Sometimes I think that pride is the only reason a lot of them go on (or refuse to back down... certainly with Sasuke, it was one of the reasons he wouldn't go back). See, if there were only a little less pride going on, the characters might have been able to talk to each other before the whole mess with Orochimaru got too out of hand. :P

Ooooooh~~ ficlet! :D Look-see?