Dirty Little Secret

N/A: Pein FINALLY enters the story. WHEW. Took me forever to get it to this point. DX



CHAPTER 25



On Tuesday morning, the Kages held their word and began to arrive at the South Gate, one after the other, each followed by a small honorary guard but no other fighters. Dressed in his ceremonial white robes and hat, Naruto waited them there and greeted them warmly, courteously, being the perfect host. Gaara he hugged with delight. Kakashi stood several steps behind him, wearing a dark-grey shirt and black pants, studiously looking at his feet the whole time, trying to be as invisible as possible.



When the last of the Kages appeared, Naruto pointed to the Hokage Tower.



“Shall we, Ladies and Gentlemen?”



Three hours later, they were still at the large polished ebony wood table at one of the Tower’s conference halls. They had all argued stubbornly over the different aspects of the contract until finally the Mizukage threw her hat on the table with a frustrated sigh.



“This is pointless, Naruto-san. I don’t think that anyone here would agree to proceed until we finally see some proof that Pein is no longer a threat. According to the Kazekage here” and she pointed at Gaara “You are able to produce such proof. However, so far, I have seen no such thing. You haven’t even mentioned the topic!”



Naruto inclined his head and said.



“My apologies, Junko-san.” Then he turned to everyone “Why don’t we take a little break? The servants will bring you all something to eat here and in the mean time I will go to collect my proof.” He looked at the Kirikage again “Does that satisfy you, Junko-san?”



The woman shrugged.



“I will be satisfied when I see the proof.” But at Naruto’s polite expression she finally sighed and said “But a something to eat sounds good too.”



Naruto smiled graciously and stood up, then walked towards the door. As he passed by Kakashi, he said:



“You stay here.”



Kakashi only bowed and sat back quietly on his chair by the wall.



Lunch was a tense affair, despite the fact that everyone were hungry. Conversation was almost lacking, each of the Kages deep in their own thoughts.



Finally, the double doors of the hall opened and Naruto walked in, looking pleased with himself. He was followed by a pair of masked and hooded ANBU members who dragged a naked, chained man.



The first thing Kakashi noticed when he looked at the prisoner was his hair – a vibrant red colour. Despite it being dirty and matted, it still shone under the bright daylight – the colour of a pure flame. The rest of the man was no less dirty – he was covered in grime. His thin wrists were encased in thick, heavy cuffs and Kakashi felt a pang of sympathy when he saw the raw, bleeding flesh under them. On his neck there was a thick steel collar, and attached to it there was a steel chain that rattled at each minute movement.



The ANBUs dropped the man on the floor like a sack of potatoes and he fell, his knees folding weakly under him.



Naruto poked him with the tip of his shoe roughly.



“Look up.”



And he did.



It was a face Kakashi would never forget – a fine-boned, delicate even, face, with full, sensual, pierced lips and an elegant nose just as pierced. The face of the man who had almost killed him years ago, who had nearly destroyed Konoha, the man who had led Akatsuki against the whole world and had lost it all in the end.



Like everyone else present in the room, save Naruto, Kakashi gasped and instinctively took a step back, staring at the vision before him, unable to comprehend the man’s presence in the heart of Konoha.



“He was here?! The whole time?!”



The rest muttered in unison.



Naruto nodded.



“Yes. Held in the catacombs under Konoha.”



“Why have you kept him alive for so long?” The Tsuchikage asked, looking outraged. “Why keep such a threat to all of us in your very bosom?”



“Because” Naruto began calmly, voice cutting through the angry muttering “He was to be made an example.”



“An example?” asked Gaara softly.



“Yes. What happens to those who threaten the well-being and security of our peoples.”



“And yet you show him to us just now.” Junko said accusingly.



“I had to be sure he was sufficiently neutralized.” Naruto said, unapologetic. “Had you moved your asses faster for the past months, I would have showed him to you much sooner.”



“How do you know he’s neutralized as a threat?”



Naruto pointed.



“Take a good look at him.”



Kakashi followed everyone else’s example and stared at the man again. Now that he was past his initial shock he could process properly what he was seeing.



Indeed, Pein was very thin, scrawny even. His whole body was covered in scars and bruises that were clear sign of torture. He looked too weak and helpless to even attempt to stand up as he kneeled before all their eyes. The collar around his neck was clearly a chakra suppressant, rendering all his jutsu but his bloodline useless. As for the bloodline… it took Kakashi a few moments to realize why the man wasn’t opening his eyes – his eyelids were sunken against his cheeks – someone had taken his eyes away.



