Their eyes seemed to speak volumes as their faces drew closer and closer.
The two of them seemed oblivious to the noisy classroom. All they could hear was each other's hearts pounding.
Their hands tightened around each other's. They were just about to kiss when—
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Quiet!"
Umino Iruka walked in carrying a wooden board with the team assignments clipped to it. Standing at the podium, he rapped on it to quiet everyone down. The other students hurried back to their seats.
The strange atmosphere between Hinata and Zeyu was shattered. They froze with their heads suspended in midair, both blushing furiously as steam seemed to rise from their heads.
"Zeyu, Hinata, what are you two doing?" Iruka asked, looking at them still gazing at each other at the back of the classroom.
Everyone who had already taken their seats turned to look at them in unison.
The two quickly sat up straight, lowered their heads, and pulled their hands apart.
"N-nothing," Zeyu said, scratching his head.
"Mm... mm." Hinata tugged her collar up to cover her lips and spoke shyly.
"All right, I'm going to announce the team assignments now. Listen carefully, all of you." Iruka waved the wooden board in his hand. Seeing that nothing was going on, the students turned back around and listened attentively.
Damn it, Iruka! You ruined the moment! Don't think I won't beat you up just because you're Naruto's precious Iruka-sensei! Zeyu complained inwardly.
His brow furrowed, his mouth twitched, and he looked like he'd just eaten shit.
"Zeyu-kun, we were so close..." Hinata pursed her lips and tugged her collar up again, burying her entire face in her clothes.
She had no idea how to face Zeyu anymore. All she could do was hide herself away. If she couldn't see him, she wouldn't have to think so much.
Just then, Zeyu secretly leaned closer and whispered to Hinata, who was hiding in her clothes.
"Hinata, we can... do what we were about to do later."
At that, the steam above Hinata's head grew even thicker. She ducked her head even lower, then peeked up at Zeyu.
Zeyu had already turned to watch Iruka speaking at the front of the room. He propped his chin on his right hand, smiling.
Feeling Hinata looking at him, he held out his left hand, palm open and suspended in midair, his expression unchanged.
Hinata understood. She reached out and took Zeyu's hand herself. They exchanged a smile, then turned to watch Iruka at the podium.
"Next, I'll call out your names. You'll be assigned in teams of three. Every three students called in a row will make up a team. Once you're assigned, get to know your teammates, then wait in the classroom for your team leader to come get you. Understood?"
"Understood," everyone replied.
"Zeyu-kun, I hope we end up on the same team," Hinata said, turning to him. Her cheeks were rosy, and she didn't seem to have completely calmed down yet.
"Yeah, Hinata. I hope we end up on the same team too," Zeyu said with a grin.
But he knew Hinata would definitely be assigned to a team with Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame. There was no doubt about that.
It'll be so awful if we're not on the same team, Zeyu thought, frowning.
I'll probably get stuck with two random nobodies, just like in my previous life.
In his previous life, Zeyu hadn't studied in this classroom at all. When teams were assigned, he'd been put with two random characters. They were so weak that he hadn't even participated in the first Chunin Ninja Exams.
"Huh? There's exactly one more person in the classroom than there should be. What am I supposed to do?" Zeyu wondered, curiously surveying his classmates. He'd just realized there was a problem, so he counted everyone.
Iruka had already been calling names for quite a while.
"Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame..."
Hm? Here it comes, Zeyu thought, glancing at Hinata.
"Hinata Hyuga, you three will be on one team."
Hinata felt a little downcast when she heard the announcement. She hadn't been put on a team with Zeyu.
"I'm sorry, Zeyu-kun. We couldn't be on the same team," Hinata said quietly, turning to him.
Looking at Hinata, who was clearly upset, Zeyu patted her head and comforted her softly.
"It's okay, Hinata. We'll have plenty of chances to see each other. Do your best in your new team, okay? I'll always be by your side."
Hinata was delighted to hear that. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Zeyu and smiled.
"Mm, Zeyu-kun. I'll do my best." She clenched her little fists in front of her and gave a determined bob.
Zeyu was thrilled by the sight, smiling from ear to ear.
Hehe, Hinata's so cute. She's the best.
After a while, everyone had been assigned except Zeyu.
Looking thoroughly confused, Zeyu raised his hand and called to Iruka, who was getting ready to leave.
