The third preliminary round of the Chunin Exams concluded, and the main competition would be held a month later. During this time, candidates would have the opportunity to prepare and undergo targeted training.
More importantly, it was necessary to notify the daimyo and ninja leaders from various countries, informing them that the preliminaries were over and they could come to watch the final selection.
Kaguya used this period to intensify her training, focusing not on conventional ninjutsu and tactics but on refining her chakra and increasing her body's chakra capacity.
Chakra is the foundation of all ninjutsu. Without chakra, ninjutsu is like water without a source or a tree without roots, unable to flourish.
Kaguya was different from others. While others needed to refine chakra and train in ninjutsu simultaneously, she had no such concerns. With the Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's physique and the Tenseigan, she only needed to enhance her chakra, and the skills would naturally unlock.
This was her unique advantage.
During this period, many things happened.
As the chief examiner, Hayate Gekko was killed, and the murderer was not found. Only Kaguya knew what had happened, but she couldn't reveal it now, and even if she did, no one would believe her.
What worried her now was Yugao Uzuki. In the original story, she was Hayate Gekko's fiancée. When Kaguya went to find Yugao, she discovered there was no engagement; they weren't even close friends, just colleagues in the Anbu.
Kaguya didn't know if this was the butterfly effect caused by her presence, but it did make her feel relieved.
Kaguya sat cross-legged on her bed, fists pressed together, thumbs tightly locked, as chakra continuously gathered from within her body.
Suddenly, she stretched her arms and lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Refining chakra was much easier than practicing ninjutsu, but also much more tedious. Spending the entire day on the bed felt very boring.
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt her chakra had increased again, seemingly more than before.
After training for so many days, it was time to relax. After all, balancing work and rest was important. Kaguya found a reason for herself.
She got out of bed, went to the bathroom to freshen up, changed out of her pajamas, and put on casual clothes, ready to make something to eat.
To facilitate her training, Kaguya had moved out of the Hyuga household and rented her own place.
This wasn't the only reason; another reason was that her Tenseigan was gradually awakening, occasionally causing strange occurrences that were easily noticeable.
Living on her own was comfortable and free. She could do whatever she wanted, eat whatever she liked, and not have to see her father's face every day. The Hyuga family's strict discipline was also a secondary reason for moving out.
"What should I cook today?" Kaguya opened the fridge and found it empty. She remembered that she hadn't gone grocery shopping for a long time.
After buying the things, Kaguya returned home.
She opened the door, changed into slippers, and while walking, she took off her clothes and threw them onto the sofa. Picking up a towel, she decided to take a shower first. It was June, and the weather was getting hotter, making the ninja outfit feel stifling. After being outside all day, she had sweated quite a bit.
Entering the bathroom, she took off her underwear and placed it in the basket nearby. She turned on the water, and the cool stream cascaded over her fair skin, instantly washing away the heat. Kaguya let out a soft moan, feeling utterly refreshed.
Suddenly, Kaguya's eyes widened as a sharp pain struck them, far more intense than any she had felt before. It felt as if her eyeballs were being torn apart.
Clutching her eyes, she bit down hard on her lip to stifle a scream. Her lip began to bleed, and drops of blood fell to the floor, forming small red splashes.
Eventually, the pain became unbearable, and Kaguya lost consciousness.
When Kaguya woke up, it was already morning.
She struggled to get up from the floor and turned off the shower. Lying on the wet floor all night had left her feeling weak and feverish, and she sneezed. Her head throbbed painfully, and standing felt like stepping on cotton.
Damn it, this Tenseigan! Of all times to act up, it had to choose while she was bathing. It was really troublesome.
What time is it now? Kaguya, still naked, staggered out of the bathroom, almost falling. She felt her forehead, which was burning hot.
She reached her bedroom and grabbed her alarm clock.
It was already eleven o'clock.
She hadn't expected to be unconscious for so long, and this time was...
Just then, the distant sound of explosions reached her ears.
Kaguya trembled.
The Konoha Crush Plan had begun.
Ignoring her weak body, Kaguya quickly put on her underwear and socks, grabbing her pants and putting them on while rushing to the door. She hastily donned her ninja outfit, put on her ninja shoes, and burst out the door.
She needed to get there before it was too late.