Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

---

Sakura couldn't remember the trip from Nami back to Konoha, she couldn't remember anything after Sasuke's death to be honest, she was so emotionally exhausted her body was working purely on instinct. Her mind felt…

Numb.

Numb was the best way to describe it, she had thought so much about everything and nothing at all after Sasuke's death that now she couldn't force herself to think anymore.

Is this what grief feels like? Maybe; she had heard everyone grieves differently, maybe this was her way of dealing with things, not thinking.

Denial?

It's really hard to describe what's going on through her mind, If there was something going on through her mind. That's probably why she hasn't spoken at all since Sasuke's final words after giving Naruto his eye, now that she actually starts to think about it, she didn't say anything back then, not even goodbye.

She was so shocked about everything she couldn't find it in herself to say goodbye to the person she loves.

~

The Hokage was half listening through his Elite jounin's report, he's a shinobi after all and shinobis must be able to multitask, so even if he looked like he wasn't really paying attention to him, everyone would be able to tell he was focused on two things at the same time, one of those things clearly was Kakashi's retelling of the events transpired in his team's C-rank turned A-rank mission.

To say the Hokage was already preparing himself to give the gravity-defying silver-haired Jounin an earful about his questionable decision making was an understatement; that could definitely wait, currently, he was more aware of the two genin in front of him looked and he was very very aware of the lacking member in the room.

Sarutobi Hiruzen hasn't go senile, he's perfectly able to interpret what the absence of one of his Genin and the looks on the other two meant, that didn't mean he wanted to accept it, but it had to be done, if appereances were to be believed.

Konoha's last loyal Uchiha was

His head was already starting to hurt just thinking about this.

It wasn't long after the old Hokage's musing that Kakashi finished his retelling of the story including Sasuke's death much to the chargrim of the old Hokage and his hidden ANBU guards all throughout the room, those were shocking and concerning news, not much that could be done now.

Hiruzen sighed "Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan. You're both dismissed" Sarutobi had half a mind to check on both of them later.

Both genin started to leave but a hand on Naruto's shoulder stopped him from leaving, he looked up to see that hand belonged to his Jounin-sensei.

"Hokage-sama, can you please have the ANBU leave and activate the silencing seals in the room? There's something important we need to discuss."

The Hokage was taken aback by the request but complied either way. With a quick wave of his hand four masked figures showed themselves in the room and then left through the door.

The Hokage then performed some quick hand signs and the corners of the room glowed a light purple before quickly going back to normal.

Naruto was memorized, he could recognize this was the work of fuinjutsu, what his clan was the most good at, he never really paid any interest to it because he thought it was boring; what would he know about something like that?

He decided he was going to look into it later, his Jiji had given him some material along with some of his family's history after all.

"What is it you want to talk about, Kakashi?"

The Jounin's response was motioning Naruto to lift his headband and show the old man his new Sharingan eye.

The old Hokage just sighed, that headache just started to get worse. This was going to be a long day.

"Did you ta-" Half asked the Hokage before being interrupted.

"No!"

Kakashi took a deep breath to regain his composure before going on.

"Sasuke's last wish was for Naruto to take his eye, what I told you about Naruto losing his eye during the battle was completely true, that was what motivated Sasuke to give up his eye when he knew it was too late for him…"

The Hokage felt like slaming his head on the table, really really hard.

That headache was already a migraine for Kami's sake.

After some time to sort his thoughts the Hokage looked at both men in his room and gave his instruction.

"There's other important things I need to discuss with you but I understand your concerns, Kakashi." The Hokage instructed Naruto to cover his eye and did a few hand signs to deactivate his silencing seal.

After doing that an ANBU stepped in the room and kneeled in front of the Hokage.

"Please go to the Hospital and tell Dr. Teruya I need her here as soon as possible, if she's not doing anything of importance bring her here yourself" The ANBU just nodded and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Minutes later the same ANBU reappeared in the Office this time with a disheveled woman by his side.

