"Uzuki Yugao is a real beauty, too!"
"Too bad she fell for that sickly Gekko Hayate!"
Zhou Cheng continued sensing his surroundings and discovered that his maximum range was only a hundred-meter radius.
Compared to a genuine sensory ninja, he still fell far short.
That went double for the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques.
As for sensory abilities on the level of the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Zhou Cheng could only envy them for now.
"A hundred-meter range is enough for the time being."
"I'll save the remaining two drops of talent original liquid for emergencies."
"For the next talent, I need to find a Taijutsu genius."
"There aren't many ninja in the Shinobi World with powerful Taijutsu."
"Konoha's Taijutsu experts are basically Tsunade, Teacher Chen, and Might Guy."
"Teacher Chen died back during the Third Shinobi World War."
"Tsunade should be making the rounds of the casinos right now. There's no way she's in the village."
"That leaves Might Guy for me to use Replication on."
"I wonder what I'll get from using Replication on his talent. Could it be the Eight Gates Released Formation?"
"It should still be easy to run into Might Guy in the village."
"As Rock Lee's teacher, he often drags him along to train."
"I've run into them a few times while running laps around Konoha early in the morning."
"I can use that to get close to him again."
Zhou Cheng remembered his scheduled match with Neji.
"I challenged Neji two days after using Replication on the Third Generation's talent."
"That means I still have two days to use Replication on Might Guy's talent."
"Tomorrow, I'll run laps around the village first and see if I can run into him."
"Then I'll check Rock Lee's secret training ground."
Meanwhile, Uzuki Yugao, who had been ordered to keep watch over Zhou Cheng, watched him behaving like a madman. First he smiled, then he meditated, then he smiled and meditated again.
After that, he started stretching. Once he finished, another strange smile appeared on his face.
"Could this child's mental injury from last time have left him with some lasting problems?"
"Still, every time he finishes meditating, I feel like something about him has changed. I just can't put my finger on what."
"Forget it. Maybe I'm imagining things."
Early the next morning, Zhou Cheng got up for his usual morning run.
Naturally, Haku went with him.
They ran a lap around the village but failed to run into Might Guy.
Zhou Cheng began to feel a little anxious.
If Might Guy had left on a mission, Zhou Cheng would run out of time.
Against Neji, who had both the Byakugan and the Hyuga Eight Trigrams Palm, he had his work cut out for him.
Zhou Cheng felt he needed to improve his Taijutsu.
When it was time for school, he could only send a shadow clone in his place while he continued looking for Might Guy.
Following his memories, he also made his way to Rock Lee's secret training ground.
Zhou Cheng found it completely deserted.
Through his shadow clone, Zhou Cheng learned that Rock Lee wasn't at school either.
"Damn, what's going on?"
"Doesn't Rock Lee train here every day?"
"Why isn't there a single person here today?"
"Still, this would make a good secret base. It's secluded, and hardly anyone comes here."
"I could practice Ninjutsu without anyone knowing, and I wouldn't have to worry about damaging the house!"
He waited for nearly another half hour, but no one came.
Then he remembered that Might Guy sometimes took Rock Lee out to walk on their hands as physical training.
He left the training ground and headed out onto the streets, hoping to encounter the two of them walking on their hands.
But even after wandering around for nearly an hour and using his sensory ability, Zhou Cheng still couldn't find Might Guy or Rock Lee.
"I can't keep searching like this. I'm just wasting all my time."
"I'll go home first, then think of something."
By the time he returned home, it was already almost evening.
Zhou Cheng sensed that classes had ended at the school.
He had his shadow clone go somewhere deserted, then dispelled it.
From the memories his shadow clone shared with him, nothing important had happened at school that day, nor had they been taught any new Ninjutsu.
They had only covered some additional Shinobi knowledge. Zhou Cheng already knew all of it, so he paid it no further attention.
Soon, Naruto arrived at Zhou Cheng's house.
Naturally, Hinata and Ino came with him.
As usual, the two girls made dinner for Zhou Cheng.
Naruto was only there to mooch a meal.
As everyone ate dinner together, the conversation began.
"Zhou Cheng, your match with Neji is the day after tomorrow."
"Will you be all right?"
Hinata's face was slightly flushed and full of worry.
"That's right. Neji's a genius. My father said he's already stronger than an ordinary Genin!"
"Are you sure you can handle him?"
Ino was worried and anxious, too.
In her mind, Zhou Cheng was already her man.
Naturally, she didn't want to see Zhou Cheng embarrass himself.
"Hehe, Zhou Cheng will be fine!"
"Don't forget, he taught us all our advanced Ninjutsu."
"I think he's even better than Teacher Iruka!"
"Of course beating Neji won't be a problem."
Naruto grinned, showing his teeth. He had an inexplicable confidence in Zhou Cheng.
Haku, who knew Zhou Cheng best, also looked worried.
Zhou Cheng had never once shown him his full strength.
That had given him a mistaken impression of Zhou Cheng's true abilities.
Zhou Cheng met each of their eyes in turn, then broke into a smile.
"Don't worry. He's just some kid from the Hyuga Branch Family. A little talent has gone to his head. Just watch me beat him!"
Neji would become a very good companion and brother later on.
But before the Chunin Ninja Exams, he was insufferably arrogant!
Zhou Cheng didn't mind being the one to knock some sense into him ahead of time.
"See? I told you!"
Only a natural airhead like Naruto failed to realize that Zhou Cheng was trying to reassure them.
The worry on the two girls' faces didn't fade in the slightest.
He met their eyes again with a serious look, showing them that he meant what he said.
Only then did the two girls feel a little more reassured.
Ino picked up her chopsticks and began eating dinner.
Only now did Hinata realize that she had held Zhou Cheng's gaze for several seconds. Her cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment.
She hurriedly lowered her head and ate to hide her shyness.
Finally, Zhou Cheng motioned for Haku to eat as well and not worry about him.
As he ate, he continued thinking.
"Without Taijutsu, I can only keep Neji at a distance and wear him down with Ninjutsu."
"But that would use up a huge amount of chakra. I might run out and lose before I even beat him."
"No matter what, I have to find Might Guy tomorrow!"
"If all else fails, I'll have to use Replication on Rock Lee's talent first!"
"Rock Lee was pretty impressive early on."
"After opening the Eight Gates of Life, even I, a jinchūriki, had Gaara on the back foot for a while."
Soon, everyone finished dinner.
Zhou Cheng then coached them in the courtyard, correcting the flaws in their Ninjutsu and earning another round of excited shouts from Naruto.
As the night grew late, Zhou Cheng suggested that everyone get some rest.
Naruto simply ran off on his own, without the slightest trace of gentlemanly manners.
As usual, Zhou Cheng walked Hinata and Ino home.
Both girls had long since grown accustomed to having Zhou Cheng escort them home.
If Zhou Cheng ever failed to do so, that would feel strange to them.
Ino's house was closer, so they reached her door first.
Under Ino's reluctant gaze, Zhou Cheng saw her inside.
A little while later, they reached Hinata's house as well. As he watched her climb the steps, he paused.
For some reason, Zhou Cheng found himself calling softly to her.
"Hinata, be happy, and be brave. You're the best!"
"I'll always be there behind you!"
Hinata froze on the spot as though struck by lightning.
Only after a long while did she run inside without looking back.