Chapter 77 : Life before departure II (Final )

"So when will you go ?" My father asked in the kitchen while cooking something for my mother and I.

"My preparations are complete, maybe tomorrow I will do so after spending some time with Tsunade and telling my friends of my departure!" I replied while giving a sad look at my mom who was playing with her fingers in a daze.

My mom has changed a lot. It's like her memories and who she is are slowly getting taken away. The times they used to laugh and talk become harder, and he really misses the way she used to be. She was the heart of their home, but now she's not quite the same. Every time she forgets something they did together, it feels like a piece of his heart are being taken away with it. He loves her dearly and now her appearance changing rapidly due to her condition didn't help but worry him more.

My dad is hurt even more than me and has become quieter than his usual annoying self. The house has become a little gloomy unlike before, dad even refuses to get a caretaker or a maid for my mom and has become her nanny himself since then.

I help him out whenever I can but even though not official, I have moved out and live with Tsunade in our own house which made me have less time to spend with them, especially this last two weeks that me and Tsunade are trying hard to make a baby as I will be away soon and won't come back for a long time and Tsunade can't wait anymore to have a child.

Tsunade said that my mom needs careful care and her condition doesn't have a cure yet but she is already working on it and maybe soon she will come up with a cure.

"Sighhh, son, we talked about this more than enough but are you sure you wanna see outside ? It's not really that nice of a place you think of" My dad asked and said in a tired voice while he prepared the food, put them on plates and put them in front of me and my mom who only smiled at the sight of the food.

"I have been preparing for this moment for a long time, so I can't just back away now, can I ?" I said with a slight smile and start to eat the rice and grilled fish with chopsticks after saying 'Itadakimasu.'

"Well, you are not that snotty reckless brat anymore and became a man of your own decisions with soon to be a father, so I won't press on what you do or not as it's not my place to decide things for you anymore and reprimand you" He said with a gentle smile which I reciprocated.

"Thanks dad" I muttered softly but he heard it and it made him smile just a bit tad more before it vanished as he started to feed my mom who was waiting for him to do so like a child.

"Have you stored everything in our clan library as I told you?" He asked.

"Yes I did and I plan to read all of the information in those scrolls along my journey" I replied to which he nodded.

"Memorize every single thing in those scrolls as it will help you out if you ever get in a fight with a ninja to recognize and get familiar with how different villages and ninjas do their job in different ways so you could counter them afterwards with something effective according to the techniques they use on you and won't get surprised amidst battle" He said with his eyes narrowed and I nod in understanding.

After that we became silent for some time while we ate until my mom suddenly spoke...

"Is someone leaving ?" She asked my dad.

"Ahh yes Ayaka-chan, our son Garou will go to somewhere far for sometime and come back later!" My dad replied with a big smile.

"Our son ? I have a son ?" She suddenly asked in confusion and surprise while looking at me.

After what she said, my dad's smile immediately faded and didn't know what to say for a moment.

The world instantly slowed in my eyes while I stopped eating all together and just looked down at my own clenched fists in sadness and disappointment.

I lost the ability to shed tears long ago but my heart was trembling uncontrollably right now, immense depression and sadness is taking a hold of me. years of being together and suddenly your mom saying she doesn't remember you hits the depths of my heart and is just a different kind of torture that even my brutal training regime can't compare to it.

My hands were shaking nervously and blood was already coming out of it as my nails dug into my palms because of how strong I was clenching my hands.

I was sitting before her, but her eyes betrayed no hint of recognition. It was the first time I felt like a ghost in this house. This sudden feeling of heart break and grief was too much on my already sensitive feelings.

{ Ding...Human %6 / Monster %94 ----->  Human % 5 / Monster %95 }

"Everything is already prepared, so I guess this is good bye until we meet again dad...mom" I said with shadows hiding my face as I slowly stood up and went to the door to leave.

"We will miss you son, come back safe and be careful... please!" My dad said and I stopped for a moment before finally leaving my parent's house.