"Naruto, let me introduce you to Dr. Kaiya Teruya, currently Konoha's most accomplished medic, a highly intelligent woman, completely trustworthy and an old friend of mine." The Hokage graced her with a warm smile and the blonde boy merely nodded at her, whatever was going through his mind was clearly eating at him.

"Teruya-chan, Naruto here lost an eye in his last mission and got a… special replacement for it, I need you to look at it and make sure everything's okay with him. You're to speak to absolutely no one about this, is that clear?"

"Yes Hiruzen-kun." Said the woman playfully, giving the old Hokage a smirk.

"Well Naruto-kun, from now on you are to come to me whenever you have any sort of health related issue although I wouldn't mind if you just came to me to talk okay?"

The boy once again nodded and both of them walked out of the door on their way to the hospital.

---

After they both left Kakashi decided it was time to address his concerns.

"Hokage-sama I- I don't think I'm capable of leading a Genin team" His only response was a contemplating stare.

The Hokage stood from his chair and motioned the Jounin to follow him as he walked out of the tower.

Hiruzen led Kakashi all the way to the memorial stone and stood there just looking at it for a few minutes that felt like hours to Kakashi before speaking.

"You know, for all the good you are as a Shinobi you're as predictable as they get" Meaning he was perfectly aware of Kakashi's intention to disband the team even before the man himself talked to him about it.

"You let yourself be consumed by grief, and I stood by watching, hoping you'll get over it yourself at some point, now I see the error of my ways" Silence, there really wasn't much you could say when you were getting an earful from 'The Kami No Shinobi' himself.

"Sasuke's death was avoidable. I knew from the very beginning team 7 was not ready to take on a simple C-rank. Not because of their lack of skill, which was very lacking mind you, but because of the inexistent level of maturity they displayed during their time doing simple chores around the village" You could tell when the old Hokage was serious if he himself undignified the D-ranks he has bowed to protect over the years, for whatever reason that is.

"I allowed you to take on that mission despite my better judgment even when I knew you were lying through your teeth about them being ready. Now you'll make yourself responsible for this team."

No team disbandment?

"I'm not going to allow your team's disbandment."

No

"From now on you're being ordered to make sure they get the proper training they deserve."

"And while i'm already ordering you to do stuff I must confess I'm growing tired of your attitude Kakashi, always being late making up some stupid excuse when all you ever do is stand in front of this rock moping about your mistakes and the way this world has done you wrong, but that stops today, along with your team you're going to be getting the counseling you so clearly need."

It was honestly a testament for Kakashi's strength how he's been able to stop himself from showing any kind of reaction during the Hokage's rant, Kakashi was not a sentimental man and that much was obvious, but it takes a mountain of a person to keep yourself standing up when someone as important as Hiruzen Sarutobi is dissecting your very being.

Despite it all Kakashi took it like a champ, he gave the old man a simple but respectful nod and started to walk towards his apartment.

"I don't think I told you it was okay for you to leave yet" Apparently Sarutobi wasn't yet satisfied with the dressing down he gave him, but there's not much he could do about it, adding insubordination to his already very large list of flaws wasn't exactly on Kakashi's 'to do list'.

Hiruzen sighed and turned to look at him for the first time since they got here, it was impressive how easy it was to forget how old this legend of a man really was, Kakashi couldn't remember the Sandaime ever looking this… old.

"I'm done chewing at you as the Hokage already Kakashi, but there's a few things I Hiruzen Sarutobi still have left to say to you" Kakashi was already bracing himself for the impact of whatever this man had left to say.

"I'm sorry"

'Huh?'

"It is easy to look for someone to blame when situations such as this present themselves, but the truth is, there is no point in looking for someone to place the blame on"

"Hokage-sama I-"

"Please let me finish Kakashi. I don't blame you, Sakura doesn't blame you and Naruto doesn't blame you, Kami knows that boy doesn't have it in himself to hold grudges; he forgave this old man for keeping his heritage a secret, after all".

