Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
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You would have to be a fool to not notice the similarities between Team 7 and the legendary trio, Tsunade mused to herself. And the similarities only became more pronounced as Team 7 grew older.
Sasuke much too like Orochimaru, and Naruto was like Jiraiya, each boy possessing many of the good and bad qualities of their corresponding sannin. Luckily Naruto wasn't quite the pervert Jiraiya was.
Which left Sakura to Tsunade. The Hokage had only seen a few ways in which they were alike at first. Mostly in their relationship to the two stupid boys on their respective teams. But as Sakura blossomed under her tutelage, Tsunade was proud that the younger woman was gaining so many of her strengths. She had become both strong and determined; devoted to protecting her team and her village. Tsunade had smiled to herself when she thought of the fine shinobi Sakura was growing up to be.
But she had never wanted Sakura to be similar to her in this way. Never in this way.
"I couldn't save him!" the younger kunoichi sobbed into her arms. "I tried, God I tried! Lee!" her sobbing only intensified as she cried her lover's name over and over.
Sakura had tried, Tsunade knew. Sakura's still living teammates had been forced to pull her from the already dead ninja.
The Hokage held her protegee close. She had vowed never to baby her shinobi; she was their Hokage not their damn mother. But she knew all to well the heartbreak the pink-haired girl was going through. The pain that she would still feel the rest of her life.
Holding her was all she could do. She couldn't allow herself to regret sending them on that mission. Couldn't think that she had sent that boy to his death.
She thought instead of the differences between her team and Team 7. She liked to think that the younger group was the stronger of the two. Not necessarily in physical strength, but in the strength of their bond. In the strength of their hearts. Maybe they would be able to heal the deep, deep tear in their team like her and Jiraiya had never been able to do.
She ran her manicured fingers through pink hair. Maybe Sakura would be able to heal her own heart like Tsunade had never been able to do.
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Hmm. I don't know how I feel about this one. A little awkward.