Team 11 is Formed

"Huh? Ten thousand ryo? Why don't you just go rob someone!" After realizing what Zeyu meant, Mochizuki Megumi looked at him with utter disdain.

"Are you obsessed with money or something?" Megumi said.

"If you think it's expensive, we can negotiate. I'm a very reasonable person."

"Unless... you want to go back and repeat the grade?" Zeyu said, shaking the bells in his hand again.

"You!" Hearing this, Megumi was instantly incensed. She clenched her hands into tight fists, but felt completely helpless.

Shimizu Nana, who was standing to the side, was also speechless. She took her glasses out of her bag, put them on, and walked over to address the two of them.

"Zeyu, stop messing around. You've all passed; there's no need to repeat the grade. Megumi, go check on your brother."

Upon hearing this, Megumi turned to find her brother, Shota, shooting Zeyu a fierce glare before she left.

Tch, there goes my money, Zeyu thought.

Watching Megumi walk away, Nana turned to Zeyu, stepped closer, and said in a low voice, "You brat, why are you hiding your true strength?"

"With your ability, being top of the grade is more than enough. You might even have a shot at the Anbu."

Hearing Nana's words, Zeyu simply smiled and said, "Teacher, don't say that. I still have a long way to go."

Looking at the boy before her, Nana understood that he didn't want to reveal his reasons, so she decided not to press him. He likely had his own hidden struggles.

After a moment of thought, she added, "How about participating in the next Chunin Exams? I think you all are fully capable of entering."

This wasn't just a wild guess on Nana's part. The siblings had good synergy, and with a little more training, they could definitely hold their own against the top students in the grade—especially with someone like Zeyu in the mix.

Zeyu was slightly surprised; he had been planning to bring this up himself.

"That sounds great, Teacher Nana. I'll do my best," Zeyu said, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he looked at her.

Nana watched him, thinking to herself, This guy who plays the fool to catch the tiger—he's clearly so strong, yet so humble.

A long while later, Shota had recovered. He sat on the lawn with Zeyu and Megumi, while Nana stood opposite the three of them.

"The bell-snatching game is over, and you have all passed."

"I now declare..."

"Team 11, formed!"

Shimizu Nana's expression returned to normal, the sharp intensity in her eyes fading away.

"Everyone, let's work hard together from now on."

However, the three of them didn't seem very enthusiastic.

Zeyu looked at Nana with a blank expression. What is up with this woman? Where did that sharp, intense look go? Zeyu wondered.

This Zeyu is so much like the Zhao Yun Zilong my sister talked about—red hair, greedy for money. I have to ask him about it later, Megumi thought, turning her head to look at the empty field on the other side.

Ugh, I'm still too weak. I have to become stronger, Shota thought, head bowed in contemplation.

Seeing the three of them completely ignoring her, Nana's mouth twitched as she said, "Um, I think your current performance is more than enough to participate in the next Chunin Exams, so I've already signed you all up."

"If anyone has any objections, you can speak up now."

Hearing that there would be fights, Shota perked up. He clenched his fists and said, "Good! I'm going to train hard, get stronger, and become number one!"

Zeyu said, "I have no objections."

Megumi looked at the excited Shota and said helplessly, "I have no objections either."

Seeing that everyone agreed, Nana smiled with satisfaction.

After giving some casual instructions regarding tomorrow's meeting, she took her leave. Seeing that their teacher had departed, Zeyu decided it was time for him to head out as well. Just as he stood up to leave, Megumi called out to him.

"Hey, are you Zhao Yun Zilong?"

Zeyu had been planning to go check on how Hinata was doing and spend some time with her, so having his plans interrupted like this put him in a bad mood.

He said impatiently, "Miss Megumi, is there something else? If it's nothing important, I'm leaving."

"I'm asking you a question! Are you or aren't you?" Megumi stood up, hands on her hips, looking annoyed.

Zeyu looked at the aggressive brat in front of him, his mood souring even further. He glared at Megumi and said, "First, my name isn't 'Hey'."

"Second, show some respect. I really don't like your tone. I am not a servant in your house, and I won't take your orders."

"Third, I can answer your questions, but only on the condition that you at least explain what you're trying to do. What's the meaning of coming up and asking for an answer right off the bat?"

"Is this the attitude you take when asking someone for a favor?"

Zeyu spoke at length, startling Megumi. She usually saw Zeyu as a man of few words who was always polite, but now, he had torn her to shreds the moment he opened his mouth.

Her face flushed red instantly. She thought of a pile of retorts, but they stuck in her throat, and she couldn't get a single word out. She could only point her finger at Zeyu repeatedly, as if she wanted to point him to death.

Seeing his sister getting shut down, Shota, who was sitting in the middle, stood up immediately and shouted at Zeyu, "Zeyu, you've gone too far! You are not allowed to bully my sister!"

Hearing this, Zeyu chuckled and said, "You've misunderstood. I'm not bullying her; I'm teaching her how to interact with others politely. For instance, pointing your finger at someone like she's doing right now is very rude."

Upon hearing this, Megumi let out a cold snort, pulled her hand back, crossed her arms over her chest, and said, "Mind your own business. Do I need you to teach me how to act? You're just a commoner. Who do you think you are?"

Zeyu froze after hearing those words.

"Who do you think you are?"

He furrowed his brows and lowered his head in deep thought.

"That's right, who am I? Why do I care so much? Why am I wasting my time here with them?"

"They aren't even paying me."

"Wouldn't it be better to spend this time with Hinata? Wouldn't it be better to go train and become stronger?"

"Why am I bothering with these two ill-mannered brats?"

The other two watched Zeyu lower his head and fall silent, feeling a bit afraid.

Megumi already knew Zeyu was strong, and now, feeling that the atmosphere was off and sensing a bad premonition, she leaned closer to Shota in the middle.

Shota was confused by Megumi's sudden fear behind him, but the Zeyu standing before them truly gave off an intimidating vibe.

His brows furrowed, and cold sweat trickled down his face.

He instinctively spread his arms to shield Megumi behind him.

Just then, having figured it out, Zeyu chuckled and said, "That's right, I am just a commoner. Zhao Yun Zilong is me—it was just a name I blurted out at the time. Now you know, so don't come bothering me again."

After saying this, Zeyu used the Body Flicker Technique and left.

Only the siblings remained where they were.

Realizing that Zeyu had already left, the two felt a sense of relief. Their bodies relaxed, and they slumped onto the ground.

When Zeyu had been deep in thought just moments ago, it felt as if the air around them had frozen solid.

"So Zeyu really is Zhao Yun Zilong, and he feels even stronger than what Big Sister said. I couldn't even catch my breath just now," Shota said, clutching his chest.

"Yeah, it really is him," Megumi said, also touching her chest, feeling her heart racing. The tense atmosphere from moments ago had been suffocating.

"I really want to fight him and test just how strong he actually is," Shota said, stretching his arms, his face full of excitement.

"Don't be stupid, Brother. You're no match for him at all," Megumi said coldly.

"Zeyu was the one who defeated Nana-sensei just now, snatching both bells in one go. Besides, could you bring a five-meter giant bear to heel?" Megumi was merciless in her speech, even toward her own brother.

"Ah, well..." Shota was left speechless, able only to laugh and scratch his head in embarrassment.

Megumi looked up at the sky again, sighed, and said, "Brother, do you think we made him angry? Big Sister specifically told us to get along well with Zhao Yun Zilong."

"Am I really that annoying?"

"No, I don't think it's your fault, Megumi," Shota said, looking at her.

Megumi sighed again, but she didn't feel any lighter.

"I hope so."