I was greeted by the picture of Rover sitting in front of the door waiting for me obediently, his eyes six eyes shined brightly for a moment as he saw me and immediately came forward so that I could pat him which I did with an unreadable expression on my face.

"I need to take you somewhere Rover, let's go" I said in a monotonous way and went towards where the Inuzuka clan compound is.

------

Scene change /

After ignoring the freaked out reactions of the people when they saw Rover for the first time which made them even forget to belittle and criticize me for moments, I am now in front of the Inuzuka clan head who is looking at Rover with starry eyes.

"His name is Rover and I want you train him in everything you know of until I come back and don't show mercy, understood ?" I said to the nodding clan head indifferently and I got ready to leave Rover here for training.

The said dog was looking at me with teary and betrayed eyes while being surrounded by many female dogs that were attracted to his strong presence which means he is the Alpha of his kind.

I ignored Rover, him being here will benefit him more than travelling with me as all this years was me just beating the hell out him with every technique I knew of so he could become tougher which made him really strong and now is nearing peak chunin prowess and now has a skin that can't be cut with iron easily.

But I am not an expert in taking care of 'battle dogs' and they must have their own special kind of training, and who better to teach Rover than the the Inuzuka ?

"How did you find an Alpha dog Fenrir-sama ?!" Kai asked me excitedly but I wasn't in the mood to answer and just turned around and left without saying anything.

Thankfully Kai must have sensed my anger and frustration and didn't bother me, so she made sure I got out of the compound without anyone bothering me.

-------

Scene change /

"So stingy!"

"I heard he didn't even respect the elders suggestion to help Konoha through some little money!"

"So rich but so poor inside"

"So who cares if he's a powerful figure of Konoha now, if he doesn't help us then what's the point ?"

"I agree!"

"Even those earthquakes and great panick happened that day was because of him!"

"I always thought he is not a good guy!"

"Maybe they are right and he is a demon, just look at his appearance!"

"I swear I saw a demon dog also following him some hours ago!"

"I am telling you man, he is bad luck!"

This is just a small amount of criticism and belittling going on whenever I passed by somewhere that made me almost get suspicious that someone leaked what happened in the Hokage tower...almost.

Pfft, as if it isn't Danzo doing his usual shit.

That man has long been on my Nuke list, he is far too dangerous to be left alive.

And this people here talking shit on me only makes me hate the sheepy people of this village more than it already is.

I just hope a day won't come I go on a senseless slaughter!

"Seems someone told this people of what you did in the meeting" Yuji replied in a tired voice while walking by my side with our homes as destination.

"Should I care ?" I asked rhetorically.

"Do so If you have the energy to spare" He replied in a lazy tone and we became quite for sometime until before we separated and went our own ways I turned him and spoke.

"I will be away from Konoha for some years" I said and he turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow.

"..."

"Not surprised ?" I asked.

"Well, I will be lying if I said I am not but I already anticipated that a day like this will be coming, so yeah not unexpected" He replied which made me raise an eyebrow in surprise this time.

" 'Yawn' Don't look at me like that, don't you remember all those days when me, Ken and Satoshi came back from missions outside the village you always made a jealous and dissatisfied expression ?" He said and I already knew how he concluded one day I will try to go outside.

"Well what can I say, I always had it in me to explore and see what this world has to offer I guess" I said with a shrug.

"Sighh you are a real drag you know ? Having a beautiful wife and place to live and have enough money to live in luxury for the rest of your life is not enough for you, instead of sleeping and enjoy your time indulging in laziness, you just have to fuck yourself by wanting to 'explore' outside... I am really jealous!" He made an annoyed face and said in frustration which made me smirk.

"You sound like an old man in his 80s" I said and reach my hand towards him for a handshake.

"The more reason to listen to me. There are not many men who live past by their 50s in this world you know" He said with a smile and took my large hand that made his hand look like a child's one which made him stare blankly at the difference of size.

"I will remember your words of wisdom. Tell the other two about my departure and also take this" I said and gave him a black card which had the Hatake symbol on it.

He grabbed the card and asked in confusion "What's is this ?"

