Naruto: Can’t Use Ninjutsu? I’ll Create the Strongest Fighting Style

"Kakashi-sensei? What brings you here?"

"I'm here for you," Kakashi replied with a sigh. "The Chūnin Exams are around the corner. You didn't forget, did you?"

He looked mildly exasperated.

Truth be told, Garou had been incredibly busy lately. Even the Hyuga Clan had reportedly reached out to him, and he hadn't found the time to visit them yet.

At this rate, Kakashi honestly wasn't sure if this kid would even manage to attend the exam.

He was starting to feel like he'd been tricked.

"I didn't forget. I've just been... occupied," Garou said.

And besides… this counted as training too, he muttered to himself.

Kakashi handed over a registration form. "Here. Fill this out."

Garou signed it on the spot. As he passed it back, something clicked in his mind.

"Oh right, Kakashi-sensei, you're headed to Lord Third after this, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Could you drop this off while you're there? Thanks."

Garou held out a sealed scroll.

Kakashi took it, giving Garou a look. "What's this?"

"Go ahead and check."

Kakashi cracked open the scroll and read.

His visible eye narrowed with interest.

'Hoh? Telescope Technique? Interesting.'

A modified observation jutsu that used glasses instead of the typical bulky crystal ball, clever. Far more practical for field operations.

And the use of Earth Clones and Water Clones instead of Shadow Clones? Smart.

Most shinobi understood their own chakra better than anyone else. Using elemental clones tailored to their affinity made the tracking process more precise.

And best of all? It was cheap.

Multiple Earth Clones didn't even come close to the chakra cost of a single Shadow Clone.

Cost-efficient. Tactical. Genius-level application.

"You've got a solid idea here," Kakashi said, nodding. "Actually, you could enhance it further, embed explosive tags in the clones for emergency escape or counterattack situations."

Garou's eyes lit up. "I knew you'd come up with something great, Kakashi-sensei!"

"I'll review this in detail. Let's polish it together."

"I'll count on you, then."

When it came to fuinjutsu and barrier techniques, Kakashi wasn't a top-tier specialist, but in terms of ninjutsu innovation, Garou trusted him completely.

He handed over the scroll without hesitation, then informed Kakashi of his next destination before heading out of the Hokage's Office.

The Hyuga Clan.

A while back, Hyuga Hiashi had sought him out, but Garou had been in the middle of working with the Fire Temple at the time. They hadn't had the chance to talk.

And then everything else snowballed, chakra tools, Aburame collaborations, ongoing research.

Now, with the Chūnin Exams just ahead, he couldn't put it off any longer.

Even Hiashi's patience had limits.

Luckily, the Hyuga compound wasn't far. Just across the commercial street near the Hokage Tower.

Garou crossed the road.

"Wait a second. You're…?"

"I'm Garou Zenin. Lord Hiashi asked to meet with me previously."

The gatekeeper gave a quick bow. "The clan head did mention you. Please, follow me."

"Much appreciated."

The Hyuga compound was expansive.

Just past the entrance, he spotted a courtyard filled with wooden dummies, training targets for practicing Gentle Fist. And this was just the main house. The branch family likely had even more impressive facilities.

Garou took in the orderly structure of the estate. Every detail screamed discipline and hierarchy.

The Hyuga had been a major power in Konoha for generations. Their rigid main and branch family system had been instrumental in maintaining internal stability.

But… that same structure came with its flaws.

It safeguarded their bloodline, yes, but it also dulled their edge. Their fighting spirit, their willingness to adapt, had been blunted over time by tradition.

"This is the training hall. Lord Hiashi is inside."

"Send him in," came a deep voice from within.

"Yes, sir."

The attendant opened the sliding door and gestured.

Garou gave a polite nod and stepped inside.

The room smelled faintly of cedar and sweat, fresh signs of recent training.

In the center stood a young girl, wiping sweat from her brow, her arms marked with faint bruises, clear signs she had just finished a session.

That must be...

