Remembering The Fallen

[Kakashi Hatake]

For once Kakashi wasn't running late. Then again, for a change he had nothing to be late for, a technicality perhaps but he wasn't going to let it diminish the achievement. Besides which he needed a day off, he hadn't taken one in... oh what was it? 365 days? Yeah that was about right. Come to think of it though, the missions had sort of dried up once his last one had been completed. Perhaps this had become so regular that Hokage-sama had simply pre-empted his decision to take a day out. Kakashi wondered, was an exception being made just on his and Obito's account, or was it that Sandaime knew all the names left here for posterity? He liked to think it was the latter, certainly more likely in his opinion.

Looking down at the name painstakingly carved in stone Kakashi was pulled under in a torrent of memories, a flood of images from a way of life long past. Reaching into his pocket he removed his old battered copy of Icha Icha Paradise and flipped it open, but his eye didn't fall to the printed page, rather it found its way to the folded photograph tucked into the front cover. Plucking it from its hiding place he unfolded it revealing the quartet which he had belonged to as a young man. Though his lone eye glanced over his sensei and team mates with fondness it lingered over the white haired boy in the centre of the photo. He beheld the cold and arrogant boy that he had once been and almost laughed, he had thought that he knew it all back then. Always spouting over serious things like: 'this is what a real ninja would do,' or 'this is how a true shinobi conducts himself.' Worst of all though was: 'in the ninja world those who break the rules are trash.'

It was funny, funny that he had to lose an eye to overcome how truly blind he was. He glanced across the frozen frame to the boy at his side; ally, friend, savior and ultimately his greatest teacher. Obito, the name resounded throughout his being, I hope you've enjoyed seeing the future that we made... in your memory... in memory of all those we've lost.

Kakashi's gaze wandered upwards to the sky and beneath his mask a smirk flashed across his face. 'Well would you listen to me and all these serious thoughts? I sure hope I'm not starting to get old.'

Seating himself he crossed his legs and set the photo down in front of him, leaning it carefully against the base of the monument. He looked it over from left to right, the complete team which he had once belonged to, the people he had let down one after another. He looked back up at Obito's name etched in the stone and as he had the year before he could only think of one thing to say. 'Sorry...'

[sakura]

Sakura was taking her usually stroll, hopefully to either catch up with a friend or… Sasuke-kun. She thought, trying to keep her squealing in, shaking her head, her long, pink hair followed opposite of her head shaking. Sakura then stopped and looked up to see the memorial stone, her green eyes sobered to see the stone. But there was also someone there, a man with very messy, white hair. Who is he? She tilted her head, but straightened up and walked towards the stone. After many years of going up to people to talk to them, it went from being painstaking to somewhat more comfortable, now that she had gotten out her shell.

Sakura stopped behind the man and looked down to steal a quick glance at the picture he sat down. Maybe I shouldn’t bother him. Her eyes went up to the stone with etched names on it. If it wasn’t for these people’s sacrifices, her and her other ninja comrades probably wouldn’t be here today. Because of the Third Great Shinobi War. She titled her head to the side a few times in thought of what she had picked up from her mother.

[sasu]

"A never-ending battle.."

Sasuke had been at the training grounds early that morning. Mostly training the day away with his fire Ninjutsu. He had taken a break around 10:00 am this morning and hadn't really had the motivation to get back up. It seemed like it had been weeks ago when they had graduated the academy. In truth it had been only a few days. It would be a little while, he assumed, before they would hold the meeting for all the new genin to meet their teachers. Sasuke was impatient as always though. He needed to train and he needed it now.

The Uchiha had been up in a tree since this "break." Now he sat up there his arm crossed over his leg watching a rather boring Jonin. He had been here since forever ago. He was one of the main reason's that Sasuke hadn't started training again. The Uchiha had gotten to a point that he trained alone now. He hated showing his jutsu to anyone and that was what he did. Sasuke watched the Jonin with only one eye. The other one was closed in resting. He shook his head as he leaned back against the trunk.

It seemed he wasn't about to leave so there was no point for Sasuke not to take a small true rest. That was when he felt another presence show up. Naturally, the raven opened an eye to see who had shown up this time. Low and Behold it was Sakura Haruno, one of his worst followers. Sasuke knowing it was the kunoichi closed his eyes again. Perhaps, Sakura would stir up this Jonin, maybe have him move. Who knew? Sasuke would just have to wait and find out.

[Kakashi Hatake]

Kakashi had almost fallen into a kind of trance staring at the engraved names, some of them he was familiar with, others not so much. Regardless they had all been his comrades and all had made the same sacrifice, these were all someone's friends, lovers, children. They had been willing to sacrifice all that so that the people left behind could have all those things and be able to keep them safe. He snapped quickly back to his usual self when he realised he wasn't alone, there was someone right behind him. Kakashi gave a heavy sigh, picked the photograph back up, folded it carefully and placed it back inside the cover of his book before snapping it shut. As he stood he tucked the book away in his back pocket and rounded on the girl behind him, he recognised her instantly from the information he'd been supplied with pertaining to his team to be. Sakura... uhm, what was it again?

