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

Garou wasn't worried about Kasumi.

The Gekko Clan had swordsmanship running in their bloodline.

On top of that, they were closely tied to the legacy of the Second Hokage. That alone was more than enough for her to absorb for the foreseeable future. Even for Garou himself, possessing Tobirama's swordsmanship notes didn't mean instant mastery.

He was still slowly digesting it all.

There was no doubt, the Second Hokage was a genius. His personal writings revealed his intricate thought process.

A seamless fusion of genjutsu, ninjutsu, and swordplay, blending not just speed and precision, but also a deliberate touch of unpredictability and technical complexity.

Techniques like Dance of the Crescent Moon, Moon Shadow, and even Flying Thunder God Slash… all of them embodied his unorthodox approach.

Garou had no issue learning swordplay.

The real problem was transforming that inherited knowledge into something he could truly call his own.

Right now, he had a small idea brewing.

A high-speed, heavy-blade technique.

By stripping away the flair and flashy feints, and incorporating his own bootleg version of "Monster Strength," he could make his strikes vastly more explosive, trading elegance for overwhelming impact.

Once his chakra-forged sword was completed, he would finally be able to experiment freely.

"So, are you going to help me forge that chakra blade next?"

"That's way too casual," Tenten replied, shaking her head. "First, I need to study the compatibility ratio between chakra steel and base alloys. I've got to find a balance that actually holds under stress."

Garou offered, "We could test the chakra steel threads first. Use mine. They're mostly used for support functions anyway, doesn't matter if the results aren't perfect."

Tenten also had a small stash of chakra steel.

She had earned it as a reward for designing and refining specialized ninja tools. Just a tiny bit, barely enough to create two or three strands of chakra wire.

"Uhh… no need to use yours."

"Come on. They're test pieces anyway. The final product's going to be my sword."

That argument made sense.

Tenten paused for a moment, then nodded. She was convinced.

With that settled, Garou left her house and made his way toward the Aburame Clan's territory.

The Aburame compound sat along the village's outskirts, bordered by a vast, ancient stretch of forest. To the untrained eye, it looked like any other woodland but anyone foolish enough to enter without permission would be immediately swarmed by insects, the clan's first line of defense.

Garou arrived at the edge of the compound.

There were no guards. But he could already sense dozens, maybe hundreds, of kikaichū hidden in the tall grass near the roadside, watching him in eerie silence.

Any true threat would've been eliminated long before reaching this path.

Every clan had their own way of guarding their home.

Garou stepped forward, walking slowly and steadily into the compound. Before long, insects began to stir from deep within the forest. They flew up in twisting streams, eventually coalescing into the shape of a humanoid silhouette.

It was Aburame Shibi.

He didn't say a word. He simply revealed himself for a moment… then turned and silently vanished into the woods.

Yeah… that was very on-brand for the Aburame.

Garou followed without question.

Eventually, they arrived at a secluded courtyard, well-maintained and hidden deep within the trees.

Shibi was already there, standing with two other shinobi. The three of them seemed to be in the middle of a tense discussion.

When they noticed Garou, Shibi gestured him over with a wave of his hand.

"Garou, these are my clanmates, Aburame Torune and Aburame Muta."

"Pleasure to meet you," Garou said with a polite nod.

Torune was known as one of Danzo's closest operatives in Root, and Muta was a Special Jonin with deep ties to the Medical Corps.

Technically speaking, Garou had the lowest rank among them. But neither Torune nor Muta dared look down on him.

After all, Garou's talent and accomplishments far exceeded what anyone his age should have been capable of.

A person like that wasn't judged by rank.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Garou Zenin."

After the greetings, Garou took a moment to observe the two men more closely. Despite their high collars and shaded visors, their appearances were distinct, easily recognizable to anyone who'd done their homework.

"I didn't expect you to visit so soon," Shibi said. "But this works out well. With Torune and Muta already here, would you like to begin the test now, or return another day?"

"Wait, already?"

Garou blinked, a little caught off guard. He had come here expecting a conversation, just to feel out the clan's stance.

But judging by the mood, the Aburame had already made up their minds.

That was… unexpected.

"If your method works, it's better to begin cooperation immediately," Torune said flatly.

He clearly spoke on behalf of one of the stronger voices within the clan.

Shibi gave a faint smile and turned to Muta. "The Medical Division has already begun limited cooperation. We're just deciding which insect species to prioritize."

Muta nodded in agreement.

Garou stood there, a bit dazed.

'This clan is bizarrely decisive… It's nice, but also a little unnerving.'

Still, after a moment's thought, he gave a nod. "Then prepare a few different species. The evolution process depends on chance, and I'm not exactly sure which ones will adapt best."

"Understood. Follow me," Shibi said, turning to lead them deeper into the woods.

Once inside, he opened a small vial and carefully sprinkled its contents across the forest floor.

Garou sniffed the air.

"This is an insect attractant, right?"

"…Yes. That's correct," Shibi said, a little surprised.

Garou added thoughtfully, "There's a compound in this that's similar to the one used in the poison we examined earlier."

"…?!"

Shibi's expression turned to outright shock.

"You could tell that just from smell?"

"Yeah. The Cordyceps has a distinct scent. There was only a trace of it in the poison, but I recognized it right away."

Shibi frowned, deep in thought. Cordyceps was indeed one of the core components.

This particular herb only grew in specific regions of the Land of Fire, mostly under tight control. Its supply was limited on purpose. That control connected back to both the Aburame and Root.

Which meant… if someone had accessed such a precise compound…

There was only one likely culprit.

Orochimaru.

Other villages might've stolen or replicated it, but the odds weren't high.

"…I see. Thank you for the insight, Garou," Shibi said, face serious.

Torune's expression darkened.

'Could he be preparing for a direct attack on Root?'

"Garou, did you study that poison in detail?" Muta asked with a sharp gaze.

"I saw it once. In the lab."

"…Just once?"

She didn't believe him.

Garou didn't elaborate. He simply offered a faint, unreadable smile.

Shibi let it go. "Let's set that aside for now. How do you want to proceed with the test?"

"I'd like to observe your transformation process first," Garou answered.

"Alright," Shibi nodded.

Muta caught on immediately. So, she stepped back and focused on the task at hand.

Moments later, various insects began to swarm the clearing.

The three elite Aburame moved efficiently.

Each summoned their kikaichū, guiding them to interact with the incoming insects.

In no time, the foreign bugs began to shift, slowly but surely being influenced and changed. Garou focused his chakra sense, narrowing his attention on the subtle fluctuations within each insect's internal chakra flow.

After several minutes of observation, he pulled out a notebook and began sketching diagrams.

The others watched in silence.

'Is he mapping the transformation stages?'

"What's the purpose of these drawings?" Torune asked at last.

"I'm trying to pinpoint the most optimal stage for infusing them with specialized chakra," Garou explained. "Different timings might produce different results. This is just a theory, but it's worth testing."

He drew three arrows along a vertical progression.

[Stage One: Initial Infection]

[Stage Two: Mutation and Partial Evolution]

[Stage Three: Full Assimilation]

At Stage One, the insects resisted fiercely, often attacking each other. But by Stage Three, all resistance faded. They moved in perfect harmony, like a single hive mind.

Garou labeled this stage Assimilation.

Then he drew a line under Stage Two and Stage Three, marking them as the best phases to test chakra infusion.

Torune and Muta exchanged glances, eyes wide.

They knew all this, of course.

It had taken the Aburame generations of trial and error to define and understand these stages.

Garou had deduced it all… just by watching once.

If they hadn't seen it for themselves, they wouldn't have believed it.

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BONUS CHAPTER AT 900

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