Author's Note: Well here we are, my first Naruto story since George Bush was in the White House

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Naruto, if I did well…Nagato would still be alive! And Konan too!

The City of Amegakure was always clouded and always raining, water pouring from the heavens was never absent here, even when not coming in torrential downpours it was always present, the people of Amegakure merely accepted it, for it was life to them and thus simply one more thing among many to overcome.

The City had been devastated during the conclusion of the prior ninja war when Konoha had invaded and sacked it in retaliation for the actions of it's Leader at the time Hanzo the Salamander.

But like it's ruined soil, destroyed villages and lands, and even like the natural world it self with it's constant downpours and precipitation, it was merely overcome.

Before the war; the city had been a place of Industry, Growth and Prosperity as much as a minor village could be in the world where economics and militarism were controlled by the major villages. Factories dotted the city and breathed prosperity and growth into the fledging nation, but then war came and with it the incursions into the land of Ame.

At first only skirmishes between the great powers took place along their borders, and then they began to seep into Ame.

Like a cancer the corruption of war and death spread further and further into the Nation, Villages, Communities and countless scores of people were lost in conflict that had little to nothing to do with Ame beyond it's location upon the map between the great ninja powers. There was little Ame could do, beyond a scant few ninja of strength that were loyal to Hanzo, Ame could offer no resistance to the great powers of either Iwa or Konoha.

But Hanzo rallied what power he could and used it to drive out Konoha from it's borders, A man of Legendary strength and skill known even to the great powers of the Ninja World, Hanzo was a name and face they both respected and feared and it was thought this could finally be the conclusion of Ame's part in the struggle. But alas Human Nature is by its very nature base and petty, Konoha in retaliation for Hanzo's action pushed further and deeper into Ame before finally coming to the last untouched Haven of it and it's people, the Capital of Amegakure.

The City was decimated, Explosions obliterated factories, Fire consumed entire families, entire districts were obliterated by the invading Ninja, Hanzo and his forces fought a pitched and ultimately futile struggle against the attackers before the terms of surrender were issued and Ame officially renounced hostility against the Shinobi of the Land of Fire.

And shortly after that…Peace followed and with that peace came the hope, The dream that Ame had seen it's darkest days and emerged through the blood, fire and chaos of that pointless war to a brighter future.

That dream died along with a true hero and it paved the way for all things that followed. From that senseless and brutal death, from the betrayal of a man once thought to be Ame's protector rose a far darker and more brutal figure.

From that death rose God himself, Born again upon the world to judge it for it's sins and unleash the pain and suffering upon the world, This's God's purpose was simple, so simple a child could grasp it.

To make the world know Pain.

Amegakure

Tower of God

Within the ruined and industrial setting of Ame there was a tower, the highest of its kind. Within that Tower supposedly lived the God of Ame, but that was merely the proclamation of the devout; No one had ever entered the tower since its construction.

Occasionally trusted and devout Ame Shinobi brought "tribute" to the tower, but even they never ventured inside. No one, besides God's messenger, the Angel of God ever did

It was a lonely and dismal place, adorned in odd almost gargoyle esc statues across it's massive frame, and at the very highest level, where was God himself resided.

Today however even amidst the usual downpour of rain, upon the highest of the gargoyle like statuettes sat a figure, staring down at the abysmal and war ravaged city below.

xxx

War had ruined his people, it had obliterated his nation, killed his family, his friends, comrades and allies. It left only misery and pain in it's wake, its usefulness was only in that it left behind pain and through that pain, understanding could come.

It was that war, that awful and bloody war and the pain that it brought, that awakened him from his prior life. He lifted at a cloaked arm before slowly reaching across, as if he was almost hesitant to see what lay beneath the thick cloak before he ripped the sleave upward and stared at the pale and waxy chakra iron infused flesh, his ringed eyes narrowing. Pain was the only thing that could truly awaken people he mused, because of that the world would need to learn pain in the coming years, and it would.

He would ensure it.

That was his purpose after all, it was for that very task he had abandoned his frailties, weakness and mortality and become the God this world so desperately needed.

His arm dropped back to his side, rain continued to pool all around him, long ago the rain had been yet another misery he had been forced to endure, and his life had been nothing but pain after his parent's deaths. But he would force the world to change, to shift it's axis, and with his organization he would accomplish it.

