A Place of Honor
Sakura wiped her eyes and desperately tried to control her breathing as she walked back towards the training grounds. She felt the carefully secured scroll pressing against her waist in a small, hidden pocket in her mesh undershirt and adjusted her mission pack once more.
I can do this, she thought fiercely. I won't let them worry about me.
Sakura arrived at the training grounds (before either of the boys) to find Kakashi-sensei sitting in front of the memorial stone.
"Hello again, Sakura," he said.
"Hello, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura winced a little as her voice cracked, but relaxed when Kakashi-sensei made no mention of it. He patted the ground next to him, and Sakura went over to sit with him, looking at the names of all of the shinobi on the village memorial. She found the familiar names of her parents, and her throat closed up and her vision went blurry once more.
"Even academy students are on here if they died protecting Konoha," the jounin said, almost thoughtfully. "The Leaf honors everyone who dies fighting."
"Wh-who were they, for you?" Sakura asked finally, fighting back tears.
"My teammates, Obito, Rin, and the Fourth Hokage," Kakashi pointed at each name as he said them, and then he winked at her. "Don't tell the boys though." She stifled a small, choked, laugh. Kakashi ruffled her hair, and she buried her face in her hands, holding back a sob. "It's alright to cry, Sakura," he said quietly.
Sakura leaned on Kakashi's shoulder and cried.
Later that night, the boys arrived to Kakashi reading and Sakura sleeping in front of a small pile of warm, red embers.
"Why-" Naruto's question was cut off roughly as Sasuke clamped his hand over Naruto's mouth.
"Shut up," he hissed lowly. Naruto turned furiously, about to punch Sasuke, but after Kakashi held a finger up to his lips and pointed to Sakura, he understood.
"You'll be woken up for your watch," Kakashi said quietly. "Get some sleep."