"Just some VIP offer for my restaurants. It's buy one get one free. it will last for a year period" I said to which he nodded and slightly bowed his head in appreciation.

"Thanks man, I am sure Satoshi and Ken will love this. Trying to compensate for not saying your goodbyes to them directly ?" He asked.

"Yea. By the way, I hope you train your ass off because when I come back, I won't stop until I hand your ass to you, you hear ?" I said with a sudden wide grin which made shivers go down his spine.

"Why in the hell the sudden interest to fight me now ?! I thought I was under the radar of your bullshit thirst to fights! Just leave me alone man and don't waste my time!" He said as he slowly backed away with sweat running down his face.

"I was having this thoughts lately and realized that I have never exchanged fists with you guys, and wasting your time ? All you do is looking at the sky 24/7, so some little fight won't waste your precious time and energy" I said.

"That's not true! I have been training and trying to create some of the Jutsus you told me about in Teuchi's shop" He said as he backed away more.

"Ohhh interesting! Well, all the more reason to have fight I guess" I said in surprise and shrugged which made him annoyed and scared more before he gritted his teeth and looked at me coldly and resolutely.

"You are fucking a DRAG Garou, I am sure you won't stop annoying me when you come back, but you know ? I can't let having someone fuck with my precious peaceful time, so get your ass ready as I won't be merciful" He said in a sudden seriousness and confidence which made me grin more at.

"That's the spirit buddy! I like you more now, always keep that brutality in you!" I said and we just looked at each other's eyes for some seconds before we smiled and...

"I guess this is it, huh ?"

"Yeah"

"Come back safe then"

"Thanks. See ya"

________

One day later /

It was dark in the night in the forest of death that was filled with the sound of insects and sometimes growls of ferocious animals that hunted their prey.

On one of the thick branches of a tree...

"D-do you really have to go ?" Tsunade asked in my embrace with some tears coming down her face that made me get angry at myself for making her cry.

"You may not understand but this is important for me Tsunade, my strength has stagnated for sometime now and I can't ignore this when I know soon there will be a huge war" I tried to explain as I hugged her tightly and supported her so that her head could reach mine.

"B-but you aren't a ninja and don't need to participate in wars" She tried to reason as she hugged me tighter.

"And then let you go to war to fight bloodthirsty maniacs ? Who knows what will happen, and don't you know me ? you think I will let you fight all by yourself while I sit on my ass chilling on bed ?" I asked rhetorically.

"..."

"You have seen outside and should know how fucked up this world is and I don't want to become a burden you. It's shameful and dishonorable of me to stay weak and let my freaking woman to look after my sorry ass when it's my job be a real man and take care of you" I added while rubbing her back and occasionally give her some kisses.

She didn't say anything after until she moved away slightly and slowly, her hands reached her neck to reveal her crystal gem necklace she cared so much about.

While still between my arms, she removed her necklace and slowly put it on me.

"This is a necklace my grandpa Hashirama left behind for me, it's said to ward off bad luck and protect you" She said with a small smile while I just looked at the crystal necklace with a frown.

'Isn't this the cursed necklace ?' I thought for a moment before shaking my head and smile back at Tsunade and kiss her forhead gently.

"Thanks" I said.

"Be careful okay ? Often look at the map and Just travel around the legal roads built by the fire nation, ok ?" She said with worry and I just patted her head gently.

"Don't worry, I will" I said and slowly separate from her which made her eyes well up with tears.

I slowly turn around to leave but slightly look back to see her beautiful lovely face for the last time and give her my usual wide grin...

"If it's a boy, name him Mugen, which means someone with strong will and won't give up in the face of ordeals no matter what!... and if it's a girl-" I paused and look turn to the front again as I crouched down ready to Soru away from here.

"Name her, Revy, which means fierce and rebellious" I said and without waiting anymore I vanished from that place and appeared 200 away from Tsunade and vanished from there again.

This continued until I slowly approached the borders of Konoha and not long after, I passed it and left towards the unknown.

Leaving a worried Tsunade who had a hand on her stomach, caressing it.

The End.