Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura. Meeting you three was probably the best thing that had ever happened to me. I watched you grow from inexperienced and idiotic brats to mature and powerful ninjas. It fills me with joy to see you happy. You have all far surpassed me, and there is nothing more I can teach you. But, there are still a few words of advice I'd like to give you.
Sakura. You are no longer the scared little genin that you once were. Instead, you have become far more stronger and independent than I could have hoped. Tsunade-sama taught you well, you're an excellent medic and fighter, people will be counting on you, including me. Look after the boys for me, after all, you are the most dependable and responsible in the team.
Sakura's shoulders shook as she cried, her eyes filled with tears. She felt Naruto and Sasuke try to comfort her.
I wish I could have taught you something like I did with Naruto and Sasuke, you must have felt left out. I'm sorry. There wasn't anything I could have taught you except for the basics, and I only did teach you the basics. I've recently found something however, that would help you. I'll admit I was a little selfish, because it was the only thing I had left of her. My teammate, Rin Nohara, was a great medic at a young age. However, because of me, she died. I found these notes before they cleared out her belongings. I want you to have them. They will greatly improve your skills as a medic.
Jiraiya wordlessly took thick notebook from his pocket and gave it to Sakura. Sakura hugged it to her chest, careful not to let any of her tears drip on it.
"Th-thank y-you, sensei." Sakura said in a choked voice.
Now, some advice from your old sensei. Don't get too violent, okay? Remember that strength can help people in addition to hurting them. If you truly love Sasuke, then don't give up on him just yet. One day, he might love you back. Remember, I'm counting on you to keep Naruto and Sasuke out of trouble.
Sakura had never felt grief of this level before. She remembered all those times Kakashi-sensei had been there for her. Whenever she had felt down, her sensei had been there to cheer her up.
(Flashback)
Sakura sat on the steps of her house. It was raining. She ignored her mother's pleas to come inside. She felt as if her whole world was crashing down around her. Sasuke had left the village, and Naruto and the others had almost died trying to bring him back. Sakura hugged her knees tighter and shivered with cold.
Suddenly she felt the rain stop. She turned to see Kakashi-sensei holding an umbrella over her head.
"Sakura, you're going to catch a cold if you keep sitting out here. Here." Kakashi-sensei handed her a jacket. Gratefully she accepted it and put it on, she felt warmer almost instantly.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
"Now, Sakura, why don't you tell me what's causing you to sit out here in the rain?" Kakashi-sensei smiled at her. She could tell based on the crinkling of his eye. Sakura felt unexpectedly angry. Did he not know that Sasuke had left the village?
"What's causing me to stay in the rain? It's Sasuke of course! He left the village, how can you be smiling?" Sakura shouted at her sensei. Kakashi-sensei just sighed, and Sakura immediately felt guilty. She knew she was just taking her anger out on him.
"I'm sorry sensei. I didn't mean that. It's just...it's just that Sasuke's gone...to Orochimaru." Sakura began to cry. She felt so...lost. She stopped crying in surprise when Kakashi-sensei rested his hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair gently.
"No. I deserved that. I won't lie to you Sakura. Sasuke probably won't come back out of his own free will anytime soon. The best we can do right now is to train harder and become stronger. And then we'll go find Sasuke and bring him back to the village. Okay?" Kakashi-sensei smiled at her again. She felt her tears stop.
"Okay."
"I'm sorry Sakura. It's my fault that Sasuke left. I couldn't convince him to stay. If only I had finished that mission quicker and ran faster, I could have brought Sasuke back. It was wrong for me to say that everything will be okay to you at the gate, everything wasn't okay." Kakashi-sensei stared at the ground. Sakura was shocked, she never knew that her sensei thought it was his fault. She felt him stiffen in shock as she hugged him.
"It's not your fault sensei. I'll train so hard that next time I'll come with you and Naruto to bring him back." Sakura heard Kakashi-sensei chuckle.
"I thought I was comforting you, Sakura." Kakashi-sensei stood and helped Sakura up.
"Well, you better go in now. I think your mother's going crazy with worry in there." Kakashi-sensei said to her.
"Good-bye sensei!" Sakura waved and opened the door. 'There's still hope for Sasuke-kun to come back.' Sakura thought to herself.
(End Flashback)
Sakura was so lost in her memories that she was startled when Jiraiya continued.
Sasuke. We were all shocked when you left the village. I tried warning you about revenge, but you didn't listen. However, that wasn't the time when I was disappointed in you. The time I was truly disappointed, was when you tried to kill Naruto and Sakura. They were your friends, your comrades. They cared about you, and never gave up on bringing you back.
Sasuke hung his head. He deserved this. He didn't know what he was thinking when he tried to kill Naruto and Sakura, he was glad that he had failed all the times he had tried. Sasuke wasn't expecting the next words on the will, so when he heard them at first he thought that he must have been imagining them.
