Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 21: Copy Ninja’s Test Begins

When Garou stepped back into the classroom, several heads immediately turned his way.

It had been a while since most of them had seen him. Aside from Tenten, Lee, and a few others, the rest seemed unsure of how to approach him.

Part of it was unfamiliarity.

Though they were all technically still academy students awaiting graduation, Garou's standing among them had already become something entirely different.

Even Neji couldn't deny it.

Kasumi quietly slipped back into the classroom too, instantly retreating to a corner with her head lowered, like someone suffering from severe social anxiety.

The sight nearly made Garou chuckle.

He casually took a seat and waited for team assignments to begin.

Before long, a teacher walked in and gave a brief speech about their futures, mostly encouragement and expectations.

Then came the jonin, each one arriving to collect the team of three assigned to them. One by one, students were led out until only six remained in the classroom.

Garou glanced around.

Lee, Neji, and a girl named Nami were the others still waiting.

'So Guy-sensei's definitely going to be Lee's teacher. No surprise there. But who is going to be my team leader?'

As he was mulling that over, a loud blast echoed through the room as a figure suddenly materialized on the teacher's podium in a blur of green and energy.

Garou buried his face in his palm.

Of course. Only he would make such a ridiculous entrance.

"Guy-sensei!" Lee leapt up, eyes sparkling.

"Lee! And the two radiant sparks of youth beside you! Come, your springtime of youth awaits!" Guy beamed, flashing his perfect teeth like a spotlight in the dark.

Neji stood silently, expression unreadable.

Whether he was pleased or not, impossible to tell. He rose and followed Guy without a word, while Lee immediately began chattering excitedly beside his mentor.

"Take care, Guy-sensei," Garou called out politely.

Tenten clenched her fist under the desk.

'Yes! I'm on Garou's team!'

Then she tilted her head.

'Wait... why is she on the team too?'

Kasumi met her eyes and offered a small smile.

"Garou, heh, even though you couldn't be under my command, your sensei's almost as good. Just lost to me again in a duel today," Guy said with a grin.

Guy beamed with pride, flashing another radiant smile. "I'll be off. Be patient. Your teacher should be here soon."

Kasumi turned her attention to Garou. "You know Guy-sensei?"

"I can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, so during some physical training, I ran into him. He gave me pointers, even recommended me to others."

Garou kept it simple.

Tenten finally understood, though she still internally dismissed Guy-sensei as little more than a muscle-bound weirdo. She couldn't help feeling Neji deserved a more serious mentor.

"Don't underestimate Guy-sensei just because of how he acts," Garou said, reading their expressions. "When it comes to taijutsu, there's no one stronger than him in the Leaf."

Tenten propped her chin in one hand, sighing. "So why isn't our sensei here yet?"

Kasumi didn't comment, but the question clearly lingered in her mind too.

Garou smiled faintly. "Probably lost."

"Or maybe something blocked the path."

"Or maybe he stopped to help an old lady cross the street. Who knows?"

Outside, a man strolled at an almost lazy pace, nose buried in a well-worn book.

Kakashi paused just outside the door.

'This kid's too sharp.'

But at the same time, Kakashi felt a flicker of genuine surprise. Even if Guy had spilled a few hints, it was clear Garou had picked up on his presence.

'Sensory perception, huh? Interesting.'

That made this trio even more balanced than he'd expected.

After a pause, Kakashi finally walked in.

"Yo. Sorry I'm late."

Tenten and Kasumi glanced at each other, instantly united by the same grim realization.

Their teacher was one of those. There was no guilt and rush for being late, just unapologetic tardiness.

Garou simply smiled. "Kakashi-sensei."

"No need for honorifics," Kakashi said, still reading. "For those who don't know me, I'm Kakashi. I'll be your jonin instructor, at least for now. Who knows what the future holds?"

With that, he vanished from sight.

"Keep up."

Garou immediately flickered after him.

Tenten and Kasumi hadn't expected such a sudden start, but to their credit, both reacted quickly, slightly slower than Garou, but still managing to keep up.

They followed him to a rooftop.

Kakashi sat casually on the edge, his face half-covered as always, a certain infamous orange novel in his hand.

Any sense of professionalism had already been tossed to the wind.

He didn't care anymore, not since Garou already guessed so much about him.

Image maintenance was not worth the trouble.

Once the three had caught up, Kakashi gave a single nod.

"Good. Not bad at all. Sit. No class today. Just some casual conversation."

"Yes," they chorused in sync.

"Let's start with introductions. Hobbies, interests, what you hate. That sort of thing."

He pointed at Tenten.

"You first."

"I'm Tenten. I like fortune-telling and studying weaponry. I hate pickled plums."

Kakashi nodded. "Fortune-telling and weaponry. Interesting. Next."

"I'm Kasumi Gekko. I like swordsmanship and... protecting my teammates in battle. I hate being dismissed or belittled."

"Good passion," Kakashi nodded.

Then his gaze fell on Garou.

"Garou Zenin. I like experimentation and helping others grow stronger. I hate... losing people."

A long pause followed.

Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly, but he nodded.

"Your turn, Sensei," Garou prompted.

"I'm Kakashi Hatake. Interests... classified. Dislikes... also classified."

His tone was casual, one eye squinting with obvious amusement.

Garou didn't even flinch.

He knew Kakashi never answered that question seriously. Not that it mattered, his constant obsession with Icha Icha Paradise gave away more than he probably realized.

"Well, now that we all know each other... Tomorrow morning, come to Training Ground 44, Forest of Death. Don't eat breakfast."

His tone shifted, deadly serious.

"Or you'll regret it."

"Yes, sir!"

"Dismissed."

Kakashi vanished again, gone in a blink.

Tenten pouted. "Seriously? Our teacher doesn't seem much more reliable than Guy-sensei..."

Tenten turned to him, suspicious. "Garou-kun... you know something, don't you?"

Garou nodded. "Let's just say... our teacher isn't ordinary. You've probably heard of him already. The Copy Ninja."

Tenten and Kasumi gasped in unison.

"You mean... that Copy Ninja Kakashi?!"

Garou gave a subtle nod.

Everyone in the village, at some point, had heard of the man who'd copied over a thousand jutsu. His reputation was legendary.

Tomorrow's exam would be no joke.

And Garou didn't want his team underestimating their opponent like Naruto and Sasuke once had.

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