Kakashi had seen many terrible things in his life. Visions of blood-splattered teammates flashed across his memory, like he was trying to find the most horrible thing he had ever witnessed. But nothing, not even the vision of a dying Obito, could compare to this.

His protege, the young man they had worked so hard to bring back to Konoha, was dead. His inky black hair framed his pale face, and a bright trail of ruby curved from his lips, and down his chin. There was a giant, ragged hole torn straight through his chest. Yet, despite the violent nature of his death, he looked strangely serene; as though he had finally found the peace he had been searching so ardently for.

But, just twenty or so feet away, lay something that broke Kakashi's heart.

The prone form of one of the greatest ninja Konoha had ever seen. His signature orange and black jumpsuit was tattered and blood-stained. A gaping hole, edged in burned flesh, was torn straight through his torso.

A killing wound.

And kill it did. Naruto lay dead, his body spread-eagle on the soft soil of the forest floor. Kakashi faltered forward slowly, and jerkily; trying to convince himself that he was hallucinating. That this was just a dream. A nightmare...

A terrible nightmare.

But as he edged closer, he saw something that tore at his very essence, and he knew that this wasn't a dream.

A smile.

Uzumaki Naruto had died with the most tranquil smile that Kakashi had ever seen in his life on his lips. And it probably had something to do with his favorite student, a pink-haired spitfire, who was weeping and trembling over his body, her face lay against his chest, and her hands clutched desperately at his shoulders.

And for the first time in more years than he would care to count, Kakashi felt tears dripping down his face, and soaking into the cotton fabric of his mask. His knees gave out then, and he hit the dirt, his hands clenching into fists as he leaned over and beat them against the ground. Over and over.

Feelings of failure and anguish washed over him, strong and true. He had failed Naruto. He had failed Sasuke. He had failed Sakura. And worst of all, he had broken every promise he had ever made to any of them.

His breath started to hitch and he began to sob, his shoulders quaking. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, he realized that this was the hardest he had cried since discovering his father's dead body when he was just a boy.

Sakura slowly lifted her head from Naruto's body, when she heard Kakashi. She buried her face in her hands and began to whimper.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I couldn't do it. I wasn't strong enough..." Her cries became more forlorn before she finally whispered brokenly, "I-I couldn't save him."

Kakashi couldn't believe it. Sakura, this amazing creature, this incredible woman, was blaming this entire thing on herself. And instead of consoling her like he should have, he just let himself fall to pieces and wallow in his own misery.

'Some man I am.' He though bitterly.

"No." His voice was harsh and brittle. Shakily he got to his feet, and made his way over to his only living student. "This isn't your fault Sakura-chan." He kneeled beside her and drew her to him, bringing her tightly into his embrace. "I...I should have done more. If only I ha-" Sakura cut him off, while shaking her head vigorously.

"No! You know that's not true sensei!" She scolded into his chest. "There wasn't anything you could have done...you know how stubborn...N-N." She couldn't finish her sentence, and instead just held him even more tightly.

"I'm sorry Sakura-chan. I'm sorry."

They stayed there in the forest for a long time, just holding each other as their sobs died down.

"We promised." Sakura finally whispered.

"What?"

"We all promised that we would bring Sasuke back home. So let's do that." She whispered with a small, watery, almost-smile on her face. Kakashi nodded and slowly stood, making his was to Sasuke's body. Carefully, he scooped the boy up into his arms, and he thought about how much Sasuke had grown over the years. When he turned back to Sakura, he saw that she had Naruto in her arms. She looked down at him fondly, tears still dripping down her face.

"I...I didn't tell him, Kakashi-sensei." She said softly. "I didn't get to tell N-Naruto...how much I..." Her voice broke then, and she bit her trembling lip to try and stop the sobs stuck in her throat.

Kakashi nodded in understanding. He had known for years just how much Sakura had loved the kitsune-host. So had Naruto. In fact, the only one who hadn't realized that Sakura was in love with Naruto, had been Sakura. And Naruto had been fine with that, he was content to wait, believing that Sakura would realize sooner or later, and they would eventually find a happy ending together...

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan, he knew. He always knew." He told his student. Sakura's tears began to fall faster, as she nodded.

"Let's bring our boys home, Kakashi." She said thickly. He nodded, trying vainly to hold back his own tears.

Slowly, they made their way back to Konoha, carrying the bodies of the people closet to them, and wondering how anything would ever be okay again.