Madara

Chapter 1


Pein, more frequently known as the leader of the Akatsuki, was considered to be the most powerful being alive. Even the three great sannin could not guarantee a victory against him. Pein had founded the Akatsuki, had gathered up its members – the S-criminals of various villages, and had run the organization quite smoothly so far.

But this was not true. Although everyone thought differently, only Pein and Itachi knew the truth; he had not found the Akatsuki, he was not the leader, and he definitely was not the strongest. No. Not at all was he the strongest.

There was another, far stronger than him. Uchiha Madara. He was the mastermind behind it all. He had said that back in his days, shinobi were not as pathetic as they are now. He had been disappointed at how weak his descendants had become. It was because of his disappointment that he destroyed his own clan by using Itachi. Of course, the Akatsuki had existed far before that happened. And the day the Uchiha clan had been wiped off the face of this land – save for that Sasuke brat and Itachi – Pein had been ordered to take the older of the two brothers into the Akatsuki.

Ever since the beginning, the Uchiha had been taught by Madara as Pein had been taught. And there seemed to be not a single change in Madara’s training techniques; Itachi was beaten for not being able to perform the jutsus that only Madara knew how to do, and punished for failing to follow the near-impossible orders he gave, as Pein had been. But Itachi should be grateful, Pein thought, that the sadistic ancestor of his had yet to take the final step in insuring complete dominance over his lessers. Perhaps it was not the best way of obtaining loyalty, but it was effective enough on Pein; the orange-haired leader could never consider defiance. But Pein was looking for the right chance, and when it came around, he would make sure to take it right away.

And that was what Pein received; a chance. At first, when Itachi came to him with the proposal, Pein almost said out loud that Itachi should be glad that Madara had not yet demanded what he had demanded of Pein, but instead, he had said, “Have you not felt his power for yourself, Itachi? It is not possible.” Pein did not view it as a chance; only a way to get them all killed. Itachi was young, foolish. He did not know what he was talking about.

But the young Uchiha had insisted. “He is powerful, I admit, but I also possess the Sharingan. With you attacking, and I blocking his genjutsu, there is no reason we cannot win.”

Pein shook his head. “There is too much risk. If we were to fail, nothing could stop him from killing us both.” He looked nervous. “Even now, he may be listening.”

“Why are you so afraid?”

“I am not afraid!“ Pein snapped.

He was. Itachi said nothing, but he knew that Pein was afraid. But why, the Uchiha had no notion. Itachi did not think much on it, and Pein refused to enlighten him.

“His power is borrowed, stolen, from his brother. It is not truly his,” Itachi continued. “He is an Uchiha. I know how his mind works.”

‘No, you don’t.’ “Do you, Itachi?”

Itachi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Pein was silent.

Itachi stared a moment, but proceeded to exit the room.

Pein closed his eyes. Itachi probably thought him as a coward. But being a coward was better than being dead. If he was ever caught scheming against Madara… No. He would not die, and neither would Itachi. Madara would probably dish out the most brutal punishment in existence. Death would only be a release. Pein only hoped that Madara had not heard this conversation.