"Um, Iruka-sensei, what about me?"
Iruka stopped what he was doing and looked at Zeyu.
"Oh, Zeyu. There aren't enough people in this classroom, but don't worry. There are extras in other classrooms too. Your team leader will come find you later."
"Oh, all right." Zeyu lowered his hand and went back to sitting quietly, his chin propped up.
I guess my grades are mediocre, and I'm not from a clan, so they just assigned me wherever. Sigh, Zeyu thought.
After a long while, students began leaving the classroom in ones and twos.
Hinata also left after Kurenai Yuhi arrived.
Before leaving, she said goodbye to Zeyu.
Kiba and Shino were used to it. Everyone at the Academy knew the two of them were close, so they waited patiently behind her.
To their surprise, Zeyu called out to them.
"Kiba, Shino, and Kurenai-sensei, please look after Hinata for me. Thank you."
"Mm, leave it to me!" Kiba readily agreed when he saw Zeyu bowing before them.
"Mm, I understand. I'll do you this favor," Shino said, adjusting his glasses.
Hinata was deeply moved. She softly murmured,
"Zeyu-kun..."
Kurenai, standing beside her, wore an amused, knowing smile.
She teased Hinata by whispering in her ear,
"That boy Zeyu really likes you, doesn't he, Hinata?"
Hinata's face turned bright red at that, and steam rose from her head. The look she gave Zeyu grew even more affectionate.
Then Kurenai led the three of them away.
Who knew how long had passed? Only Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Zeyu were left in the classroom.
Naruto paced around restlessly while Sakura kept staring at Sasuke, who sat with his eyes closed in thought.
Sigh, Kakashi-sensei, just take me away too, Zeyu thought irritably, feeling like he'd been abandoned.
Just then, the classroom door swung open. A spiky-haired boy strode in, followed by a girl with twin ponytails. The two of them surveyed the classroom from the doorway.
Naruto looked confused at the pair who'd just walked in. He stepped forward to get a better look at them.
Before Naruto could ask anything, the boy spoke.
"Which one of you is Zhao Yun Zilong? We're looking for him so we can form a team!"
"Huh? Is there someone by that name here? Hey! What are you two doing?" Naruto asked, bewildered.
At the back of the room, Zeyu had been resting his chin on his hand and grumbling to himself. At the sound of that name, he jolted.
Huh? How did they find out about that name? And why did they come looking for me to team up? Zeyu wondered.
He was just as confused as he looked at the two newcomers. He didn't know them.
The boy introduced himself.
"My name's Mochizuki Shota, and this is my younger sister, Mochizuki Megumi. We got tired of waiting in our classroom, so we came looking for Zhao Yun Zilong, the person our older sister told us about. We want to team up with him."
Shota spoke.
"Big brother, you don't have to explain everything to them. They're just a bunch of nobodies."
"Hey, blondie! Is Zhao Yun Zilong here?"
Megumi lifted her chin and spoke disdainfully.
Naruto got angry as soon as he heard that.
"Who are you calling a nobody? If you've got the guts, fight me!"
He started to charge forward.
Shota stepped in front of Naruto and said,
"Fight me instead. Our team leader still hasn't shown up, and I'm bored out of my mind." He threw a couple of punches at the air, looking excited.
Naruto looked at Shota, unsure what to make of him. He thought,
Does this guy love fighting that much?
His mouth twitched, and he lost interest.
Sasuke only glanced over and thought,
Another idiot. How boring.
Sakura kept staring at Sasuke striking a pose, with no intention of getting involved.
Just then, Megumi, still standing at the doorway, noticed someone at the back of the classroom. She raised her hand and shouted at Zeyu,
"Hey, you! Come here!"
Zeyu furrowed his brow, waved his hand, and replied,
"What is it, Miss Megumi? Can't you just say it from there? I don't want to come over."
Megumi let out a laugh when she heard that.
"A nobody with an attitude. That's a first."
"Hey, do any of you even know where Zhao Yun Zilong is? I don't have time to waste on you."
Megumi looked at everyone again, her eyes full of contempt.
Just then, a commotion sounded outside the classroom.
Then a woman with a mushroom-shaped haircut and round glasses came rushing over in a fluster. She was filthy, with leaves stuck to her clothes and mud on her face.
Everyone in the classroom stared at her in confusion.