So the details of Sasuke's arrival were not yet common knowledge, at least not to those who had not been there at the time -- which was a piece of information Sasuke filed away for future reference. If what he'd been told about pirates was true, then it made sense that not all of them could be docked at once, though it begged the question of exactly how many pirate ships there were and how they managed to avoid all-out warfare over whatever sea territory was officially called.

In any case: there was something to be appreciated about someone who could be straightforward about his intentions, and it was more than fair for him to suspect someone who had so hastily arrived on board.

Still, there was the question of how much to divulge -- Sasuke kept his voice carefully level when he answered, surreptitiously gathering chakra in case he needed to defend or attack.

"The town centre was destroyed. The military chased everyone ... I was given to understand that everyone the military chased out of town was a pirate."

There was still disbelief when he said the word, despite everything.