Iruka's figure gradually disappeared, and Kaguya knew she had to prepare well for the Chunin Exams. Unlike others who had a three-man team, she was alone. Moreover, her goal wasn't just the Chunin Exams but also to thwart Orochimaru's plan to destroy Konoha.
Not only was Orochimaru difficult to deal with, but his four curse-marked subordinates were also formidable. They were not to be underestimated.
Kaguya took a few steps, intending to go inside, but suddenly stopped. She seemed to sense something.
When she had performed the one-handed hand seals earlier, it had felt exceptionally smooth. The chakra within her flowed without any resistance, to the point where it felt as natural as moving her own arm. It even gave her the illusion that she could perform jutsu without hand seals.
Was it really just an illusion?
Kaguya decided to test it.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Nothing happened, not even a spark.
So, it was an illusion? Kaguya thought to herself.
She was about to leave but then stopped again. She recalled the sensation from earlier, that feeling where it seemed she could release the jutsu just by thinking about it.
Thinking...
A flash of inspiration struck her.
Right, when she had tried it earlier, she hadn't focused on the chakra pathways. Could that be the key?
Kaguya stood in the courtyard, closed her eyes, and calmed her breathing. Her mind gradually became serene.
Then, she suddenly opened her eyes.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A scorching fireball appeared at her mouth out of thin air, shooting towards a distant tree. With a loud boom, the tree exploded, sending shockwaves and flames skyward. The surrounding temperature soared, making the air feel stiflingly hot.
It really worked!
Kaguya couldn't contain her excitement. She had recalled the chakra pathway from the hand seals and directed her chakra accordingly. It worked!
She began to understand the significance of hand seals. They served to focus the mind and ensure that the chakra followed the correct pathways to release the jutsu. Without hand seals, the chakra flow would be chaotic and unable to form the jutsu.
But if one's mental strength was sufficient and their control over chakra was precise, it might be possible to use jutsu without hand seals.
Kaguya was thrilled. Using jutsu without hand seals would significantly enhance combat speed and fluidity. Sometimes, the fraction of a second saved by not forming hand seals could determine the outcome of a battle.
Moreover, the ability to release jutsu without hand seals made them more secretive. Forming hand seals often revealed one's intentions, alerting the opponent to the incoming attack. Without hand seals, the opponent would be caught off guard, increasing the chances of a successful hit.
In a few days, it was time for the Chunin Exams.
In the morning, the sun was bright, the breeze was gentle, and the sky was a clear blue with floating white clouds. The warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, shining on Kaguya's face.
Kaguya, still asleep, felt the discomfort of the bright sunlight. She rubbed her eyes, pulled the blanket over her head, and went back to sleep.
Suddenly, Kaguya woke up with a start, sitting up abruptly from her bed.
"Today is the day of the Chunin Exam!"
Kaguya quickly checked the alarm clock. It was already past seven. She immediately got out of bed, put on her underwear, and hopped on one foot while putting on her socks as she headed to the bathroom.
In no time, she finished washing up, got dressed, and ran out with a piece of bread in her mouth. Halfway out, she remembered something, turned back to grab the fox mask from her bed, and rushed out the door.
She had been too careless. Last night, she had discovered that she could perform jutsu without hand seals, which excited her so much that she trained until midnight and overslept, not even waking up to the alarm.
When Kaguya arrived at the exam venue, there was already a huge crowd outside.
"Thank goodness I made it," Kaguya panted heavily, supporting her knees as her chest rose and fell with her breaths. "Hmm, what's happening up ahead?"
There was a commotion in front, with a crowd gathered around. Kaguya walked over to see what was going on.
Standing at the entrance were two Konoha ninjas, one with a blue headband and the other with three white lines on his face. Rock Lee was sitting on the ground, a red mark on his face indicating he had been hit.
With Lee were Tenten and Neji.
"I think it's best if you all don't take the exam," the ninja with the blue headband said with a smile. "You're all just a bunch of snot-nosed brats."
"Listen up, this is for your own good," said the ninja with three white lines on his face. "The Chunin Exams are very difficult."
"Some people give up being ninjas because of this exam," the blue headband ninja said. "Some even get crippled."
"Even so, I still want to go in," said Sasuke, who was with Naruto and Sakura. "Please dispel the genjutsu."
"Hmm," the ninja with three white lines said. "You've got some skill, but seeing through it isn't enough." With a wicked grin, he suddenly spun and kicked at Sasuke.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and he kicked back.
At that moment, Rock Lee flashed between them, catching both kicks with his hands.
"What?"
"So fast!"
The crowd murmured in surprise at Lee's skill, which was a stark contrast to when he had been hit earlier.
Unexpectedly blocking both attacks, Sasuke's expression became serious as he looked at Lee with newfound respect.
"Hey, this isn't what we agreed on," Neji said, walking over with a hint of annoyance. "You said you didn't want to draw attention and would hide your strength."
"But," Lee blushed, turning to look at Kaguya in the crowd, clenching his fists.
"I see," Tenten said, covering her forehead with a pained expression.