Chapter Text
Kakashi blinked as he sat on his bed staring at the two photoframes on his windowsill. One of his team, his team 7, Team Minato and the other of well. Also his team, his team 7, but his kids. How … how had things ended up like this. Sasuke was gone, had given in to his rage and need for revenge and had gone off in search of power, had gone to Orochimaru of all people. For his hard exterior, Sasuke’s mental strength had always been weak in the face of Itachi. Orochimaru vied for his raven and had known exactly how to get him to go to him. Sasuke was gone, all that was left were broken hearts. Kakashi sighed, he didn’t … he was no Minato. He never had the right words to say, he was still awkward with affection and emotions and … not for the first time, Kakashi longed for Minato sensei, he’d know exactly what to say. Kakashi … he didn’t even know what he was supposed to say to Naruto or Sakura. Kakashi had left after bringing Naruto to the hospital to meet with Jiraya, and then Jiraya had taken Naruto and Sakura on a mission where they ran into Kabuto and it hadn’t gone as his kids were hoping. Sakura had asked Tsunade to take her on as her apprentice and Jiraya would be taking Naruto out of the village soon for close to three years and Kakashi still hasn’t managed to talk to either of them. What was Kakashi supposed to say to them ? ‘Hey! Sorry you guys failed to bring Sasuke home and that he’s betrayed you , but hey ! You’re all training under a sanin so that’s cool!’ Kakashi snorts. What was he supposed to say to them? There was nothing he could say but offer empty platitudes. Kakashi sighed, closing his eye. No one told him being a sensei would be this hard.
Sakura is convinced that their sensei is avoiding them. Not like he’s running away from them per say … but he kind of was. In the aftermath of everything … no one had outright said team 7 had disbanded but with Sasuke gone, Naruto due to leave with Jiraya-sama and her asking to be under the tutelage of the hokage, well … no one had said it but the pitying looks she got from the other jounin sensei or the rest of the rookie 9 and team Guy … Sakura sighs. She sits on her bed and picks up the team picture. Sakura remembers that day, it was tradition to take a team picture with the sensei but as always Naruto and Sasuke had been fighting, and she’d been unbothered for once , focussed on making sure she looked pretty. She’s sure their sensei was questioning every choice he ever made in his life and the photographer was ready to leave. The boys stood on either side of her still bickering till their sensei put his hands on their heads, forcing them to look in front. The picture had turned out exactly how she’d expected, true to their team dynamics. But it was her team, and she loved it. She knew Naruto had it framed and on his table and even Sasuke had it framed and displayed too. She knew even her lazy sensei had it framed and displayed on his windowsill near his bed as well. No matter what happened, or how they all were, they were a team. No one understood the mismatched team like themselves. On the outside, they seemed impossible, personalities all clashing with one of the strongest, most feared but lazy and aloof jounin as their sensei. They looked like a trainwreck, bickering and fighting wherever they went, their sensei trailing behind them reading his pervy book. No one understood. Not like they did that they were a family. Dysfunctional but a family nonetheless. Neither of the boys had parents or families and from bits and pieces of the scarce personal information their sensei offered plus information they’d acquired through the jounin sensei , their lazy sensei had no family either. At first, Sakura had felt out of place in the team, being of a civilian household and frankly, had no big or traumatising incidents happen to her, not that she was complaining. Sakura quickly found her place as the heart of the team. She hadn’t realised it at first but over time she’d realised. Her sensei was more protective of her than the boys, sweeter and gentler in his handling when it came to her and the boys though always competitive with each other, though always fighting physically and mentally had treated her softly. Despite Sasuke’s harsh words here and there, it didn’t take long for the raven to come sidling up to her and sticking close, not apologising but she knew anyway. Naruto was always softer when he spoke to her too, always reassuring her and making sure she was happy. She was the heart that bound the boys and her sensei together, all of them wanting to protect her innocence, to keep her away from the horrors they all faced. Sakura hadn’t realised any of this till after Sasuke had gone, and Naruto, all bandaged up, hadn't cried but had grinned so brightly at her that he’d bring Sasuke home no matter what. Selfishly, Sakura let him shoulder the responsibility. They had spent their entire time together protecting her, during missions or anything else, at the first sight of danger, her boys would be in front of her in a second and she’d stare at the orange and blue that invaded her vision. She knew she was the weak link in their team, hadn’t realised just how much she was lacking, how much she’d taken for granted till she went on the mission with Jiraya-sama and Naruto and had sworn she’d be better, tracking down Tsunade and requesting to be her apprentice. She couldn't undo what she’d done. The heavy emotional weight she’d tethered to Naruto with her own two hands, taking advantage of his soft spot for her and selfless personality to tie Sasuke to him, chaining him and locking him in herself. All she could do now was be better for when the time came she’d be able to drag Sasuke back herself.