Author's Note: Wow, this one's been a long time in the making. Eienai, I believe this was a question you once asked of me (that means you, sasusaku-Eienai. I finally gave up typing out your full name and have granted you a nickname!). I'm really glad I can finally present the answer to you! :) It didn't turn out to be one of my favourite pieces, but it was exactly what I wanted for the end result so I really can't complain. Hope you enjoy! Oh, and I'm sorry for the abuse of the commas and italics. I think I went a little mad writing this... O.o

Q: Why did Sasuke make up a team that was so much like Team 7 if he broke all bonds with Naruto and Sakura?
Bubbles' A: Because Team Hebi isn't like Team 7 at all. Team Hebi is one that Sasuke feels much more comfortable with – misery loves company.

Sasuke was often said to be a man in control.

Those words were true, and that was how he liked it. He liked control. More than liked it, he lusted after it, even more than he lusted after power, though one could argue that they were one and the same. And finally, after several years of strict discipline and dissatisfied desire, control was implemented in every aspect of Sasuke's life: his technique was flawless in battle, his emotions almost never ran amok, he no longer reacted to blind, animalistic instincts, and his thoughts and expressions had long ago been tamed into suppression. All thanks to his wonderful, beautiful, immaculate control.

But control was a slippery thing. It was not a material object, something one obtained and then kept forever, in the exact condition it was first possessed. Exercising control was an everlasting and ongoing process, and there were times when control was easier to harness – particularly times other than Sasuke's present situation.

"Ne, Sasuke," the male's voice laced with exasperation, "Can't we take a break? We've been walking for miles!"

"You lazy pig!" came a shrill female's exclamation, "Our last break just a few hours ago; you can't be tired again already!"

"Oh, well, excuse me for asking, Sasuke-kun!"

A third – much kinder, much gentler – voice intervened, "Now, now, it's best that you two calm down. We're only a few miles away from a nearby town; perhaps we could rest there?"

"That depends; how many miles is a few?"

"Oh, it can't be far. Judging by the increasing scarcity of wildlife, I'd say we've no more than three miles to go."

"Three?"

The distinct sound of a fist-to-head impact was heard. "Don't be such a baby! Just what number were you expecting from 'a few'? Three miles isn't that far and having you complain about it isn't getting us there any faster!"

"But I'm tired! And I'm thirsty! How do you expect me to go on for another three miles when I'm as dehydrated as dry wheat in the Sand village?"

Despite his efforts not to, Sasuke could remember playing witness to a similar banter. Even though that was light years, and eons, and many lifetimes ago.

["Ne… Kaka-sensei? Can't we stop already?"

"Naruto, you big slug! We left the Leaf Village only two hours ago!"

"But we left so early, I didn't get to eat any breakfast!"

"What are you talking about? You had plenty of time!"

"Nuh-uh, Sakura-chan. Ichiraku's opens at nine…"

"And you didn't eat anything before that?"

"Well, what would I have eaten?"

"Hn. Pathetic."

"What'd you say, teme?"

"I said you're pathetic, loser. Though it's apparent you're deaf as well."

"Turn around and say that to my face, jerk! I'll make you twice as deaf as I am!"

"…Idiot."

"Naruto you moron, would you shut up! Your racket is gonna attract all kinds of trouble! And stop trying to pick a fight with Sasuke-kun! He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"No way, Sakura-chan! You're taking his side?"

"Now, now, children; what have I taught you all about teamwork?"]

As it turned out, the imbecile had attracted them some trouble (thanks to his control, the urge to fondle the kunai scar on his right side of his ribcage was resisted easily). Sasuke shook his head in annoyance and as a further reminder to shake the memory from his mind. As familiar as Team Hebi might seem to those he'd left behind, it was easy for Sasuke to remind himself of all that separated the two teams:

Karin was nothing like Sakura; Karin wore rough clothes to match her roughened personality. Haughty glasses made her glare sharp and judgemental, and wild hair made her bold and unkempt. Karin cared for very little other than her rage at the world and, of course, her Sasuke-kun (and there was a Sasuke-kun that was hers; Sasuke-kun who harboured the most amazing chakra she'd ever seen, who'd carelessly refused to bite her when Orochimaru once ordered him to, who found her a new jacket after a rowdy prisoner had torn up her old one; that was her Sasuke-kun). Karin was a woman scorned, having been forgotten and tossed aside all her life, given purpose only in dirty missions and foul duty, rewarded for her loyalty with teeth marks littering her body. She hated the world and the people living free because she was forever tainted and could never be clean from the disgusting mouths of the worst kinds of men.

Sakura had none of that. Not Sakura who was kind and clean and pure, and who could never truly think bad of anybody or wish ill harm to another person. Sakura didn't walk with a slight limp from the war that burnt her village to the ground, or flinch when she saw men with rings on their fingers, or revel in the submission of the weak (even if it was herself).