It really is hard to explain just how reassuring this man was, 'The Professor' was a man as wise as they came.

"It makes no sense to sugarcoat the truth. Sasuke shouldn't have died, that's for sure, but you're no more guilty for his death than I am for allowing you to go on a mission I knew you weren't ready for. Naruto-kun was very adamant on continuing the mission for whatever it is that he felt like he needed to prove, is he to blame?"

"Sakura-chan apparently had no sense of self-respect and allowed herself to continue on a mission she wasn't ready for only to please a single boy, is she to blame?"

"Speaking of the boy, Sasuke made it a point to let everyone know his only ambition in life was revenge and power, continuing a mission to test himself against worthy opponents clearly wasn't what anyone would call 'sound logic', is he to blame?"

"..."

"I know what you're thinking Kakashi, I know you want to take the blame like you always do, I know you feel like it's your responsibility and I would be lying if I tell you it's not but… You need to learn how to let go Kakashi, you're clinging on to the ghosts of your past, coming here every single day to stare at the names of those long gone, that's not living. I care greatly for you my boy and I know you've been through a lot." Said Hiruzen.

"I didn't order you to continue with the team as a punishment, quite the opposite actually. Do you know why I put Naruto on your team?" Asked the old Hokage with a tone Kakashi couldn't quite discern.

"No." Replied the Jounin with a thoughtful look on his face

"I figured as much, Naruto shouldn't have been placed on your team, his performance in the academy was very average, nothing to be proud of but nothing to be disappointed of either. Team 7 is always formed by the two top Shinobi of the class and the Dead-last, admittedly I refrained from repeating the formula considering how disastrous it has been over the years but I also thought you both deserved a chance to form a bond. Naruto has no one other than me to call a family, and while I love the boy dearly and I'm beyond honored he chose me to be his grandfather, I am not enough nor am I going to live forever, he needs to have more people he can rely on and so do you.

I didn't expect you however to push him away the farthest. I can't claim to know why you did and I'm not even sure if you realize you did it but the truth is you did."

Was Kakashi creating a distance between himself and Naruto because he couldn't bear to be so close to someone who looks too much like his sensei? Was he keeping a distance because he couldn't bear the guilt of never making himself present for the son of the Man he viewed as a father?

Both?

"I want you to think on this Kakashi, I want you to make yourself available to your students, especially Naruto, you are both lonely and you both clearly need it. The Will of Fire still burns in you my boy, you just need to reignite it's flames." Said Sarutobi placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

"You will keep the team, you will start training them and yourself, in your misery you have allowed yourself to go rusty" He pointed out.

"Finally, you need to let the souls of the people you're clinging to rest, there's no point in clinging on dead people, you're only hurting both them and yourself.

Team 7 has a 2 week vacation, take the time to think on what I've talked to you about and speak to your students."

The Hokage gave the seasoned Jounin one last look and started to walk away, leaving Kakashi to his thoughts.

That clearly didn't go anything like Kakashi expected but he felt like a weight was taken off his shoulders, he had needed to hear that for a long time now, and perhaps the Hokage was right.

Rin, Obito and Minato wouldn't have wanted him to be like this, right? He was starting to feel like he had been doing a disservice to their memory for a long time now, but no more, from now on he would try harder. It just now started weighing on him how wrong he had been pushing people out of his life, but there was no time like the present.

'I should probably pay a visit to Gai'

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Said the Hokage before leaving.

"I was talking seriously when I ordered you to receive therapy along with your students, all three of you need it, especially you, and I know you wouldn't have gone if I didn't order you to. This is a very serious order I know will help you immensely, you can schedule your own individual appointments tomorrow morning, I'll ask Inoichi to personally oversee your case, do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal… Hokage-sama, thank you."

