Chapter 34: Five Days TogetherAfter the Exam
Team 8 parted at the usual street. Ryuzen and Hinata walked home together.
As soon as they entered the house, Hinata's worried expression surfaced. "Ryuzen-kun, are you really alright?"
"What could be wrong with me?" He pinched her nose gently, smiling with affection. "I told you—my sword techniques don't consume chakra. And the teleportation's burden? If Iruka-sensei can handle it without issue, why would it affect me?" His crimson eyes softened. "You're the one who must be tired. Go take a bath and rest."
"Mm."
Reassured, Hinata nodded and headed for the bathroom.
Once the door closed behind her, Ryuzen rubbed his own shoulders.
Still sore.
He couldn't help a small surge of resentment toward Iruka. They hadn't fully matured yet—their bones still growing—and the man hadn't thought to warn them before activating the teleportation. No consideration at all.
If he felt this discomfort, Hinata must feel it worse.
Next time, he resolved, I'll coat us both in Armament Haki before teleporting. Should protect against the friction.
He lay on the bed, closing his eyes in meditation, listening to the distant sound of running water.
Evening
CLICK.
Over half an hour later, the bathroom door opened.
Hinata emerged in a bath towel, her shoulders pink and smooth from the hot water. "Ryuzen-kun, I've refilled the bath. You can go in now."
Ryuzen rose and nodded, but his eyes caught her reddened shoulders. "Put something on that before bed. And next time we teleport, remember to protect yourself with chakra—especially your shoulders."
"Mm-hmm." She nodded obediently.
He stepped forward, bent slightly, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips—brief, warm, familiar. Then he walked into the bathroom.
When he emerged another half hour later, Hinata had changed back into her regular clothes. He wore only a light bathrobe.
His kimono had self-cleaning properties, but to him, it still felt like formal wear. Maybe it was psychological, but after bathing, the simple robe was more comfortable.
Seeing him exit, Hinata patted the bed. "Ryuzen-kun, come here. Let me massage you."
The medicinal wine in her hand made him smile. "You work too hard, Hinata."
He removed his robe and lay down.
Hinata straddled his back, the veins at her temples bulging slightly as she applied the medicated oil. Her slender, soft palms worked his muscles—pushing, pressing, finding every acupoint with precision born of Gentle Fist training. The pressure was perfect—neither too light nor too heavy.
The Hyūga clan's taijutsu really is perfect for massage.
Ryuzen couldn't suppress a small hum of contentment.
After a while, he spoke—casual, as if searching for conversation. "Hinata. These next five days... stay here with me. What do you think?"
"Eh?!" Her face went crimson instantly. Her hands faltered. "Th-this... that..."
"Your family doesn't know we reached the tower early." He turned to look at her, voice gentle. "The first exam eliminated dozens. The second will eliminate half again. The third—if I'm not mistaken—will be individual matches. Why not use these days to train properly?"
He paused, then added softly, "Together."
Hinata looked at him—at the undisguised hope in those crimson eyes she loved.
"...Mm."
Her response was barely a whisper, softer than a mosquito's wing.
Ryuzen's smile could have lit the room.
He sat up, turned, and pulled her into his arms. The blanket rose to cover them both.
The teasing and teaching began.
The Days Between
Time passed.
The one hundred twenty hours of the second exam wound down.
In those five days, Ryuzen and Hinata's relationship sublimated once more.
Every nap. Every night. She became his pillow—warm, soft, willing. They talked in the darkness, shared whispered secrets, and he took full advantage of every moment.
Ryuzen spent those five days in pure happiness.
The other nine promising genin? Their experience was considerably less pleasant.
Team 7 especially had suffered—first targeted by a Kage-level threat in Orochimaru, then harassed by three Sound ninja, finally reaching the central tower through sheer determination.
On the final morning, Team 8 returned through the teleportation array two hours ahead of schedule.
Having experienced it once, they knew better than to cut it close. The physical effects could impact performance.
The Results
At 14:30, the candidates who had passed the second exam gathered in a large hall.
Twenty-four genin from eight teams.
One more team than the original timeline—Inuzuka Kiba's Team 9 had survived.
As the genin filed in, strange looks followed Team 8. Word had spread of their fifty-five-minute completion time.
The disparity stung.
They had struggled, fought, nearly died. Team 8 had finished in less than an hour.
Sasuke's gaze held particular intensity—unwillingness, battle lust, desperate need to reclaim the position this silver-haired boy had stolen from him for six years.
Ryuzen ignored them all.
But he met one gaze deliberately.
Gaara's murderous stare burned across the room. Ryuzen's lips curved slightly—just a fraction, just enough—before he looked away.
The Third Hokage appeared on the second floor, explaining the Chunin Exam's significance. Then the preliminary round's proctor arrived—Moonlight Hayate, pale and coughing, but sharp-eyed.
When a Sound Ninja jōnin appeared on the second floor beside the Hokage, Kabuto Yakushi made his choice. He withdrew immediately—recognizing Orochimaru, knowing exposure meant death, and also knowing he was in no condition to fight after pushing himself too hard gathering intelligence.