Akatsuki was the harbinger, the herald of the end of this world and the beginning of the new world, one free of the pain of war and the scourge of human indifference to the suffering of their fellow man.

He would accomplish Yahiko's dream, that was his purpose, his destiny.

It was the only thing that mattered.

He sensed her approach before she ever spoke, her charka was familiar to him, comforting, a reminder that he had a duty to correct the course of the world, to change the course of history. For all those who had their lives torn from them in the wars between the greedy great nations.

"Lord Pain." She intoned respectfully as her form materialized atop the structure with him, the weeping rain fell upon them both.

"Konan." He responded, his voice bare and dead as he gazed out upon Amegakure.

He sensed her shift as she approached him from behind, he felt no ill intent radiating from her, so he allowed it, after all if any one was allowed to approach God, it would be the angel chosen by God.

As she stood behind, staring out at the same rain drenched cityscape before them, he felt himself begin to slip into a comfortable silence, there was nothing between them that often needed to be said, she understood his will, and he understood her desire. They both followed the dream of Yahiko, and throughout, they shared a bond, one that persisted even when all others turned away.

When they had been chased from safe house to safe house by the pursuing forces of Hanzo after the death of Yahiko, she had never turned from his side, she had cared for his broken and twisted shell. While all others died or abandoned them, citing their cause as lost with their former leader, She remained devoted.

She remained by his side when he took command of Akatsuki and led the group that was once preaching peace against Hanzo the Salamander and even a year later she still remained by his side. Their home was free of the petty human tyrant that had ruled over it, and yet she remained.

Sometimes this confused him, he saw how she looked when she saw the Tendo, her expression rarely changed or shifted but having spent years with Konan, he knew her unease and attention were directed not to the path in question but the will controlling it.

Did she find the usage of Yahiko's corpse disgusting? Did she hate him for using their former friend in such a manner? To him it was the greatest tribute he could bestow upon the greatest human he had ever known, to allow Yahiko to be the face of the God that would change the world.

Something within prompted him to ask a question that had been upon his mind since he had first unveiled the Deva to her.

"Do you hate me for using his body?" He questioned quietly, His voice barely above a whisper and lacked its usual deadness and there was even a hint of reproach to it, making it sound like God was almost hesitant to hear the response.

Deeper in the dank recesses of the Tower, in a room where only his Angel was given entry, a figure housed in a Throne like chair extended his senses. He felt Konan's chakra pulse and spike, his question had caught his angel off guard, he felt the barest hint of a smirk creep up his pale and chapped lips.

"Pain I… I don't-" Konan started but cut herself off before she continued, her face contorting into a slight frown of confusion, her Chakra metal angel bite bobbed as her lip quivered for a moment.

The figure of God rose, pushing himself from his seated position as he turned to his Angel. Their eyes met and the storm clouds of the Rinnegan bored into Amber, Konan didn't recoil she was used to the eyes of the Sage, quietly to herself she sometimes ponders why they didn't cow her like they did every one else.

Perhaps it was because she had borne witness to when they had contained warmth, passion and life, now there was only judgment, contempt and hatred within them.

Pain had obliterated her family: It killed her parents, it had killed Yahiko, ravaged Nagato until he was but a husk of what he once had been, but even so…They were still alive, they were still a family.

"Pain…" She tried again but her words choked themselves within her throat, Despite their friend's death being more then two years before and Nagato's resurrection of Yahiko into Pain occurring more then a year, she had never truly questioned herself on the subject: Did she hate Nagato for using Yahiko in such a fashion? It defied every tradition regarding respect for the dead that she had ever been aware of, and flew in the face of all she had been taught by her parents regarding decency and normalcy.

But then again, her Parents were dead, their Homeland was a warzone and with this…Tendo, Nagato had become mobile again, he had obliterated those killed Yahiko, Leaf and Ame Nin alike, Even Hanzo who had escaped the slaughter on the field that day using a Shuushin had later met his fate at the hand's of pain.

Yahiko had died protecting her and Nagato, with his last breath he wished his family survival and told them to do anything to achieve it. Yahiko still protected her in a way, even though he was gone, Nagato had become the protector this village, no this nation needed.

Pursing her lips, the bluenette stared into the spiraling Rinnegan before answering.

"No, No, I don't hate you Naga- Pain. Yahiko would have understood, We are continuing his dream. With his body, you have delivered justice to Ame…to him, and to me." She responded to the questioning God.

