Episode 0: Pain and Sorrow

  The year is 1980 in the Land of Frost. In the Hidden Frost Village, where people on the streets occasionally burst energy out of the tops of their heads, a young ninja meets with the Fuyukage. The boy's skin is black and his hair is white, like many in the land. Also like many, he has one blue eye and one red eye.

  Pain: What's up, Asashi?

  Asashi: Must you address me so formally?

  Pain: C'mon. Don't act like you've been Fuyukage That long.

  Asashi: Hmm.

  Pain: What's goin' on?

  Asashi: A town has sprouted up between our southern shore and the shore of the Land of Hot-Springs.

  Pain: How's a town just pop up like that?

  Asashi: Evidently, the previous Fuyukage didn't think much of it, but I think it could bring up some real danger to our status as a Hidden Village.

  Pain: Uh, yeah. Duh. That's way too close.

  Asashi: … I need you to covertly make a map of the whole city and bring it back to me without getting caught.

  Pain: Isn't that what “Covertly” means?

  Asashi: #P#A#I#N#! Can I trust that you'll get this done in a timely manner?

  The boy takes out a paper and quill from his backpack

  Pain: If by “Timely” you mean as soon as I can, meaning a few weeks or months, yeah. I can do that.

  Asashi: Despite your attitude, I expect great things from the #P#A# clan. Do not disappoint your name.

  Pain: (Is that all anyone cares about?) That's a “Don't die” to you too, old timer.

  After a night with his family, the boy takes a day and a night to travel to the city on the shore. With his headband in his backpack, he finds a large rock to hide behind as he starts drawing the town.

  Pain: (Easiest assignment ever)

  Just then, a ball flies over his head and lands on the ground in front of him.

  Pain: … (Ball. Toy. Kid. Hide! Now!!)

  He quickly uses a Transformation Jutsu to take the appearance of a rock as a girl with red hair grabs the ball. When she turns around, gets a good look at her blue eyes.

  Pain: (Looks a few years younger than me. Looks-)

  She trips on his invisible legs and he quickly refocuses his chakra to make the illusion cover his legs too as he sweats. She then looks back and kicks his leg. As the boy hesitantly touches a kunai at his side, the girl looks around, then at him. She quietly speaks;

  Sorrow: Are you a ninja?... I won't tell anyone. I just think you're cool.

  He thinks for a moment as he looks at her. He then dispels the jutsu. The two stare at each-other for a moment.

  Sorrow: … Hi.

  He waves at her.

  Sorrow: What're you doing?

  Pain: Making a map.

  Sorrow: Of Engan city? How'll you do it from all the way over here? Come here!

  She grabs his arm and tries to pull him, but he pulls back.

  Pain: Wait! I can't go in there! They'll see me!

  Sorrow: Who cares? They don't know you're a ninja.

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  After a moment of thought, he grabs his stuff and follows her towards the town.

  Pain: What if they get suspicious of me drawing all their buildings?

  Sorrow: You're just a kid drawing stuff.

  Pain: … I'm an aspiring architect. Yeah, that works.

  Sorrow: Hey! What's your name?

  Pain: I-It's... Uh...

  Sorrow: I'm SOR%ROW.

  Pain: … My name's #P#A#I#N#.

  For several months, the two explored the city together, though many days were spent without any progress on the map. One day, someone started following the two, but the boy was too distracted to notice them. Soon, the girl was taken away in a cage on wheels and the boy followed the group from the shadows all the way to the Land of Fire, being forced to watch them abuse and neglect the girl. On this night, he snapped and killed the whole group with only one kunai. With blood all over his clothes and hair, he stares at the bodies with wild eyes.

  Pain: *Heavy breaths*

  He shakes his head.

  Pain: I-It's over. Gotta save her!

  He rips a key off of a dead woman's neck, opens the cage, and picks up the very weak girl.

  Pain: How could they do this to you?

  Sorrow: Traitor... I'm... A traitor.

  Pain: … Don't talk. I'll save you. No matter what, I'll save you.

