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

Chapter 18: Kasumi Gekko

"Wait! You made those?" Tenten's eyes lit up. Suddenly it made sense why Garou had been so scarce lately.

He gave a small nod, then pressed a finger to his lips. "Tell Lee, but not anyone else."

"Got it!"

---

Three days later.

News arrived.

The formula had passed inspection, approved for sale.

Word had already spread through the grapevine. The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans had gotten early notice.

The Academy's graduation exam period had just wrapped up, and the bulletin board announcement about the herbal soak spread like wildfire through Konoha.

Two main distribution points.

Konoha Hospital and The Nara Clan's herbal shop

---

Fourth morning.

Garou arrived at work to find the hospital packed.

Lines stretched from the front desk out the door and down the street. Dozens of villagers and shinobi alike waited, creating a swarm of bodies and voices.

Among the sea of heads, one spot stood out, upside-down feet in the air.

Garou walked over.

"Guy-sensei… what are you doing?"

"Off-duty today!" Might Guy said with a grin, still holding his flawless handstand pose.

"Thought I'd see if I could get a bottle. If not, no problem, lining up is a form of youthful endurance training!"

Garou lowered his voice. "Guy-sensei, actually…"

"Garou-kun!"

A cheerful voice rang out from the front of the line.

Tenten, waving, stood not far from the entrance. Behind her, a timid-looking girl shrank back the moment Garou made eye contact.

The uniform… posture… he vaguely remembered she was in his class. But he didn't know her name.

He squinted slightly. She always sat near the window, kept quiet, and avoided group work.

Then it clicked.

"Oh! You're the girl who ended up next to me that one time I slipped in late."

"I'm… terribly sorry. You probably don't remember me. I'm Kasumi Gekko. Pleased to meet you."

Her voice barely carried over the crowd, shy to the point of vanishing.

Garou smiled politely. "Right, Kasumi. I remember now."

"It's okay. I always sit in the corner. Most people don't notice I'm there."

Tenten glanced behind her. "This crowd's getting out of hand. They're spilling into the street. Can you come up with a better system?"

'Ah. That explained the call for help.'

He surveyed the mess. People elbowing for space, conversations overlapping, tension high.

"Yeah, this isn't ideal," he agreed. "Let me talk to the staff. We'll switch to a number system, tickets, maybe staggered windows."

"Thanks a ton!" Tenten pressed her palms together in gratitude.

Garou waved it off. "It's fine. It really is chaos out here."

"Wait, wait…! are you the genius who made this formula?" someone blurted from nearby.

Others picked up the thread.

"That's amazing! Is the effect real?"

"How'd you think of it at your age?"

"Is it expensive?"

"…Are you single?"

At first, it was reasonable.

Curiosity about ingredients, dosages, effects.

Then things spiraled.

Garou's expression shifted from awkward to panic.

He bolted.

Tenten stifled a laugh behind her hand. But part of her felt guilty. If she hadn't called him over, maybe he wouldn't have gotten mobbed.

Kasumi peeked around her shoulder, quietly watching Garou's retreating form.

He finally ducked into the hospital's medical wing, a place few dared enter without cause, and exhaled in relief.

'Too intense…'

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