"You protect me, You bring stability…You will bring peace…" She trailed off as she stared into piercing depths of the God before her.

The visage of God, was blank as it always, despite the blood flowing, the muscles contracting and moving and heart and other organs working. The Body that had once been Yahiko and was now the Tendo, rarely appeared alive at all even though it was resurrected through Nagato's Technique.

"Thank you for your honesty Konan." The figure of God stated; His tone was once more back to it's deadened resonance. He gaze her a final glance as he walked past her retreating into the interior of the Tower and leaving the Angel behind but not before giving her a faint nod to follow, the rain continued to fall upon her for a time before she too went inside.

They were all either of them had left, and for that reason alone, they would remain together. Until Yahiko's dream was completed or until they died trying to complete it.

xxx

Amegakure

First Anniversary of the Purge

Several Years before the Kyuubi Attack upon Konoha

Rain Cascaded upon the procession as it slowly made its way through the deserted streets; streets that were normally packed and filled with the midday traffic and trade were abandoned. Today was the first Saturday of the month and thus a day reserved for the veneration and worship of God.

Beyond that however this day marked an even more memorable moment in the people of Ame's history, One Year ago today God had obliterated the former leader of the city.

Hanzo the Salamander, Along with all of his Family, His supporters, their families and Associates, it had been the beginning of many purges through the city. The following days had seen judgment after judgment from Heaven and then just as suddenly as they had started. The Judgments ceased, God had been appeased, Those who had sinned and been punished and that was the end of it, after all what mortal could comprehend the mind of God?

The procession slowed and finally stilled it self in the center of the City, The wide and flowing circular area had been designed at the height of the cities prosperity, despite that only been a few decades before, it seemed like centuries had passed since. Even here within the heart of the city, it bore the scars of the invasion, Konoha had spared little in it's assault.

The once marvelous city center had contained shops, restaurants and even the occasional inn for the cities occasional visitor, but all of that had been wiped away with the war. In it's place was ruin, the broken and shattered husks of burnt out buildings, broken stone and metal work, crushed ceramic and steel.

But even Amidst the destruction token efforts at rebuilding were taking place, while the city as a whole didn't resemble the glory of decades past, the years since the prior wars had seen much come into the city.

The Procession slowly lowered the shrouded litter that four hooded figures bound in dark robes carried, The Crowds once again began to emerge for today was Worship of their Savior, The Worship of their God. Despite never having seen the Deity before, the People still found the Divine strength that flowed through proof enough of his existence.

Amidst the Cascade of rain drops flowed a different substance; small folded bits of paper began to filter down from the heavens, almost as if it was snowing in the city that always rained. These fragments and bits poured down to the liter below and began to take shape. The shape which began as vaguely humanoid became more and more prominent as a female before the bits of paper began to take on the color of their owner. Blue Hair, Piercing and steely Amber eyes and most of all, the familiar black and blood red cloak.

It was revealed to the crowd to be the Angel of Amegakure, The Angel of God. Like God himself nothing was known of her beyond of her devotion to Deity, The Blue haired Angel cast her Amber eyes upon the crowd that was slowly pouring into the City Center, It was likely the most attention the area had received in years.

Where that had once been only a handful, then dozens now hundreds crowded the area, dressed in all manner of garb and wear. Some were Ninja, Tradesmen, Craftsmen, Bakers, Whores, Even Children had come.

The Liter along with it's shrouded carriers and it's angel protector were slowly encompassed into an ocean of the people of Ame, but as they began to press in even further the Angel merely gave a derisive shake of the head.

God was not to be approached any further.

The majority of those assembled kneeled in veneration and worship, some voiced prayers, questions, God was silent, His Angel, His Messanger was silent, and yet still the crowd persisted, This was the first time God had ever come from the Tower that had been constructed shortly after the death of Hanzo, The Tower of God that was forbidden to enter by all and everyone.

But suddenly there was crash and a figure burst from the crowd, dressed in a commoner's attire but moving far to rapidly to be anything but a trained Shinobi, the man stormed towards the Liter and it's protectors. The shinobi drew a short sword as he charged, approaching the litter far closer the any of the others had dared or attempted to before suddenly the Angel extended a hand and it seemingly burst from her body in a cloud of white.

Where there had once been a man now only a vaguely human shape wrapped in tightly pressed paper stood, but still the man struggled to move, struggled forward desperate in his intent and aim. His sword discarded upon the ground due to his limbs no longer being free to move.

