Chapter 10: The Choice: A Short Departure

I spent a couple weeks in the hospital. Everyone came a visited me. Telling me stories about there missions that I couldn't go on because I was hurt. Some even mission I wouldn't go on even if my life depended on it. Even Shino came to see me. Only as a friend though. All the time I didn't let not one glimpse of the idea that I needed to leave the village escape my own mind. It was absolute that I needed to go do training. Training, that I couldn't do here due to my ties with everyone here.

"Your leaving?" I stood in the office of Lady Tsunade and told her the news.

"Only for a little while. When I come back, I'll be stronger." I bowed my head a little.

"Well. Your always welcome here Rose." She got up and hugged me like we were related. I hugged her back.

"I'll be waiting for the day I do. I have to go tell everyone else." I bowed my head again and left. The first team I ran into was Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Chouji. When I told them, they all gave my a huge hug. Ino gave me some good bye roses that she was going to bring to her mom ,but thought I should have them more. Asuma gave me a thumbs up then patted me on the head.

"I guess I'm going to minus a shogi player." Shikamaru shook my hand. Chouji gave me some of his favorite chips.

"Well you can always come to my shop and buy roses. I'll be sure to be here when you do." Ino bowed her head slightly.

"Thanks Ino." I smiled at her.

"Feel free to eat the last chip in the bag if you want." Chouji pointed to the bag of chips he gave me. "I won't mind as long as you enjoy them."

"That means a lot Chouji coming from you." I smirked.

"Who's going the light my cigarette now?" Asuma sighed a heavy sigh.

"I could teach it to Shikamaru." We all laughed a little like everything was finally piecing together.

"I think I'll pass on the training." We all stared at each other for a moment. I hugged them.

"I'll miss you all." I walked away to find Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. Kakashi gave me the bell that I got from him the first day I trained with him. Naruto gave me some of his instant ramen that he was going to have for lunch. Sakura gave me this food pill she made. I'll try it later.

"Don't get to hurt out there. I wont be there to heal you." Sakura smiled a little then gave me a hug.

"I guess it's back to square one with me. Who am I going to teach now?" Kakashi's head dropped a little. Then he gave me a hug and we smiles at each other. At least I think he was smiling.

"I'll see you later, ok?" Naruto raised his fist. We did a knuckle bang and I ran off to find someone else. I found Shino, Kiba, and Kurenai. Shino gave me a warm hug.

"You sure you want to leave?" Shino held my arms loosely.

"I have to get stronger. I promise I'll come back." I gave him a smile and he nodded. I looked around for Hinata ,but she wasn't there.

"Well don't forget things you've already learned." She patted my head.

"I wont." I smiled and gave her a hug.

"Just remember to come back, ok?" Kiba gave me a friendly noogie. I waved goodbye and walked off to only find Lee, Tenten, and Gai sensei. Lee gave me these leg warmers with weights. While, Gai sensei gave me one of his bear hugs and his tights. I would probably never wear them ,but what the heck.

"Where's Neji?" I looked around.

"He's at the compound." Tenten came and smiled at me.

"Oh." I frowned a little then gave a wide smile.

"Don't forget to sharpen these." She gave me a scroll. A weapon scroll no doubt.

"I won't. What kind of weapons master do you think I'd be if I didn't?" We both laughed and gave each other a girly hug.

"R.O.S.E! Rose!" Lee and Gai were doing a odd interpretation of a cheer leader.

"Thanks you two. I'll miss your craziness." I hugged them both.

"Let your training burn your gut up with Youth Rose!" Lee and Gai raised up there fists and I smiled. I went to the Hyuga compound hoping to find Hinata and Neji. I found Hinata at the front door.

"R-rose. I heard you were leaving." Hinata walked up to me and held out a bag. "T-this is for you."

"Huh?" I looked into the bag. It was a new pair of clothes. The ones I wore where torn up by the blades and kunai. I was wearing a robe now. "Thanks Hinata." We both went into her room and I changed into it. It was a perfect fit for me. It was a black vest with a blue long sleeve shirt under it. The pants wrapped perfectly around my sandals.

"I-I'm glad you like it." She bowed again and I took her into the warmest hug I have ever given anyone.

"I think your one of the people I will miss the most." I smiled and she smiled back.

"I'll miss you too Rose. I promise I-I'll get strong too!" Hinata had a spark of determination in her eyes.

"I know you will. You father might not see it. But you are getting a lot stronger." I hugged her for the heck of it then I walked out of the room and bumped into Neji. He was standing there staring at me. He was probably listening to the whole conversation Hinata and I were having.

"Your leaving?" He mumbled under his breath.

"Yes. For a little bit." I lowered my head. It feels hard to talk to him. To tell him I'm leaving."

"You turned in your headband?" He stared at me for a few seconds. My head was covered in bandages instead of my own headband.

"There's not much use for it. I mean, I'll be back. Then I'll take my headband back." I looked away from him.

"I see. Then you are going to be gone a long time. Like Naruto." He drifted his head to the side.

"Maybe. I'll probably get back when he does. If not after." I lowered my head even more. I felt so stupid.

"Can I walk you to the gate?" Neji didn't look at me.

"I'd like that." We started to walk down the road and passed all the crowds of people. Neji looked back at me for a second before we reached the gate.

"Well. This is where I leave and you stay." Shino ran toward the gate. Maybe to catch a glimpse of my leaving. Hinata was with him.

"Wait. I have a gift for you too." He took off his headband and handed it to me. "Here."

"Your headband?" I took it and stared at it.

"This way. I know you'll come back to return it to me." He smiled a loveable smile. I felt my heart finally sink. I wanted to cry .but I didn't.

"I'll. Miss you all." I felt tears start to form ,but I blinked them back.

"We will to Rose." Shino nodded and Hinata smiled next to him. "Just take care while your gone. Make sure that you get back."

"P-please don't do anything to dangerous. W-we know your reckless Rose."

"I promise. I'll come back." I started to walk away when I heard more foot steps come toward the gate. I turned to see everyone standing there to watch me leave.

"We all don't want to miss Rose Wolf before she leaves us." Neji smiled a little at me. A warm smile that melted my heart into mush and my brain burned up in bliss.

"Right." I felt tears run down my one cheek.

"See you later Rose." Everyone said to me, not exactly at the same time. I turned again to leave and I ran. I felt so free for the first time. I felt so wonderful to have people think about me and to think about other people. I turned one last time before leaving and raised my hand to the Hokage Stone Faces.

"I promise I'll come back stronger then ever." I started to run again and as I approached a cliff and sped up even faster. "I'm no longer Rose "the lone" Wolf." I jumped off the cliff willingly. "I'M ROSE THE WOLF OF KONOHA!"