"Wahahaha!" She suddenly planted her hands on her hips and threw back her head in a signature hearty laugh. "I really am a genius!" Amid her laughter, she inadvertently released a ripple of chakra that cracked the floor of the meditation room in a spiderweb pattern.
Jiraiya scratched at his head anxiously. "That's not fair! How did both of you succeed on your first try?!" He closed his eyes and guided the natural energy with even greater focus.
Neji keenly noticed that Jiraiya had learned his lesson this time and was no longer rushing for quick results. Orange chakra seeped from his body like a thin mist, gradually forming symmetrical orange markings across his face—from between his brows, extending outward and flowing down from the corners of his eyes to beneath his cheeks. The mysterious patterns seemed to contain boundless scorching energy.
"Ha! I succeeded too!" Jiraiya suddenly leaped up, moving several times more nimbly than usual. He excitedly swung his arms and accidentally released a burst of chakra.
"Boom!"
A huge hole was blasted through the wall of the meditation room, sending wood chips and dust flying everywhere. Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh... sorry. I got too excited."
Neji shook his head helplessly. "It looks like this isn't the right place to test your new abilities. Let's go to the training ground."
The three eagerly followed Neji. Orochimaru walked with his usual elegance, but Neji noticed that every step he took left a faint green imprint of light on the ground, which faded only several seconds later. Tsunade, meanwhile, was like a child who had received a new toy, constantly clenching and unclenching her fists, each movement scattering golden motes of light. Jiraiya was the most exaggerated of all, practically hopping along as he went, occasionally punching at