Chapter Ten. Fast rewind, super forward.

- I came in case you needed me to return the favor, but I can see you're all right.

Lee's mind rewinded. At that point, in the last exam, he had been aided by his own team, and by another different healing genious. Nothing like that was going to happen again, he vowed, and the situation had changed so much. Still, he couldn't help remembering the incredible consequences of him helping Sakura.

- You cannot become a bigger idiot even if you try to! – An angry TenTen was still venting her ire at Lee, as the cloth she held against his ear came out soaked in blood.
- I-I cannot argue with that, either... It is my fault I am like this, do not worry about my ear anymore.
- Our chances narrow with every moment we stay inactive. I think you can understand that – Neji's reproach to an already downcast Lee was like overkill. – We have no one with medical skills in our team, and if you keep bleeding, you won't fight well and we'll lose our advantage.
- Understand me, Neji, something had to be done...
- That's the problem with you, Lee, you NEVER understand what your place is. You could have warned us, instead of taking three on one, acting like you're a skilled shinobi. Which you KNOW you are not.

Ignoring the impotent protest from Lee, Neji's eyes swept coldly from side to side.
- Great, now we have company as well.

He stood in a Jyûken position. Two mildly surprised eyes looked back at him.
- As expected from you. Calm down. I'm not here in the mood of fighting.
- How do we know it's not a trap of yours?
- Because for a Hyûga, fighting me would be a waste of time. Besides, I'm not carrying any scrolls with me.

Byakugan eyes scanned through the ninja's body.
- That's true. So what do you want?
- My team has both scrolls and we got separated in a scramble with Mist shinobi. I'm searching for them. that and, well, I happened to see the fight. I think your teammate has guts, he deserves I use my medical skills on him.

Kabuto Yakushi stood calmly in front of TenTen, her guard up, and walked on as calmly as a passer-by going for a walk. The kunoichi gasped in surprise.
- We might have different teams, but we're still Konoha genin, right?
Neji's cold all-seeing eyes didn't seem to agree.
"That's the ninja who was beaten by the Sound wannabes earlier on. Was he testing them as we did before, acting weak just to play pretend? I can feel... he's no common Genin..."

Kabuto placed a chakra-glowing finger in Lee's ear, who squealed in pain.
- It will hurt a bit, I'm cleaning it first, then I'll apply heat to mend it together.
Sure enough, the Taijutsu expert started to squirm and scream, until the healer stopped, cleaning the blood-soaked tip into a piece of cloth. Extending his hand before Lee, he asked:

- Can you see my fingers? How many?
- Five
- Can you follow the movement?
- Yes
- Any retching?
- N-none.
- Feeling dizzy?
- Not at all.
- Jump up a branch and tell me what you feel.
- I feel fine! – Lee called down, his speed returned to his fullest.

- You want something in exchange? – Neji was still considering Kabuto with distance
- Just one thing. Can you point me where Uchiha Sasuke's group has gone?
- Like we're telling you! They have been attacked once, you want to attack them too? - TenTen screamed out in anger.
Kabuto smiled.
- I know that. And I'm not going to attack them, they seem like they could do with a little healing too. While I'm looking for my team, it doesn't hurt to give some help, so most of the Konoha teams arrive to the next stage, does it? That will show the strength of our village.

- What are you talking about, Kabuto-san?- Lee interrupted.
- The Hokage will explain that later. Now, a last advice. Whern you get them, don't open the scrolls out of curiosity. You will end up knocking yourselves up... I've seen lots of teams doing that very same thing, to see if they contain information to arrive safely to the tower. It has an hypnosis jutsu.
- Thank y- Lee was interrupted by Neji, interposing himself between his team and the silver-haired youth.

- You're being too kind for someone who just wants to help. What exactly is your game?
- You are harsh even for a Hyûga. What can I gain from helping you? It's not like I've come to steal your scroll, my team already has both. As I said, my only aim is to help others.
- They went that way – TenTen pointed the medical ninja towards the direction Naruto's team had taken before.
- Thank you, you're very kind. I can see yours is a team that will definitely pass, so see you! –

Kabuto jumped off and quickly swooshed out of sight.
- Let's follow him.- Neji's command wasn't even fully stated before his Byakugan powered eyes swept around.
- What's up, Neji?- TenTen noticed the prodigy wasn't moving.
- We'll spare him... for now. Lee, you're all right? We need to get going.
- Yosh!
"He's no ordinary shinobi, but we cannot afford to lose any more time. If fate wants me to fight him later on, so be it"

Kabuto was smiling. Something was already concealed in his pouch, something worth much more than a simple scroll.

Sakura's voice interrupted his thoughts.
- In an hour and a half, Kiba and TenTen will come to search for us. What if... we do something before they arrive?

She inmediatly laughed playfully in front of an incredulous, blushing Rock Lee, who clearly thought his broken ear was messing up his senses.