"No need to thank me, I'm only doing what I should've done a long time ago, I'm sorry it took me this long." The old Monkey started to leave again, his next objective already in mind, dealing with whatever was going on in the self-destructive ninja's head was the top priority, but he needed to make sure his dear grandson was doing okay, at least as close as okay as possible, 2 weeks was definitely not enough to put one's mind at ease, but he truly believed it would do them good to have some one on one time with both Inoichi and his wife Tsutsuji, he would know, they did help him and his son mend their relationship after all.

---

"How is he doing?"

"Medically speaking he's in excellent condition Hiruzen, after I fixed what was left unfinished by Kakashi-kun on his rustic transplant the boy's healing factor did the rest by itself."

She was fascinated when she found out Naruto has a healing factor, apparently the boy himself wasn't aware of that fact.

What surprised her the most was the way it worked, it seemed to be an automatic process but it was also… smart.

The damaged tissue around his new eye didn't heal until Dr. Teruya made sure everything was perfect, it was almost like his body knew healing that part without proper intervention could turn out to be counterintuitive, it wasn't something she wouldn't be able to fix herself but it was still impressive.

"Oh yes, Uzumaki's have a very strong life force and some have some kind of special chakra, in his case a very useful healing factor it would seem, the boy's mother was able to survive injuries that would've been lethal to any other person." That is not to say they were unkillable, nobody really was, they were just notoriously good at surviving life threatening injuries more often than the common folk.

"Will he have any problems with his new eye?"

"Highly unlikely, the boy's body assimilated the eye without much problem, I would even go so far as to say he is more in tune with his transplanted eye than Kakashi is with his." Dr. Teruya didn't exactly know the reason why that was but she guessed it had something to do with his Uzumaki genes, he was of course never going to be able to use the eye like an Uchiha would, but the strain on his chakra Network was definitely a lot more smaller than it was for Kakashi.

"That's great news Teruya-chan and it's honestly what I expected, that's not what worries me."

Dr. Teruya sighed "He's… heartbroken, Hiruzen, he's been cooperating with me during his examination and hasn't complained at all, not even once; he isn't really talking to me, all he says is 'yes' or 'no' whenever I ask him something."

Sarutobi was expecting this, he could see the boy in the room in front of him sitting on his bed, facing the window.

He looked lost.

The Hokage gave his old friend a court nod and walked in the room.

---

'I'll become your eyes and see the future for you…'

"Naruto-kun?"

The whiskered boy was cut from his musing by the old man standing in front of him; he didn't even hear him come in, how long has he been standing there? How long has Naruto been there?

Minutes?

Hours?

"How are you feeling dear?"

Bad, he's feeling bad, he's feeling guilty, he's feeling stupid, he's feeling…

Unworthy

"I'm feeling good Jiji, just a bit distracted that's all" He wasn't going to look sad in front of his grandfather, he couldn't let him see how affected he was.

"That's good, I wouldn't want you feeling that way, seeing as it was Sasuke's fault it all happened."

What?

"Oh? No reaction? I must have gotten it wrong then, is it Sakura-chan's fault then? I hear she just wanted to keep going to impress Sasuke-kun."

Naruto was livid, how dare this stupid old man come to him only to blame his teammate for Sasuke's death

"WHA-"

"Her either? Then it must've been Kakashi's fault, he was in charge after all, he was the one who chose to keep on doing the mission.

Naruto flinched at the accusation, his rage temporarily interrupted. It was him and Sasuke who begged Kakashi to continue the mission; he wanted to prove himself he wasn't a coward.

Naruto unknowingly gave Sarutobi exactly what he was looking for with the way he reacted to his last words, it pained him greatly to rile his surrogate grandson this way, but it had to be done, he needed to let his frustrations out.

"Oh! I see it now, it was your fault-"

"IT WASN-"

"You convinced him to continue with the mission, you wanted to do it right? It was all you-"

Hiruzen couldn't finish his speech due to an enraged Naruto lunging forward intent on shutting him up and hurting him a lot in the process.

Naruto didn't stand a chance.