discedo | [video]

Aye. I'm in the same position. The people outside my family only want me alive to fight Blackbeard, since they fucked up and accidentally helped him only to get likewise betrayed by him, just like he did to us. Imagine that.

[A small eye roll despite his even-toned deadpan scorn.]

Still, Sasuke, no one ever has to be alone if they don't wish to be. More people than just those seeking to use you for their own ends will want you around, but they can't know it and neither can you if you never take that chance.

I spent a long time not wanting to deal with any people whatsoever, but I learned better. That there's more to life than just kill and be killed. There's living all in between that.

The government, Kaidou, Big Mam, every god damn rookie out there practically... 99.99999% of the world at least wants me dead. But I still have my crew, and finding more allies, more people who hate Blackbeard as much as I do...

If the people who murdered your family are foolish enough to do something like that, they're going to make other mistakes and that will produce other enemies, people who might have to be in hiding just so they don't get killed themselves. Finding them won't be easy, but if you're setting yourself up for this war, then every little chance counts.

Take the World Government. So far as I can tell, they're bigger, more organized, and objectively worse than anything any other world seems to have so far. They also have countless enemies because of it. They have to fight so many world-class pirates that that alone could keep their hands tied with trying to get us pirates to kill each other, but they also have to try to keep the countries in check. And now they've got Dragon's Rebellion to deal with too. When we had to fight them for Marineford, to get back Ace, we got every single ally we could. Even in the middle of the fight, more third parties showed up right and left and both Pops and the marines tried to get them to help because otherwise they'd be an enemy.

The stronger someone is, the more enemies they make. Don't get me wrong, just because we went to war against the government didn't mean we were about to ask Dragon or Kaidou for help. A common enemy doesn't make a friend, but it's a starting point. Shanks pisses me off, but he still had my back, protected my family, for Ace's sake and because fuck the government. Even Crocodile who tried to kill Pops in the middle of the fight still helped us against Akainu because he hates the government that much.

We didn't lose Marineford because our convictions were weaker, but the marines were trying to protect the whole world from us and we just wanted to protect Ace. Even in revenge, friends help. Maybe the whole world thinks your assholes are good protective forces, just like my world and the marines. But proof of otherwise comes from actions. The government destroyed whole islands, but there are still some survivors and that spurs Dragon's revolution. Blackbeard they thought they could tame, that he only betrayed Pops and us because they could offer him more, to keep him loyal, and he turned around and used that against them.

People who betray others for personal gain don't just do it once, eh. Finding the others who've been betrayed like that... it might help. And if it doesn't, at least you can say you did your best and had fun along the way.

I know what my actions are going to bring about already.

War, and not on a small scale. Those that have harbored grudges against those people and that place will be free to take action then, though I'm not going to hold out for anything significant. I'm prepared to fight with the small team and limited forces that I have on my side because my convictions are stronger than theirs. That's all that I need.

[ That and the power that he's worked to attain for the entirety of his life, but without a proper motivation he wouldn't have had anything. ]

Then I hope you get everything you're looking for, eh? So long as you don't forget your small team.

[ Honestly, that's another thing that's been on his mind. ]

It's not something I plan on doing. They've risked themselves for me already and I've done the same in return.

The same people who've been trying to help you all along but nearly getting in the way or a different set?

A different set. [ Though he takes issue with the argument that they've been trying to help him all along. Never was his goal supported. Otherwise it wouldn't have been a problem. ]

Nakama?

That's certainly a word you like.

I wouldn't go that far.

A man without nakama has nothing, a man with nakama knows they're worth more than the whole world itself.

Perhaps you'll find some who can weather out the war with you then, eh?

[ ... ]

I won't say that being around me is safe, but that's something that I would like.

Nakama get to take take that risk onto themselves as their own choice. That's what being nakama is.

Ah, those that choose to support my goal... I don't see them giving up soon. They also have things to accomplish. [ Okay, so it might be a relationship of convenience but that's pretty good for Sasuke. ]

That's how most nakama start off I think. So long as you all support each other.

[Hell. Even Blackbeard's new crew is like that :| Stupid fuckers he loathes :| :| :|]

Right now it is convenient for all of us. I won't ask or expect more of them than that.

I hope it works out in the long term too then, eh.

As long as we succeed. That's all that's important right now.

Aye. Focus on that. I'm sure you'll make it.

[Or at least he'll keep doubt free about it.]

[ ... ]

You shouldn't go so far for my sake. Taking your time for a conversation like this.

How I spend my time is my choice, eh.

You'd be hard-pressed to stop me even if I'm bugging the hell out of you. Maybe especially then.

Informing you that it might be a waste of your time in the long run is a way to free myself from responsibility. [ Forever blunt. ]

[Laughs.]

Rest assured, you never need feel responsible for my headaches. If someone ticks me off but I keep trying to deal with them, that's on me. And usually, I'm just not that nice to. And in any case, if you didn't interest me, I definitely wouldn't bother this often.

Perhaps it's just that you're used to a much more dynamic world so you need ways to amuse yourself. Being here could cause a person to go stir-crazy if they're accustomed to that.

Yes, well now you know my secret.

I've been stir-crazy here for the last year and a half solid.

There are many others here that have that sort of difficulty. I would expect it from you.

I almost feel bad, eh. It's easy to take it for granted how hard it is to survive the New World, so even with the monsters here...

[A shrug.] I usually find ways to keep busy, but it can feel a little haunting. 1600 voices short, and shadows purposely imitating the past.

[filtered 65%] He is just... on a TL;DR roll this thread wtf

[filtered 65%] it is beautiful!

[filtered 65%] OTL Sasuke is just like bitty angry Ace who doesn't have a Marco :<

[filtered 65%] he needed a Marco so so long ago!

[filtered 65%] Poor Sasuke. If only Itatchi had been more like Marco maybe :|

[filtered 65%] Itachi was awesome, it was just too little too late

[filtered 65%] :< Poor Sasuke

[filtered 65%] he's got Marco to talk to now, though!

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