"Why isn't there a single person here? Could we be the first ones?" Rock Lee strode ahead and was the first to enter the Central Tower.
"Of course we are, right, Neji?" Tenten said, tilting her head as she looked at Neji Hyuga beside her.
"Yeah. It's just a shame we didn't run into that guy with the gourd. Sasuke Uchiha wasn't in any condition to fight, either. It's too bad the match ended just like that," Neji said as he followed Lee inside.
"Well, we'll have another chance later. There's still the final round, after all," Tenten said, following them in.
The three walked down the hallway. Gradually, they heard the commotion up ahead. As they drew closer, they entered a spacious hall and spotted several people moving around in a room some distance away.
"Four hundred and twenty, four hundred and twenty-one, four hundred and twenty-two..." Hinata sat on Zeyu's back, counting his push-ups for him.
Zeyu, Shota, and Kiba were doing push-ups shirtless on the floor.
"Come on, big brother! Hurry up and beat Zeyu!" Megumi sat cross-legged on Shota's back, patting his shoulder anxiously.
Shota was doing push-ups with Megumi on his back, eyes shut as he gritted his teeth and struggled to keep going. He was already drenched in sweat. The fiery enthusiasm he'd started with had long since faded, and now he didn't even feel like talking.
Zeyu turned to see how exhausted Shota looked and couldn't help laughing at him.
"What's wrong? Can't keep going? Take a break, then. Shota, you're already doing great. Don't push yourself," Zeyu said as he kept doing push-ups.
Hearing that, Shota could only manage a helpless, bitter smile. He held himself up, but his arms no longer had the strength to bend. Beads of sweat rolled down his face.
"Ah, I can't do it anymore!" Shota groaned and collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.
"Huh? Big brother, why are you so weak? Get up!" Megumi patted Shota's shoulder again, looking displeased.
Nearby, Kiba was doing push-ups too. He chuckled, pushing himself up to tease Shota.
"You probably can't keep going because Megumi's too heavy, Shota! Hahaha!"
Megumi immediately flew into a rage. "What? You're saying I'm heavy? No way! Besides, am I heavier than Shino? I'm a girl!" She pointed at Shino, who was riding on Kiba's back.
Shino adjusted his glasses and calmly replied, "That's not necessarily true."
That only made Megumi even more embarrassed and furious. She raised her foot and kicked at Shino.
Shino instinctively raised an arm to block, stopping her kick.
But Kiba underneath him took the fall. He crashed face-first onto the floor.
Megumi lowered her foot and pouted. "Hmph! That's what you get for calling me fat."
Kiba stood up, holding his nose, and started arguing with Megumi. Shino tried to break them up, while Shota watched from the side. His exhausted body wouldn't let him get up and help.
Hinata was used to seeing them horse around. She'd been about to step in, but then remembered she was still sitting on Zeyu's back.
She leaned down, resting her hands on Zeyu's shoulders and bringing her face close to his as she said, "Um, Zeyu, maybe we should take a break and go calm them down?"
Zeyu calmly continued doing push-ups.
"It's fine. Friends bicker sometimes. They'll still be friends after they're done arguing. Don't worry too much, Hinata," Zeyu said as he kept exercising.
At that moment, Zeyu thought, I don't care. Let them bicker all they want. At least no one's bothering me and Hinata while we're being lovey-dovey. Heh heh. Hinata's hands are a little cold. It feels so nice.
As he thought that, Hinata blushed and asked softly, "Um, Zeyu, am I too heavy? Do you think I weigh too much?"
Zeyu immediately understood. Kiba's remark about Megumi being fat had made Hinata worry, too. She was so reserved and a little self-conscious, and she ate quite a lot, so of course she'd started wondering if it applied to her.
Zeyu immediately said, "Not at all! You're not heavy one bit, Hinata. I could carry you and do another five hundred push-ups. No, a thousand!"
As he spoke, Zeyu put even more effort into his push-ups.
Hinata couldn't help laughing at what he did and said softly, "Thank you, Zeyu."
