"Haven't asked. He tries to eat me then threatens everyone I love whenever we talk, so, lots of talking isn't easy."

"Perhaps he is Kurama, then. Isobu said he hated humans." She pauses.

"This should be far enough. Climb onto my back. Mind the side."

He jumps up, anchoring himself with chakra and avoiding her injured sides rather neatly. "Maybe he'll stop shouting long enough for me to ask, eventually." He gives her directions on where he last sensed the main body.

She flies.

"If we win today, you might take him to visit Isobu. Seeing a familiar face may brighten his mood."

"Isobu's one of the others?"

"Yes. The Three Tails. He is currently unbound."

"How's he - doing? Pervy Sage said the tailed beasts were just monsters, but... Nine Tails is a grump but he talks. Also Sakura threatens me way more often."

"Hmph. The Tailed Beasts are the children of your Sage of the Six Paths, and at least as intelligent as you. They were created to look after this world. Isobu seemed happy to able to work his task again after being freed from his cage."

"Huh. I'll have to talk to him... Not sure I can let him go without dying though, even if he promises not to eat anyone..."

"You will die eventually, as all mortals do. If you do not wish to accelerate the process, then you ought to make provisions for when it occurs of its own accord."

"Yeah. Get him a bit less angry. Maybe set it up - don't know if I can - so no one else'll try trapping him."

"Then you have a purpose to work towards, which is helpful in guiding one's growth."

"Always said I'd find my own path. Decided to make friends when everyone else was saying fight."

He leans forwards. "Think we're almost there. Speaking of friends - I want to try talking to Pein, 'stead of just setting everything on fire. I think he knows he's losing, and he's wrong. I want to know why all this."

"Very well. It is your life to wager."

"Yup! And there's the source of the energy." He points. It's sheltered by trees, but the nearest open area to land in isn't too far off - above the opening in fact, where the trees pull away from a cliff-side.

She lands with a slightly heavier thud than usual. She gives her passenger a couple seconds to climb off before shifting out of dragon form.

"Thanks for the lift!" he says after jumping down. "Wanna come with me?"

"That seems more likely to be interesting than waiting here."

"Right!"

He jumps down the slope, sliding to a halt outside the entrance to a cave.

There's a rustling as he does so.

Oh no, not more paper. How many times will she be required to kill that girl today?

"Hey! Hey, paper lady! I wanna talk to Pein. Not gonna start anything. Just talk."

She forms, glares at him - 

Then steps aside. "He wishes to speak with you as well. I will be watching."

And she dissolves.

Isn't that convenient. Perhaps there will be a conversation after all.

He strides into the central chamber, where a withered husk of a man sits connected to what seems to be life support. The chamber is coated in paper, of course.

"You're the real one, aren't you," Naruto says.

"So peace has come, has it," Pain muses, apparently ignoring Naruto's words. "Do you hate me? Now that I'm before you, weakened... You want your revenge, for all those who lie slain. The teachers. The friends. The young boy. That girl who tried to protect you... That friend of yours, returned to a village he hates for the sake of a flimsy peace. His shield failed. That peace he's built won't last, now."

Naruto frowns. Clenches his fist. Doesn't answer, not yet.

"And you?" Pain asks Ellisaria. "You have little connection to this world. Tell me, what have you seen of our hatred?"

"Petty mortal grievances, the same as I have seen in a thousand other times and places. I care not for your so-called hatred. You all die eventually, and others come to repeat your mistakes. That is what it means to be mortal and foolish. I am here now, setting myself against you, because from what I have seen, their regard for this world and its guardians is greater than yours."