Chapter 146 Sick
Tenten found Neji outside the hospital room.
Of course he didn't go in. This stubborn guy just stood at the door, as stiff as a board.
"You can go in there, you know?" Tian Tian said, "Like a normal person."
Neji snorted and didn't answer, but he still glanced into the ward secretly, as if he had been considering whether to go in, or was just waiting for an excuse.
Tiantian rolled his eyes and stuffed the thing in his hand into his arms.
"Teacher Kai said that we should stop blaming each other."
Neji almost jumped at the weight of the package, but he immediately realized what it was, even though it was wrapped in colorful wrapping paper.
Tiantian snorted, his tone helpless.
"It was actually my idea. Sign for it." She hesitated, then added, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you a smug asshole."
Neji seemed like a deflated ball, he hated arguing with Tenten even though they did so often.
They were both opinionated and stubborn as hell, but he respected her as he respected the few people in his life who had him, and he wanted her to be with him, not against him.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you a saintly fool," he responded, accepting her apology.
Tiantian's mouth corners slightly raised.
He turned and walked towards the ward, and Tenten pushed him from behind, which was their unique way of expressing friendship and also helped to push him into the room.
"Come on, Neji, we have to go check on Lee."
Lee was, of course, very excited to see them come in.
According to the nurse, he tried to climb out of the window at least six times despite having a badly injured ankle and a broken arm.
"I feel so alive! I want to witness my fellow enthusiasts' passion for life!"
This was the seventh time that Tiantian threw him back onto the bed.
"Broken ribs are nothing to be proud of, Lee," Tenten retorted.
He pouted in grievance.
Neji tried to turn his attention to the exam that was about to begin.
"I know Naruto's record very well." He defended himself, "That kind of unchanging last-place player is no threat to me at all."
"I bet you said that last time," Tenten said sarcastically.
Neji resisted the urge to retort.
The frustration and shame flowed through his body like electricity, and even though it had been two weeks, he could still remember it clearly.
The match between him and Shino was simply a disgrace. He spent a lot of time and energy, but he didn't even hit the opponent with a punch. In the end, he realized that he had been fooled from beginning to end...
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
"This time is different."
"Of course it's different," Tenten scoffed, leaning against Lee's hospital bed.
Li happily moved to make room for her. He was eating the hospital's special rice pudding, which only he liked.
"I won't take this lightly again, Tenten," Neji said firmly.
Tiantian snorted, obviously not believing what he said. She stretched out her hand and hooked her little finger.
"Here, pull the hook."
Neji glared at her hand in disgust.
"No."
Li protested unhappily:
"This is a solemn oath, my friends."
"What's wrong?" Tenten asked with a smile, wagging her finger, "Is it too childish for the high and mighty young master of the Hyuga family?"
Neji sighed helplessly and reached out, hooking his fingers between hers.
Lee and Sakura both had smiles on their faces.
"Show us your true abilities, Neji," Tenten said.
Neji nodded.
Li put down the pudding and stretched out his finger, hooking it between theirs.
“I expect the same from my opponents!”
Neji turned to him and couldn't help but smile.
"If I promise to come back and broadcast live to you, you will stay in bed and not go anywhere?"
Lee nodded excitedly.
"I promise!"
******************
"It's just an exam, is it necessary to make such a fuss?" Sakura said as she walked towards the rest area.
"The third exam is not only a test for the contestants," Kakashi explained as he walked up to the stands, "it is also a chance for the host village to show its strength to other nations."
"So it's both a show-off and a deterrent." Sasuke put his hands in his pockets and concluded.
Kakashi nodded.
"That's right, so this time not only will the Kages from other villages come to watch the battle, but also their guards and captains."
He patted Sakura on the back, "Try to keep a low profile, okay?"
"Yes, teacher." They answered in unison and walked into the stadium.
The arena was packed with people.
In addition to the villagers of Konoha Village, there are also many people from surrounding villages who come here to see this event. For many people, this may be their only chance to get close to the ninja world and experience the strongest military force of the Land of Fire.
Sakura patted his shoulder and Sasuke looked up to see her handing him a clear glass bottle, the liquid inside gleaming in the sunlight.
“Here we go again,” she said.
Sasuke sighed helplessly, took the chakra recovery potion, opened the lid, and took a few sips.
Sakura took the bottle and checked his condition again, then they waited in silence for the game to begin.
"Are you still upset about losing to that bug?"
Kankuro turned around and glared at his sister.
"The game has begun," Temari reminded him. Kankuro came back to his senses and turned his attention to the center of the arena.
This match was between Uzumaki Naruto and Neji, and Neji was not wearing the black team uniform.
"So," Temari asked, pointing at the two people on the field, "Who do you think will win?"
Kankuro tilted his head and rubbed his chin, carefully observing the two ninjas waiting in the arena.
"To be honest, I didn't know what was going to happen. I missed the golden boy's game."
Temari sighed.
"Me too."
"It will surely be over soon," Kankuro affirmed, then narrowed his eyes.
Temari raised an eyebrow.
"The black-haired one? The Uchiha? He nearly knocked his opponent into the ground."
Kankuro nodded.
"Both possibilities are possible, especially if that Naruto's strength is similar."
He barely noticed when Gaara walked up to him, Gaara was always quiet and kept to himself.
Kankuro noticed that the dark circles under Gaara's eyes were heavier, he must have been getting very little sleep lately.
Gaara had been staying with Maki-sensei as long as he could, and Kankuro knew that Gaara's recent insomnia had something to do with their sudden change of plans.
He would never tell Temari, but he was... glad that they didn't attack Konoha Village. He liked the atmosphere here. Although it was too humid, too clean, and too... comfortable, he liked the people here, the relaxed atmosphere here, and even the green plants everywhere.
He didn't want to be an enemy of this place.
The game started.
