Running

"Now, the third test officially begins!"

At Iruka's command, the students who had enrolled this year lined up around the track and started running.

"Hey, just like when we were kids! Right, Neji?" A girl leaned against a window on the third floor of the school building.

Neji Hyuga didn't answer her. His gaze remained fixed on Hyuga Hinata in the crowd.

The girl seemed to notice where Neji was looking. "That's Hyuga Hinata, the princess of the Hyuga Main Family, right?"

"Yeah!"

"She's such a cute little girl! Oh, and that little boy beside her seems to be Kakashi Gu Qi!"

Neji Hyuga looked at Gu Qi beside Hinata. "So that's him? Konoha's brightest young talent."

"Yep! I love the explosives he's developed!"

"Nothing to see here. Let's go, Tenten."

After taking one more look at Hyuga Hinata, Neji turned and left without looking back.

Tenten shrugged and followed him.

"Tea-teacher, how much longer do we have to run?" On the field, many students were already seeing stars.

Iruka stood outside the field with his arms crossed. "Two more laps. Keep it up, everyone."

"What? Two more laps?" Choji stumbled and nearly fell.

The school track was huge, at least a thousand meters around.

They had already run two laps before this. Unless they were like Gu Qi, who had trained from a young age, most children couldn't run that far.

By the third lap, some students finally couldn't keep going.

Once there was one, there were bound to be more.

Before they'd even finished a quarter of the third lap, two-thirds of the runners had dropped out.

Among the remaining third, Gu Qi was surprised to see Choji and Shikamaru still there.

"Ugh, I can't do it anymore!"

Just as Gu Qi had started to think better of Shikamaru, the other boy pretended to trip and flopped onto the ground.

That guy... Gu Qi's face went dark. He'd clearly thought too highly of him.

By the fourth lap, only Gu Qi, Sasuke, and... Hinata remained.

Honestly, Gu Qi found Hinata's presence beside him hard to believe.

In his impression, Hinata wasn't particularly known for her stamina.

But then he remembered that she was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family. Maybe her family had trained her for this.

While Gu Qi was lost in thought, the three of them finally reached the finish line.

As soon as they did, Sasuke and Hinata collapsed onto the ground.

Gu Qi was the only one who stood there as if nothing had happened.

"Gu Qi, Uchiha Sasuke, and Hyuga Hinata have all received excellent scores," Iruka announced.

Then he continued, "Anyone who didn't make it to the third lap has failed!"

"What!" Naruto leaped to his feet.

"Why, Sensei? Why?"

Naruto was so worked up because he was one of the students who hadn't made it to the third lap.

"Yeah, Sensei, why?" the other students who had failed asked indignantly.

Iruka snapped his record book shut. "There's no 'why.' If a ninja doesn't even have the stamina to meet the most basic requirements, how can anyone trust them to complete missions?"

Before the other students could protest, Iruka announced, "All right, today's test results will be posted on the notice board tomorrow. You can all go home now."

"You're strong! I'll definitely beat you." Uchiha Sasuke suddenly stepped in front of Gu Qi, said this cryptic line, then left.

Gu Qi was left staring after Sasuke, who had walked away with an air of forced coolness, wearing a thoroughly baffled expression.

"G-Gu Qi is really amazing!" Hinata said shyly from beside him.

Gu Qi rubbed his nose. "You did great too, Hinata. I didn't expect you to last until the end."

"R-really?" Gu Qi's praise made Hinata blush even more.

"Yeah. You've really impressed me!"

"This is all... thanks to... Gu Qi..."

"Gu Qi, you're amazing! You made it to the end. You're way better than that cocky Sasuke!"

Naruto came rushing over from who knew where and slung an arm around Gu Qi's shoulder.

Thud!

Sakura Haruno punched Naruto on the head. "You failed, you idiot! How dare you call my Sasuke cocky!"

"Sakura's terrifying," Naruto said from the ground, tears streaming down his face.

Gu Qi glanced at the lively group and waved. "You should all head home. I have something to do, so I'll be going."

"Hey, Gu Qi, are you leaving? I have two Ichiraku Ramen coupons. I'll treat you to ramen!" Naruto, revived at full strength, stood in front of Gu Qi.

Seeing the hopeful look on Naruto's face, Gu Qi couldn't bring himself to refuse. "All right! Why don't we all go together? It's my treat."

"Really? Then I won't hold back!" Sakura said happily.

"Gu Qi's treating us to Ichiraku Ramen? Then I won't hold back either." Choji walked over, munching on chips.

"Gu Qi, you shouldn't have! Now you're going to have to spend money." Kiba came over with Akamaru, grinning from ear to ear.

"..." Gu Qi had no idea what to say as he watched the whole crowd of freeloaders coming his way.

"Uncle Teuchi, nine bowls of ramen." Gu Qi brought Naruto and the others to Ichiraku Ramen.

When Uncle Teuchi saw Gu Qi, he smiled. "Oh, Gu Qi! Treating your friends to ramen today?"

"Heh." Gu Qi's mouth twitched. He didn't want to say anything.

"Let's eat!"

Soon, everyone's ramen was served.

"Have you ever had Ichiraku Ramen before, Hinata?" Gu Qi asked the girl beside him.

Hinata shook her head and said softly, "This is my first time having Ichiraku Ramen."

"Then you've been missing out on a great delicacy! Ichiraku Ramen is the best food in the world," Naruto declared cheerfully.

Choji nodded seriously. "Naruto's right. Ichiraku Ramen is the best."

Hinata sneaked a glance at Gu Qi. "Gu Qi, do you like Ichiraku Ramen too?"

Gu Qi nodded. "That's right. I like barbecue too!"

"Barbecue? Are you going to treat us to barbecue, Gu Qi?" Choji had appeared behind him without a sound.

Gu Qi turned his head stiffly. One look at Choji's frightening gaze told him his wallet was in trouble again.

"Of course, for barbecue we have to go to Yakiniku Q! Gu Qi, you're the best!" Ino cheered happily.

"The last time we went to Yakiniku Q was on my birthday," Shikamaru said.

"So, so! When are you taking us, Gu Qi?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"..." Gu Qi now regretted bringing up barbecue more than anything.