Gaara Again

"Hey, Hinata, give me a kiss," Zeyu said to Hinata, who was in his arms.

"Eh? Here? Everyone is watching," Hinata said, nervously peeking over Zeyu's shoulder at the others.

Megumi and Shota had just arrived, and Kiba and Shino were in the middle of explaining what had just happened to them.

"It's fine, no one is paying attention to us, please," Zeyu said with a pitiful look in his eyes, gently gripping Hinata's wrist and planting a soft kiss on her hand.

Hinata's heart hammered against her ribs, but she finally gave in.

"Alright... since it's your request, Zeyu-kun, then... just one kiss."

"Thank you, Hinata, you're the best," Zeyu said, leaning in toward her. Hinata met him halfway, their lips mere inches apart.

"Hey! Where are we going now?" Megumi suddenly appeared behind Zeyu and shouted.

Startled, Hinata immediately hugged Zeyu tight, burying her face in his chest, her face flushing red all the way down to her neck.

Zeyu gave Megumi a deadpan stare.

"What? Did I ruin your fun?" Megumi pointed at Zeyu with a mischievous grin, then threw her hands up in a helpless shrug. "I'm telling you, stop picking on Hinata all the time. You're just being willful because you know she doesn't know how to refuse. We're in the middle of an exam, you know; we should focus on the task at hand."

The other three walked over, and Zeyu looked toward them.

The three of them immediately looked away, signaling they didn't want to get involved.

Hinata lifted her head and said, "Zeyu-kun, Megumi is right. We should finish the exam first."

"Mm, alright." Zeyu reluctantly let go of Hinata, and Hinata cast a lingering glance at his chest.

I suddenly feel a bit lonely, Hinata thought, pursing her lips.

Zeyu faced the group, cleared his throat, and asked, "Kiba, have you collected the Heaven and Earth Scrolls?"

Zeyu already knew they had, but he had to ask to avoid suspicion.

"Yeah, we've got them," Kiba replied.

"Good. Then let's head straight to the central tower; there's no point in staying in this forest," Zeyu said, crossing his arms.

"Eh? Big Brother, what about Gaara?" Shota asked.

"If they aren't idiots, they've probably already headed for the central tower. After all, all three of them are injured and they've already gathered the scrolls. Staying out here is just more dangerous."

He paused, closing his eyes to think, then added, "Even if we run into them, nothing will happen. Once we're at the central tower, we'll be under the examiners' eyes; they won't dare to fight."

Suddenly remembering something, he opened his eyes and looked at Shota. "What did you just call me? Big Brother?"

Shota grinned, fawning over him. "That's right! From now on, I'm acknowledging you as my big brother. You're the boss, I'm the follower."

He immediately lunged forward, wrapped his arms around Zeyu's leg, and shouted, "Big Brother! I can endure any hardship, just let me stay by your side and serve you!"

Zeyu tried to shake Shota off his leg as he said, "What's wrong with you? Let go of me!"

Megumi sighed helplessly. "He saw your Lightning Armor and thought it was cool. He wants to learn it."

Zeyu: "..."

***

On the other side.

Temari, having exhausted her chakra using Wind Style, had passed out. Kankuro was carrying her on his back, sprinting toward the central tower.

Gaara followed behind, somewhat distracted, his mind still mulling over Zeyu's words.

"Damn it, I told them to quit while they were ahead. If they had, my sister wouldn't be in this state," Kankuro muttered under his breath.

As they leaped through the massive tree branches, they paused for a moment to check if anyone was pursuing them.

Suddenly, a giant snake lunged out from the thicket nearby.

Before Kankuro could even notice, the snake opened its massive jaws to strike.

Kankuro was still looking behind him, but Gaara, who was trailing, suddenly raised his hand toward Kankuro's direction.

A mass of sand surged from the gourd on his back, rushing toward Kankuro.

Kankuro instinctively raised his arm to shield his face.

But the sand rushed past him.

He turned to look, only to see the snake's head completely encased in sand, unable to move an inch.

"Phew, I thought he was going to silence me for good," Kankuro thought, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Sand Binding..." Gaara of the Sand instinctively started to clench his fist to crush the giant snake's head, but suddenly remembering Zeyu Nichiro's words, he stopped with his hand suspended in mid-air, his mouth slightly agape.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he controlled the sand to fling the giant snake away.

He spoke softly to Kankuro.

"I will lead the way, brother."

With that, he walked ahead.

Kankuro followed, somewhat stunned.

Gaara has changed. Is it because he saw Mother? Is he avoiding killing because he doesn't want his sand stained with blood? He even called me brother; that's truly rare, Kankuro thought, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

After traveling for some time, they finally reached the central tower. Finding no one around after a quick look, they went to an area filled with benches to rest.

