Hazuna : Hey, guess what.
She said.
Hazuna : I got promoted to jonin today. I know, finally right?
She sat down in front of one of the graves in the Konoha cemetery.
Hazuna : It was fun, jonin exams sure are tough. Only the final opponent gave me a bit of trouble.
She hugged her knees.
Hazuna : I don't think I will ever reach your level but I am trying. I am just...I am really trying.
She smiled, just slightly.
Hazuna : Did I tell you I have been training under Hatake Kakashi? Yes, the copy ninja. He is a good teacher actually, a little perverted but good. We are friends, I guess.
Her smile disappeared and her lips quivered just a bit. She stopped her tears from falling and continued talking, more for her sanity than anything else.
Hazuna : Sasuke is really shaping up at the academy. Really popular with the girls, I am told. Much like someone else I know.
She teased.
Hazuna : He will rival your power one day. Maybe even surpass it.
She took a deep breath.
Hazuna : I miss you, Shisui.
At the other end of the cemetery was her teacher, standing facing another tombstone altogether. He laid a flower near it.
Kakashi : Sorry, I haven't been visiting as much.
He mumbled.
Kakashi : My student became a jonin today. The Uchiha girl, yeah. She is strong, you know. And talented. Picks up whatever I teach her pretty fast. I really have it easy.
He looked around when he suddenly spotted Hazuna, sitting near a grave. Not knowing whose grave it was, he began to walk her way cautiously.
Kakashi : Hazuna?
He asked in a low voice.
She jumped at the voice, visibly startled.
Hazuna : Kakashi sensei!
She relaxed a bit at the revelation. He now noticed the grave she was by. Uchiha Shisui.
Kakashi : So you 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 close to him after all.
He said.
She rested her chin in her hands.
Hazuna : Yeah, I was. Why are you here, sensei?
Kakashi : My teammate, Rin. And also Minato sensei.
Hazuna : Sensei...the fourth Hokage taught you?
She raised her eyebrows.
Kakashi : You didn't know that?
He asked, amused.
She shook her head.
Hazuna : And....what about Rin?
She hesitantly asked.
Kakashi : It's okay.
He assured.
Kakashi : Rin was part of my three man squad. Our jonin leader was Minato sensei. Later I took his place when I became a jonin. Me, Rin and...
He paused a bit, sitting on the ground next to her.
Hazuna : Uchiha Obito?
She asked.
Kakashi : Yes, you knew him?
Hazuna : He was the clumsy guy with the goggles, right? It's a shame he passed away so young.
Kakashi : He is the one who gave me my sharingan.
Hazuna nodded, deeply empathising with him. He'd probably had a worse childhood than she had. He lost every single person close to him. His team, his teacher and even his father. It was unfathomable.
Kakashi : What about you?
He asked her, looking at Shisui's grave.
Hazuna : My parents died in battle when I was, uh, 4? And then Itachi's parents took me in till I was 13. They were killed too, as you know. And Shisui..
She paused, taking a deep breath.
Hazuna : ...passed away. Itachi left the village.
Kakashi : Itachi, I remember him. He was part of my team in the ANBU. You remind me of him a lot actually.
Hazuna : Oh, he was my 'rival'. We were always compared to each other.
Kakashi : It's a pity he turned out to be a traitor-
Hazun : He is not a traitor!
Hazuna suddenly raised her voice, making Kakashi shiver.
Hazuna : I am sorry, but he is not.
Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder. She stared at the ground, trying hard not to cry.
Kakashi : No, I am sorry.
He said softly.
She clenched her jaw, tears finally forcing their way out of her eyes, making her stifle a sob. He understood her pain, probably more than anyone else ever could. And he knew how unbearable, how lonely and how dark times could get. He put an arm around her shoulder.
Kakashi : It's okay.
She suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. He returned it immediately, one hand shifting to her hair as the other gently rubbed her back. They stayed that way for a while before Hazuna finally pulled away.
Hazuna : Thank you, Kakashi sensei.
She said quietly.
Kakashi : Anytime.
He gave her a closed eye smile.
- - - - -
Age : 18
"Y-you are-", the shinobi in front of the team stuttered in amazement.
