As Keiko was leaving the house the next day to meet Lee, Tsunade stopped her. Tsunade wanted to know when Keiko was going to return home. Keiko told Tsunade she was going to be home in a few hours and Tsunade allowed Keiko to leave.
On the way to the training field, Keiko started to get nervous. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see Lee. Well, she did, she was just nervous about him not showing up. Soon Keiko arrived at the training field and Lee was there waiting for her.
"Hey Keiko! I was thinking that you weren't going to how up," Lee said to Keiko. Keiko blushed and told him that her mother wanted to know how long she was going to be gone. Lee nodded and took Keiko's hand.
"So, uh Lee, what do you want to do?" Keiko shyly asked. Lee told Keiko he just wanted to take a walk with her. Keiko nodded and smiled and they went for a walk.
"So, uh, Keiko," Lee nervously started out, "Uh, there is a dance for just Chuunins and Jounins, and I was wondering, do you want to go?" Keiko stopped and looked at the ground. Keiko fought back tears as she spoke to Lee.
"Lee, I would love to, but I can't," Keiko explained to Lee. Lee was confused and he asked Keiko why she couldn't go. "It's because, I'm still a Genin." Lee was shocked. He never expected Keiko to still be a Genin.
"What? Why are you still a Genin Keiko?" asked Lee. Lee was worried about Keiko. She was sixteen and she was still a Genin.
"Lee, I never had the desire to take the Chuunin Exam. I kinda want to take it now," Keiko explained to Lee. Lee smiled and hugged Keiko.
"Well Keiko, let's go to your house and talk to your parents about taking part in the next Chuunin Exam. I'll be there for you if you need me okay?" Lee told Keiko. Keiko nodded and hugged Lee tighter. As soon as Keiko let go of Lee, they went to Keiko's house and talked to Jiraiya and Tsunade about the Chuunin Exams. After Lee left, they told Keiko what they thought.
"Keiko, you may take place in the Chuunin Exams. I can't believe you waited this long to ask if you could take the Chuunin Exam," Tsunade told Keiko.
"I agree with your mother. And about Lee… Are you two dating?" Jiraiya asked Keiko with a grin.
"No Dad! We're not dating, we're just friends," Keiko told her father. Jiraiya smiled and gave Keiko the 'I-Don't-Believe-You-Look'.
"Alright Keiko, go off and entertain yourself until dinner," Tsunade told Keiko. Keiko nodded and left the room.
Keiko was excited that her parents were going to let her take the Chuunin Exam. Keiko went to her room and read until dinner time. Then later Tsunade called Keiko to come to dinner. When Keiko ate dinner all she could think about was the Chuunin Exams and Lee. She could wait to take the Chuunin Exams, but she definitely couldn't wait to see Lee again.