Oh? I'm not so certain about that. It looks to me like that girl in your dream manipulated you into doing exactly what she wanted you to do. And you did so, enthusiastically.
If you're too unobservant to see that...well, someone could be manipulating you into doing exactly what they want in reality, too, and you don't even realize it.
[ Kakashi wasn't sure what he was expecting, but this definitely wasn't it. In retrospect, he shouldn't be too surprised. Girls, women, they aren't too different from men, and desire manifests in so many ways. But he never really thought about his students that way. ]
[ Sakura is consistently surprised by Pain. She doesn't know why they keep running into each other, but each time they interact, he is at once so similar to and so different from the image she has of him in her head: his six bodies all over Konoha, the crater he left in her home, fighting against the Nine-tails
( ... )
[ Pain strikes close to a nerve, but it isn't the one he thinks he is. Sakura is too familiar with the single-minded pursuit of power. (She remembers a boy, and a bite, and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake as he left her and Naruto and everything behind for it, and damn the consequences.)
Pain may think he's talking about her (or maybe even himself), but all Sakura thinks of is Sasuke.
She is very, very quiet when she speaks. ]
Believe me, I probably know more about what physical power will and won't get you than you think.
Maybe we'd all be better off if we weren't ninja, but... [ A pause, then stronger. ] I am one, I chose to be one. And I won't be left in the dust any more, not when people need me.
[ She ignores his comment about being off inside. Maybe she is, and maybe she always will be until Team Seven is complete again, but that doesn't matter. ]
[Bitter Konan is not only bitter, she finds it very easy to divorce herself from empathy.
Or really, to just refuse to feel it.]
You're a child and you come from a time of peace.
[And, she thinks, tearing apart a child for the crimes of her village is pointless. What is the girl going to say?
Konan isn't sure what she wants Sakura to say. Maybe she doesn't want to hear anything, she just wants to spit venom onto innocence.
Not, though... that there really is much here remaining. When she's done considering how Sakura has clearly never had her best friend bleed to death all over her, she finds herself contemplating that strange feeling. The power relation between them. Herself and Yahiko, Nagato.]
[Frowns, isn't sure what to say. Decides to say nothing.]
[ That sounds a lot like an accusation. Konan's tone is so bitter. It's not hard to discern that Konan's lead a hard life, but Sakura isn't sure what part of her dream set this off. ]
Maybe you should just stay quiet, then. [Harshly.]
[She really has nothing to say, she thinks. But it's too late now.]
Your friend lives [Konan isn't sure about this, but she's willing to bet] and your village stands. [Okay, so Pain blew holes in it.] Your village may be destroyed but your people will endure. Your family is still alive and you have never-
[She stops herself. Isn't sure whether to be embarrassed or to feel vindicated.]
Nagato says sometimes... you all buy your peace with blood. Your village was built upon mass graves. Are you even aware of it?
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Hmm, no wonder the old hag was able to use you so effectively. You're rather accustomed to being controlled by another, I see.
Are you sure you don't want to become part of my collection? You'd clearly fit right in, with that sort of attitude.
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Actually, I'm rather good at breaking attempts to control me. I'm very sure I want nothing to do with you or your collection.
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If you're too unobservant to see that...well, someone could be manipulating you into doing exactly what they want in reality, too, and you don't even realize it.
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She manages to keep her temper in check, but just barely. ]
You obviously don't know anything about me or that girl, then.
Besides, it was just a dream.
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Well... I guess that's not too surprising...
[ Somewhat murmurs. ]
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What does THAT mean?
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Pain may think he's talking about her (or maybe even himself), but all Sakura thinks of is Sasuke.
She is very, very quiet when she speaks. ]
Believe me, I probably know more about what physical power will and won't get you than you think.
Maybe we'd all be better off if we weren't ninja, but... [ A pause, then stronger. ] I am one, I chose to be one. And I won't be left in the dust any more, not when people need me.
[ She ignores his comment about being off inside. Maybe she is, and maybe she always will be until Team Seven is complete again, but that doesn't matter. ]
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You're a tough girl, Sakura.
[ Because Anko senses a fighting spirit in her, and she likes it. Women should be strong. ]
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I try, I guess.
... Thanks.
[ It's a very good compliment, to her. ]
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No problem. I'll spar with you sometime if you want.
[ It's her way of saying "you're welcome." ]
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Or really, to just refuse to feel it.]
You're a child and you come from a time of peace.
[And, she thinks, tearing apart a child for the crimes of her village is pointless. What is the girl going to say?
Konan isn't sure what she wants Sakura to say. Maybe she doesn't want to hear anything, she just wants to spit venom onto innocence.
Not, though... that there really is much here remaining. When she's done considering how Sakura has clearly never had her best friend bleed to death all over her, she finds herself contemplating that strange feeling. The power relation between them. Herself and Yahiko, Nagato.]
[Frowns, isn't sure what to say. Decides to say nothing.]
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I'm... not sure how to respond to that.
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[She really has nothing to say, she thinks. But it's too late now.]
Your friend lives [Konan isn't sure about this, but she's willing to bet] and your village stands. [Okay, so Pain blew holes in it.] Your village may be destroyed but your people will endure. Your family is still alive and you have never-
[She stops herself. Isn't sure whether to be embarrassed or to feel vindicated.]
Nagato says sometimes... you all buy your peace with blood. Your village was built upon mass graves. Are you even aware of it?
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[ That's an invitation for you to say what it is, if you want. ]
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