Cloud can slowly feel himself coming back into full control of himself, the final remnants of the visions around him fading into nothingness like they'd never existed.

"There's no ifs about whether he's going to get what he deserves in my timeline. We will stop him. And then some."

As intially appealing as the idea of Hojo suffering intensely seems, Cloud, in his heart of hearts, knows that would serve nothing, just as Sephiroth mentioned. Yes, he does feel the same. Why create even more suffering to perpetuate a cycle Hojo already pushed along so much himself? Wishing for that makes one no better than the madman. He deserves a painful end, and needs to be stopped- not prolonged suffering, even if it would be poetic. Cloud is simply not a man who enjoys or does well when faced with the suffering of other human beings. Beneath the cool facade, he has a powerful sense of justice. Clearly something Sephiroth knows well.

As for the certainties...

"Not wanting them doesn't change if I need to know them or not. You're still..." Cloud pauses, making the realization in the midst of vocalizing his thought, "....Helping." He is. Sephiroth has been helping this entire time- just as he swore to. Impossibly, against every instinct and experience instilled in Cloud from home, Sephiroth is helping him. This mess makes it tangible. Touchable as the warm hand that remained so steady throughout his harrowing experience.

Those mako eyes dart away to focus on ...anything else. The gesture is almost sheepish.

"So thanks."