This conversation should give you the context you need.
You haven't shared your feelings on that sort of thing with me before. Religion. Prayers. What you honor and what you disregard.
[ His willpower is faltering already, but questioning Kakashi instead of sharing his own opinions feels safer. More self-indulgent, perhaps, in a way he should be avoiding, but he manifests justifications almost as fast as he does protests and that's impressive for him.
And besides, it's only half true. He knows full well what Kakashi holds sacred and what he values, in this life or the next. It does't mean he won't ask him to say it. ]
I've never been religious. The only thing I used to believe in was the rules. And I realized the hard way that I was wrong for prioritizing them over the lives of my comrades.
Now I pray to the people who made a difference in my life, not the gods who didn't.
( heroes like the sandaime hokage. like his father. like minato and kushina. like rin.
like obito.
they all died to protect the ones they loved. sacrifices, though regrettable, that taught men like him that their lives were important. if they can burn so brilliantly still, maybe he can, too, even if his light flickers and is turbid. the will of fire can never truly be extinguished. )
You already know my answer, Sasuke. The day I acknowledged you, Naruto, and Sakura as shinobi, you paid attention to what I had to say about teamwork and applied it. Because a part of you knew that it was the most important lesson I could teach you if I managed to teach you anything at all.
I honour those who honour their friends and disregard those who disregard them.
[ For a while, longer than he needs, no response comes through. Bits and pieces of Kakashi's answer are what he had anticipated and would find value in, almost entirely due to how Kakashi views those in his life who have passed on. Comrades, yes, but more importantly loved ones. That isn't what gives him pause.
It's the way it's used as a springboard to talk about their own pasts together and his teacher's lessons, how they should treat each other as shinobi. How Sasuke should treat Naruto and Sakura. Of course it falls under what he'd asked, but for a young man ready to talk about prayers and rituals he's unprepared to think about those two again. ]
Past kage? Your teammmates? The "people who made a difference in your life".
( sasuke was featured prominently in more than a few prayers. his time at the shinjuku shrine was spent sharing a contemplative list of what he has to return to. while his students are fractured and separated, the name of the one responsible for that slipped in, too.
sasuke's made a difference in his life. good or bad, it never mattered; they'd always have regret in common. )
But we have to honour the living as much as we honour the dead.
( it's important he answer him truthfully. while he's always been forthright with sasuke about the reality of their existence, he's only ever given him scraps about himself.
hindsight is the real lesson here... he must let it inform his actions now. )
The line between the two becomes blurred. Today, I'm certain that's not the case. Tomorrow... Well, tomorrow hasn't happened yet.
[ What can he say to him? Can he tell him what he saw in the war, and what conclusions he drew from his teacher's willingness to jump in to defend those he loves against those he loved?
Words appear from his thoughts and are carefully erased one by one. ]
How you reconcile that is up to you. If how you pray helps with that, fine. I'm not one to lecture anyone on where their focus should stay.
( he doesn't know what he expected sasuke to say. this wasn't it, but it sounds less defensive than it had been, which means that their relationship is an iota better than it was previously.
that's all he can really give a damn about. )
No, maybe not. But I've never been one to ignore free advice.
See you in church.
( he's coming to visit!!!!!!!! he lied, nyeEEHEHEHEH!!!!!! )
[ But that free advice would require Sasuke to reveal his own mental state currently and shed light on his deepest opinions. It's safe to say he'll be turning down that offer, at least for now, but– ]
You're not a member of the religion in the first place. If I have to perform this role then I will, but there's no reason for you to intrude on a religious ceremony with ulterior motives.
Monotheistic, patriarchal, and the basis of the religion itself is a single book. Their regular meetings include reading portions of the book and interpreting them through the lens of a spiritual leader. That's what you should read during the "service".
The second one. As I said, I'm still studying, but a few things are apparent.
In that case, that'll be the condition. Read at least one chapter of one of the books, and I'll tell you where the church is located. In that way I'll know you're approaching it seriously.