Twenty-three candidates remained for the preliminaries.<｜end▁of▁thinking｜># Chapter 34: Five Days
At Home
Team 8 separated on the street, and Ryuzen and Hinata returned home together.
As soon as they entered, Hinata's worried expression surfaced. "Ryuzen-kun, are you really alright?"
"What could be wrong with me?" He pinched her nose gently, smiling with affection. "I told you—my sword techniques don't consume chakra. And the teleportation's burden? If Iruka-sensei can handle it, why would it affect me?" His crimson eyes softened. "You're the one who must be tired. Go take a bath and rest."
"Mm."
Reassured, Hinata nodded and headed for the bathroom.
Once the door closed behind her, Ryuzen rubbed his own shoulders.
Still sore.
He couldn't help a small surge of resentment toward Iruka. They hadn't fully matured yet—their bones still growing—and the man hadn't thought to warn them before activating the teleportation. No consideration at all.
If he felt this discomfort, Hinata must feel it worse.
Next time, he resolved, I'll coat us in Armament Haki before teleporting. Should protect against the friction.
He lay on the bed, closing his eyes in meditation, listening to the distant sound of running water.
Evening
CLICK.
Over half an hour later, the bathroom door opened.
Hinata emerged in a bath towel, her shoulders pink and smooth from the hot water. "Ryuzen-kun, I've refilled the bath. You can go in now."
Ryuzen rose and nodded, but his eyes caught her reddened shoulders. "Put something on that before bed. And next time we teleport, remember to protect yourself with chakra—especially your shoulders."
"Mm-hmm." She nodded obediently.
He stepped forward, bent slightly, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips—brief, warm, familiar. Then he walked into the bathroom.
When he emerged another half hour later, Hinata had changed back into her regular clothes. He wore only a light bathrobe.
His kimono had self-cleaning properties, but to him, it still felt like formal wear. Maybe it was psychological, but after bathing, the simple robe was more comfortable.
Seeing him exit, Hinata patted the bed. "Ryuzen-kun, come here. Let me massage you."
The medicinal wine in her hand made him smile. "You work too hard, Hinata."
He removed his robe and lay down.
Hinata straddled his back, the veins at her temples bulging slightly as she applied the medicated oil. Her slender, soft palms worked his muscles—pushing, pressing, finding every acupoint with precision born of Gentle Fist training. The pressure was perfect—neither too light nor too heavy.
The Hyūga clan's taijutsu really is perfect for massage.
Ryuzen couldn't suppress a small hum of contentment.
After a while, he spoke—casual, as if searching for conversation. "Hinata. These next five days... stay here with me. What do you think?"
"Eh?!" Her face went crimson instantly. Her hands faltered. "Th-this... that..."
"Your family doesn't know we reached the tower early." He turned to look at her, voice gentle. "The first exam eliminated dozens. The second will eliminate half again. The third—if I'm not mistaken—will be individual matches. Why not use these days to train properly?"
He paused, then added softly, "Together."
Hinata looked at him—at the undisguised hope in those crimson eyes she loved.
"...Mm."
Her response was barely a whisper, softer than a mosquito's wing.
Ryuzen's smile could have lit the room.
He sat up, turned, and pulled her into his arms. The blanket rose to cover them both.
Five Days
Time passed.
The one hundred twenty hours of the second exam wound down.
In those five days, Ryuzen and Hinata's relationship deepened further.
Every nap. Every night. She became his pillow—warm, soft, willing. They talked in the darkness, shared whispered secrets, and he took full advantage of every moment.
Ryuzen spent those five days in pure happiness.
The other nine promising genin? Their experience was considerably less pleasant.
Team 7 especially had suffered—first targeted by a Kage-level threat in Orochimaru, then harassed by three Sound ninja, finally reaching the central tower through sheer determination.
The Results
On the final morning, Team 8 returned through the teleportation array two hours ahead of schedule.
Having experienced it once, they knew better than to cut it close. The physical effects could impact performance.
At 14:30, the candidates who had passed the second exam gathered in a large hall.
Twenty-four genin from eight teams.
One more team than the original timeline—Inuzuka Kiba's Team 9 had survived.
As the genin filed in, strange looks followed Team 8. Word had spread of their fifty-five-minute completion time.
The disparity stung.
They had struggled, fought, nearly died. Team 8 had finished in less than an hour.
Sasuke's gaze held particular intensity—unwillingness, battle lust, desperate need to reclaim the position this silver-haired boy had stolen from him for six years.
Ryuzen ignored them all.
But he met one gaze deliberately.
Gaara's murderous stare burned across the room. Ryuzen's lips curved slightly—just a fraction, just enough—before he looked away.
The Third Hokage appeared on the second floor, explaining the Chunin Exam's significance. Then the preliminary round's proctor arrived—Moonlight Hayate, pale and coughing, but sharp-eyed.
When a Sound Ninja jōnin appeared on the second floor beside the Hokage, Kabuto Yakushi made his choice. He withdrew immediately—recognizing Orochimaru, knowing exposure meant death, and also knowing he was in no condition to fight after pushing himself too hard gathering intelligence.
Twenty-three candidates remained for the preliminaries.
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