In Gaara's eyes, Akatsuki's arrogance knew no bounds. They didn't respect him—the proud Fifth Kazekage. Even if they could storm the Sunagakure, that didn't make Gaara, wielder of the sand, some weakling.
They dared bring him to Akatsuki's headquarters, dared to provoke him openly, and didn't even have proper surveillance. Were they not afraid he might use the opportunity to gather intelligence?
I will uncover their stronghold, he vowed silently.
But unfortunately, they really did have the right to be so audacious.
The Kazekage's powers were hampered in this rain-soaked village. Rain reduced the effectiveness of his ninjutsu, and while no one seemed to watch him, the moment he approached an exit, Akatsuki always seemed to locate him with uncanny precision. After a few encounters, Gaara realized their arrogance wasn't without reason. Alone, he simply couldn't overpower most of them.
Even if he wanted to refuse defeat, he couldn't. Rather than fighting his way out, it made more sense to persuade Pain. He was young, the situation chaotic: Konoha in turmoil, the Five Kage Summit imminent. If news broke that the Kazekage was in danger—whether imprisoned or collaborating with Akatsuki—it would only worsen matters. Compared to that, losing face in front of Akatsuki was trivial.
So Gaara tried every means to reason with Pain—but in this unfamiliar place, he also encountered someone remarkable.
Sakura didn't count—she was a known anomaly, a Konoha ninja who had defected to Akatsuki. That was hardly new.
What caught Gaara off guard was the news he had mourned days ago: the death of Konoha's top Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake. Even without the story spreading far and wide, someone like Gaara had heard of it, though not the details.
And now, here he was.
Gray-white hair, indigo-blue yukata, black cloth mask—even the small yellow book in hand was familiar. The only difference: the forehead protector of Konoha was gone.
Gaara could have said, "Long time no see," but didn't. Not just Kakashi was present; there was also a woman who had caused profound upheaval in the world.
Konan.
Her name had reached Gaara's ears ever since Konoha's incident. Unfamiliar, yet not unknown.
…
Konan hadn't come looking specifically for Kakashi. Acting as interim ANBU leader, her duties were minimal, and she didn't have to shadow Konan at all times. After buying ingredients for the day, she had some free time. Passing through this village, she decided to rest—and happened to run into Kakashi, also wandering idly after Amegakure.
Thus, the two naturally ended up sitting together in a pavilion.
It was the first time Konan had seen Kakashi since he awoke.
He looked different—relaxed, without the Konoha forehead protector. Konan found it mildly novel, but she wasn't worried about him leaking Akatsuki's intelligence. In the eyes of outsiders, Kakashi Hatake was as good as dead. He was effectively alienated. Better to worry about him dying again than about betraying Akatsuki.
Her first words to him were simple:
"Feeling better?"
A courteous opening. Kakashi was filled with emotion.
Saved again… by an "enemy."
It was a strange feeling—an entire lifetime of second chances compressed into a single waking moment. This time he hadn't awakened from injury but had truly crossed the boundary between life and death. He should have struggled to accept it at first, but days in this rainy village had softened him.
Konan…
She had faced defeat at his hands multiple times. Hatred? Not exactly—just a professional frustration. Kakashi accepted that in many ways, he had been bested by a non-human. He allowed his visible eye to curve into a crescent.
"Ah… I'm fine now. Thank you."
Somehow, something felt different—but that was fine.
Konan smiled slightly.
"Good. Have you gotten used to staying here?"
Used to it? A ninja must always adapt. No home, no return—this was his only refuge. Even if he hadn't acclimated, what could he say? Konoha was his homeland; this Amegakure remained foreign.
Konan continued, gently:
"Sorry for being abrupt. In any case, I'm glad you're unharmed."
Kakashi's heart ached beneath the mask. Speaking with a non-human like this was… comfortable. Someone considered him, even now.
"Sorry," he murmured.
Konan blinked at the sudden apology, then smiled and waved it off:
"It's fine. You're a ninja; your actions are understandable. Better to thank Pain properly."
Kakashi hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"He's the kind to act first and think later. Any decisions he makes aren't meant for repayment. Just… acts of whim."
Whim…
Saved Kakashi on a whim. Exiled the tailed beasts on a whim. Raided Konoha on a whim. Kidnapped the Kazekage on a whim.
Kakashi had no words. Konan didn't push him. After a long moment, a quiet sigh escaped beneath her mask. Kakashi's crescent eye twitched, a smile difficult to read.
"What a willful leader."
Whether praise or complaint, it didn't matter. Kakashi finally understood—Akatsuki was terrifying, breaking the rules of the shinobi world as a principle, acting in shades of morality. Most people followed self-interest; Akatsuki simply did differently. If roles were reversed, Kakashi admitted to himself, he wouldn't have saved anyone.
"Um… may I ask you something?"
Konan nodded.
"You're not worried I'll send information back to Konoha? I may be in a tough spot, but I'm still a Konoha ninja."
Konan chuckled.
"Interesting. Years ago, Itachi asked me something similar when he joined Akatsuki."
Kakashi blinked, recalling Itachi's actions. What could he have asked to provoke that kind of doubt?
"Kakashi, I shouldn't say much… but since you asked, there's something I want to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"How many people in this world even get a second chance at life? Do you know?"
Kakashi was puzzled. Before he could answer, Konan continued:
"It's a long story. I don't know how much you know about Obito, but you're the only one who could truly unbalance him."
She smiled, the corners of her eye crinkling.
"To him, you're always the hero, Kakashi. Pain said it: Obito's life is a tragedy. Now, he can rewrite it—so why not? That's why Pain saved you. For Obito. For you. Nothing more complicated. No schemes. Just… live, for both of you."
Kakashi, unaware of his deeds before reuniting with Obito—and oblivious to the Uchiha Madara situation—finally began to grasp what kind of terror Obito had been in his past.