Grave of the Dragon / Kakashi x OC (CURRENTLY EDITING)

Chapter 3- Sayuri

"You reminded me of myself."
I looked up at Kakashi in surprise. He was looking into the distance with a faint smile on his face. "Really?" I breathed.
He nodded. "I don't have a family anymore, just like you. My mother I never knew- she died before I was old enough to remember her properly- and my father ended his own life when I was nine."
His short recital shocked me and I wasn't sure what to say in reply. Kakashi turned and smiled at me serenely. "When I saw you lying in the woods, I obviously couldn't just leave you there- I doubt any sane man would have. Also, I was only a little older than you when I lost my family. Being a ninja usually entails tragic losses but, unlike me, most don't experience them until they leave the academy. There's few people who have experienced what we have." He smiled half-heartedly and looked back into the distance. I continued sitting next to him, enjoying the silence.

"Do you feel rested enough to carry the next few planks?" Kakashi finally asked. I jumped up, filled with new conviction. "Sure!" I cried.

--

The day went by quickly and soon the sun was sinking. Kakashi said he thought we'd be able to start building my hut the next day and I was relieved the toil of carrying heavy planks would soon come to an end. Kakashi walked me back to my tent and was about to leave when he halted in the tent entrance.
"Almost forgot," He said, turning back to me. "I have another small task for you."
My heart sank.
"Don't worry, it's nothing manual. I'd just like you to think about something. From experience, I've learned that training tends to be easier when you have a goal. The training I'm planning to put you through is going to be hard, so I'd like you to find some goal, or motivation, that will help keep you on track."

I was slightly confused, but nodded. A motivation? I wondered. And how strong do I want to get? I didn't know for how long I was thinking, but at some point, I fell asleep without even noticing it. When I woke up the next day, I had an answer.

***

Kakashi dropped down from a tree right behind me, making me jump. "You're up early," he commented.
"You're kind of late," I retorted, turning to give him a pouting look.
"Ah, yes. Sorry. I thought I'd let you sleep in today." He said with a smile. "I see you're washing your old clothes."He commented, looking down at the bucket I was working with.  He experimentally dipped his hand into the water and sighed, straightening with his hands on his hips. "Sayuri that water feels icy. I bet your hands are just as freezing by now. You're going to catch a cold again if you're not careful." I looked at him, perplexed, and he sighed again. "Ok, next lesson: How to make a fire."

It took us a while, but after I successfully made a fire on my own, Kakashi seemed satisfied with the progress I had made. After placing three tall rocks around the fireplace, we could balance the bucket over the fire without smothering it. While we waited for the water to heat up, Kakashi turned to me again. "So... Have you though about what I asked you yesterday?"
"Umm, well..." I felt slightly embarrassed now that I had to say it. "I want to become strong enough to keep up with you. I don't want to be left behind and I don't want to be a burden."
Kakashi seemed a little surprised by my answer, but then chuckled. I blushed furiously at his reaction. "What's wrong with that?!" I challenged.
"Nothing, Nothing," Kakashi said, composing himself. I glared at him contemptuously. "It's a very sweet goal."

"It is indeed," said an old voice behind me. I froze and saw Kakashi do the same. His eyes moved to whoever was standing behind me and I saw a flash of recognition.
"Lord Hokage?" He asked in disbelief, kneeling on the forest ground. I spun round to look at an old man in red robes and a white cloak. He had his hands held behind his back, and a red hat shaded most of his face from view. I could only see his goatee and the tanned skin of his chin and cheeks.