About half an hour later, Zeyu Nichiro's group also arrived at the central tower. Since it was only the first day and they had to wait for the exam to conclude, they had no choice but to stay inside the tower.

While wandering through the tower, they bumped into the trio from the Sand.

Temari had already woken up and was lying on a bench, having received simple treatment. Kankuro was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bench to rest, while Gaara was on the other side, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed to conserve energy.

Seeing Zeyu Nichiro approach, they couldn't help but grow tense, sweat trickling down their faces.

Zeyu Nichiro noticed the three of them as well. After a brief glance, he signaled for his group to come over to the benches to rest.

Gaara stared intently at Zeyu Nichiro, his expression complex.

As soon as Zeyu Nichiro's group sat down, Gaara walked straight over.

Seeing Gaara walking toward Zeyu Nichiro, Hinata couldn't help but feel nervous, yet she still reached out to block the path in front of him.

The others couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, swallowing hard.

"Let's reintroduce ourselves. I am Gaara of the Sand. Please treat me well," Gaara said, reaching Zeyu Nichiro and extending his right hand, holding it in mid-air.

"Huh? What is wrong with you, guy?" Shota stepped forward immediately, wanting to argue.

Shota had heard everything that happened from Shino and Kiba; Gaara had nearly killed them, and now he was acting all hypocritical with an introduction as if they were friends.

Zeyu Nichiro raised a hand to stop Shota, then leaned in close to Hinata to whisper that it was fine. Hinata nodded and stepped aside.

Zeyu Nichiro glanced at Gaara's hand hanging in the air and said, "I am Zeyu Nichiro. Please treat me well. Let's skip the handshake; wait until you can control your sand properly before we do that."

Gaara was stunned upon hearing this. He looked at his own hand and slowly pulled it back.

"You're right. My apologies. And about what happened earlier, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

"You'll have to say that to the people involved. I cannot forgive you on their behalf. As for my share, I forgive you. But if there is a next time..."

Zeyu Nichiro's gaze sharpened, and he said coldly, "If there is a next time, all three of you will die. None of you will be able to run!"

Gaara looked into Zeyu Nichiro's eyes and felt a chill run through him. Behind him, Kankuro and Temari couldn't help but swallow hard.

"I understand," Gaara said, then obediently apologized to Hinata, Kiba, and Shino. The three of them felt very uncomfortable; they felt that Gaara had an indescribable aura that was suffocating.

After the round of apologies, Gaara returned to his original spot and resumed closing his eyes to rest. Kankuro and Temari looked at Gaara in unison, both confused and shocked.

"Kankuro, was Gaara's brain damaged?" Temari asked in a hushed, suppressed voice.

"How would I know something like that?" Kankuro replied, cold sweat running down his face, feeling quite awkward.

Afterward, everyone rested. Zeyu Nichiro pulled out a scroll and summoned a pile of bedding, and even a pot, instant noodles, and a barrel of water, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

Hinata: "Zeyu Nichiro-kun is amazing, so well-prepared."

Kiba: "That's too exaggerated, Zeyu."

Shino: "..."

Shota: "As expected of Big Brother, he always brings me surprises."

Megumi: "I'm telling you, you're a ninja, why are you so well-prepared for a trip? It's like you're on vacation."

Zeyu Nichiro didn't like the sound of that and immediately retorted, "Megumi, I don't like hearing you say that. What do you mean 'a ninja'? Do ninjas have to suffer? If I can be well-prepared, why shouldn't I be?"

"You..." Megumi was left speechless by the retort, turning her face away, unwilling to say more.

"Alright, alright, Megumi, don't take it to heart. Anyway, this is better than sleeping on the floor, and we have Big Brother to thank for it," Shota said.

"Tch," Megumi scoffed.

The others, seeing the young lady being difficult, were used to it and didn't pay it much mind.

Everyone began setting up their bedding. Shota helped Megumi organize hers, Hinata helped Zeyu Nichiro with his, and Zeyu Nichiro set up the pot.

The bedding was laid out in a row. Zeyu Nichiro was on the far end, closest to the trio from the Sand, with Hinata next to him, followed by Megumi, while Shota, Kiba, and Shino were on the inside.

Zeyu Nichiro had volunteered to take the night watch, which was why he requested to be on the outside.

"Eh? There's no fire," Shota asked.

"Are you an idiot, Brother? Can't Zeyu just use Fire Style?" Megumi said.

"Oh, right, hehe. Then I'll pour the water, Big Brother, please," Shota said, scratching his head with a laugh.

Zeyu crouched beside the pot. "Fire Style: Ghost Lantern." A ball of flame appeared, floating in the air as it flew toward the base of the pot and ignited the firewood.

The group boiled water and warmed themselves by the fire, chatting away as they waited for the instant noodles to cook, the atmosphere quite lively.