It was the morning of the third day, and everyone began waking up.
"Hm? Is it morning already?" Shota stretched and sat up.
Megumi had fallen asleep again sometime during the night. Hearing Shota stir beside her, she woke too. The moment she got up, she was hit by an urgent need to pee, so she hurried off to the bathroom.
Shota watched Megumi rush off in a daze, then looked around. Kiba and Shino were up too, but Hinata was nowhere to be seen. Zeyu's blanket was raised high, and he had his head lowered, busy with something.
He stood up and walked over to Zeyu.
"Big bro, where's your wife?"
"Shh. Keep it down!" Zeyu raised his head and whispered.
He lowered the blanket a little, revealing Hinata asleep peacefully in his arms.
Feeling the cold air after the blanket was lowered, Hinata snuggled closer to Zeyu.
Zeyu quickly pulled the blanket back up and whispered to Shota,
"Go do whatever you need to do. Don't wake Hinata."
Shota turned around and went off to do his own thing, helplessly.
A little while later, Megumi came back from the bathroom. As she passed Zeyu, she shot him a disdainful look before returning to her spot.
After a long while, Zeyu watched the others chatting together. Sleepiness crept over him, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
More than half an hour later, Hinata finally began to wake.
She slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Zeyu's chest in front of her, she realized she had drooled on it. She sucked in her drool and hurriedly wiped the spot with her sleeve.
"I'm sorry, Zeyu. I didn't mean to," Hinata said, looking up at him anxiously, afraid he might be angry.
Only then did she realize Zeyu had already fallen asleep.
She said nothing more and barely dared to move her hands, afraid of waking him. She gazed at him tenderly, smiling.
Looking at Zeyu's face, an idea came to her. She brushed aside the hair covering his face and kissed him on the lips.
Then she carefully propped herself up and slowly backed out of the blanket, making sure to cover Zeyu again.
"Not going to give him one more kiss?" Megumi, standing nearby, leaned down and whispered in Hinata's ear.
"E-e-e-eh? Megumi?" Hinata jumped in fright and hurriedly covered her mouth, then turned to look at Megumi.
"When did you get here? Did you see everything?" Remembering what she had just done, Hinata's face turned bright red as she asked.
"I saw all of it. It's practically lunchtime, and you're only just getting up." Megumi straightened and crossed her arms, looking exasperated.
"I'm sorry..." Hinata said softly, embarrassed, covering her face with her hands.
"Come on, go get something to eat. I'll do your hair," Megumi sighed, sounding helpless.
She led Hinata over to the others and had her sit down.
Hinata ate some rations while Megumi stood behind her and combed her hair.
"Thank you, Megumi," Hinata said.
"Don't mention it. By the way, how long have you two known each other? You're so close," Megumi asked.
"Well... it's like this..." Hinata mused.
Kiba, Shota, and Shino grew interested when they heard and gathered around.
"Come on, Hinata, tell us. It's not like we have anything else to do," Kiba said.
So, urged on by the others, Hinata told them about meeting Zeyu when they were children, and about the time he saved her in the snow.
Back then, Zeyu had made two shoddy clones and been laughed at. He'd even been beaten up. Afterward, the three who had bullied Hinata left, mocking both of them as they went.
Of course, Zeyu had already started training by then. He had done it on purpose.
"So that's how it happened. That's really nice," Kiba said.
"What a love story to envy," Shino said.
Hinata covered her face with both hands and lowered her head, utterly embarrassed.
"Hmph. That guy sure got lucky. Still, Hinata, you should be careful. I have a feeling he has ulterior motives," Megumi said.
"It's okay... I don't mind," Hinata said with a smile, touching her burning cheeks.
"Ugh, there's no saving this girl," Megumi thought helplessly.
Then she glanced over and saw Shota resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought. She spoke up.
"What's wrong, brother?"
The others looked at Shota too, just as puzzled.
Shota folded his arms and spoke slowly.
"I was wondering if Big Bro started training and getting stronger for the sake of his wife."
Everyone was stunned. Thinking it over, they realized that it did seem to fit.
Then they all looked at Hinata again.
After hearing that, Hinata fell into a daze. Zeyu's words to her echoed again and again in her ears, and scenes from the past appeared in her mind one after another.
"Don't bully her! If you've got a problem, take it up with me!"
"Are you all right? Does anything hurt?"
"My name is Zeyu Nichiro. Pleased to meet you."
"Hinata Hyuga? That's a lovely name."
"One day, I'll surpass every Hokage who came before me! I'll become the strongest person there is, protect everyone, and bring peace to the world!"
"Don't take it to heart. Hinata is cute."
"Hinata? Hinata!" Megumi shook Hinata's shoulder, calling to her.
"Ah, what is it?" Hinata asked absently as she came back to herself.
"Are you all right?" Megumi tilted her head and looked at Hinata. The others were watching her too.
"Mm, I'm fine," Hinata replied.
Then she lowered her head, her face growing even redder. She clasped her hands against her chest, pressed her lips together, and felt her heart pounding wildly.
"Zeyu, I'm so glad I met you..." Hinata thought.
