Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 32 - 30: Kakashi: Teach? Nah, I’d Delegate

"Yo, discussing strategy?"

"Sensei."

"Sensei."

Both Tenten and Garou greeted him casually, while Kasumi gave a small bow, saying nothing as usual.

Kakashi smiled. "Tenten, Garou's not wrong. Everyone has limited energy. You've got real talent with ninja tools. There's no need to compromise that just to match someone else's skill set."

"But..."

"Your reasoning is good," Garou chimed in, his tone calm and analytical, "but the direction's slightly off. Your strength lies in taijutsu and tool manipulation. If you're learning ninjutsu, the goal shouldn't be to replace those strengths, but to enhance them. Use it to restrict the enemy, create openings."

Tenten fell into thought, nodding slowly. "Makes sense. Then what kind of jutsu should I focus on?"

"Start with defensive and control-based techniques," Garou said. "You might also draw inspiration from the puppet techniques used by the Sand Village."

"We don't build puppets," he added, "but their tactics, setting up traps, misleading enemies, are adaptable. Tools can do the same job."

"You could develop tool-based substitutions or chakra-triggered transformation traps. Stuff that forces the opponent to hesitate or misread your movements."

Tenten nodded enthusiastically and quickly pulled out a small, worn notebook. She flipped through pages filled with sketches, ideas scribbled in the margins, and experimental mechanism layouts. She began jotting down everything Garou had said.

Kakashi gave a subtle nod.

With Garou on the team, teaching had never been easier. The kid broke down concepts better than some actual instructors Kakashi had worked with in Anbu.

"I'm no ninjutsu expert," Garou added, "but Kakashi-sensei definitely is."

"Right. Our client's still finishing her preparations, said she'd be ready 'soon,' so we've got a bit of time. Here," Kakashi said, pulling out a stack of chakra nature test papers, "Want to give it a try?"

He handed one each to Tenten, Kasumi, and finally Garou.

Garou simply shook his head, eyes distant.

He already knew his situation. His inability to use nature transformations wasn't due to an imbalance in chakra or a lack of talent.

It came from the Bodhi Seed sealed within his mind.

Testing his nature affinity would be meaningless.

Besides, he didn't buy the whole just a bit of time line Kakashi had dropped earlier.

Tenten and Kasumi pressed their chakra into the papers.

Tenten's paper turned to earth and crumbled away into dust, while Kasumi's crinkled and wrinkled unevenly.

"Lightning and Earth," Kakashi muttered, eyebrows slightly raised in surprise. "Tenten's Earth affinity gives us an easy starting point. There's one jutsu in particular that's a great match."

He leaned in, speaking softly to keep others from overhearing, and described a technique.

Tenten's eyes widened with excitement. She nodded eagerly.

Garou remained silent but approved internally. It was a defensive technique and suited Tenten's close-quarters, projectile-heavy fighting style perfectly.

"After that," Kakashi continued, "you should work on Earth Clone and Swamp of the Underworld. Learn those three, and you'll have a solid foundation."

Then he turned to Kasumi. "What about you?"

"Uh... me?" Kasumi blinked, clearly caught off guard.

"Any thoughts?"

"I'm just... not used to this yet," she said, eyes flicking across the group with nervous energy.

"...It's only a C-rank mission," Kakashi said lightly.

But Garou noticed the minute shift in her body language. Her fingers tightened, her breath hitched slightly.

"I'll push through it,"Kasumi said quickly, tone shifting to something more composed. "As for ninjutsu... I think everything you said makes sense. I'll follow your lead, Sensei."

Kakashi nodded. "Then start with lightning chakra control. Once you get a feel for it, I'll teach you something tailored."

"Yes, sir."

The direction was solid. Execution would take time, but for now, the mission took precedence.

An hour passed.

Garou glanced at the mansion and frowned subtly. "How much longer?"

"Who knows?" Kasumi said softly. "I heard noblewomen can take hours to get ready, especially if they're traveling. They'll want every detail perfect."

"Ninjas have it easy," she added in a quieter voice. "We don't dress up when we go out. Not unless it's undercover. And even then, we end up sweating through it anyway."

Tenten groaned, "I haven't even used any of the stuff my mom gave me."

"You actually own that kind of stuff?" Garou blinked.

He always assumed Tenten was the no-nonsense type, practical to the core.

"My mom bought it for me! I didn't ask!"

"No shame in that," Kakashi said with a smile beneath his mask. "Everyone likes to feel pretty sometimes."

"Seriously, I don't use it!"

"Ha!"

Laughter bubbled up among the three. The tension lifted, even if just briefly.

Then, a sharp whinny echoed down the street.

A horse.

Garou straightened immediately.

"She's here."

The group fell into a brief silence as a finely-kept carriage came into view, wheels whispering over the cobbled road. Behind a delicate curtain embroidered with phoenix feathers, a woman peeked out. Her makeup was flawless, and her attire exuded both elegance and command.

"Kakashi-san," she called out, "I'll be counting on your protection."

"You can rest easy. My team and I will ensure your safety," Kakashi said.

Lady Sakuraba lowered the curtain. "Then let's go. I'd like to reach the Temple of Fire by tomorrow night."

"We'll make it."

The lady didn't linger for pleasantries. Within moments, the carriage began rolling forward.

Garou walked beside it, his footsteps steady. He pulled out a book from his belt pouch, eyes scanning the pages.

Tenten nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Maybe put that away now? If she sees you spacing out, she might complain."

"We're still inside the capital. It's safe," Garou replied evenly. "Once we're outside the wall, I'll stop. Besides, I'll probably finish by then."

"What are you reading?"

"Sealing Techniques."

Garou wasn't secretive like Kakashi. He held the book openly, turning each page. "I've got beginner and intermediate scrolls in my bag. Want one? We've got time. Might as well pass it usefully."

"Ugh..." Tenten grimaced.

"I still have nightmares from the last time I tried learning sealing arts. That stuff is torture. It's definitely not light reading."

"What a shame. These are valuable," Garou said with a smirk as he flipped another page.

Kasumi, as always, kept silent. Only in private or with familiar people did her real personality show. Right now, her quietness made it easier for Garou to read uninterrupted.

As for Kakashi... well, the man might toss them a surprise training session at any moment.

Totally unpredictable.

They left the capital without incident.

And yet...Garou didn't close his book.

He maintained the same easygoing posture, head tilted to one side, lips slightly parted as he read.

But underneath, he had quietly used his sensory perception to observe the surrounding s.

Someone was tailing them.

They picked up the trail just outside the city and had been following ever since.

Tenten glanced over her shoulder, frowning faintly.

Garou caught her eye and gave a subtle hand motion, barely perceptible, just two fingers tapping against his thumb.

She understood instantly.

But she said nothing, kept walking.

Within moments, she spotted the stalker.

A wandering swordsman, or at least dressed like one. His appearance was plain, weathered cloak, travel gear, a slightly worn katana at his hip.

But he was too interested in the carriage. His eyes returned to it too often, lingered too long.

As soon as they cleared the last road outpost, the man disappeared into a side street.

But not long after... someone else appeared in the rear crowd.

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