Sakura’s motivation for becoming a ninja had meant something once.

Sasuke was just the boy young girls wanted, as he embodied everything that mattered at the time: Potential, a handsome face, and some considerable skill to go along with his intelligence. Before all of it, before Sasuke had become her motivation on Team 7, Sakura’s wish was pure. To mean the difference between life and death was being a ninja, and in this world it was strength that helped you succeed. Kakashi had taken his chopsticks and lightly broken them apart once Teuchi and Ayame had returned the bowls to them. Muttering a thanks, Kakashi let Sakura’s understanding of things proceed. She was at a state of mind where she could recognize her faults. He’d probably have smiled at her ability to see what was wrong with her back then, were it not for her next question.

Kakashi paused as Sakura made the situation between Team 7 a topic of discussion once again, and met her eyes with his own. The situation with Sasuke and Naruto had been gone over in his head several times prior to taking Sasuke for training, and each time he recognized it as the best choice possible for reasons that could benefit both of them. The problem was that Sakura was excluded from this. Kakashi would accept blame for that, Sakura may even understand why he chose the option he did. He recognized her concerns, but believed she was wrong for claiming his answer didn’t matter. If an answer didn’t matter, there was no sense in asking it in the first place. Playing the role of the stoic student didn’t mean anything here, as there was quite clearly going to be something Sakura wanted to take away from his answer. A truth she never had the time to ask before, or perhaps not even the courage. After allowing her a moment to comment on the bond between Team 7’s members, Kakashi looked to his bowl and set his chopsticks down. 

[b]“I’ll explain because you asked, but listen closely: I did ask for someone to help teach Naruto a thing or two, although I don’t know if you’ve heard of him. His name is Ebisu, and like me he is a teacher of his own squad. The Third Hokage’s grandson, Konohamaru, is one of the members of that squad. While I took care of Sasuke’s training, Ebisu aided Naruto in the basics of chakra control, something he was sorely lacking in unlike you.”[/b] Kakashi returned his eye to her again, knowing he at least owed her eye contact while he said this.[b] “The term you must have been looking for is that my answer wouldn’t change anything, rather than matter. The truth is that you and Ino had tied, you had been dropped from the Chuunin Exams and that left Naruto and Sasuke to compete. Instructing one in the art of jutsu isn’t as simple as telling them how to climb trees. It would take hands on training, and I didn’t have time to give you a strong lesson on how to make it effective. I considered asking Kurenai Yuhi, but seeing as Shino Aburame made it into the finals I believed she would have already had her hands full. This left you the opportunity to work on what you saw fit for the entire month, and perhaps even encourage you and Ino to train together.”[/b]

Kakashi fell silent for just a moment, allowing Sakura to let this all make some sense to her. A ninja couldn’t always wait for an instructor, and taking initiative was a strong sign of dedication. From what Pakkun managed to tell him, Sakura had become determined to see the mission to race after Sasuke during the invasion, yet had not shown much in remarkable combat ability. Breaking a genjutsu was impressive, yet Sakura’s talents made that to be expected. Truth was, she did not do much herself for the month alone, even when she proved herself mature enough to take action.

[b]“I apologize if you believed it was wrong of me to not give you any attention regardless, but Sasuke needed training, training only I was fit to give him. From your point of view it might have been a little unfair, and in mine it was justified. I didn’t need my sensei to tell me to come up with a new technique, and I didn’t need my sensei to tell me when to train and how to do it. I had my sensei help guide me as I was instructed, but I never sat and waited to be told what I could do with my talents. Sakura, I want you to follow that example too. When the day comes that you’re in my position, and you treat your squad to lunch, I want you to let them know that it’s okay to train independently on their own time so you won’t need to have this conversation with your own students.”[/b]

That only left their bond.

[b]“I should have done more with you three, but Sasuke’s trauma, his drive to become powerful, it overwhelmed any chance he might have had in being with us. It was only during training that he was content with himself, but the stronger he began to see Naruto, the more he must have felt inadequate as a result.”[/b] It would all come back to Sakura’s misunderstanding of what Sasuke needed all this time, and he didn’t wish to say it, but Sakura was showing improvement emotionally.[b] “Sasuke didn’t need a lover, he needed a friend. He had that in Naruto, and it still wasn’t enough to overtake his rage. I’ve begun to wonder if I ever had a chance at reaching him and pulling him out of that darkness, but I remembered he had Naruto and you to help him, and I realize now that it wasn't up to me alone to save him as his teacher.”[/b]

Kakashi’s appetite waned, and his attention returned to the bowl in front of him. The aroma was delicious, yet the topic and what it was becoming had begun to take it away. Sakura needed to understand that seeking to become a lover before a friend was foolish and inconsiderate, yet she was beginning to understand on her own how silly her past actions might have been. 

[b]“When you look back at the days in the academy and you see Sasuke sitting a short distance away, were you wondering how his day was, or were you wondering if he’d notice how beautiful you are? The priority for understanding one another shouldn’t be the latter. I’m sure you understand that now, because your attitude is showing me a side to you I’ve wanted to see for a long time now.”[/b]

Kakashi glanced at her and nodded his head, hoping her response would be as inspirational as he hoped he might have been in these past couple minutes. To reach someone important to you, you had to understand them, or at least open yourself up to their feelings. From what Naruto told him after their battle, he was unable to do such a thing, and Sasuke was lost to them for now. 

[b]
“Let’s talk about this another day, okay? For now, dig in, we’ve still got some daylight to burn, and the hand seals won’t make themselves.”[/b]