Three figures crossed a desert, ragged and worn but determined. They had been cast from their previous home after being caught stealing. You see, the trio were orphans of an early civilization. Yahiko, their leader and elder brother figure, Nagato, a quiet boy with a heart that yearns for peace, and Konan, the strong mother figure, made up the group. They had left their old village, vowing to form a better, safer civilization. Soon they found a man named Madara whom offered them a place by the Ame River. Yahiko took his deal and led his friends to the river. The man had gone as quickly as he had come but they minded not for they were still fairly young.

Nagato looked up to Yahiko and longed to help him with his goal. His goal was to provide, as mentioned, a safe haven for kids like them. They got to work, gathering various orphans and started to settle. They did not have cattle nor did they have any ability to build elaborate structures such as the Egyptians' pyramids or the Qin's terra cotta army. Yet they managed to survive to their twenties. Then, an awful event took place...

A group of violent nomads had come to their village and gained control. Yahiko died trying to defend what he had built. Konan and Nagato barely had time to weep as they fled with their leader's body. They ran into the Suna deserts once more and collapsed. On that night, Nagato had received a dream. It was one from the gods telling him he was one of them and he would rebuild what Amegakure had destroyed. His eyes became ringed and gray; even Konan had changed, becoming numerous sheets of papyrus. When he awoke, Madara was awaiting the duo and offered the orphans an opportunity.

He told him that now Nagato would be called Pain for that is what he would bring to the people of Amegakure. Madara taught Pain how to summon beasts and that is how he regained control of his village once more. The only problem was that now... there were only two Akatsuki left. Akatsuki is what they had called themselves before Yahiko had met his end. Once they returned to the village, the very first thing they did was bury their friend in a safe and highly honored place. Nearby, Pain constructed a temple and palace with his new-found power. Madara, once more, had left them to fend for themselves with a piece of advice:

Search for those whom seem to have lost all.

This is very loosely based on what I have learned in my World History class on early civilizations. I meant for this one, as well as a vast majority of my other stories, to be short oneshots but alas; this is a chapter fic once more...

My question to readers/reviewers: (The ones after the first are optional.)

Do you prefer oneshots or chapters? Why? If chapters, roughly how many before you lose interest? How long for each chapter? For the oneshots: What kind; AU, Tragic, Death, Thoughts of a character, short story (which I am incapable of writing xD)?

If there's anything else you feel like explaining, go ahead. You don't have to send your answer in a Private message but it is encouraged. I might put my findings up at the end and thank all that answered. *makes a poll*