Compared with Ninjutsu that required hand signs, signless Ninjutsu offered many advantages in combat. It could often catch an enemy off guard.
It was also much harder to defend against.
Just then, two figures walked over.
"This isn't the place for a fight!"
The cool voice made Hozuki Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin pause.
They turned toward the newcomers.
"Kimimaro!" Karin cried in delight.
The arrival of those two only made Sasuke's team more wary.
"Let's go."
"If you want to fight for first place, pass this exam first."
"As far as I know, the third exam is where individual strength gets tested," Kimimaro said calmly.
Hozuki Suigetsu nodded and put away his blade.
Seeing that the others no longer meant to fight, Sasuke and Naruto let the Chidori and Rasengan in their hands fade. Both breathed a little easier.
"See you at the third exam, Uchiha kid!" Hozuki Suigetsu said with a grin.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke snorted but gave no other reply.
A moment later, the five left.
Sakura let out a long breath. "We're done for. Those three were hard enough to deal with."
"And Kimimaro and Haku are obviously even stronger!"
Naruto and Sasuke said nothing. Clearly, they agreed.
The hierarchy among the five was plain to see.
The boy named Kimimaro was their leader.
But the exam had to go on. The three steadied themselves and set off again.
To their relief, they encountered no other powerful teams. After defeating a trio from the Sand Ninja Village, they obtained an Earth Scroll.
The third exam was set to begin three days later, giving everyone who had passed time to rest.
In three days, the Kage of the three hidden villages would also appear at the venue to watch the matches together.
Word had spread that the Kage of