'Hey now,' he addressed her flatly, 'didn't someone at the Academy teach you it isn't polite to spy on one of your own?' His senses just happened to brush against someone else and he turned his head away from Sakura to gaze off at the tree which just happened to be harbouring the concealed Sasuke Uchiha... well, not so well concealed now. 'That goes for you in the tree too. If you were going to jump me then that's fine but if you're just trying to peek at girls you should show a little more respect for the dead.' Even with his voice raised so as to carry it all the way to the trees his tone remained level as his lone eye stared out at the point where their hidden guest was.

And while we wait for him to join us...

Kakashi thrust his hands into his pockets as looked back to Sakura, what little of his face was exposed revealed nothing of the immense entertainment he was getting out of messing with these two, twisted in a way, but tuition in another. 'You know with sneaking skills like those I'm surprised you could even graduate the Academy. Now, was there a reason you disturbed me, or are you just being a nosey brat?' Kakashi's tone raised to be almost friendly and his exposed eye closed as he grinned warmly (or creepily given the situation) beneath his mask. Any second now and that guy in the tree's gonna come down and do something stupid....

[sakura]

Sakura jumped back slightly as Kakashi talked to her. “Well, um, eh…” She stuttered out throwing her hands out in front of her, waving her hands opposite of each other. When he mentioned another person in the tree, she turned around and smiled big. It’s him. She thought dreamily, smiling big. “Sasuke-kun!” Her fist balled up now as blush came across her face.

“Well of course they taught us that.” Sakura put her arms down, raising a slender pink brow as she turned to face him. Noticing that he was a Jounin, she decided to keep her mouth shut. He then raised his voice, probably letting Sasuke be in the conversation, about why they were bothering him or if they were being nosy brats. That was one thing Sakura couldn’t answer, well she could. “Techniquely, I was just passing by. I really didn’t mean to come up behind… I was just curious.” She smiled up at him, satisfied with her answer.

[orzan]

Naruto was walking to the Memorial Stone as he did every once in a while to pay his respects to those there when he saw a Jounin and Sakura-chan by the stone. Walking up he yelled in his characteristic fashion "Hey Sakura-chan!!!" His grin encompassing his face only dampened by the knowledge of where they are. Slowing down as he got closer he spotted a shadow in a nearby tree.

Walking up to the stone itself he found the one name that always interested him. 'Minato Namikaze. I both admire you and loathe you for what you did to me. I don't know why you picked me but I understand you had to pick someone, but damnit why me?!' Naruto thought as he found the name, 'If it wasn't for you I'd be just like every other orphan. Maybe nothing special but I wouldn't have a sign on my back that screams KICK ME at anyone who was here when the kyuubi attacked.'

Shaking his head he turned back to the jounin and Sakura-chan. The jounin almost looked like a one eyed scarecrow with his gray hair shooting almost straight up and back. 'Who is this guy. Looks like he uses about 3 gallons of moose every day to keep his hair up and what's with the slanted headband. Is he blind in that eye or something? I wonder what his lips look like.' Naruto's mind rambled as he waited for someone to say something.

[sasu]

"Typical idiots... "

The raven sat silent in his tree. He hadn't meant to bother anyone and honestly wanted to be left alone. It was the Jonin who had come into HIS territory first. The Uchiha had been here long before the sunrise hours. Much to be obliged for. He had been training all morning. Who did this guy think he was?! He was probably as bad as Suki. She following him around like a puppy and this guy acting all "cool" like he could do whatever the hell he wanted. Not this time and not with the Uchiha within such a close proximity of him.

Sasuke listened to the words of the Jonin as he spoke to Sakura. This guy must of been blind. Sakura hadn't been spying on him. Sakura, was rather pathetic with spying, he knew, but what she had done was simply walked up to the Jonin. Perhaps he was another one the Jonin that was all talk and no action. Much like that Mizuki guy. Sasuke knew all about the whole incident with Mizuki and the scroll Naruto had taken that night. Who didn't know with all the Jonin running around like crazy animals trying to track down the blonde.

That was when the white-haired man seemed to notice him. Sasuke looked down at him as he began to speak. Was this guy completely and utterly out of his mind? Sasuke had been here BEFORE him. So how could he of been spying on girls when Sakura JUST got here? And besides... there was no point in stalking an idiot Jonin. He wanted nothing to do with the man. That was when he heard Sakura call his name. He mentally sighed. 'Here we go again.. and just after I tried to avoid her and all the other girls this morning.' he thought.