Zeyu pushed himself up and turned his head to grin at her. His face was covered in sweat, but he was still smiling so happily that his eyes narrowed into slits.
Watching Zeyu smile made Hinata blush even more. Their faces were already so close, and she found herself wanting to kiss him. But she didn't dare with everyone around. She simply stared at him, dazed.
When Zeyu noticed Hinata staring blankly, he immediately took advantage of the moment and kissed her cheek. Then he gazed at her with a mischievous smile.
Hinata was startled by the sudden kiss. The others were still arguing nearby, and someone could notice them at any moment. Gaara and the others might even be watching.
Her whole body turned red at once, heat rising off her skin. She went weak and looked ready to faint.
When Zeyu realized he'd gone too far, Hinata was about to fall to the floor. Without thinking of himself, he reached out with both hands to catch her.
He fell to the floor instead.
"Whew, that was close." Zeyu let out a sigh of relief and sat cross-legged, holding Hinata in his arms while fanning her with one hand.
Amid the commotion, Neji, Tenten, and Lee walked in.
"Huh? Why does this room have two doorways?" Tenten asked, puzzled.
"So people have already made it here! All right, I'll have to work even harder!" Lee clenched his fists, brimming with enthusiasm.
Walking between the other two, Neji noticed someone's gaze fixed on him as soon as he entered.
He looked toward where it came from and met Gaara's eyes. Gaara was looking back at him.
He looks battered. Was he injured in a fight? He looks strong, so whoever beat him must be powerful. Who did it? Neji wondered.
Gaara was chewing on some rations. He'd only looked up when he sensed someone enter, but when he noticed Neji still staring, he asked in confusion, "What are you looking at?"
At Gaara's words, Temari and Kankuro also looked over. Tenten and Lee noticed them as well. The six of them stared at one another.
After a brief silence, Neji gave a cold snort and said, "Nothing. It's just a shame I didn't run into you in the Forest of Death. I wanted to test my skills against you."
Gaara smiled faintly. "It's fine. We'll have plenty of chances later. Just make sure you can take a hit."
At the same time, Gaara thought, Neji Hyuga, Konoha's young prodigy? How does he compare to Zeyu?
Neji replied disdainfully, "You should heal up first before you say that. Hmph." He folded his arms and stared coldly at Gaara.
"Exactly," Tenten said. "You're in such a sorry state, yet you still dare to talk to Neji like that? Neji was last year's top rookie."
Lee studied Gaara with curiosity before asking, "Who gave you those injuries? They must be strong. Probably a master of Taijutsu."
Gaara was a little surprised. After a pause, he said, "What's it to you? Get lost." Then he turned away and ignored them.
"Tch, what an attitude," Tenten muttered disdainfully. The three continued farther into the room, with Lee following behind, disappointed.
"I wanted to ask who that person was, so I could talk Taijutsu with them sometime," Lee mumbled.
Tenten and Neji walked ahead, chatting about their surroundings.
Hinata's so cute. Maybe I should kiss her again... Zeyu thought as he slowly lowered his head, ready to kiss Hinata in his arms again.
Neji had been chatting with Tenten as they walked, but he glanced over toward them.
He saw what was happening. When he recognized the girl, his eyes widened.
Neji immediately rushed over and struck out with his palm, aiming straight for Zeyu.
Zeyu suddenly sensed danger.
"Stop, you shameless scoundrel!" Neji shouted.
Zeyu looked up. Neji's palm was already right in front of him, about to strike his face.
Zeyu leaned backward to dodge, still holding Hinata tightly, and kicked his right leg upward.
Seeing the kick aimed at his chin, Neji quickly raised his other arm to block.
The kick connected, sending Neji flying.
Taking advantage of the opening, Zeyu quickly got up, lifted Hinata, and jumped backward. He landed beside Megumi and Kiba, who had been facing off. All three noticed what was happening and stopped arguing.
Neji somersaulted two and a half times in the air before landing steadily on the floor. He clenched his fists and pointed at Zeyu, shouting angrily, "Put Lady Hinata down! You despicable coward! How dare you take advantage of her like that? Unforgivable!"