Months had gone by.

Ever since Kakko found me, I've been on guard for more of these ex-Stone ninjas. They haven't shown up since Kakko was taken care though.

I also haven't run into Mystery Man either. 

I knew they haven't given up, so maybe those guys are still trying to plan something.

I was currently at the store buying groceries.

"Oh, hey Hana!"

I turned around, seeing Naruto. He's grown since the last time I saw him. He wore green goggles and looked a little taller.

"Hi Naruto," I smiled

He's starting to trust me since I was one of the few adults who didn't treat him horribly. I also would stop by his apartment to check on him or drop off leftover food to him so he wasn't constantly eating ramen.

"I'm going to graduate from the academy!" He grinned with excitement.

"That's good, I'm glad you are," I replied.

Naruto walked around the store with me, talking about how he's closer to becoming Hokage and how he'd make a good Hokage.

He reminded me of myself when I was younger.

I paid for everything and Naruto had to go home so he could get ready for tomorrow.

Kakashi saw me and started walking with me to my house.

"Hey, Hana, how have you been?" He asks casually.

"Same as always," I shrug. "I ran into Naruto earlier and honestly, it gets hard trying not to tell him everything,"

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, I get that,"

"What have you been up to?" I asked him.

"Good, but I've been thinking lately..." He trails off.

I looked at him questioningly. He was beating around the bush. What did he have to tell me?"

"About?" 

"Well, you see," He continued. 

Now I could tell he was doing this to make me overreact. He usually thought it was funny if I did. 

"Stop beating around the bush!" I exclaimed.

He chuckled. "I'm going to be Naruto's sensei,"

I looked at him with shock.

"Really? I thought you didn't want to be anyone's sensei," I asked.

"Yeah, well, let's just say the Hokage has his ways," He shrugs. "I think he purposely placed Naruto on Team Seven too,"

I gave Kakashi a small smirk. "Another Uzumaki on Team Seven? Good luck with that,"

"Tell me about it," Kakashi replied. "If he's anything like you were, I think I'm going to need all the luck,"

I could see the outline of a small smirk on his mask.

"Do you think I could tag along on a few missions?" I asked.

"Yeah, if the Hokage gives you the okay. I don't think he'll have a problem with it," Kakashi replied. "I think it's a good thing so that way you can get closer to him,"

My expression changed.

"I just can't help but wonder if he'll hate me,"

"Why would he hate you?"

"He once asked me if I knew the Hokage because he saw a picture of me with Kushina and Minato. I told him it was my sister and said I didn't know him," I looked down. "When he does find out the truth, he may be mad at me for even lying about it,"

"I don't think so," Kakashi said. "If anything, I think he'd be happy to know he still has some family left,"

"But what if he blames me for their deaths?" I asked. "I was there when they died. I watched it happen and I think I could've helped prevent that if I got there quicker..."

"Look Hana," Kakashi said. "I understand why you feel that way, but you need to realize that night wasn't your fault. No one blames you for what happened and I'm sure if you tell him what happened, he'll even understand that it wasn't your fault,"

I didn't reply.

"It's the Nine-Tail's fault for what happened. The tailed beast is what killed them, not you,"

Kakashi had a point, but that still didn't ease how anxious I feel about that day when the time comes. 

"I'm going to get going. I have to meet them tomorrow morning," Kakashi said. "You can come too if you want,"

"I think I will," I replied.

"Alright then, see you then. We'll meet at the rooftop, just don't be late,"

~Time skip~

The next morning, I got up early so I could get ready to meet Naruto and his team. 

After I finished getting ready, I realized I had enough time to get some dango before going to meet them. 

So, that's what I did.

I walked in the dango shop and went to the counter to order since I wanted it to go.

"Will that be all?" The lady asks, ringing up my order.

"Yes,"

She gave me the total and I handed the money to her. "Your order will be ready in about ten minutes,"

I nodded and I turned around.

My heart stopped.

Anko.

I made eye contact with her and she had an unreadable expression on her face. It was almost as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't.

We stared at each other and then I looked away.

I wanted to tell her that I missed her and that I want my best friend back, but I've burned those bridges myself.

She walked closer and my heart started racing since she was walking in my direction.

I pretended not to notice, but then she went to the counter and started ordering. She took a seat at one of the tables and I didn't see her face after that.

Being at this place stings because the last time I was here with her, we were happily gossiping and trying to pair Kurenai up with Asuma.

The lady called my name and had a foam container in her hand.

I quickly took my order and walked out of the restaurant. I couldn't handle being in there.

I took a seat at the bench outside and started eating. Once I was done, I started walking to the academy and made it to the rooftop.

No one was here though.

Was I too late?

I decided to go check in the classrooms to see if they were still there and I noticed almost everyone was gone. I was about to turn around, but then I saw three genin still in one of the rooms. 

I peeked inside, seeing pink hair and blonde hair.

I realized that was Naruto.

I walked in and immediately, they all looked at me.

"No way!" Naruto exclaimed. "You're our sensei?!"

I observed them. There was a girl with cotton candy-colored hair, a boy with raven black hair, and then there was Naruto. 

The girl with pink hair looked over at Naruto with confusion. "You know her?"

"Yeah!" Naruto replied. "She's one of my friends!"

I shook my head. "Nope, sorry to disappoint. I'm not your sensei, but I was told to meet here,"

Naruto looked a bit disappointed. "Would've been a lot cooler if you were,"

I sat down on the desk, waiting on Kakashi.

