Chapter 25: Goodbyes

"Hokage-sama, do you thinkg we should stop him?"- Kakashi asked as he and the old shinobi watched Hono leaving the village. The Sarutobi clan's leader lowered his head and tried not to laugh at the idea. He knew Hono since he was a child.

"We could try, but we would almost certainly fail. The best course of action for the village is to let him go."- even though Kakashi didn't want to admit it, he knew the Hokage was right.- "I heard Sasuke has escaped again."

"Yes. Apparently, Sakura let him out. Said something about loving someone enough to let them go. I bet that boy is going straight to Orochimaru."- Sasuke's plans were made public when Hono brought him back, but it didn't make stopping him easier. Orochimaru's location was a mistery as he switched hideouts every week.

"That was his decision, I believe he will regret it later. Until now, all have."- and their conversation ended there as the metal gates opened.

Hono was travelling light as the only thing he carried was a black backpack. The Sunagakure siblings had left the village hours ago, all of them wearing white jackets with a white sun dripping blood on the back.

Shino's family was by the gates, saying goodbye to their son. Hono couldn't say it was a really touchy farewell until Shino's mother shed some tears and kissed her son on the forehead. Shino's father handed his son a scroll before hugging him. The Inuzuka family was also there, for reasons that were unknown to Hono. Tsume approached Hono, she was carrying something, but it was so little that it fit inside of both of her hands. Kiba was smiling. She approached Hono.

"Uh...hi?"- Hono was confused, but yet again, women always confused him. Tsume simply smiled and placed whatever she had on Hono's head. Hono immediately felt something shaking and took his hands up, feeling some weight as whatever it was jumped onto them. As he lowered his arms, he could see a beautiful baby red fox. It was really furry and was scared, but felt confortable on the jinchuuriki's hands.- "Uh..."

"We thought you could use an animal. Something that could make you actually feel love. Besides, we still had to pay you back for making our gauntlets and having the scroll to save my son. That fox is the daughter of the Kyuubi. We've had it for 10 years and it did not age. We guess it doesn't age unless it's close to the nine tails. Her name is Eris. We named her after the Godess of Strife because she has the ability to drain chakra from someone it's biting. Don't underestimate her as she can become a very good weapon."- Tsume had a smile on her face. Hono was phazed for a bit as he didn't know what to say. Eris seemed really cute and was asleep already. He pulled a hood from his vest and lifted it up, covering his head before putting the fox inside it as well.

"Thanks, I don't really know what to say."- the jinchuuriki confessed. Tsume laughed out loud as if he had told her the best joke in existence.

"You look just like Kiba when he got Akamaru. You don't need to say anything, just watch your back out there."- she rose her fist and they fistbumped as if they were colleagues or friends. Hono liked that in Tsume, she wasn't formal or fancy. She considered him as her equal, and according to the villagers, that wasn't easy to achieve. Tsume then walked off with the Inuzuka and their pack of dogs. Eris rubbed her cold nose against Hono's neck, making him chuckle. He always wanted a pet, but never really had the chance to have one.

"Hyuuga Hono?"- a voice asked. A tall man with dark spiky hair and the same leg and forearm warmers that Zabuza had, wearing a chuunin vest and ninja pants approached him, crossing the village gates.

"Yes?"- the jinchuuriki answered, looking at the man. The man grinned and extended his arm, ready to shake Hono's hand. Hono complied, not sure of who the man was.

"I'm from Kirigakure and will be your guide. I will escort you and your friend to the village. Not that someone like the Red Demon needs an escort, but more like a guide."- the man's smile was honest and so Hono nodded.

"Ok, guide us."