chuunin_archive | Pein discussion [Possible spoilers under cut] (Reply)

[Because I seem to be randomly obsessed with the guy lately]

I apologize if any of this has been discussed many times before. I've never seen this specific topic, so I wanted to make a post for it. I've seen many Pein-centric theories circulating around the fandom, most concerning his identity (which, in theories, seems to range from Nagato to Minato to Kushina Uzumaki); this is all very fascinating and interesting to read, but it is my personal conjecture that the character is more intended to represent a kind of concept and a kind of parallel -- hence the name: "Pain", an idea. I wouldn't be surprised if those six bodies shared some kind of similar pain in their lives.

Then you have the fact that he somewhat resembles Naruto. I'm of the mind that this resemblance is intentional, but I don't think it means that Pein is Minato, or Kushina, or any other Naruto-related entity. I think the resemblance -- like Naruto's resemblance to Obito or Naruto's resemblance to Tsunade's younger brother -- is meant to suggest a kind of parallel: "Pein" is the kind of person Naruto could grow to become if he loses sight of his ideals, ideals similar to those which Nagato espoused as a child and which Naruto now espouses.

I guess the reason I'm making this post is because with all the focus on who Pein may or may not be, I feel like certain things about the character are becoming a bit . . . I'm not sure obfuscated is the right word, because I don't actually know that my take on him is correct, either, and who knows? His identity may turn out to be as surprising and wonky as Kushina, for all I know.

But here's the kind of thing I'm talking about.

For a while, I kept seeing Pein's "emotional reaction" to the prospect of killing Naruto mentioned, usually in conjunction with some theory that Pein and Naruto might be related. I seriously didn't even remember anything that might constitute an "emotional reaction", so I went and looked it up. I assume it's in reference to this.

Now, I could be way off the mark here, but it would seem to me that if the rain is Pein's way of expressing his sadness/displeasure, then his displeasure is probably most closely in response to the page that came before. If this is the case, then my belief is that what's hinted at here is nothing to do with Naruto in particular and more to do with a subtle displeasure over Madara's grander scheme (as referenced in the above page) and the hopelessness and doom it entails.

The overall impression I get from these scenes is that Pein's heart is not entirely with Madara. This is something I just can't shake.

I'm not saying that he's going to make a big conversion somewhere down the line (i.e. Gaara) or that he's going to turn out to be A Secret Hero (i.e. Itachi), but I think that on some level, there are hinted misgivings at work here, and perhaps some remnants of Nagato (assuming Pein is, in fact, Nagato). He does still seem to retain some -- well, "kindness" is not the word, but some code of respect, after his own fashion, as evidenced by the fact that he seems to suggest mourning for Deidara.

In Naruto, you can tell a lot about a character by their facial expressions.

Konan and Pein have that sort of sad, put-upon expression comparable to Haku, Kimimaro, Itachi, and other bound characters who are doing things that don't really give them joy but that they feel they must do (I suspected Itachi's true nature for a long time if for no other reason than his usual face – something you can also retrospectively notice in the pictures I linked). It's notable that this separates them from other “villainous” types like Orochimaru, Deidara, and Sasori, who smirked and sneered and scowled. I know I've seen fanart of Pein smirking and generally being portrayed as the “confident, pwnsome Akatsuki leader”, but I can't for the life of me remember him ever smiling in canon.

So what does all this mean? I'm not really sure. Like I said, I may be entirely off the mark here, but I think it's likely that Pein and Konan will turn out to be more Kimimaro-esque villains than Oro or Madara-esque types, if you understand my meaning. I'm not certain how bound by Madara they are, or how much they buy into his way of thinking, or what doubts they may still retain on some level, or if perhaps they're spiraling into hopelessness because they feel that This Is How It Must Be – as I suspect is the case.

At any rate, I think they're both meant to be very tragic figures, in spite of Pein's God-like status.

I think Pein is meant to parallel What Naruto Has the Potential to Become If He Ever Went Astray, as evidenced by his partial resemblance, his childhood motives, and the fact that he was Jiraiya's student and the prophecy which Jiraiya took to be about him actually seems to be about Naruto. I think there's a connection, yes, but I don't think it is a filial one, and I would not be at all surprised if the story of Nagato and Yahiko somehow turns out to bear some resemblance to Naruto and Sasuke.

Naruto is all about parallels, after all.

Incidentally: Nagato. Naruto. Uh-huh.

So, like I said, sorry if this is the nth time this has all been said, but I've not really seen it mentioned anywhere. Just thought I'd try to start up a discussion and put some opinions in here.

Also, I may just throttle Kishi if Pein does turn out to be some random, nonsensical identity like Kushina, but I really doubt the likeliness of this! Seems about like the Tobi+Obito deal to me.