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

"The barbecue was amazing! Ugh, I swear, after today I'll be dieting for a whole month!"

"Haha, well, it's not like a Jonin treats us to dinner every day. Gotta take advantage of it!"

Tenten scratched her head sheepishly, cheeks still faintly flushed from the heavy meal. Garou let out a quiet sigh, his sharp eyes briefly scanning the twilight-lit village outside the restaurant. "With the kind of physical activity we do every day, unless we eat like this constantly, it balances out. No need to go on a diet."

"For real?"

"Let's get moving," he added,"We passed the test, but let's be honest, our method wasn't exactly clean."

He gave a faint smile.

Tenten pouted slightly. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll train harder."

"I wasn't calling you the weak link," Garou said evenly. "Kakashi-sensei focused on you because he couldn't pin down Kasumi's position. As for me, I countered our strategy too well. So targeting you made the most sense."

His tone turned serious. "You're a capable shinobi, right, Kasumi?"

"Absolutely! All three of us are top-tier!" Kasumi puffed out her chest with confidence, practically glowing with pride.

Tenten twitched at her words and muttered with exasperation, "That… kind of sounds like you're saying we're unbeatable. Like if I teamed up with the First Hokage or something."

"Hey! I contributed too, okay?" Kasumi huffed, crossing her arms.

Garou gave a nod and turned, motioning toward the exit. "All right, let's hit the training hall."

"Yeah!"

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Guy reluctantly pulled out his wallet, glaring mournfully at Kakashi across the table.

This meal had turned out far more expensive than he'd anticipated. Had he not already agreed to treat everyone, he would've backed out without hesitation.

"Guy," Kakashi said, unusually serious, "your student's emotional stability might be an issue. Keep an eye on it. It'd be a shame to waste that kind of talent."

Guy stopped caring about the cost instantly, exhaling with a furrowed brow. "Yeah… I've noticed too. I'll monitor him closely."

"Let's go."

"Go where?"

"To observe their training. See what teaching methods work best."

Guy chuckled. "Kakashi, having a genius student must be stressful, huh?"

He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Over the last two years, he had watched Garou absorb every bit of taijutsu he'd taught, and then evolve it into something uniquely his own. Training a prodigy like that was often harder on the teacher than the student.

"…Yeah."

"Oh right, while you're training him in ninjutsu, don't forget to keep up his physical conditioning. His taijutsu can't fall behind. Also..."

"Sorry, what was that?"

"Kakashi! You really are my eternal rival!"

---

At the Gekko Clan Estate, It was Garou's first time training in such a professional dojo.

The polished wooden floors gleamed, and the wide space echoed faintly with every movement.

Still, he adapted quickly. Honestly, it wasn't all that different from practicing in the woods, just with more tools and less dirt underfoot.

Like the practice dummies.