  He runs off into the woods with her.

  Pain: (Hidden villages are always behind deep woods)

  Sorrow: Thank..... You...

  After a while of running, Kakashi shows himself as he stands there, reading a book. The boy stops running and cautiously puts an arm over the girl.

  Kakashi: You know you're already surrounded, don't you? Don't try to-

  Pain: I don't care what you do to me! Just, Save Her!! Please!!

  Kakashi peaks his eye around and closes his book.

  Kakashi: … You Can All Come Out Now!!

  Other Jonin surround them.

  Kakashi: Give me the girl. I'll get her there faster.

  Pain: I-I can't leave her side. Not now.

  Kakashi: Look! I can't just lead you to the village without-

  Pain: Then, Make Me A Citizen!! I'll Abandon My Old Village And Swear Loyalty To You!! Just, Save Her!!

  The Jonin stare at each-other.

  Kakashi: … Follow me. Don't fall behind!

  The boy followed Kakashi into the Hidden Leaf Village and he stayed with the girl as she got medical treatment. Meanwhile, Kakashi brings citizenship papers to the boy as he holds the girl's hand.

  Kakashi: Got the last set of papers for you. Thing is, old Sarutobi, our Hokage, won't let you be truly free unless you show us the location of the Hidden Frost Village.

  Pain: Will she be okay?

  Kakashi: I'm sure our doctors are doing their best. Anyway, you'll also need three years of government mandated education before you're allowed to leave the Hidden Leaf.

  Pain: I don't care. Just, try harder.

  Kakashi: ... Still don't trust us?

  Pain: You don't trust me. Why would you? Won't give her the best treatment 'til I sign, that it? Screw it!

  The boy rips the papers out of Kakashi's hands and quickly signs them all. The last page just has a map of the Land of Frost on it. He doesn't hesitate to draw the complete and accurate borders of the Hidden Frost Village before handing the papers back and returning to the girl.

  Kakashi: ….. Nice name... Is the village really That big?

  Pain: Is yours?

  Kakashi: Touche. I'll go get this sorted asap.

  As Kakashi leaves, the girl's vitals start beeping and doctors rush into the room, shoving the boy aside.

  Doctor: She's Going Into Cardiac Arrest!!

  Isha: Probably some internal bleeding we didn't catch before. She'll need surgery!

  Doctor: Roll her out!

  As the doctors take away the girl, a nurse holds back the boy.

  Pain: NO!!! BRING HER BACK!!! BRING HER BACK!!!

  The girl did not survive. The boy was taken to an apartment, where he now sits at a table with eyes made red from tears and arms holding himself. Kakashi sits across from him.

  Kakashi: ….. I... To make sure the Frost Village doesn't come after you, we need to give you a new name. I know that we've taken a lot from you, but you can at least decide that much.

  Pain: Taken...

  Kakashi: I know you won't believe me, but I saw the reports myself. We really Did try our best for her... And, I'm-

  Pain: Pain. You can call me “Pain.”

  Kakashi writes the name on a classified document.

  Kakashi: Why “Pain?”

  Pain: Why not?... That's all I have left...

  As Pain's voice cracks, his eyes water and he angrily glares at Kakashi.

  Episode Listing

  Episode -4: Twin Worlds

  Episode -3: The Night of Nine

  Episode -2: Family Man

  Episode -1: A Murder at the House of Hyuga

  Episode 0: Pain and Sorrow

  Episode 1: Fragile Mind

  Episode 2: Play My Tricks

  Episode 3: New Routine

  Episode 4: That I've Learned

  Episode 5: To Understand and Know

  Episode 6: As We Move On

  Episode 7: Heavy Pulse

  Episode 8: Sweaty Clothes

  Episode 9: Bloody Eyes

  Episode 10: Rest Your Head On Me

  Episode 11: Wake

  Episode 12: I'm Not Here

  Episode 13: There Must Be Some Mistake

  Pain's voice inspired by Nero from DMC5

  PS: This is not the same Pain from the show. That Pain might be covered later.