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

"Damn it, he took them back!"

Tenten clenched her fists, frustration boiling over as the bells jingled once more in Kakashi's possession.

She had been just a breath away from grabbing both, seconds from victory.

"Heh heh. Nice teamwork, I'll give you that. But friendly reminder, the time is almost up," came Kakashi's voice from the trees. It echoed like fog drifting through the forest, low and calm, chillingly precise.

It was like the Silent Killing Technique.

Garou's eyes narrowed. The way Kakashi's voice wrapped around the trees made it feel like he could be anywhere, everywhere.

"You're working well as a team," Kakashi continued, "but you've got one glaring flaw. That is…"

Crack!

A branch snapped directly overhead.

"Ahhh!"

Tenten fell, startled, but before she could hit the ground, a rope trap, her own, snapped tight and caught her, twisting midair and yanking her upward. She struggled, arms and legs bound by the rope.

Kakashi dropped silently to the ground in front of her. But before he could make a move, a barrage of sharpened wooden stakes exploded from the treeline, hurtling toward him with deadly speed.

Kakashi blurred out of view with a Body Flicker Jutsu, narrowly dodging the deadly volley.

He landed several meters away, spinning to refocus on Tenten.

Garou burst out from behind a fallen trunk, intercepting just before Kakashi could strike again. His body was a blur, fast, direct, and entirely unhindered by fear or doubt.

Kasumi, silent as a shadow, had already disabled the stake trap mechanism and retreated into the foliage.

But as she turned, she stopped cold.

A silhouette stood behind her.

"I've got you."

Kasumi froze.

"What…?"

She hadn't heard anything. No breath. No crunch of leaf or rustle of cloth.

Thud!

A kick aimed at her side, sudden and powerful, but intercepted just in time.

Garou's foot collided with Kakashi's, redirecting the attack mid-swing.

Kakashi was forced back, sliding slightly across the forest floor. His visible eye narrowed.

'This kid... How did he bypass my Shadow Clone?'

He flexed his fingers slightly.

'Could it be…? Has that reckless maniac been teaching him something?'

He reached up and shifted his forehead protector, revealing the Sharingan beneath.

But then he hesitated.

'No…,' Kakashi thought. 'This isn't the Eight Gates. It's raw, focused muscle control, precise beyond belief.'

'What kind of monster is this kid?'

Garou hadn't opened even a single of the Eight Inner Gates. And yet his body moved like it had. The speed and the power was unnatural for a Genin.

Garou panted lightly, sweat trickling down his jawline.

"You okay?" he asked, turning to Kasumi.

"I-I'm fine… but what about Tenten?"

"She's freed herself. She's holding off the clone. Let's move."