It's not your fault
Kakashi had felt like a cursed man many times. He knew that it was all his fault, that his life was marked by death.
His team, the children who got into his heart when he hadn't realized it himself, were heartbroken. A member of his team, his sister-in-arms, had died in service.
The beautiful Sakura hadn't even noticed the kunai digging into her throat. Her young face still showed the slight surprise she had before her hasty death.
With a weight on his shoulders, he was greeted at the entrance to Konoha by his boyfriend, Iruka, and a bear hug that comforted the three surviving ninjas from Team 7.
They all went to the house that they shared as children, brothers and parents.
Naruto and Sasuke, without wanting to talk to anyone, went to their corresponding room in silence and with tears rolling down their cheeks.
Kakashi, feeling a giant weight on his shoulders of pain, sadness, guilt and resignation managed to reach the room he shared with Iruka only to collapse and cry in the arms of his boyfriend.
"Kakashi, honey. It wasn't your fault, it was an accident. Even you didn't feel the chakra of that missing-nin."
With trembling voice, the copy-nin just hugged the sensei tighter and breathed in the comforting scent of him.
"Iruka, I was his jōnin-sensei. My duty was to protect and teach them and I failed them in the worst way."
"Honey, it wasn't your fault, get it. At the academy I teach students that accidents happen and deaths on the field happen every day."
"They knew the risks and I'm sure the guys don't blame you."
Feeling a knock on the bedroom door, Iruka decided to get out of bed and open the door himself. His children needed to cry the pain and feel the company and understanding they so badly needed right now.
Both genin had swollen and red eyes, they hugged their Iruka-nii and entered the room. They didn't want to be alone.
Going to the bed, where Kakashi was avoiding the image in front of him, he felt like the smaller arms of his beloved team, of his family, were hugging and needing him.
"Daddy."
They both heard a small and doubtful voice coming from the two 12-year-old boys and felt great joy in their hearts.
Hugging both boys tighter and showing as much warmth and love as possible, they comforted each other for the partner unjustly lost in a profession from which they were unknowingly forced to take.
The next day, Kakashi went to talk to Sakura's parents. Civilians who had no idea of ninja life and who lost her daughter to the cruelty of an unjust and ruthless world.
Her funeral was on a beautiful and energetic day. A sunny afternoon with the scent of flowers in spring. Sakura was dismissed with love and companionship. Her memory would always be fondly remembered by those who knew her, only regretting the unfairness of a death that should not have happened.
End.