Hinata sensei

failure

A raven was sent in order to bring back his teammate Kakashi, along with a medic ninja who he brought with him. The medic ninja healed Hinata's injuries to the best of their abilities; she would need to rest. He carried Hinata home, while the team that was with him escorted Naruto and Sasuke back to Konoha since Hinata was unable to do her duties as a sensei. Team 7 was temporarily unable to do anything at least until their Sensei was healed and a new member was added to their team.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Kakashi asked, unconvinced.

"You have trained her yourself; Kagome Takahashi is an extremely talented young woman who would be a waste to drop permanently from the program." Kakashi understood the Hokage's reasoning, but he still didn't like it. Hinata wasn't ready to take on another student so soon after Sakura's death.

"Have her parents been informed?" The Hokage asked, dreading his response.

"Yes; Sakura's mother did not take it well. She almost attacked me, but her husband demanded, 'Where is Hinata?' It was not a pleasant sight. It's never easy for Kakashi to inform parents that their children had died on a mission. It was one of the most difficult parts of being a ninja.

"How is Naruto and Sasuke fairing?" he asked Kakashi.

Naruto has been distant; though I think he's going through his own turmoil, he killed for the first time and he doesn't know how to come to terms with it. This was something Kakashi knew immediately when he saw Naruto's face; he barely spoke.

"What are we doing, sending children out? Damn it, Kakashi! What are we? Are we machines? Despite what Hashirama's best intentions were, children are still dying and being sent out to die, and for what? I'm getting too old for this."

Kakashi disliked where this conversation was headed.

"Hokage-sama, I know things are difficult, but surely you don't mean to retire?" Concerned about all the years he had spent looking up to someone other than his sensei, Minato, everyone in his generation had grown up with him as the Hokage; it was inconceivable that anyone else could take his place.

"I'm old, Kakashi. Someone else should have succeeded me by now. In fact, I wasn't succeeded only so that I could return later. He knew what he was getting into.

If only (never mind), I shouldn't wish for things to be different because it's pointless. It doesn't change the present. Kakashi asked when/how soon Kagome could transfer.

As soon as Hinata is able to resume her duties," the Hokage answered

"We should give her space, as what happened was traumatic"

A traumatic understatement, Kakashi thought. He remembers it like it was only yesterday, what happened to Rin. Kakashi tenses when he thinks about that memory, a failed promise he couldn't keep to his late friend Obito. He knows what it's like to feel pain like you could have done; she will likely have nightmares for months or years to come from such a failure. It never completely goes away; it stays with you. That's why most don't choose to be promoted to Jōnin.

"I know what you're thinking, Kakashi. That it's too soon unless Team 7 has a new member. The team will have to be disbanded, and I won't let that happen. As soon as she recovers, Kagome Takahashi will join Team 7."

Kakashi wanted to argue against it, he gave in... There was was no point; the Hokage had had already already made up his mind and there was no changing it.

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea."

The old man put down his pipe.

No matter what argument Kakashi presents, the Hokage has already made up his mind, and nothing can be done."I will inform the girl of her transfer in a few days."