What the hell was taking him so long?

Minutes passed by, but it felt like hours.

Naruto groaned loudly. "He's late!"

I was thinking about why Kakashi was late, but then my thoughts were interrupted when I heard Naruto and the girl shouting. I saw Naruto was putting an eraser on the door and she was scolding him.

"You're asking for trouble," She stated, with her hands on her hips. "You know you shouldn't do that,"

I noticed she was pretending to be against it. It was all over her face. She was hiding her excitement.

The raven-haired boy just scoffed. 

"Our teacher is a jounin, an elite ninja," He said. "You think he'd fall for that?"

"Yeah, Sasuke's right!" The girl agreed. "You're so clueless Naruto!"

I realized that was Sasuke Uchiha. Everyone in the village knew him because of Itachi and almost everyone knew he wanted revenge against Itachi.

I haven't seen Sasuke since he was a baby. I babysat him once when Aunt Kushina went out with Mikoto for a girl's night out.

The room immediately grew silent because we heard footsteps. If I said I wasn't interested in how this prank would turn out, I'd be lying.

Kakashi walked in and the eraser immediately fell on his head, leaving a small dust cloud behind.

I put my hands to my mouth, trying to hide the smirk.

He stood there without a word, probably thinking about what just happened.

Naruto burst out laughing and I snickered.

"I got him!" Naruto pointed. "He totally fell for it"

The girl did her best to look frantic. "I'm sorry Sensei! I told him not to do it. I'd never do anything like that!"

Kakashi bent over to pick up the eraser and held it in his hand.

"Hmm, how should I put this?" He starts while putting the eraser on the desk. "My first impression of you is...you're all a bunch of idiots,"

They all sulked.

"Well to be fair, Kakashi, you were late. You totally deserved it," I smirk.

He looked over at me. "Didn't I tell you to meet at the rooftop?"

"You were late," I shrug. "Otherwise, I would be up there,"

He gave me a small smirk that only I could see. 

"Sorry about that, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the safe way,"

I rolled my eyes.

He's using my own excuse I used to give against me. Clever.

Naruto sweat-dropped and Kakashi turned to look at them. "We're going to meet at the rooftop now,"

I followed him there and he leaned against the rail. I sat down on the rail next to him.

"Are you going to use some of Minato's teachings with them?" I ask.

"Yeah, just a few," He answered thoughtfully.

I was glad to hear that at least. I didn't want the same mistake we made happening to them.

The trio got here and sat across from us.

"Alright, why don't you introduce yourselves? One at a time." Kakashi said to them.

"Introduce ourselves? What are we supposed to say? The girl asks.

Kakashi put his hands out as a shrug. "Things you like, things you hate, dreams for the future, hobbies. Things like that." Then he crosses his arms again.

Naruto wanted me and Kakashi to start, so they could see how they were supposed to introduce themselves.

"I'm Hana," I said. "I like ramen and cats. I hate tofu and my hobbies are reading and I don't really have a dream. I guess it's just to better my skills so I can prepare for certain things,"

I had to leave my last name as a mystery to them so questions wouldn't be raised. I might have to change my last name temporarily.

Kakashi went next. "Well, I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like...things I hate...I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future? I never really thought about it. As for my hobbies, I have lots of hobbies,"

I shook my head at his so-called "introduction" and they all looked annoyed at his introduction.

"His hobbies are reading the makeout series," I muttered, with a smirk.

"You're the one to talk," He immediately said to me.

He looked back at the three. "Okay, you on the right. You first,"

Naruto fidgeted with his headband. "Believe it, I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like instant ramen in a cup and I really like the ramen Iruka-Sensei got me at Ichiraku, but I hate the three minutes you have to wait to pour the ramen in the cup,"

I was surprised at how similar the introduction was to mine when we did this.

"My hobby is eating different kinds of ramen and comparing them. Then, my future dream is to become the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody. Somebody important,"

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow and glanced at me. He looked back at them.

I think he realized how similar we were too.

"Alright, next," Kakashi said and looked at the girl with pink hair.

She blushed. "I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like..uh...I mean the person I like is..."

She looked over at Sasuke. 

"My hobbies are uh..."

She snuck another glance at him.

"And my dream for the future is..." She couldn't continue her sentence and just ended it with a fangirl squeal. 

Kakashi and I sweat dropped.

"And some things you hate?" Kakashi asked.

"Naruto!" She exclaims.

Naruto sulked and I gave her a look. Why would she hate him? He's the sweetest kid ever...

"Girls her age are more interested in boys than in ninja training..." Kakashi muttered.

"Last one," Kakashi said.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha," He started. "I hate a lot of things and I don't particularly like anything,"

Sakura's expression fell after he said that.

"What I have is not a dream, but I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan and destroy a certain someone,"

Naruto shuddered, Sakura had a fangirl look on her face, and Kakashi and I both had a knowing look.

"Good. You're each unique and you all have your own ideas. We'll have our first mission tomorrow," Kakashi said to them.

He told them they were going to do a survival exercise tomorrow and told them to skip breakfast and to be at the training ground at 5 a.m.

Then he dismissed them and it was just Kakashi and I.

"I guess I will need that luck then," Kakashi chuckled.

"When I look at him, it's like looking at a younger version of myself," I replied.

"All three of them remind me of...you know," Kakashi said, looking down. 

I nodded in agreement. Not only did Naruto remind me of myself, but he almost reminded me of Obito. 

"I'll see you around Kakashi."

I turned around to leave and I went home.