And there were crazy sort-of scientists in every world, not just every corner of any one. Somehow it wasn't much of a relief to hear, but at least Allen sounded like he had a frame of reference for Sasuke's point, now. He sort of wondered why Allen had wanted power, but if Allen held true to type, it would have been 'to protect people' or something.

"That arm of yours. You fight with it, right?" Hadn't the boy said something along the lines when they'd first met? And the way Allen had described how he'd killed his friend -- if nothing else, control was something Sasuke knew well. "My teacher's experiments involved power augmentation. I have some experience with controlling a dangerous power."

Although the curse seal was still dormant, as far as Sasuke could tell. Even putting his hand over the place where it lay on his shoulder didn't register any heat, any telltale tenfuuin chakra -- nothing at all. Still, he could remember that first rush of power, spiraling out of his control, and Sakura ... "It comes down to force of will."