It was midnight, and I was pretending to be sleeping. My mother and my aunt, Tsume, were arguing about my relationship with my dog. It has been three years since I got it, and I couldn't create a nice friendship like others in my family. I was a disgrace to the Inuzuka clan.

After a couple of minutes since the last scream, my room's door opened quietly, letting the light of the hallway illuminate my red eyes. My mother just looked by the gap, and said to my aunt, who was next to her.

"But she's only fifteen…"

"Fifteen years to throw away. Her relationship never developed! She needs to work!" Tsume said with her fierce voice. I opened my eye, but pretended. She noticed. "Get up, Kegawa! I knew it was a mistake when your mother first said it would be fine waiting for Shiromaru to have puppies! I knew you should have gotten yourself a mate when you were a kid!"

I immediately opened and got up like she said, while my mother gazed with jaded eyes. That phrases hurt her decision.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked containing my tears.

"Show some progress! We've taken you to every class we know to focus! Why can't you just solve it?"

"Maybe it's settled! Maybe we just can't get along! It's not my fault!"

Tsume violently pointed her claw to my chest.

"What are you saying, Kegawa?! Generations and generations of this clan, and YOU can't get along with your mate!? You need to focus only in Kikamaru now!" She threw away my notebooks where I used to draw, and then my books and cards.

"Stop, aunt!" I tried to stop her, but my mother held my arm. "She's destroying everything!"

"I know." My mother said. "It's for your own good, we have a decision."

I looked at her, starting to cry desperately. "What do you mean? I'm trying! I swear!"

"You can't even command Kikamaru..." Tsume said laughing.

"We had a conversation. We consulted your cousin, and he also thinks it would be good if you travel to become stronger."

"On my own?" I said wiping my tears. "And what does Kiba know about training dogs? He was lucky!"

"With Kikamaru, just like Kiba's friend is doing. Get out of the village, learn how to live by yourself, and come back strong and established with her."

I looked by the window, where Kikamaru should be. She never slept in my room. Instead, she used to go out at night with other animals in the woods. Always leaving me alone.

"Kikamaru will hate me forever! She's ungrateful and egocentric! I will never come back like th-"

I stopped speaking when Tsume slapped my face.

"How dare you say these things to our dog? She's worth more than you, while she has fangs and claws! We don't even deserve dogs! Know your place!" I rubbed my face to reduce the instant pain.

"You're leaving tomorrow" My mother said, giving me a bag of enough money for months, I suppose. "Only come back when you're stronger, getting along with Kikamaru and working together. You will never get another dog to substitute her, and if you fail, you're out of this family. The wolves will not be able to take you as an Inuzuka." She let my arm go, then headed to the door.

"Wait!" I shouted, paralyzed by the decision. "Where? Where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't know. Somewhere far enough."

I wasn't ready. I wasn't even believing this was happening to me. All because of my stupid egocentric dog. Kikamaru has never been nice to me, at all. I gave her food, shelter , cared when sick, and she still despises me. I don't even know where to find her.

I stood looking outside, figuring out what I was going to do in the next day.

"Kikamaru... what have you done?"

I didn't know what should I prepare. I took the backpack in rage and put in a dog bag, my notebooks and pills. Should be enough to make me sleep a little more comfortable, while I thought in a million plans to revenge myself from the Inuzukas. It wasn't my fault at all! I hated my life with Kikamaru, with my ravenous aunt and my naive mother. She believes so much in what her sister says, just because she's alpha. I know I didn't progress since I graduated, but this was too rabid.

I couldn't help myself from rolling my eyes.

But... seriously, I should find my dog.

I was so tired.

I breathed, inspired, 1, 2, 3, attack!

Stop!

Expired.

"Calm down, Kegawa, or your pelt will turn gray."

I turned around, frightened.

"What?" My cousin said making fun of me.

"Kiba, what are you doing in my window?

"I was just listening to my mom saying those things."

"Well, she said now you know how I should train Kikamaru..." I said looking at Akamaru, who was on Kiba's head.

"I will give some advices to you. First, stop thinking it's Kikamaru's fault. She will never want to be your friend if you put all the blame on her. Both of you need to trust." He gave me a chain long enough to guide a person without choking.

"Why did you give me this?" I asked looking at the collar in the end.

"Find out the trust." He laughed, and Akamaru barked.

"Can't Akamaru just speak with her? To trust me?"

"Why would she listen to anyone?" He said petting his dog.

Kiba was right.

Why would anyone trust me? I failed in everything possible. I don't even know how I graduated to become a Genin without Kikamaru. This was so messed up.

"The other advice... I was going to give you... Your mother said you should figure out somewhere far, right?" He smiled as he wanted me away for a long time.

"Yes, she said. I have no idea where."

"Think big, cousin, somewhere different. Not the woods outside the Leaf. But safe"

I thought for a moment, but nothing came. I expressed confusion when he rolled his red eyes.

"Sand, Kegawa. Go to the Sand Village!"

My heart stopped, or at least I felt something like it. I would never think about leaving the Village for such a long time. Well, he was so adventurous in comparison to me. It was just natural.

"Don't you think Sand is a bit... dangerous? I've heard that a beast boy is there."

He widened his eyes, and delayed to speak. I guess my comment was kind of… dumb.

"Oh, I can't believe! You are fifteen, Kegawa! Twelve I was fighting against The Sound! In Chounin's Tests! You can survive some weeks with Kikamaru!" He face-palmed. It wasn't my fault if I was so lost in everything. Maybe a little independence would be really nice. My anger for this situation was starting to reduce. "And, there's no beast boy. The guy you referred saved my life. And everyone who was by my side. He's our friend."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know…" I lowered my head, and Kiba entered in my room.

"Akamaru, put important things in her bag." He pointed to my bag, and in no time Akamaru started to take all dog stuff into it. I was so jealous how they get along. Kikamaru would have eaten everything.

"Well, have you decided? Are you going to find Kikamaru? Or hope she will appear in the morning?" In the middle of my cousin's phrase, I was already going back to bed to sleep. He just bit my cheek, and before he left, he said.

"Hope you'll be okay, we care for you." And Akamaru barked.