[Public Video Post] - Akatsuki

[wind_upon_waves]

[His eyes are blue fire but his face is hardened stone. Yondaime is angry beyond belief, but he can't do anything but supplicate himself to his enemies because it's Kakashi's life that's at stake. So he's here, addressing Konoha's worst enemy, forcing the words out.]

Uchiha Madara-dono. [His voice is surprisingly calm and undisturbed--respectful

Comments

[parousian]

[ A low, low chuckle. Oh, he sounds so very amused. ]

Ahhh, if it isn't Namikaze Minato. Or should I call you... Yondaime Hokage-sama? [ The title practically drips with sarcasm and disgust.]

What makes you think we have any interest in giving him back? [Purses his lips then. Makes a soft clucking noise. ] And such a pity you forced him to cover up a beautiful face like that. I was expecting something a little more...

[Sneers in obvious distaste.]

Dog-like.

[wind_upon_waves]

[He almost loses control. Almost but--Kakashi, remember Kakashi--somehow he finds it in himself not to. Blue eyes narrow and Yondaime exhales a slow, inaudible breath.

This is war. This is reality. It can be worse than what Madara implies. No, it will be worse. And soon.

Yondaime can't afford losing control this early. But still, the very thought of this man touching Kakashi...]

What do you want?

[Yondaime ignores the crass comments, ignores the disrespect. They're not important. Only Kakashi is.]

[parousian]

I don't suppose you'd be interested in trading your jinchuuriki for your lovely boy toy, would you? ...well. [Pauses, the corners of his lips downturning slightly.] I don't suppose the jinchuuriki would be as... mmm, enjoyable, but we certainly could use that Kyuubi inside of him.

[Oh, Madara is having too much fun!]

[wind_upon_waves]

[The masks cracks and he snarls. As Yondaime, the answer is immediate and obvious. Handing over the Kyuubi to Madara is out of the question--even if it means Kakashi's life. But to Minato, the answer doesn't come so easily. Naruto is his son--but Kakashi is closer in some ways to Minato than even his own flesh and blood.

And neither Yondaime nor Minato like being cornered like this. Yondaime accepts the crude reality of what Madara has implied. Minato does not. He would rather see Madara ripped apart and gutted.

But as long as there's a possibility of Kakashi being alive--]

That is not negotiable. Why don't you state terms I might actually accept, Uchiha-dono.

[The respectfulness slips.]

[parousian]

Are you sure that isn't negotiable? The Kyuubi is the only thing we're interested in, after all.

[ His voice is so lilting and smug. ]

reaction;

[callmelegion]

[ So this is how war begins.

Pain feels nothing.

Not even satisfaction.

How strange.

That everyone around him . . . should be feeling so much.

Nagato thought he would be happier.

He really did.

With a pause, he thinks -- says to himself: Later.

I will, later. When my part comes.

And walks off. ]