His eye remained narrow, still radiating displeasure. He wasn't sure what the monk was continuing to insinuate, but he excused as it a matter of cultural and temporal difference. For him, to die in battle was the greatest honor. That much hadn't changed. Every samurai believed this, and those that didn't were the ones who had diverged from their path.

What Sanzo saw as a waste of his life was contrary to him. There was no better way to use his life than to accomplish his goal. Sacrifices had to be made in war for the greater good.

"An excuse? To die for a cause -- does that hold no worth for your? Or would you rather cling to your life and merely watch those who have taken everything from you continue to rampage through the land and abuse your people?" Takasugi paused, starting to advance on Sanzo and back him into a corner. "You're a benevolent man, even with that mask of indifference. You are the kind that can't stand to see someone innocent suffer. You've expressed consternation at my violent disposition because you fear how I will unleash it, which means, on some level, the worth of a human life is high for you. Therefore, were I to threaten to murder a child in front of you, would you sit there and look me in the eye and do nothing at all?"