Tea and the Day After Cephied Variable

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They have tea a week after Naruto leaves. Sakura orders green cha with mint and sugar and drinks it all before it cools down. Kakashi orders black coffee and only pretends to touch it- they both know he had no intention of drinking it in the first place.

She folds her hands in front of her and studies her thumbnails. He tries to look at her, but his vision goes blurry and he just keeps saying the same thing over and over again in his mind: 'I failed Sasuke, I failed Naruto and most of all, I failed you Sakura. Could you ever forgive me?'

Finally, she looks up at him with a clear, strained smile and says: "I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei, for not being able to do anything." her empty grin deepens into something almost sincere as she continues, "Tsunade-sama agreed to take me on as a student. Next time I'll be strong enough to fight. Next time I'll be the one to bring him home."

Kakashi feels a little bit of life go out of him because it's so absurd that she's the one apologizing. Kakashi wants to tell her this, but all he can say is: "You'll be a fine konouchi, Sakura."

But she knows what he means.