2a
I only half listened to the ranting from Naruto and Sakura when I arrived late, again. They reminded me that I was late… every day. But, if they were so annoyed with me being late then they would begin training before I showed up.
"You see, there was a black cat," I started to say.
"Save it," Sakura snapped, rubbing her forehead. I smiled at them. They made an amusing group. It was a good thing, because it kept me from wanting to abandon them as I had done to all of the other students the Hokage had tried to place me with.
Sakura Haruno was the only girl. Her long pink hair and green eyes were as unique as the intelligence and chakra control she exhibited. Unfortunately, she was failing to blossom due to the crush she harbored on the Uchiha boy.
Naruto Uzumaki was the young blonde boy with bright blue eyes. He harbored an immense amount of charka, due to the nine-tails fox imprisoned inside him. He was always competing with Sasuke, a rivalry that could compete with Gai's.
Sasuke Uchiha was a prodigy and, if not for his attitude, he would have been the most popular student. He had black hair and matching eyes. He would use some happiness in his life, but he was so worried about getting revenge for his clan.
"Okay," I said putting more happiness into the worlds than I actually felt. The three young ninjas watched me with interest. "We should practice." Naruto and Sakura fell forward, and jumped up to continue yelling at me. They did not like it when I acted as if I had something important to say and then it turned out to be nothing. I smiled at them, feigning innocence. This was the kind of thing that reminded me of my younger days when I had been their age, days that I cherished and hated at the same time.
"Kakashi-sensei, why do you do that? Make it seem as if you've got something important to say and then," Naruto whined.
"Shut up, dobe." Sasuke cut in.
"You shut up, Sasuke. At least I'm a real ninja!" The fighting was beginning.
"Whatever," Sasuke smirked.
"Leave Sasuke alone, Naruto." Sakura glared daggers at the blond. I could feel a headache developing as I listened to the three young ninja.
"No, today… today I will show you a real ninja." I decided. Everyone looked up at me and went quiet, seeing the seriousness on my face. They were curious. It must have been something about the way I had said it. I removed the seriousness from my voice and put on a smile again.
I was hiding behind a mask again, stupid. I turned around a walked towards the forest, turning to motion to my group to follow. They crept behind me, cautious of what I had planned. I led them deeper into the forest, brushing aside an overgrown glance. My breath caught in my throat.
Tenshi spun in the clearing, looking soaked. She leapt and spun, holding out her hand to an imaginary dance partner. She turned, looking straight at me. I blinked, the image disappearing. I sighed, letting my complaining students through. I led Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura up to the statue in the center of the clearing. It stood alone, vines draped over it, enhancing the beauty of the statue.
The statue, Tenshi's final resting place, was an angel with an upturned face. An exact replica of what she looked like. I cleared my throat, finding it hard to breath as I gazed on that familiar face.
"In loving memory of Tenshi,
A ninja that shall always be remember
A broken heart that the world forgot"
I closed my eyes, speaking the words without having to look at the inscription on the grave. "Do you know anything about this ninja?" I asked.
"She completed her training and attended missions, all while her father was abusing her. She would be beaten, yet she continued to train. I heard she was a strong girl, and she successfully completed her training, only to die shortly after." Sakura proudly spewed the knowledge out. I gazed at her, my heart dropping.
"Yes, she was a true ninja." I murmured.
"Why?" Sasuke spat, "She let herself be killed by her father. She could have killed him and she would have lived." I stared at Sasuke, pity filling me for him. Sasuke did not understand anything. He may have been an extremely gifted student, but he knew nothing when it came to being a true ninja.
"Sasuke, she was a true ninja because she never gave up. She never took the easy way out, by killing her father. She knew how to love. She was hurt every day and yet bore no ill will against him. She died because she refused to kill an innocent person." Everyone went silent and looked at the statue.
"Her father was innocent?" Naruto looked confused.
"Yes, he was a very sick man. He did not know what he was doing and he regretted his actions. I'm sure he did."
"That was a stupid question, Naruto." Sakura berated, punching Naruto in the shoulder. Naruto frowned and looked at me again.
"I don't want to rain down on your parade or anything. What I want you to take out of this is that you need to avoid hurting innocent people. Be strong and never give up. Just because we are ordered to kill people every day, it is not always right. Taking someone's life is a horrible thing." I gazed into each of my students' eyes, wanting them to take my message to heart. "You are dismissed." I needed to be by myself.
"Sensei," Sakura paused as she turned to leave.
"What?"
"I also heard that when she died, she was happy because she died in the arms of the one she loved. Was it her father?" I closed my eyes, shaking my head because I did not trust my voice at that moment.
"Someone else," I finally blurted. Sakura left the clearing, chasing after Sasuke. I could hear Naruto screaming 'I love Ramen' at the top of his lungs in the distance. I smiled briefly before leaning against Tenshi's grave, losing energy. I wanted to be with her for a moment. The leaves in the tree fluttered and the woods were quiet. It was calm. I rested for a moment longer before straightening up and, with my hand in my pocket, walked away, a smile gracing my lips.