Paper began once more to flow about the Angel, as she seemingly began to disintegrate, legs vanishing into streams of paper as colossal wings began to form upon her back and she began to ascend towards the Heavens, a Spear forming within her grip, the spear of Judgment to cast the non believer who thought he could slay God himself into oblivion.

But suddenly a voice boomed from the litter, This Voice commanded an air of irrefutable power, it wasn't impassioned or angry, it seemed lacked anything human within it, the voice was something of divinity it self.

"No Konan." It commanded, despite it barely being more then a half spoken command, the entirety of those assembled heard it as if it was screamed from the Heavens themselves.

And then the Litter shifted and the shroud was ripped aside with a seemingly casual swat of the wrist and then the people of Ame were for the first time exposed to the physical body of their god.

He was of moderate height, taller then some but not so tall as inhuman, his body was obviously one of strength and power but again not so that it was anything beyond that had seen before, an interesting note however was all the various "piercing" that adorned God's face, nose and eyebrows, his hair was a burnt auburn and while that was rare, it wasn't his hair color that caught the people's attention, when those eyes opened, the world was exposed to something it hadn't seen since time immemorial.

The Ringed Eyes of Legend, the Eyes of God, Legends of the Sage of Six Paths had filtered everywhere through out the ages, even into the small nation of Ame.

When those ringlet eyes gazed upon his people, there was no warmth, there was no compassion or pity, those were the eyes of judgment, the eyes of God himself.

Like the Angel God was adorned in a black cloak adorned with red clouds, and as he began to move towards the trapped man, those assembled in the city center couldn't take their eyes from the scene. How would God punish the would be assassin? How many families would be purged this time? How much devotion would it take to appease him this time?

God stopped a few feet short of the man, staring down at the paper shrouded form, before casting his Angel half a glance and an unspoken command.

"Why?" He asked the figure as the paper slowly retracted from the man and he fell to his knee's as if all strength had left as he gazed into the ringed eyes of God.

But the man must have found his nerve because what he screamed at God next was nothing short of suicide.

"Because I never swore an oath to serve you!" The Ninja exclaimed heatedly. "Because Hanzo actually cared for this village! Because…" The man was caught as the figure reached and by the collar of the peasant's shirt he wore hefted him upwards as if he weighed nothing more then a child.

"I taught Hanzo what, I intend to teach the world, what I tend to teach every man, woman and child of your disgusting species." God spoke with absolute authority, despite the deadness of the voice, there was an undeniable surge of anger along with it.

The man looked as if he was about to completely shutdown, the sheer presence of God was to much for him, the aura of dread and death that hung about him like the shroud of his life liter was engulfing the man, body and soul. But then God spoke again and every one in attendance hung on every syllable.

"I want you to feel pain, to think about pain, to accept pain, and to know pain. For that is the truth of God, Pain is God's gift to you Amegakure." His gaze seemed to drift from the Assassin to the rest of the crowd as he dropped him as he was an after thought worth of no more attention.

He took a step towards the crowd and hesitantly the crowd back to inch back from God, not wishing to invoke his wrath.

But when he spoke next; It was if he was almost a different Deity then before, While his voice still portrayed no emotion or even life; It no longer contained the menace or dread from before. When he spoke it was almost as if he was trying to explain a particularly difficult subject to a small child who refused to learn.

"Those who do not understand true Pain can never understand true peace. This your gift Ame, Your people have been anointed in blood and suffering, but…Peace shall be your blessing for I shall ensure it. This world will enter an era of Peace that shall be unending!" His voice rising higher and higher throughout the speech until it seemingly shook the very stonework beneath their feet.

"But only until it accepts true pain can it know true peace." With that God turned about and cast a singular glance down at the fallen man who was gasping for breath and seemed barely retaining consciousness, as he paused on his way to renter the litter however his gaze caught the amber orb of his Angel directed towards the fallen man, like God her face was one of perfect stillness, a perfect mask of impartiality, but there was an aura of undeniable anger directed towards the man who had attempted to kill God.

"It is god's will." He simply said as he pulled the shroud back upon the liter and disappeared from sight.

The Angel merely gave a nod as the paper fragments that had been floating freely within the air began to once more descend towards the Assassin, There was no mercy for sinners in Amegakure, Not anymore.

Not since the arrival of Pain.

AN: So what did you all think? Please Rate and Review