The raven then jumped nimbly to the ground while the white-haired man continued to try and stir both he and Sakura by talking low about them. 'How naive.. I don't fall for something stupid like that. Maybe Sakura-chan.. but not me.. idiot.' Sasuke thought. He said nothing though. His hands had found their way into his pockets again and his eyes had taken on their normal blank look. He honestly was hating every moment of this. He had wanted some alone time this morning not all this.

Things got worse. Sasuke looked up to see the baka himself run towards them. Of course, his eyes were to Sakura first off. Naruto apparently hadn't noticed him yet. It was no wonder though. His eyes were trained on the Jonin. 'The idiot is probably thinking about how the Jonin styles his hair, I bet. What a idiot...' Sasuke thought. He hoped this whole mess would be over as soon as possible. Sasuke hated all this mess.

[Kakashi Hatake]

This is not happening... this was my day off... Having already profoundly pissed off at least one member of his team to be, Kakashi wasn't too impressed to find Naruto sauntering up to the little shindig as well. And so without even knowing it Team 7 had assembled, Kakashi's eye wandered over towards the monument in the split second that he felt like muttering you guys are still playing tricks on me. It seemed a tad too convenient that they would all turn up in one place at virtually the same time, perhaps that was some sort of good omen. Or perhaps Sasuke really was peeking... man... its always the quiet ones... Kakashi didn't really buy into omens that much.

'Better not to put your nose where it might get cut off.' Kakashi replied to Sakura with a blank look, he left a small pause to let the words drop with their full magnitude but then remembered that he was a professional and actually had to work with these kids provided they didn't flunk right back in to the Academy. Unlikely that they'd get through, but an outside chance existed all the same. Perking his face up into another grin he continued as Naruto joined them. The resemblance was certainly not lost on him of all people, it was uncanny in fact and as Naruto looked him over Kakashi did the same, sure he had seen his file photo... but to see him in person... it was so strange to see him on this of all days. 'But why are you three slacking off here anyway? I heard the last of the Genin Teams were meeting their Jounins at the Academy today. You guys wouldn't want to miss that and end up back in the Academy again right?' He crossed his arms and leaned in beaming at the three Genin. All these back and forth switches were probably bothering them, well the two that had been there the longest anyway, Sasuke in particular did not seem impressed.

Yeah, this is good, I'll meet them at the Academy, arrange the survival training and flunk them in the morning. I dunno though the Kyuubi host, the Uchiha 'genius' and.... Sakura... if they actually get their act together they might actually make good. His piece said and his 'trap' primed Kakashi turned away and sat back down with his hands folded in his lap. He'd hang around here a while before going out to meet up with them again, they could sweat for a while for all he cared, he had more important things (at least for him) to do while they panicked. 'You'd better run, you might even be better at track and field than at sneaking.'

[sakura]

Oh no, Sakura shuddered slightly when she hear her name be yelled out by him, but kept her cool. Gah! I’m going to give him a good punch to the face he touches me! CHA![/b] Her inner self yelled out. Sakura looked over to Kakashi who said to pretty much stay out of his business or else. Ok... Her green eyes looked down slightly as both of her classmates came near, avoiding the blank look on his face. Her face then perked up to hear that today they were meeting their sensei’s today. That’s right… I guess since we’re all here we can go together. Sakura thought to herself, blushing slightly that she got to walk with Sasuke, but then felt some disappointment that Naruto would be there with them.

The only thing that bothered her in Kakashi’s sentence was going back through the academy, of course she could go through it quickly, she already knew everything that was taught there, so in actuality, Sakura wasn’t all that afraid of his statement… Maybe just a little. but on that thought… I’m not letting Ino get the best of me either. Oh she could just see it, Ino rubbing in her face that she was a step ahead. ”Well I guess since we’re all here. We can go together. Sakura suggested to her new teammates, blinking a few times.

[orzan]

Naruto looked at Sakura and wondered if she had an eye problem. “Sure Sakura-chan as long as Sasuke-teme doesn’t brood the whole way there. Anyways after we meet our sensei do you want to go on a date with me?” He asked hopeful despite knowing she’d probably say no and then punch him… again.

’What does she see in Sasuke really? He doesn’t seem to care about anyone but himself and he’s so big of a dick to everyone why do all the girls in our class like him? It just doesn’t make sense at all. I’ve got to be better than him haven’t I? I couldn’t possibly be worse to them than him. It’s just not possible… is it?’ Naruto thought his mind whirling temporarily trying to figure out why so many of the girls in his class liked the brooding Uchiha.

Stilling the whirlwind of thoughts that spun through his mind he zoned back into earth to wait for the response which he so hoped would be yes. He’d treat her so much better than Sasuke could. Naruto mentally bitch-slapped himself to stop his mind from going back into a whirlwind. “Come on Sakura-chan, what do you see in the teme anyways?” He added to his question.

