The next morning, everyone woke up, washed up, ate a little breakfast, and started packing to head home.
Megumi found Hinata making her bed and joined her.
"Hinata, you two didn't... do that last night, did you?" Megumi asked with a playful grin, covering her mouth.
They had only brought three tents for the camping trip. Kiba and Shino were supposed to share one, Shota and Zeyu another, and Megumi and Hinata the last.
But Zeyu had called Hinata over last night, so Shota had to squeeze in with Kiba and Shino instead.
"No, Megumi. We just slept, nothing else," Hinata said, a little embarrassed.
Megumi perked up at that and leaned closer to tease her.
"Oh? Sounds like Hinata's a little disappointed."
"Stop teasing me, Megumi." Hinata shook Megumi's hand, embarrassed.
"Hinata, are you done? We need to take down the tent!" Zeyu called from outside. As he spoke, he started poking his head in.
"Hehe, Hinata, I'm coming in." The moment he entered, he saw Megumi staring at him with a look of disgust. Beside her, Hinata had her head bowed, blushing as she covered her face.
"Uh, Megumi, what are you doing here? What a coincidence. Hahaha." Zeyu looked so awkward that he could've dug himself a whole three-room apartment with his toes.
"Tch, all you ever do is bully Hinata. Get out!" Megumi said angrily, hands on her hips.
Hinata tugged at Megumi's sleeve and said softly, "Megumi, Zeyu-kun isn't bullying me." Then she looked at Zeyu, her eyes full of tenderness.
Megumi watched the two of them gaze at each other, their eyes practically trailing strands of affection. She laughed helplessly and said, "Fine, I'm done with you two. Do whatever you want." She waved a hand and left.
"Thanks for sticking up for me, Hinata." Zeyu edged closer.
"You don't have to thank me, Zeyu-kun." Hinata pressed her lips together and spoke shyly.
They gazed at each other, drawing closer and closer.
After a brief moment of the two of them acting like seals fighting over a grape, they smiled at each other and hurried to finish packing. By the time they were done, the others had been waiting outside for ages.
Then, under the morning sun, all six of them headed back to Konoha together.
After saying goodbye at the Konoha Gate, they each went home. As usual, Zeyu walked Hinata back.
Zeyu was walking down the road holding Hinata's hand when a little girl came running toward them. Before she even reached them, she began shouting, "You red-haired freak, let go of my sister!" Then she struck at Zeyu with her palm.
It was Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi Hyuga.
Seeing this, Zeyu scooped Hinata into his arms and leaped onto a nearby rooftop.
He dodged the strike.
Though Zeyu knew she was Hinata's sister, he still asked, "Hinata, is that your sister?"
Once Hinata realized who it was, she turned to Zeyu and said, "Yes, that's my younger sister, Hanabi Hyuga. I'm sorry for the trouble, Zeyu-kun."
By then, Hanabi was already cursing from below.
"You dead redhead! You stinking redhead! Let go of my sister right now! Get down here! I'll beat you flat!"
Zeyu looked helplessly at the little brat shouting below, then turned to comfort Hinata. "It's fine, Hinata. Besides, she's my little sister-in-law."
Hinata's cheeks flushed, and her heart raced. She murmured, "It's too soon for that, Zeyu-kun. Put me down first."
Looking at the blushing girl in his arms, Zeyu felt a sweet, tingling happiness. He lowered his head, kissed her ear, and whispered, "Yes, yes, my darling wife."
Hinata blushed even more. She put her hands to her chest and clutched Zeyu's collar.
Then Zeyu carried Hinata back down, turned his back to Hanabi, and gently set her down.
Seeing this, Hanabi attacked Zeyu with another palm strike, shouting, "You stinking redhead! Where did you take my sister last night?"
Zeyu turned around and put a hand on Hanabi's head.
Her palm strike stopped in midair, unable to reach him. Then Zeyu said, "Calm down, Hanabi-chan. We only went camping last night."
Hanabi didn't listen at all. She knocked Zeyu's hand away and attacked him with the Gentle Fist.
Hinata, watching nearby, grew a little anxious and explained, "Hanabi, it's true. Don't make things difficult for Zeyu-kun."
"I don't believe you! That stinking redhead must have tricked my sister. I'm going to beat him flat!"
As she spoke, her attacks grew even fiercer.
