I see. [ it's only a minor overlap, but still one that tseng notes: ] What you call chakra, I know as chi. It is an essential and inherent energy that those of us trained in martial arts can leverage in certain specific ways.

[ of course, tseng's martial arts training—while comprehensive—is certainly not the kind of training a ninja would receive, either in wutai or, evidently, wherever sasuke is from. still, it's similar enough to be noteworthy. the notion of training apart from one's village as a soldier loyal to the cause sounds familiar as well, like enough to tseng's own circumstances that it doesn't strike him as odd.

he shakes his head slightly. ] It's all right. The existence of the Turks is no secret to anyone who pays attention to current events.

[ which may well not be all citizens of midgar, but sasuke is more observant than most and wickedly sharp. ]

There are four of us, now. Myself and three subordinates. Only a few years ago there were more, but a series of... political maneuvers has thinned our ranks. [ he lifts a shoulder in a shrug that's almost careless, but the tightening at the corners of his mouth suggests otherwise. it was not easy, to go to junon and to watch good men and women fall needlessly to enemy fire. ] Many of us died at war. A much smaller number survived and chose to retire.