*shrugs with a wry smile* I'll be the first to admit that I tend to be more interested in the darker characters. I start from the assumption that these are rational human beings who have reasons for the decisions that they make, and then try to get into their heads and figure out what those reasons are. 'Tis a quirk. And I'm certainly not going to slam you for disliking Sasuke, that would be ridiculous - I just think that you might be selling a potentially very three-dimensional character short.
The friendship bit, for one thing - I'd say that, for Sasuke's character, friendship DID win in the end. I don't think he was trying to kill Naruto at the hospital, so much as he got caught up in the fight and just wanted to WIN, and pulled out the best weapon he had. And when he WAS trying to kill Naruto in the battle at the border, he ended up choosing not to do so. The problem with the friendship bit is that in this case, it's coming up against another part of his character, which is that when Sasuke decides on a course of action, he generally insists on carrying through with it. He made his decision to leave. End of discussion.
Meh, it would be a long debate, and there's no need to get too much into it.
About Chidori against Rasengan - I don't remember the bit about the 'blunt weapon' demonstration, but compare the damage done. Sasuke's Chidori seriously dents the tank and punches a small hole in it. Naruto's Rasengan blasts the top off of his tank. Can we say 'overkill'?
Sasuke does turn his back on his friends because of revenge - although consider that when his choice was made, he was simply leaving, not abandoning the people who come after him to try to save him. Once he's left, the bridge has been burned and, by his character, he CAN'T go back. With that said, however, one need also bear in mind that if he turns his back on his revenge, he's turning his back on his family and everything that's guided him since that day. If he gives up on it or gets distracted from it, then in a very real way he isn't HIMSELF anymore.
Sasuke's goal may be much darker than Naruto's, but he is just as devoted to it. Sasuke giving up on his aim to kill Itachi would be the same as Naruto giving up on his aim of becoming Hokage. Or Lee giving up on being a ninja!
Quick note: I'd say that there IS a possibility that Sasuke will ditch Orochimaru. He's willing to use Orochimaru in order to grow stronger, but there's no loyalty there. (unless you want to go the cop-out method and claim that the curse seal will take care of that, which then leads into the REALLY cop-out attempts to explain his desertion as being 'all du to teh pOweR of MiNd CntRl!') It seems exceedingly out of character for him to just hang around and let himself be possessed, anyway, given that the whole mess started so that he could be strong enough to fight Itachi. So if he were to get a hint of Orochimaru about to move in, he would probably move OUT.
*shrugs* And it has been almost three years. People do change - maybe he's grown up some and recognized his mistake (although admitting to it may be another issue). Who knows?
Disclaimer: I'm not saying I approve of his decisions, by the way - if you ask me, they were damn stupid. With that said - I do see where the poor bastard is coming from.
I do have to say that I can't see him going back to Konoha, at least not of his own accord. It would be too much like turning back or giving up. But not going back is not the same thing as staying where he is, either.
*laughs sheepishly* Sorry, went into debate-mode there. I tried to cut a few arguments out, though. As I said earlier, I have something of a fascination for 'fallen' characters, or at least the ones who manage to fall and then pull themselves back out of it. So I'm currently trying to withhold judgment on Sasuke, until we find out what, exactly, is happening to him.
*looks at the length of her reply and winces* Um... all apologies about the pontification... Getting me typing is usually a bad idea, because I think with my fingers and my fingers think too much. ...^^;
Ah, sou?
The friendship bit, for one thing - I'd say that, for Sasuke's character, friendship DID win in the end. I don't think he was trying to kill Naruto at the hospital, so much as he got caught up in the fight and just wanted to WIN, and pulled out the best weapon he had. And when he WAS trying to kill Naruto in the battle at the border, he ended up choosing not to do so. The problem with the friendship bit is that in this case, it's coming up against another part of his character, which is that when Sasuke decides on a course of action, he generally insists on carrying through with it. He made his decision to leave. End of discussion.
Meh, it would be a long debate, and there's no need to get too much into it.
About Chidori against Rasengan - I don't remember the bit about the 'blunt weapon' demonstration, but compare the damage done. Sasuke's Chidori seriously dents the tank and punches a small hole in it. Naruto's Rasengan blasts the top off of his tank. Can we say 'overkill'?
Sasuke does turn his back on his friends because of revenge - although consider that when his choice was made, he was simply leaving, not abandoning the people who come after him to try to save him. Once he's left, the bridge has been burned and, by his character, he CAN'T go back. With that said, however, one need also bear in mind that if he turns his back on his revenge, he's turning his back on his family and everything that's guided him since that day. If he gives up on it or gets distracted from it, then in a very real way he isn't HIMSELF anymore.
Sasuke's goal may be much darker than Naruto's, but he is just as devoted to it. Sasuke giving up on his aim to kill Itachi would be the same as Naruto giving up on his aim of becoming Hokage. Or Lee giving up on being a ninja!
Quick note: I'd say that there IS a possibility that Sasuke will ditch Orochimaru. He's willing to use Orochimaru in order to grow stronger, but there's no loyalty there. (unless you want to go the cop-out method and claim that the curse seal will take care of that, which then leads into the REALLY cop-out attempts to explain his desertion as being 'all du to teh pOweR of MiNd CntRl!') It seems exceedingly out of character for him to just hang around and let himself be possessed, anyway, given that the whole mess started so that he could be strong enough to fight Itachi. So if he were to get a hint of Orochimaru about to move in, he would probably move OUT.
*shrugs* And it has been almost three years. People do change - maybe he's grown up some and recognized his mistake (although admitting to it may be another issue). Who knows?
Disclaimer: I'm not saying I approve of his decisions, by the way - if you ask me, they were damn stupid. With that said - I do see where the poor bastard is coming from.
I do have to say that I can't see him going back to Konoha, at least not of his own accord. It would be too much like turning back or giving up. But not going back is not the same thing as staying where he is, either.
*laughs sheepishly* Sorry, went into debate-mode there. I tried to cut a few arguments out, though. As I said earlier, I have something of a fascination for 'fallen' characters, or at least the ones who manage to fall and then pull themselves back out of it. So I'm currently trying to withhold judgment on Sasuke, until we find out what, exactly, is happening to him.
*looks at the length of her reply and winces* Um... all apologies about the pontification... Getting me typing is usually a bad idea, because I think with my fingers and my fingers think too much. ...^^;