Blocked
By Keo Siph
All Naruto characters © Masahi Kishimoto, Shounen Jump
It was almost fascinating, really, from where I stood. They came up from behind, and I stood before, our opponent. Our opponent, who was basked in sweat and fear.
Surely, only dogs and other such predators can smell an emotion such as that, you think.
Oh, how wrong you are. You'd be wrong about many things, Zaku Abumi. Zaku the Sound Nin. Zaku the finger puppet. Although your hands are tied, someone pulls the strings from behind. You'd be wrong about that, as well. No one pulls your strings, mostly because they are so small and thin. I was careful enough to hear the conversation between Kakashi-sensei and your sensei, your trusted master, your dark ladder from the pain and suffering. He lets you run free because you are so worthless as to be beneath his sight.
This I can understand. You would think otherwise, and be counted wrong again, just as you most likely believe me to get some sort of sick satisfaction out of this. Wrong answer; incorrect; misjudgment; try again. I can be blunt or polite or rude or snide or brash about it, but it is all the same.
Which is why I ask you, again and again, if you want to back out. Back out with something other than your viscious pride intact. You'll be hurt, physically or mentally when you leave here, there's no doubt. You'll be torn into shreds when his real pawns march over you, drown in the shadow of his rook and knight, but until then, you are still complete and unwilling to leave.
That problem's origin may be me. I, although skilled in the art of destruction, tactics, death, am quite unskilled in the art of battle and humanity, for there is always a trade off. I don't know how to say it in a way that would save us from this troublesome dance, so I say what I can. You'd say I was a warrior by the time this ends--I am a mere puppet, same as you. I don't know how to keep you partially intact, yet still win.
Even as the army you watch with horrified understanding draws near, what does not move affects your battle more. We continue to fling meaningless trumps upon each other, one back-up after another. I shift the deck of cards within my sleeve, and watch as you fall flat beneath them.