And Suigetsu was not at all like Naruto; Suigetsu laughed to please himself not to please others. Sharp teeth made his smile menacing and his friendship false, the stolen sword made him immoral and selfish. Suigetsu had never known a friend or a comrade, had never learned what kindness looked or felt like. The people he once called sensei were not the accepting and encouraging mentors that Naruto had known; Suigetsu knew sensei to mean discouragement, bloodbaths and barely surviving them, dares to kill in cold blood, and lessons taught through cold, hard experience, not instruction. Suigetsu was a man deprived of a golden heart, the precious metal tarnished and covered with mud, blood, and the screams of limbless victims. He sought to reform the world for the sake of power and command so that, one day, he too would become a murky-hearted sensei.

Naruto didn't have much of that. Not Naruto who was golden and protective and selfless, and who could never take pleasure in blood or smile at the sound of screams. Naruto didn't leave his opponents begging for death as their broken flesh dyed red, or train with the intent to maul, or dream of killing the one called sensei.

Jugo could never be like Kakashi; Jugo did nothing but cower when faced with his inner demons. Mournful cries stained what could have been his pride, shallow fears kept him far from courageous or strong. Jugo never fought down the monster inside, never grew or learned from past mistakes. The ghosts that haunted the cursed giant could reduce him to a snivelling youth, hardly worth a wary eye; they did not feed him strength or force his will. Worse than his cowardice, Jugo willingly used mindless violence as an escape, lashing out freely and wildly, inflicting agony and terror on anyone unfortunate enough to surround him so that he wouldn't have to feel them alone. Jugo had yet to learn that pain was only a cycle that traded itself back and forth. And though Jugo suffered for the responsibility of the horror he unleashed, he never accepted it. It's the curse, it's the curse ,not me, it's always the curse. Jugo found comfort in solitude and despair, not in hope and camaraderie.

Kakashi wasn't at all like that. Not Kakashi who was strong and brave and saddened, and who could never live with himself if he didn't try his best or wallowed in self-pity. Kakashi didn't fall short of his own expectations, or lose himself to his fear, or blame others for past tragedies.

Sasuke knew all this with a deep-burning truth. But the information mattered little, as it did not affect the hunt for his brother one way or another. So he buried the truth away, far down into the crevices of his broken memory and kept it leashed there with a tight amount of control. However, in the most well-kept-hidden compartments of Sasuke's heart of hearts, where Sasuke knew that control was only an illusion desperate people strove for, in a place Sasuke didn't even realize he treasured, he knew of another truth: that despite all their differences, there were similarities as well.

But that also mattered very little, because in the place where Sasuke desperately strived for control and fooled himself into thinking he had it, he was grateful for Hebi's presence. He was thankful towards Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo because they made it so much easier to set his sights forward (rather than over his shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun that had once shone so much brighter).

By his own choice, Team 7 was far behind him.

Itachi lay ahead.

["You're welcome, bastard!"

"Language, Naruto."

"I didn't ask for your help, dead last!"

"Attitude, Sasuke."

"Yeah! Attitude, jerkface!"

"Naurto, would you stop moving! You'll ruin the bandages I just put on you and if you think I'm going to redress them again, you've got another think coming!"

"Ne, ne… that was pretty harsh, Sakura-chan…"

"Gah… You know Naruto, you can be a real child sometimes. I mean, what were you thinking, running at those Jounin and screaming like that? You could have been hurt a lot worse than this!"

"Nah! I had Sasuke watching my back! I knew I'd be fine!"

"Well, yeah, but… Naruto -"

"It was still pretty stupid. Even for a loser."

"You wanna try saying that to the 'stupid loser' who just saved your ass?"

"Tch. Hardly."

"Why I oughta -"

"Naruto, would you be so kind as to help me gather wood for our fire? After your fabulous feat today, I just know you're gonna be a lot of help with this simple chore."

"…Ne, sensei. Your voice is doing that slow, mocking thing again."

"Just get over here before you cause one of your teammates even greater injury."

"Right away!"

"Sakura, would you please pitch the tents while we're gone?"

"Sure thing, sensei!"

"…"

"Hmm, hm, hmm…"

"Sakura."

"Huh? What was that, Sasuke-kun?"

"Do you want help?"

"I'd love it! But it's really best for your ribs if you don't move too much for the rest of the night. Don't worry, I can at least do this much by myself!"

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely! But thanks!"

"…"

"…You know, you really didn't have to take that kunai for me. I could've handled it."

"…"

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun. Truly."

"…You're welcome. Sakura."]

Author's Note: Man this was a bugger to write. Most of it went pretty smoothly actually but when it came to Jugo/Kakashi it was really tough for me to think out the biggest difference between them... Hope I was convincing in my argument!