Chapter 1

The abduction of Gaara by Akatsuki had been a surprise to many, but not to Kakashi. He had known if they were after the Kyuubi, they would want Shukaku as well.

They, being Naruto, Sakura, Temari, Kankuro, and himself plus a few other Sand shinobi, had followed the Akatsuki to where they would perform the ritual to pull Shukaku from Gaara, killing the young Kazekage in the process. They were too late to stop the ritual. They weren't too late, however, to get caught up in a battle with two Akatsuki, Sasori and Deidara. Naruto and the others had engaged the Puppet user, while Kakashi had taken on the bomb maker by himself. Both Akatsuki were defeated and killed, but it was a fatal endeavor for the anonymous Sand ninja. And for Kakashi.

He had used the Mangekyou Sharingan on Deidara, knowing if the bomber had the chance, he'd wreak havok with his large explosions. It had worked wonderfully, but there was a drawback to it Kakashi was aware of when he decided to use it.

Temari and Kankuro had gone to their late brother. Temari, in a rare show of emotion, wept over her little brother's still form while Kankuro held her.

Kakashi had collapsed, Sakura tending to him. "Sakura... where's Naruto?" His voice was weak, but still steady.

The pink-haired kunoichi was concentrating on trying to heal Kakashi, but there were no visible wounds, and no organ damage that she could detect. "He's standing guard, making sure we're not ambushed." She muttered as her diagnosis jutsu completed the scan of Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, what happened to all your chakra?"

"Please, Sakura, call Naruto over. I need... to give him something before I die." The Copy Ninja's breath caught for no apparent reason that Sakura could see, but she was growing alarmed. Something was wrong, and she was beginning to suspect Kakashi knew why.

"Naruto! Get over here, Kakashi-sensei wants you!" She never stopped looking at Kakashi, trying to figure it out. "Kakashi-sensei, you're not dying. You're just suffering from chakra depletetion."

Naruto began to walk over to the pair, still not knowing anything was wrong. This wouldn't be the first time Kakashi had ran himself into the ground. Kakashi spoke softly, to Sakura. "I used... the Mangekyou Sharingan, and I'm not an Uchiha. It's... fatal for anyone to use it that's not born with Uchiha blood."

Naruto had heard the Jounin's words, and looked dumbstruck. "Sensei... you're...?" He couldn't bring himself to say it. Not Kakashi. It couldn't be happening.

Sakura had grown wide-eyed, and tears began to course down her cheeks. Her first sensei, who had been through so much with them, lay before her, dying from something he had purposefully done. "But Kakashi-sensei... why?! Why would you use it if you knew it'd kill you?!" Her voice had risen in her anguish.

"I had to... or he'd have killed some or all of you. I couldn't... let that happen." The hitches in his breath were coming more often now as his body's rythyms began to fail more rapidly, not having any chakra to regulate it. "There is no time now for grief... not yet. I have to... give you this eye, Naruto."

Naruto, and Sakura too, were silent. Give Naruto his eye? How and why were what occupied their minds, and they couldn't even begin to speak. Kakashi took charge over his one-time students, as he had then. "Sakura, Naruto, hurry. There is something else that must be done before I die, besides the transfer." His voice had the firm authority that he knew would make his students obey, and they did. The process was painful for both Kakashi and Naruto, but with Sakura's expectional medical talent, it was done quickly, at least.

Kakashi smiled softly. It was time for Naruto to complete the Sharingan, as he had done with Obito. "Naruto." The now mismatched blue and red eyes of Naruto met his sensei's one remaining eye. "You must kill me now, to gain the Mangekyou Sharingan for yourself."

At the word kill, Naruto automatically began to shake his head. "No, no, I can't kill you Kakashi. Please, I can't. You're my friend." Sakura, meanwhile, understood what Kakashi was going to say.

"You must, Naruto. You must because I am your friend. You must, because I will die anyway, and it will be painful if I die this way. It already hurts." His voice was getting weaker, and weaker.

"Sensei..." Naruto closed his eyes, a look of abject pain on his face. He dipped a hand into his kunai pouch, and drew forth one of the throwing weapons. He opened his eyes, looking at Kakashi. "I'm sorry, sensei... I'll miss you, Kakashi."

Sakura had her eyes closed as well, tears streaming down her face. "I'll miss you too, Kakashi-sensei." Her voice cracked, and she began to sob.

Kakashi smiled, a proud smile even if it was faint. "My students... you have surpassed me. I'm proud of you. And do not grieve for this ending, it is a noble and honorable way to die. For you, my friends." He closed his eye. "Do it, Naruto."

With blurry eyes, Naruto buried the kunai in Kakashi's heart. And sobbed, collapsed over his sensei's corpse, until Sakura put her arms around him and drew him into her lap, where they cried together.