‘I wonder who our sensei will be. I hope it’s not this one eyed wonder dick. It’d be so fail if I got Konohamaru’s tutor as a sensei. THAT would suck so horribly… of course I could totally get him to do whatever I wanted just by using the harem jutsu on him but then Sakura would hit me… again and Sasuke would call me a dobe… again. Jeez my teammates are about as predictable as Konohamaru is a failure at using the basic jutsu aren’t they?’ Naruto thought while he mentally shook his head at the predictability of his teammates.

They were so hosed if they went up against a serious opponent anytime soon. He desperately hoped nothing happened the first time they were sent outside the village. That would just show how horribly Naruto’s luck is at times. Pity he couldn’t gamble to make sure it didn’t happen. Anytime a game of luck was occurring Naruto always seemed to win…

[sasu]

"Whatever... "

The Uchiha honestly felt like this was all a waste of time. This entire conversation felt like it was messing with his I.Q. Just standing here among these three was giving him a major headache. It was sad that of all of them the jonin was the more irritating. He was supposed to be a JONIN! An elite ninja, this guy.. was not that. He was an idiot, in sasuke's eyes at least, who probably only got Jonin rank because of some mistake. The Uchiha said nothing as the man snapped at Sakura. Perhaps the girl would be her own protection. Sakura, when angered could do a few things.

Perhaps she could make this guy shut up. That was when he started talking about meeting teachers and such today. Sasuke had known of this, he had simply not gone yet. This guy was a fool if he thought to trick them. Sasuke knew that the time they were supposed to meet their sensei's was not for another hour. Sasuke hands in his pockets and head turned away as if ignoring all of them spoke. "You think we would fall for that? The time we are supposed to meet at the academy is an hour from now. You have your time off." Sasuke said flattly.

By Sakura and Naruto's responses though, they apparently hadn't known at all. The Uchiha sighed. When Sakura asked to walk together Sasuke simply looked at her. "We.. still have an hour before it is time. I'm heading to the academy now. If you want to come.. suit yourself." he said without another word. He took a glance around before simply turning and starting to walk away. That was when Naruto asked Sakura out on a date. The Uchiha didn't even flinch. He knew the dobe was going to get hit pretty hard for that one. He just didn't get it at all. What a complete and utter baka.

Sasuke didn't even let his thoughts rest on the thought before he kept moving. Away from the grounds and towards the academy, not looking back to see if Sakura had started to come after him with the blonde in tow.


(I apologize, my muse is crappy, and this gives us a reason for Sasuke being there before everyone else.. )

[Kakashi Hatake]

Kakashi listened with much less enthusiasm than should've probably been invested in his prospective team, of course even if they made it through he'd make it his business not to take notice of the bitching and bickering that went on. He'd heard it all before, Genin were having the self same arguments now that they were having when he was a kid as well and time had not sweetened them. That Sasuke in particular sounded like an echo of his younger self, a grossly arrogant little punk with a rod shoved so far up his ass you could hang him over a fire pit by it. Honestly though, it was like looking in a whiny, depressing, self involved mirror. Kakashi would have to be sure and break him of that if he was ever going to function as part of a team, then again his own sensei had found a way to put up with it, perhaps he could to and just allow him to grow out of it.

He didn't respond to any comment thereafter, he had wasted quite enough time on these guys, if they were going to start heading over then there was no reason he couldn't begin a leisurely stroll in the general direction of the Academy, maybe stopping at the book store, grocery store and his apartment before gracing them with his presence. Fairly certain that they had moved on from snooping, spying and generally being an all around irritation Kakashi vanished in a wisp of smoke, leaving Naruto quite possibly to his death at the hands of a woman scorned... one less idiot to flunk at least.

Damn... if by some miracle these kids actually pass their survival training then I've gotta somehow mould them up from three random punk kids into a shinobi unit that actually functions. Ugh... how did you put up with it all, Sensei?. This whole thing is going to be more trouble than it's worth, I just know it. Reluctant as he was to invest any hope in those three kids, Kakashi would make a special effort to be less late than usual when they were due to meet. If only to flunk them and make it as painless a process as he could for all parties involved.

{Exit and End}

[Admin]

Naruto Uzumaki:

I only need to say that you should try a bit to sound more like Naruto and less like you.

Sakura Haruno:

You should work on lengthening the size of your posts a bit.

Sasuke Uchiha:

I'm going to have to ask you to chill on posting the Uchiha Clan symbol before each post.

You play a very VERY emo Sasuke, you might wanna tone it back a bit.

Kakashi Hatake:

Your Kakashi sounds very bitter. Some of his dialogue sounds, I dunno, un-Kakashi like. "peek at girls" and "do something stupid" and all.