However, I don't blame you for wanting to leave the village, that was my fault entirely. I should have tried harder to make you understand that revenge is not what you seek. I failed to make you see it that day, and I truly regret that.
Sasuke was shocked. Kakashi-sensei had blamed himself all along?
You reminded me of when I was young. We were both strong and skillful at a young age, yet were arrogant and aloof to others. Thinking that you didn't need anyone's help or company, because no one understood how you felt.
'Kakashi-sensei was like me when he was young?' Sasuke thought.
I was like that...until, on a mission. Because of my arrogance in thinking that I was always right, my best friend died. I promised him one thing, to protect my other teammate, Rin, who was mentioned above. However, I broke that promise...by killing her.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's eyes widened. 'Kakashi-sensei would never do that to a teammate,' Naruto thought to himself, 'but why did he kill her?'
Basically, I killed both of my teammates. And trust me Sasuke, the feelings of regret and guilt, will crush you. Don't make the same mistake and go down the same path I did.
Sasuke briefly remembered when Kakashi had told him that all of his loved ones were already killed. 'Did he kill his loved ones himself?'
Well, I hope you learned your lesson Sasuke, because I didn't write this just to scold you. You have grown strong too, Sasuke, more stronger than I could have ever hoped. I must say I'm proud of you too, even if you learned from Orochimaru. I hope I will live long enough to see you come back to the village, because I know one day, either you'll come back on your own, or Naruto will drag you back. And before I forget, I have some advice for you too, Sasuke.
Sasuke could almost imagine his sensei's teasing smile as the next words were read.
Don't be so serious, it's okay to have fun too. Get to know your comrades better. Who knows, maybe you'll make some friends, and when you do, I expect them to last. Don't let the glares of the village make you feel upset when you come back, just ignore them and prove your loyalty. To help you with that, I want you to take care of my ninken pack.
Sasuke was shocked. Kakashi-sensei trusted him with his pack?
When I was young, they took care of me. They still do. When I felt sad, they comforted me. When I felt lonely, they stayed by my side. When I was hurt, they helped heal my wounds. I know they'll take care of you too, once you earn their loyalty and trust of course. I have the summoning scroll and a vial of my blood next to the will. Oh, and Sasuke? Sakura loves you. It's time to decide whether you love her back.
Sasuke felt guilty. He didn't deserve to be loved by Sakura, and he still wasn't sure whether he loved her back or not. Sasuke took the scroll and vial that Jiraiya handed him.
"Wait, does his ninken know that...that Kakashi-sensei...is dead?" Sakura said.
"I don't know, I guess we should find out." Sasuke rolled open the scroll and poured a drop of blood on it.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Eight dogs poofed into existence. They were looking around, for someone. Pakkun quickly ran up to Jiraiya and almost shouted at him.
"Where's Kakashi? Is he safe? We felt something...wrong. Well? Where is he?" The other dogs growled at them when an answer wasn't immediately given. Naruto made eye contact with Pakkun and said.
"Pakkun, he...Kakashi-sensei...is...dead." Pakkun looked at him with disbelief in his eyes.
"Stop joking around Naruto. He can't die. Kakashi has survived many situations where any other person would have died. Tell me, is he hurt?" Naruto wanted to tell Pakkun that Kakashi-sensei was alive, but he couldn't tell a lie.
"Pakkun...Kakashi-sensei really is dead." Pakkun shook his head. Naruto could see that a small part of Pakkun knew that Kakashi was dead, except he didn't, he couldn't, believe it.
"No, no, no, he's not dead, I don't believe you!" Finally Sakura couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her fist down on the ground, creating a large crack.
"He's dead Pakkun. Kakashi-sensei's dead and he's not coming back." Sakura said, trying to hold back tears. Pakkun whimpered and lowered his head. Suddenly one of the dogs caught sight of Sasuke and growled at him. Pakkun whipped his head up and glared at him suspiciously.
"Who killed Kakashi. Was it you? Sasuke Uchiha?" Naruto sensed that the dogs were about to attack, so he quickly jumped in front of him.
"Pakkun, it was the Akatsuki leader, Pain. But Kakashi-sensei killed him before he died." Pakkun looked taken aback.
"I knew that boss wouldn't go down without a fight. But Kakashi can't be dead...he can't be."
Naruto had seen people grieve before. However, the sight of the eight dogs before him right now was too much to bear. Everyone of them looked lost, like they had just lost an important part of themselves. Pakkun started howling, and the rest of the dogs joined in. The sound expressed their sadness and grief at losing their master, who was a part of their pack, and it was the most mournful sound Naruto had ever heard. One that he never wants to hear again. After a while, Pakkun turned to him.
"We're going back to grieve in peace. Call us for the funeral. If anyone in the village dishonors Kakashi, they will pay." They vanished after that.