They all looked at the sight and took in the details of the image before them. Slowly, relief began to wash over their faces.



“You sure did a good number on him.” The Mizukage said with quiet glee. Naruto turned to smile at her widely, showing all his teeth. There was something so vicious, so bestial about it that it made Kakashi’s blood run cold.



“You have no idea.”



The woman raised her eyebrows and smiled back, not as widely, but as viciously.



“Oh, I can imagine.”



The Raikage said:



“Whatever you did, I am pleased you’ve contained this beast.” He took a step forward. “Now that we have seen him, we may kill him.”



Naruto gracefully stood between him and the kneeling man.



“You will do no such thing.” He said quietly.



“He does not deserve to live!” the man insisted, bright spots of rage forming on his cheeks. “My brother is dead. Yugito Nii is dead.”



“My teacher is dead!” Naruto roared suddenly. He tried to raze my village with the ground! If there’s someone here who should want to see him dead that is me!” The Raikage visibly deflated when at the blonde’s reaction, but he did not step back.



“Then why haven’t you killed him?”



Naruto appeared to calm down, then turned and gripped Pein’s hair harshly, pulling him up in a semi-standing position. The red-head whimpered softly, the first sound he had made so far.



“Because it’s too quick. And it would serve no purpose other than my own desire for revenge. As a Hokage, I must rise above such vanities.” Naruto took a deep breath, then disgustedly let the man drop back to the ground. “And as I said, I wish to make an example out of him.”



“What do you intend to do?” The Mizukage asked. The elderly woman’s blue eyes gleamed curiously. “Put him in a cage in the middle of Konoha for all the citizens to throw eggs at him?”



There was a collective snicker. Naruto smiled as well.



“Well, I would lie if I say that it hasn’t gone through my mind to do that. But I don’t think it has to be something so… obvious. For now, he will come to my house, as my servant.”



“Your servant?!” The Tsuchikage exclaimed.



“Yes. He wanted to conquer the world and ends up as a slave to the man who defeated him. How does that sound?”



Everyone seemed pleased at the decision.



“You have always been so full of surprises, Naruto-san.” Junko muttered thoughtfully, then turned to Pein.



“And you? Don’t you have something to say for yourself?”



It took a long while for the prisoner to comprehend that she had addressed him. When he finally did, Kakashi thought that he looked like a lost child.



“I’m sorry.” He said softly, voice hoarse with disuse.



“You’re sorry?” the Raikage hissed. “That is all you have to say for yourself? After all the pain and suffering you caused, you’re going to apologize as if you’re a kid caught with your hand in the cookie-jar?”



The man on the floor flinched, then tried to crawl closer to Naruto, as if looking for protection.



“I cannot ask for forgiveness for something that cannot be forgiven.”



Disgusted, the older man spat on the red-head.



“Be quiet. I do not wish to hear a sound from you again.” He hissed, then turned to Naruto. “I may not agree with your decision regarding this…thing, but I will follow your lead. So far you have proven capable of delivering on your word. Let’s hope that’ll be the case this time as well."



Naruto bowed.



“Thank you.” Then he looked at the pair of ANBU who stood quietly by the door.



“Move him to an adjacent room while I we finish here.”



After Pein was removed, the talks proceeded in a surprising speed. The contract was still days, perhaps weeks or even months away from being signed, but they made more progress than they had made in a whole year. In the end, all the Kages left to retire at their quarters looking distinctly pleased.



Gaara waited until the rest were gone, then asked Naruto:



“Why didn’t you tell me?”



“I did not wish to upset you. After what Akatsuki did to you and your village, I did not wish to make you carry the burden of the knowledge that the bastard is alive.”



Gaara shook his head.



“You could’ve trusted me with this, Naruto. I could have taken it.”



“I know. Forgive me.” He walked closer to Gaara and said “You haven’t said anything at all, regarding me keeping him alive and at my house.”



“I respect your decisions, Naruto.” Then he walked towards the door. “Know this, however: It takes a monster to know a monster, and I have had one in me for a very long time.” He was looking straight at Naruto’s crimson eyes when he said that. With that cryptic comment, he left.