Zeyu didn't take it seriously at all. He kept dodging, grinning as he teased her. "Hanabi-chan, you're so enthusiastic. Your big brother-in-law's delighted!"
Hanabi grew even angrier at that and kept chasing Zeyu, attacking him.
While the two of them were tangled up in the fight, another young woman came running over. It was Natsu Hyuga. Seeing the two of them fighting, she went over to Hanabi and said, "Miss Hanabi, please stop. This is very rude."
Hanabi ignored her and kept chasing Zeyu. "I don't care! I'm beating that stinking redhead today!"
Natsu sighed helplessly, then went over to Hinata and bowed slightly. "Welcome back, Miss Hinata. I'm sorry I couldn't keep an eye on Miss Hanabi and that she caused trouble for your friend."
Hinata shook her head. "It's fine, Natsu. Oh, by the way, did Father say anything last night?"
Hinata hadn't directly told Hiashi she would be camping overnight. On the one hand, Hiashi was busy, and she was afraid of disturbing him. On the other, she was nervous about talking to him herself, so this time she had asked Natsu to pass the message on to Hiashi.
"After the clan head found out, he didn't say anything. He only asked whether I'd prepared everything you needed," Natsu said.
"Really? Then it should be fine." Hinata breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled as she watched Zeyu dodge around.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out.
"Hanabi, stop that! What kind of behavior is this?" Hyuga Hiashi walked over with his hands behind his back and addressed Hanabi, who was still attacking Zeyu.
Hearing her father's voice, Hanabi glared fiercely at Zeyu, then stopped and stood still.
Hiashi walked over to Hinata. Natsu stepped aside, and Hiashi came to stand in front of Hinata.
"You're back, Hinata. Did you have a good time?"
Though Hiashi spoke to Hinata normally, wearing his usual faint smile, she still felt inexplicably pressured and answered timidly, "I-I had a good time, Father."
"That's good. Go back with Natsu and Hanabi for now," Hiashi said.
"Yes, Father," Hinata replied.
Hiashi turned and told Natsu to take the two girls home.
Natsu crouched beside Hanabi, pulled out a towel she had brought with her, and wiped the sweat from her face. Then she took Hanabi's hand and led her and Hinata away.
As she left, Hinata glanced back at Zeyu. He smiled at her. Hanabi glared fiercely at Zeyu, then snorted, made a face, and held Hinata's hand.
Zeyu was completely speechless.
Watching the three of them leave, Hiashi went over to Zeyu.
When Zeyu saw Hiashi coming, he greeted him with a grin. "Hello, Uncle."
Hiashi looked at him coldly and asked, "You went with Hinata yesterday, didn't you? I'm warning you, don't do anything inappropriate with my daughter, or there'll be serious consequences."
Zeyu smiled and replied, "Of course, Uncle. Hinata means a lot to me, and I'll protect her. We're both still young, so naturally we won't do anything inappropriate."
Hiashi flew into a rage at once. He immediately understood what Zeyu meant and demanded, "What do you mean? Are you two already dating?"
Hearing Hiashi ask that, Zeyu thought to himself, No wonder he's such an overprotective old man. He's sharp.
Then he straightened up, met Hiashi's gaze, and said firmly, "Yes, Uncle. I'll take Hinata seriously, protect her, and treat her well for the rest of my life."
Looking at the earnest young man before him, Hiashi was so furious he could barely keep his Byakugan from activating. Someone had just swept away his precious daughter.
He forced a smile, the veins on his forehead bulging and the corner of his mouth twitching. Gritting his teeth, he said, "You little punk, just you wait."
Then he angrily swept his sleeve and turned to leave.
After walking a couple of steps, he turned back and glared at Zeyu. "You're taking the Chunin Ninja Exams this time, right?"
Zeyu smiled and replied, "Yes, Uncle. I'll take good care of Hinata."
Hiashi snorted. "You'd better show me everything you've got. Don't lose too badly. If you're a talentless good-for-nothing, you'd better have the sense to leave my daughter. Otherwise—I'll cripple you!"
As Hiashi spoke, the veins around his eyes bulged. His Byakugan flashed on for a moment, then he closed his eyes and deactivated it. He turned around and walked away without looking back.
Zeyu was left standing there. He sighed deeply, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and muttered, "Phew, that old man's pretty scary."