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After the death of Kakashi and the grieving of the two Leaf ninja, the group had burned the Akatsuki lair to the ground, with Gaara, Kakashi, and the others still inside. Procedure, for ninja.

The following night, Naruto had entered meditation, determined to have a chat with his companion and find out how to use the eye his sensei had left him.

"Ah, kit, you come at last." The massive glowing eyes looked out at Naruto from behind the bars of the Kyuubi's cage.

"Yeah. I want to know how to use the Sharingan." Naruto sunk into a cross legged sitting position in front of the cage. "It seems to me that it would dishonor Kakashi-sensei's sacrifice and gift not to use it."

"Indeed, kit, indeed. It would dishonor him." The great eyes lowered to be on the level with Naruto. It would surprise any outside observer that the fox and boy didn't seem to hate each other, in fact spoke more as teacher and student. A teacher that likes his student and vice versa. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you how to use it, other than applying chakra to it. That should activate it."

"What about the Mangekyou Sharingan?"

"Kit, I don't really know. I would imagine that it's a willed power. You'd just have to focus on wanting to use it, then activate the Sharingan. But, I have to warn you kit. The Mangekyou is dangerous to you. It won't be fatal, because of me, but it will still leave you unconcious from chakra depletetion."

"I understand, Kyuubi. Thanks for the information." He got up, preparing to leave when the Kyuubi called out to him.

"Be careful, kit, if you channel my chakra to activate the eye, it may change it. Maybe for the good, maybe for the bad. There has never been a jinchuuki with the Sharingan before."

Naruto conteplated this for a moment, then nodded. "Thanks again for the warning. Hopefully it'll be a good change." Then he left.

"Hopefully," Kyuubi remarked to himself.

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After returning Temari and Kankuro to Suna, Naruto and Sakura began their trek home.

Two nights out, a topic came up in conversation that both had been avoiding.

"Naruto, does you having the Sharingan now mean it will kill you to use it too?" Sakura sat at his side, a lot closer than she had before. Then again, nights in the desert were cold and they didn't want to risk a fire.

Naruto shook his head, realized she couldn't see it, and spoke. "No, Sakura-chan. I spoke with Kyuubi about it. He told me that it would knock me unconcious after I used the Mangekyou, but it wouldn't kill me. It won't harm me either to use the normal Sharingan, it'll just drain my chakra."

"I see." Her voice was thoughtful. "Why don't you keep it covered like... he did?" They had refused to use Kakashi's name since then, to help alleviate some of the grief.

"It's not neccessary. I think he did it more as a surprise tactic than actual need."

"I thought that might be it. He was always one for surprises." Her voice was a bit nostalgic now.

"Yeah." A silence came, and it lasted for a while.

"Sakura-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you still... love Sasuke?" His voice was laced with trepidation. He wanted to hear the answer, but he was afraid of it too.

"No, Naruto, I don't. I never did. I thought I did, mind, but it wasn't love. It was just infatuation." She sighed. "I didn't even know it for the longest time. When I think of the way I used to act with him, I feel stupid."

"Nonsense, Sakura-chan." He slid one arm around her and hugged her. He let his arm linger when she didn't stiffen or try to pull away. "The heart wants what it wants. There's no reason to feel sorry or shameful about it."

Sakura was silent for a few moments, then leaned into him. "Thanks, Naruto. That means a lot." Another silence, only a few minutes long. Then she laid her head on his shoulder.

Naruto was trying to prevent himself from doing more than keeping an arm around the girl at his side, but he had wanted her for so long, he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't. He tried to enjoy the moment, but he couldn't, he was too anxious. Since she had revealed that she no longer loved Sasuke, he had to let her know. To continue it or end it, he had to do something. "Sakura-chan, I want to say something. I've always cared about you. More-"

Sakura cut him off with a finger pressed to his lips. He couldn't see her face, and briefly wondered how she'd known where his lips were, but that didn't particularly bother him when she spoke. "I know, Naruto. And, I've always cared about you too." She paused, then went on. "At first, it was just as a teammate. Then, it was a friend." Another pause as she gathered her thoughts and words. "But, since you've been back and I've seen how you've matured and grown, it's been developing into something more. Something I can't really define, but I know I like it. And I want it to continue." She removed her finger from his lips, and added, "But, I don't want to rush it either. I know your feelings are probably more developed than mine, but I want it to last, Naruto. I want to build up a relationship that will last a long time."

"Life long?" Naruto's voice was quiet.

Sakura was silent a moment. "I could see that happening, yes."

"Me too." His arm gave her shoulders a squeeze, and she leaned back into him again, closing her eyes as she laid her head back down on his shoulder.

Neither one spoke again that night, nor did they move.

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Ok, I've edited this chapter a little. I decided not to go with flashbacks, but start the story here. As you can see, there will be a little skipping, but once Naruto gets back to Konoha, the skipping will stop.