"My daughter, Hanabi," Hiashi said, offering a faint smile.

"Garou. A pleasure to meet you."

Garou bowed respectfully.

Hanabi tilted her head, inspecting the newcomer.

'So this is Garou?'

He didn't look particularly remarkable at first glance.

"Hanabi, continue your training. I need to speak with Garou."

"Yes, Father."

The girl bowed, then quietly exited the room.

Hiashi wiped his own brow with a towel, adjusted his robe, and sat down across from Garou. He gestured to the tea set between them.

"I've wanted to speak with you for a while, but I hear you've been quite busy."

"That's putting it mildly," Garou chuckled. "Right after I returned from the Fire Temple, I started developing chakra tools. Then the Aburame Clan approached me with a proposal… and on top of that, I've been managing a shadow clone for training purposes."

He didn't mention how close he was to burning out. If not for the recent feedback from his Bodhi Seed, he might've collapsed by now.

"You're being sought out from every direction," Hiashi said, pouring him a cup of tea.

Garou took a sip.

The aroma was rich, the taste subtle, but the aftertaste lingered.

The Hyuga didn't skimp on hospitality.

"I reviewed your adaptation of Gentle Fist. It's a brilliant technique," Hiashi said.

"Not so brilliant," Garou replied. "Since most people can't see chakra points or internal organs, I just bypassed that and targeted vital areas directly."

He wasn't being modest.

He truly didn't think his method was revolutionary, just unbound by traditional thinking.

Hiashi shook his head. "Genius doesn't need to look complicated. Our Gentle Fist has stagnated for years. Yet you, an outsider, managed to breathe new life into it."

Garou didn't know how to respond.

After a pause, he simply said, "It was a fortunate coincidence."

"You don't need to downplay it," Hiashi smiled. "I know where we've fallen short."

Then he leaned forward, voice lowering. "Neji… You're the one who taught him that technique, aren't you?"

'Ah, that explains it.'

Garou had wondered why the Hyuga hadn't reacted at first but later reached out. Clearly, Hiashi only realized the impact of his guidance once Neji began using it effectively.

"I was testing the move when I accidentally injured Guy-sensei. He was struggling with how to train Neji, so I stepped in to offer some ideas."

"And thanks to you, that child didn't get stuck in place."

Hiashi smiled again. "More importantly, seeing Neji made me recognize our own weakness."

"The Gentle Fist is powerful, but against tough external defenses, it's... limited," Garou said honestly.

Hiashi didn't deny it.

"That's why I'd like to propose a trade. An exchange of techniques between our two clans."

"I'm listening."

Hiashi stood, walked into the adjacent room, and returned with a folder.

Inside was a detailed list of what the Hyuga Clan was offering, and what they wanted in return.

Garou read it carefully.

They wanted Gentle Fist: Spiral, the technique Garou had developed. In return, they would offer accumulated Hyuga knowledge on Gentle Fist theory and applications.

A fair deal.

Generous, even.

Still, Garou raised his head. "I'd like to add one more condition."

"Oh?"

"I'd like access to your research on chakra networks and tenketsu points. In exchange, I'll offer my Chakra Needle technique."

Hiashi's expression didn't change, but his silence said plenty.

"You don't think it's worth it?" Garou asked, reading the room.

"As an elder of the village, I truly respect you. But as the head of a clan, I can't agree to that easily."

'Ah. So that's how it is.'

Garou gave a small, understanding smile.

From Hiashi's perspective, it was a one-sided deal, giving away sensitive clan knowledge for a technique that, at first glance, simply condensed chakra into a needle.

But that was only a surface-level judgment.

"You said it yourself. Gentle Fist lacks options against impenetrable defenses. The Chakra Needle is a precise, internal-penetrating jutsu. It's not a standalone weapon, but as a support tool?"

Garou took another sip of tea and added,

"It could be exactly what the Gentle Fist has been missing."

Hiashi said nothing.

But his eyes glimmered, quietly considering the possibilities.

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