Neji's POV


Neji was running through the forest trying to find Lee and Liana when he heard a fight. Tenten and him stopped to see Liana was standing between Sasuke and a sound ninja while Liana had some ink on her arms looking like whips.

"Should we help," Tenten asked.

"No, she can handle this besides there is a larger level of power here and it is not the sound trio," he said as he watched. Be careful, Liana

He was expecting Liana to attack Sasuke instead she collapsed to her knees and screamed while Sasuke's marks were retreating to his neck as if her scream woke him up. She fell towards the ground and Sasuke caught her before she hit the ground. Neji felt something stir inside him when Sasuke caught her in his arms.

"Let's get them," he said as he and Tenten jumped down to join the group.

Tenten walked towards Lee while he walked over to Sasuke who was now holding her bridal style.

"I will take her, she is my teammate," Neji said and Sasuke nodded.

Sasuke handed her off to Neji and he held her bridal style as well.

"Sasuke, take this scroll and let us leave," the mummy looking ninja said as he placed an earth scroll on the ground and left with his teammates. Sasuke grabbed the scroll and handed it to Neji.

"Here, we don't need another earth scroll," he said as he placed the scroll on Liana.

"Thanks, see you around, Tenten, Lee let's go," Neji said and they left.

They were running to the tower when he felt Liana stirring awake.

Liana's POV

Liana slowly stir awake and felt like she was in air. She looked up to see she was in Neji's arms and the way she saw Neji made him even more romantic than before.

"Liana, are you alright," Neji asked and she felt herself blush.

"Y-Yeah I am fine but what happened," she asked.

"You stood your ground against Sasuke from killing that sound ninja. Then you passed out," he said.

"Really, well then put me down, I can run with you guys," she said.

"No, you just woke up from being past out a few hours. We had to stop a few times to make sure you were alright and to heal Lee. He has recovered as well as you. We need to make up for lost time," he said as they ran faster.

"Glad to see you are awake though, we all are even Neji," Lee said.

"Thanks but I can run," she said but Neji just ignored her even after she gave a bit of an attitude. She reluctantly calmed down a bit and just let Neji carry her the rest of the way.

"Neji, if you need a break, I can carry her for you," Lee suggested.

"No, Lee, I am fine with carrying her. She is not that heavy but fairly light," Neji said as she felt him tighten his grip on her. What is up with Neji, he is acting differently

"Okay, just suggesting.," Tenten said.

"Alright, let's hurry because other ninjas who don't have their other scrolls may try to ambush us by going to the tower. Also we are not in the position to be ambushed," Neji said as they picked up speed.

A few minutes went by and they arrived at the tower. They walked in while Neji still carried her into the tower. Tenten opened the scrolls on top of one another and Gai sensei appeared.

"Hello, you four, glad to see you all made it this far," he said.

"It is great to see you again, Gai sensei," Liana said as he looked from her and Neji.

"About time you two got together, I thought you two would never hit it off," Gai said as he looked at the two of them.

"Oh, no, we are not together, she had another headache. Ever since the first part of the exams, she has been getting these headaches so bad that she collapses to her knees," Neji said.

"Liana, are you alright now," Gai asked.

"Listen, I am fine and I will prove it to you. Neji, put me down," she said and felt him hesitate.

"Neji, please," she said and he reluctantly set her down.

She stood on your own for a few seconds then fell into Neji's arms.

"Liana-," Gai started to say.

"NO, I will not drop out, everyone else tried to convince me but I am not dropping out," she said as she steadied herself with Neji's help.

"Liana, you can barely stand on your own without Neji's help," Lee said.

"Listen, I am still continuing until the end no matter what anyone says," she said as she looked at all of them.

When she looked at Neji you saw a look of hurt in his eyes. Does Neji really care about me that much?

"Neji, I am sorry but I want to keep going," she said but she still saw a look of hurt and worry in his eyes.

"Alright but if you collapse I will intervene no matter what," Neji said and she nodded.

"I guess it is settled then," Gai sensei said.

"Alright, where do we go to now," Tenten asked.

"Well, you four will go to the arena where the other teams are. We are still waiting for the other teams to arrive today. Go to the arena and the other teams will join you," Gai sensei said and they nodded.

She walked with Neji as he helped to keep her up when she felt Gai sensei walking behind her and looking at her.

Gai's POV
Gai was walking behind Liana to catch her if she collapses again but he knew Neji would catch her. Neji cares too much to let anything happen to her

He looked down at Liana's ink choker to see a small purple movement inside it, again. What is going on with that ink, that is no clot

Before he could say anything, they were in the arena and he didn't want to make a scene. He walked up to where the other Jonins were standing with the Hokage. He stood next to Kakashi and watched Liana as she was sort of standing and leaning against Neji.

"Gai, what is wrong with Liana," Kakashi whispered to him.

"I do not know, she doesn't even know. All we know is that she gets these headaches then she collapses to the ground," he whispered back.

"Have you noticed anything else other than the headaches and collapses," Kakashi asked.

"Yes, I noticed a purple movement in her ink bottles," he said.

"Try and get a bottle, then we will see what is in it," Kakashi said and he nodded and saw Liana was clutching her head with her one hand.

He also noticed the Hokage noticed this as well.