In their worlds, you are. In mine you are. But you’re obviously very real, just as the kelpie was. The rules as we know them never apply.

[Spoken with only half of his attention, the words spilling out like diaphanous, fleeting things; the rest of it squarely on Konoha’s state, partitioning concern and gratitude by halves and deciding on which weighs more.]

I’m fine. Because of you, I’m fine. I’m not detecting any damage to my exterior.