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You haven't shared your feelings on that sort of thing with me before. Religion. Prayers. What you honor and what you disregard.
[ His willpower is faltering already, but questioning Kakashi instead of sharing his own opinions feels safer. More self-indulgent, perhaps, in a way he should be avoiding, but he manifests justifications almost as fast as he does protests and that's impressive for him.
And besides, it's only half true. He knows full well what Kakashi holds sacred and what he values, in this life or the next. It does't mean he won't ask him to say it. ]
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Now I pray to the people who made a difference in my life, not the gods who didn't.
( heroes like the sandaime hokage. like his father. like minato and kushina. like rin.
like obito.
they all died to protect the ones they loved. sacrifices, though regrettable, that taught men like him that their lives were important. if they can burn so brilliantly still, maybe he can, too, even if his light flickers and is turbid. the will of fire can never truly be extinguished. )
You already know my answer, Sasuke. The day I acknowledged you, Naruto, and Sakura as shinobi, you paid attention to what I had to say about teamwork and applied it. Because a part of you knew that it was the most important lesson I could teach you if I managed to teach you anything at all.
I honour those who honour their friends and disregard those who disregard them.
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It's the way it's used as a springboard to talk about their own pasts together and his teacher's lessons, how they should treat each other as shinobi. How Sasuke should treat Naruto and Sakura. Of course it falls under what he'd asked, but for a young man ready to talk about prayers and rituals he's unprepared to think about those two again. ]
Past kage? Your teammmates? The "people who made a difference in your life".
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( sasuke was featured prominently in more than a few prayers. his time at the shinjuku shrine was spent sharing a contemplative list of what he has to return to. while his students are fractured and separated, the name of the one responsible for that slipped in, too.
sasuke's made a difference in his life. good or bad, it never mattered; they'd always have regret in common. )
But we have to honour the living as much as we honour the dead.
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Are you telling me that as a lesson or are we talking as equals?
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Equal enough?
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Do you believe your devotion to those you lost is causing you to undervalue those you have now? Still?
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( it's important he answer him truthfully. while he's always been forthright with sasuke about the reality of their existence, he's only ever given him scraps about himself.
hindsight is the real lesson here... he must let it inform his actions now. )
The line between the two becomes blurred. Today, I'm certain that's not the case. Tomorrow... Well, tomorrow hasn't happened yet.
I'll always struggle with it. Probably.
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Words appear from his thoughts and are carefully erased one by one. ]
How you reconcile that is up to you. If how you pray helps with that, fine. I'm not one to lecture anyone on where their focus should stay.
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that's all he can really give a damn about. )
No, maybe not. But I've never been one to ignore free advice.
See you in church.
( he's coming to visit!!!!!!!! he lied, nyeEEHEHEHEH!!!!!! )
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I'll assume this is one of your bad jokes.
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But I'd like to see you in that space. Is that so bad?
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You're not a member of the religion in the first place. If I have to perform this role then I will, but there's no reason for you to intrude on a religious ceremony with ulterior motives.
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Do you think I'm going to disrespect it?
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Would you be reading?
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Unless you had something to hand out. Like a pamphlet or a fortune.
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Monotheistic, patriarchal, and the basis of the religion itself is a single book. Their regular meetings include reading portions of the book and interpreting them through the lens of a spiritual leader. That's what you should read during the "service".
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I've got no problem reading it. Unless it's sacrilegious to do so. Could be interesting.
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In that case, that'll be the condition. Read at least one chapter of one of the books, and I'll tell you where the church is located. In that way I'll know you're approaching it seriously.
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( DOUBLES DOWN )
Can I find it online or do you have a physical copy for me?
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Figure it out.
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But if you insist, I'll do what I have to.
You'd better have that address ready.
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So I do insist, so you will do what you have to.
I'll have the test ready on what you've read.
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Short answer/long answer? Essay? Multiple choice? Or... a practical?
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[ Please don't destroy a city. ]
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