Near noon, the three Sound Ninja arrived in the tower too. They looked around, then sat down to rest in a less crowded spot.
"Why can't we leave yet? I don't want to stay with this bunch," Dosu said, looking first at Gaara in the distance and then at Neji on the other side.
Kin noticed that Zeyu and the others had a lot of supplies. She asked,
"Why do they have bedding and supplies? This is so unfair."
Dosu looked over too. He frowned, then glanced at Zaku, who had just sat down and still couldn't move his arm. Closing his eyes, he said helplessly,
"The other teams don't have any either. They probably brought their own. Let's not cause trouble."
When no one answered, Dosu turned around and realized Kin was gone. She was walking toward Zeyu.
"Hey, hey, that idiot," Dosu cursed inwardly, hurrying after her.
Hinata and Megumi had gone to the bathroom. Hinata had changed back into her own clothes and was getting some water while she was at it. The other three were packing up, getting ready to cook.
Kin walked over to Zeyu's bedding and looked at him, asleep with his back to her.
She made a disgusted face and raised her right foot, about to kick him awake.
Sensing danger, Zeyu snapped his eyes open. He spun around and grabbed Kin by the ankle, then twisted his body and swept her left leg out from under her.
Kin fell flat on her back and cried out in pain. Just as she tried to push herself up, Zeyu was already kneeling beside her, holding a short blade to her throat.
"What are you doing?" Zeyu demanded, his gaze cold.
Feeling the blade at her throat and seeing Zeyu's icy expression, Kin was too frightened to speak.
Everyone nearby heard the commotion and looked over in confusion.
"I..." Kin's teeth chattered, and she couldn't get another word out. Cold sweat broke out all over her face.
Dosu saw what was happening and hurried over.
As he started to approach, Zeyu moved the blade away and grabbed Kin by the throat with the hand that had held her ankle. Pointing the blade at Dosu, he snapped,
"Stop! Or I won't hold back!"
Choking, Kin struggled to pry Zeyu's hand away, her legs kicking wildly against the ground.
Seeing the situation, Dosu had no choice but to stay where he was. He quickly said,
"Hey, don't get worked up. She didn't mean to hurt you. She just wanted to ask about your supplies."
Zeyu kept his grip, glanced at the struggling Kin, and sneered.
"Hmph. That's how she asks—with her foot? If you're not good at it, do you need me to teach you?"
As he spoke, he tightened his grip. Kin's face contorted in pain and turned purple. Tears and saliva streamed down her face.
"Stop, please! Let her go! She was rude, but she doesn't deserve to die. I'll apologize on her behalf, all right?" Seeing Kin roll her eyes and her legs begin to weaken, Dosu begged desperately.
Zeyu glanced at Dosu, then at Kin beside him. Just before she was about to die, he let go.
Kin sucked in a huge breath, her chest heaving. She turned onto her side, clutched her chest with both hands, and coughed uncontrollably. Tears and saliva dripped onto the ground as her complexion slowly returned to normal.
Dosu let out a breath of relief. Inwardly, he cursed Kin for bringing it on herself.
"Finally... I'm saved," Kin thought, greedily gulping down the fresh air.
Suddenly, Zeyu stuck his short blade into the ground right beside Kin's face.
The blade sank straight into the floor tiles with a sharp clang.
Kin jolted in fright. The blade was less than five centimeters from her eye.
As she stared at the gleaming edge, she instinctively held her breath, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"Watch yourself! If you're looking to die, I don't mind granting your wish," Zeyu said coldly.
Then he put his blade away and stood up.
By then, Shota thought it was about time and walked over.
"Shota, keep an eye on them. Clean things up before we leave," Zeyu said when he saw Shota approaching.
"Yes, Big Bro," Shota replied, though he wondered what he was supposed to clean up.
Then Zeyu shoved his hands into his pockets and headed for the door. Passing Dosu, he heard him ask,
"Thanks, man. What's your name?"
"Get lost," Zeyu said coldly, continuing on.
Dosu didn't press him for an answer. He stepped forward to check on Kin.
As soon as he helped her up, he noticed a puddle on the floor.
When Shota saw it, he burst out laughing.
Dosu looked utterly helpless.
Zaku had watched everything from behind. When he saw Zeyu approaching, he stood up and glared at him.
Zeyu walked right past him, not wanting to deal with him. He didn't even look his way.
"Hey! You!" Zaku called out.
Zeyu stopped and turned toward him.
"What is it? Do you need something?" Zeyu said coldly.
Zaku was startled by Zeyu's gaze. He felt an immense force pouring off him and spreading through the air, surging toward him like a mighty river. It reminded him of Sasuke Uchiha after he had activated his Cursed Seal in the Forest of Death.
Cold sweat kept breaking out all over him. His arms ached faintly, his legs trembled, and his mouth went dry. For a moment, he couldn't even control his tongue.
He swallowed and finally forced out two words.
"N-no...thing..."
Zeyu snorted and turned back toward the exit.
Only after Zeyu had completely left the room and disappeared from view did Zaku drop heavily onto the ground, head bowed, still shaken.
Then he gritted his teeth and seethed inwardly.
"Damn it."