#sakuyami

he  was  watching  the  cursed  energy  of  the  city.  the  usual  grime.  the  usual  fear.  but  there  was  a  pocket  of…  something  else.  here.  a  clean,  sharp,  focused  energy.  not  just  a  fighter's  jagged  rage.  something  more  controlled.  more  precise.  like  a  scalpel,  not  a  sword.  it  was  humming  under  the  stress  and  the  sorrow  of  this  place.

it  was…  her.  he  hadn't  planned  on  it.  just  felt  the  signal  and  followed  it.  a  small  point  of  determined  light  in  the  endless  static  of  misery.  (  still  trying  to  save  everyone.  even  when  there's  nothing  left  to  save.  )  a  faint,  tired  smile  touched  his  lips.  a  rare,  genuine  thing.

he  didn't  make  a  sound.  just  appeared  behind  her  at  the  edge  of  the  rooftop  garden  she  was  tending  to.  she  hadn't  noticed  him  yet.  her  back  was  to  him,  her  hands  buried  in  the  dirt  of  a  planter  box,  coaxing  a  small,  stubborn  herb  to  grow.  her  chakra  control  was  perfect.  delicate.  she  was  pouring  life  into  the  soil.

only half aware of what was going out around her. were they on a tent somewhere? was the war finally over? temari hissed when she sensed something on her chest, chakra taking over from then on and immense pain making her muscles sore. but it was anger and rage that moved her and she trashed on the improvised medical bed, snarling at the pink and light green blurr next to her. sakura.

Sakura’s words compete against the roaring thunder, reminding the universe who she is. A clash of lightning splits the grey sky, as though responding in kind, and for the girl’s efforts, rewards her with a gentle sprinkle of rain. 

Tsunade observed her pupil from the sidelines with Shizune at her side, underneath the refuge of a shared umbrella. Sakura stands at the center of the training grounds, having reshaped the earth and rock with her bare fists. Her chakra control is immaculate! A satisfied smirk tugs at the Godaime’s painted lips. 

“ Well done, Sakura, “ she said proudly. 

In only two years, Sakura’s power and confidence have blossomed, Tsunade thinks. She’ll only continue to grow. 

“ That’s enough training for today. Come on, let’s get out of the rain. ” 

HE DOES NOT SEE MUCH OF HIS FORMER STUDENTS THESE DAYS, the three of them busy with their own lives following the war. Gone are the days of fighting a common enemy; Kakashi now spends the majority of his time seated at a desk, surrounded by the same four walls, pen scribbling away upon piles and piles of paperwork. He supposes he ought to be grateful for this time in their lives ──── he is hokage during a time of peace, the village bustling, its inhabitants smiling. It is his advisor, Shikamaru, that keeps him company these days. He’s thankful for it, truly, but he cannot shake the longing to interact with the kids he’d once taught. ( Though, he supposes they’re no longer kids. Damn, he’s getting old. ) So, it is a pleasant and rather welcome surprise when Sakura drops by, a smile on her face, warmth radiating from her person. Behind his mask, Kakashi smiles. “ Sakura, what brings you in, today? Don’t tell me you have a complaint to file. ” His humor dry, as it had always been.

"Of course it's working! Have you already forgotten I'm one of the Legendary Sannin? I know what I'm doing." Fire burned around them, cutting them off from their current enemies, but giving the two of them plenty of room to counter attack. Blood is drawn from his thumb, summoning the smaller of his many toads for him to ride on and fight with. Already prepping another jusu to use. Admittedly doing so with obvious annoyance at Tsunade's student.

prompts from sinners ( accepting ) — @sakuyami

He's not cut out for this.

So he's pointed out, debated, outright rejected time and time again. And yet ... here he is, sought out by another youth in need of potential guidance. Some might find it a privilege, or even see it as testament to their character. But he doesn't. Refuses to do so much as touch that subject with a ten foot pole.

This way of life is often an unforgiving and thankless thing, he nearly says. Feels the jagged edges of such bitter sentiments cut into the soft of his inner cheek. "Trust is hard to come by with what we do." Kento states instead, somewhat conscious enough to render his tone a touch softer.

"You know, you really should respect your elders." He knows this was fully his and maybe Tsunade's doing, but he couldn't help but try and defend himself a little bit. He was just always traveling, it made relationships difficult to maintain. ( He'll keep telling himself that. )