Hazuna : Yeah, he is Kakashi the copy ninja. Can we skip that part, please?
She said impatiently.
Hazuna : Let us meet the Tsuchikage.
Kakashi : Don't be so anti climactic, Hazuna.
Kakashi laughed.
Hazuna : This mission has gone on forever though.
She whined.
"You can deliver whatever you want to us. We will give it to Tsuchikage sama."
Hazuna : Ah, see.
She said, awakening her sharingan.
Hazuna : This isn't a negotiation.
She stepped forward but Kakashi stopped her.
Kakashi : It's a message from Hokage sama. Let us through or you will regret it. I promise you.
He said calmly.
[ Fifteen minutes later ]
Hazuna : Well, that was quick.
She remarked as the duo walked out of the hidden stone village.
Kakashi : We have to get back to Konoha to meet my new genins.
He said, picking up his pace.
Hazuna : I don't understand why Hokage sama keeps sending you more if you are just gonna fail them.
Kakashi : Well, I have valid reasons to fail them. And who knows, maybe this time will be different.
Hazuna : Oh right, my little brother is gonna be there!!
She suddenly got excited.
Kakashi : About that, how is he?
Hazuna : Oh, brilliant. You will see.
A few hours later they arrived at the hidden leaf, reporting to the Hokage's office about the mission.
Kakashi : Ramen?
The copy ninja asked.
Hazuna : Sure, but don't you have to meet the genins?
Kakashi : Eh, they can wait.
He replied.
Hazuna : Very responsible of you, Kakashi sensei.
She said sarcastically.
"KAKASHI!", a voice caused the two to turn around.
Kakashi : Guy!
He greeted his 'eternal rival'.
Might Guy : Ah Hazuna!! How is youth going??
He asked, full of excitement.
Hazuna : It's going great.
She replied, amused.
Over the two years that she had been Kakashi's understudy, she had gotten strong. Much stronger than she had ever thought she had be. She had become unlikely friends with her sensei, which surprised many because rarely did she ever warm up to anyone. And Kakashi had become more attached to her than he had care to admit.
Hazuna : On second thought, we don't have time. Let's go meet your genins.
She took his arm, dragging him to the academy. Kakashi smiled, going along without much complaining. They walked upto the classroom, but as they opened the door a duster fell on Kakashi's head. Hazuna stifled a laugh before trying to make her face more serious.
Sasuke : Ah, nee chan.
He said, getting up from the corner he was sitting in.
She waved.
Naruto : Nee chan??
The boy with yellow hair asked. The third member of the team, a pink haired girl, didn't seem to notice Hazuna as she stared shamelessly at Sasuke.
Kakashi : I am Hatake Kakashi.
The jonin began.
Kakashi : And I will be your jonin leader. Follow me.
A round of introduction followed. He led them to the training ground Hazuna and him generally used and sat the three genin there to explain the situation. He held up two bells.
Kakashi : Your task is to take these bells from me before noon. The person who doesn't get a bell will not be allowed to have lunch, and will go back to the academy. The other two aren't allowed to give the third their lunch either. If they do so, they will be sent back to the academy too. Begin.
Hazuna : Ah shit, here we go again.
She sat back to watch the same situation unfold for the third time. The last two times she had been here, the genins had failed. But, hahah, little did she know what this team would eventually become. She sat in a corner, slyly reading one of Kakashi's books that she took without him noticing.
I don't need to explain what happened in the bell test because we all know it's result. Hazuna watched, amazed as Sasuke offered his food to the yellow haired boy, Naruto, telling his lovesick fangirl to do the same. Kakashi met her surprised gaze.
Kakashi : YOU ALL!
He yelled, suddenly appearing and acting as angry as he could, making the three genins cower in fear. And then his face broke into a smile.
Kakashi : You pass!
They sighed in relief.
Kakashi : Let's go Hazuna!
He called out and she walked towards the newly formed team 7.
Kakashi : Hey! Is that my book?
Hazuna : What book?
Kakashi : I just saw it, stop hiding it.
Hazuna : I didn't take any book, Kakashi sensei.
She smirked.
Hazuna : Let's go Sasuke!
Sasuke nodded, walking towards her. Kakashi was left blushing yet again by the Uchiha girl.