Sakura was crying, not really because she was afraid, or because she was uncertain but mostly because she couldn't handle it. Couldn't handle the pain of knowing that she wasn't strong enough to protect her team, that she could only hold back her team.
"You shouldn't cry it's a ninja rule." Someone whispered, a lot closer than she expected anyone to be.
"I can't help it!" Sakura wailed, no longer trying to be quiet, "I'm incompetent as a ninja, even though that's what I want to be!"
"That's not true." The man stated, " and even if it was, you have shown that you are willing to change, to become stronger."
"How do you know?" Sakura asked, turning slightly to the man, who was camouflaged in the shadows "did you see what happened to my team in the Forest of Death? Did you see what happened when I fought with Ino in the preliminary?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I did see what happened in the preliminary, though I missed the action in the Forest of Death." The man said, a few of his own coughs interrupting his words.
"Oh yeah? Then were where you?" Sakura challenged, her jade eyes filled with fresh tears.
"I'm Hayate, I'm the proctor for the Chunnin Exams" Hayate said stepping into the slight light. "I was there when you fought Ino."
Sakura gasped shakily before the tears started once again, with a wail she threw herself at Hayate. Hayate stiffened slightly when he felt Sakura collide with him, unstiffening slightly when he felt her small arms hug him. Slowly he started to hug the shuddering child back
"H-how is our team supposed to stay together if I'm so weak compared to them." Sakura asked her question slightly muffled by his flak jacket.
"I suppose you just have to train, with whoever it is that makes you stronger." Hayate said, his arms tightening around her fragile 12 year old body.