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

Garou's thoughts were racing, his heart surging with anticipation. He took a long breath, slowly exhaling to calm the storm inside.

Now wasn't the time for excitement.

The Bodhi Seed was undeniably powerful, but unlocking its true potential still depended on his own efforts. He couldn't allow himself to get complacent just because of a few early gains.

Thinking back to his sparring match with Guy, Garou felt even more grounded. He'd had to strategize carefully just to deal with a suppressed Might Guy.

Turning on his heel, he slipped out the window and disappeared into the dark, clutching the bundle of herbs he'd picked up.

Training.

That was the only way forward.

From the shadows, Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, quietly exhaled a breath of relief.

Times were different now.

War was less frequent, and while young geniuses still emerged, the situation wasn't as wild as during the last Great Ninja War. And when it came to someone like Garou, his biggest concern was that the boy might grow arrogant too early.

But Garou showed remarkable restraint. Even after developing two or three original jutsu and medical formulas, he remained humble.

His hunger for growth hadn't waned in the slightest.

But then came the headache.

What reward could possibly satisfy someone like Garou?

He was too clever for his own good. Hiruzen had already granted him unrestricted access to the entire archive of jutsu scrolls as a previous reward.

Now he'd created and generously donated a powerful medicinal bath to the Medical Division.

What else could he possibly be given?

Hiruzen rubbed his temples.

He couldn't just ignore this. If word got out that inventing new jutsu or sharing powerful resources didn't earn you a proper reward, who would step up next time?

But the issue was, Garou wasn't even a Genin yet. Promoting him through the ranks was out of the question. It would cause all sorts of political backlash.

After a moment's thought, he called for someone who might help.

"Kakashi, you've heard about the bath formula, right?"

"Yeah. Too bad I couldn't get my hands on it," Kakashi replied, folding his arms.

He'd stopped by earlier that day to check it out, but the ridiculous crowd made him abandon the idea entirely. Instead, he'd opted for his usual walk and light training.

Hiruzen chuckled. "I've got two portions of the bath herbs stashed away, but that's not the point. I'm stuck on how to reward him."

"Money's meaningless to a kid like him."

The Third Hokage spoke plainly.

With the recipe in his hands, plus connections to the Medical Division, the Nara Clan, and the Akimichi Clan, Garou was set for life.

Wealth didn't interest him in the slightest.

Kakashi thought for a moment. "He's been training in kenjutsu lately. If you let him study the Second Hokage's swordsmanship manuals, he'd be thrilled."

"Oh? He's taken an interest in kenjutsu?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't known. Sure, he had his crystal ball technique, but it wasn't as if he had the time to watch Garou's every move.