I'd originally planned to write another chapter of 'Legacy' and then a chapter of 'Thunderstruck' this weekend but this was gnawing away at my find for a while and I just want it out of the way. It isn't based on any of the forum ideas, meaning I still have to get through them later, but is the final chapter in the 'Aftermath' series [chapters five, thirteen and sixteen]. Sasuke dealing with what happened, what Sakura decided to do and what happens to Kakashi.

Oh, before I forget, I have started a new collection of ficlets and one-shots for Non-Naruto fics. It's called 'Chaos In The Cosmos – A Collection Of Stories' and has two chapters so far based on an idea for a Halo/Mass Effect fusion. Feedback and opinions wanted and needed.

Another chapter, another attempt to entertain you all. I honestly do not have anything else to add, so on with the show!

Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

XXXXX

XX Konoha, Hokage's Tower XX

"We have Hatake's report here." The chunin began as he sat across from Sasuke. "We just need to verify some of the information."

"Fine." Sasuke shrugged, not really paying attention.

"Now your team encountered the Demon Brothers Gōzu and Meizu while still in Fire Country, correct?" The chunin asked.

"Yeah." Sasuke answered, seemingly on autopilot. As the chunin continued with his questioning, Sasuke let his thoughts drift. "I have them... I have these eyes. I can match him... I can beat him, make him pay. I did it, I clung to my life and now I have the same eyes... I have the same... I have...'

"Uchiha! Uchiha, we're done." The chunin called out, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts. "You can go. Until you can be reassigned to a new team, you can consider yourself relieved from active duty."

"Reassigned? Why am I being reassigned?" Sasuke asked as he made his way towards the door.

"With Uzumaki dead, Haruno requesting a transfer and Hatake being stripped of command, it's been decided that Genin Team Seven is effectively gone." The chunin answered. "With the Chunin Exams coming up shortly, you'll probably get a new team in two or three months."

"Sakura requested a transfer?" Sasuke asked, blinking in surprise. "What...? Why?"

"Don't know." The chunin shrugged. "You'll have to ask her."

XX Third Training Ground XX

"You asked for a transfer?" Sasuke said by way of greeting. "Why?"

"I-I don't want to die." Sakura admitted. "I don't want to die and I don't want to see someone else die. The... The Hokage said I could transfer, take over some of the basic clerical work in his tower. You know, filing reports and distributing missions."

"So, you're giving up on being a real ninja? Just gonna become a glorified secretary?" Sasuke challenged, angrier then he thought he'd be. "If that's what you plan, why didn't you just quit when Kakashi told us to?"

"Because I was deluded!" Sakura shrieked, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. "I thought it would be great fun, I thought we'd have adventures and... and... And I thought if things went wrong you'd just save me. And now I know that isn't how it works... Being a shinobi isn't fun, there aren't any adventures and... You wouldn't be able to save me if I needed it."

"I see." Sasuke whispered before the two fell into an uncomfortable silence. After what felt like an eternity, Sasuke spoke again. "When... When are they holding the funeral?"

"The day after tomorrow." Sakura shrugged. "Naruto was an orphan, so not many will be there... Will you?"

"He save my life, so yeah." Sasuke told her, unknowingly reaching up and touching his left eye. "He died saving me, he died because of me."

"I-I have to go." Sakura told him, fighting down sobs. "bye."

"Sakura." Sasuke gasped, his hand snapping out and grabbing her arm as she passed. "Don't... Don't be a stranger, okay?"

"Okay." Sakura sobbed before leaving.

"Goodbye." Sasuke muttered once she'd left. Walking to the nearby stream, Sasuke just stood and stared at his reflection. As he stood staring, the black iris of his eyes brightened and became blood red. The tomoe of his sharingan forming. Two of the black tear shaped markings in his right eye, one in his left. Staring into his reflected eyes, Sasuke watched as the tomoe spun and warped. The colours bled into each other with the black of those tear shaped marks covering the outside of his iris, leaving a blood red six pointed star in each eye. Wiping away the trail of tears that had form, Sasuke let out a harsh and hollow laugh. "And now I have the same eyes as him."

XX Kakashi's Apartment XX

"Come in Sasuke, it's open." Kakashi called out before Sasuke had even knocked at the door. "What's up?"

"I want you to train me." Sasuke told him simply, staring straight at his former teacher. "I need to get stronger, I need to get faster and I need to learn how to use these eyes of mine."

"Back only a day and already thinking of training, take a break." Kakashi told him disapprovingly.

"No, I need to get more powerful." Sasuke snapped.

"I'm not going to train you Sasuke." Kakashi told him coldly. "I'm not your sensei anymore, not that you ever truly acknowledged me as such anyway, and I don't feel like fuelling your self destructive obsession. So no, I won't help you."

"You have to! I-I need to be stronger." Sasuke practically roared before breaking down and sobbing. "If I'd been stronger or if I'd been faster, I could have stopped him... I-If I had mastered my eyes, I could have seen him and stopped him before... Before he died."

"You, you're not talking about Itachi... Are you?" Kakashi asked the sobbing boy.

"if I'd been stronger or faster, I could have beaten that ice user before he had too... If my eyes were more powerful I could have seen the senbon, could have dodged better or countered or... If I'd been better..." Sasuke sobbed. "If I'd been better, he wouldn't have had to die. If I'd been better they would still be here... Everyone dies because I'm weak. I-I need to get strong, I need to make sure no one else dies... I can't, I can't have anyone else die on me."

"I'm not your sensei anymore, I'm not anyone's sensei and I will never be allowed an apprentice." Kakashi tried to explain. "Sasuke listen, go find someone else. Go find someone who can train a genin... Who isn't as screwed up as I am, who isn't so blinded by the past that he sees you and not the ghosts of his own fuck ups."

"Please sensei, only you can help." Sasuke begged as he activated his Mangekyo. "You said everyone you care about is dead and... And you have a sharingan! You must have one of these, you're the only one who can help me. You're the only one who can train me to use it. I lost the closest thing to a friend so please, help me protect the village he cared about... Help me honour him. Help me take these cursed eyes and use their power for something."

"Alright." Kakashi sighed. "I'll do what I can but my eye isn't very strong. I never had the chakra, or the hate, to maintain and power it... But I'll try, in Naruto's memory I will try."

XXXXX

Okay, pretty short. That's it done, Kakashi will never be placed in charge of a group [he can still do solo missions or work under another's command] and Sakura decides to stay as a ninja but leaves front line fighting [freeing up experienced chunin who could be out doing missions instead of administrative duty]. As for Sasuke, survivor's guilt... If anyone's wondering what Sasuke uses to supply the hate he uses to fuel and empower his jutsu [such as Sasunoo] it's the same answer Darth Vader gave Darth Maul in the Star Wars EU comic 'Resurrection'... Pretty hard to find a greater source of hatred really.

I'm dyslexic, so please point out any mistakes in spelling or grammar. I'm also writing this on a Word Program that has no Spell Check, so mistakes are far more likely. Feedback via review or PM is most welcome and needed, the more I hear back about my writing or the story the more I can improve. Well, I think that's everything I've gotta say so, hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Thanks for reading.