look at him.
“No, this plan would take a long, long time, and I do not believe that we have that much time to waste. I have another plan that should produce more immediate results.”
Kakashi looked at him questioningly and Pein began to explain. When he was done, the Jounin stared at him for a few seconds and then finally said hoarsely:
“And for a moment there, I was actually considering your philosophy to be a tad acceptable. You are completely insane!” his tone rose with each word. “You better kill me right now, because I would NOT participate in the active genocide of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people!”
“Kakashi-san…”
“No. I don’t want to hear it!”
Pein’s lips thinned to a narrow pale line.
“Very well. You may return to your room. Kisame will see you down.”
“What is the point? I will not do what you want of me!” Kakashi protested sharply.
“There is one other person whose words I want you to hear and then consider.” Pein told him calmly. “And you WILL hear them, even if I have to tie you up to my own chair for that.”
With a huff, Kakashi left the room. The double doors opened and closed and he stared at the huge man standing next to it.
“And you? Why do you follow this madman?” he asked sharply.
Kisame looked at him thoughtfully.
“My reasons are my own. Perhaps I’d share them with you some day, but not now.”
After he brought the Jounin back to his room and locked him there, he returned to Pein. The red-head hadn’t moved from his position by the window, staring down at the village.
“You heard everything?”
“Yes.” Kisame answered. “It didn’t go so well.”
“No, it didn’t. He’s a stubborn man.”
“He has lived with his village’s hypocritical ideals for a long time.” Kisame observed.
“Indeed.”
Pein turned to him.
“Itachi must speak with him.” He said flatly.
For a moment, the Mist nin closed his eyes bitterly.
“I knew it’d come to that.”
“I am sorry, Kisame.”
“Save it.” The man barked. “He doesn’t need your pity, and nor do I.” He took a deep breath and his tone softened. “I know that it has to be done. Isn’t it the kind of world we live in? We do what we have to do, and the consequences be damned.”