Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 48 - 46: My Mental Energy Control Sucks, But Apparently That’s Still God-Tier for Everyone Else

Chapter 48 - 46: My Mental Energy Control Sucks, But Apparently That’s Still God-Tier for Everyone Else

"My control over my mental power still isn't strong enough. If it were, I could gradually manipulate the range and precision of my perception... unlike now."

Garou had just tried to narrow the range while increasing the detail and variety of the information he sensed.

Unfortunately, the moment he added a "number of people" filter, the range plummeted by a kilometer, meaning he lost track of the three chakra signatures he'd been monitoring.

Garou moved silently, leaping to the top of a tree, when he noticed a chakra signature rapidly approaching from below.

And then, a figure leapt gently from the ground up to his perch.

"You sensed something?"

"Sensei? Oh, it's a shadow clone. Yeah... I was experimenting with adjusting my mental power to expand perception. I detected three chakra groups ahead."

Garou kept his voice low.

They were far enough from the main unit that whispering wouldn't be overheard.

"..."

Kakashi's shadow clone clearly wasn't keeping his facial expression in check. Even with a mask covering most of his face, the visible eye was wide in shock.

Garou added quietly, "That's not the important part. What matters is I still can't precisely control the flow of mental power. To verify what's ahead, I need to get a bit closer."

"Understood. I'll escort you," Kakashi's clone whispered.

He might not have taught Garou much in terms of skills or techniques, but no matter what, the boy was his student. He couldn't just let him take risks alone, especially when he was doing this for everyone.

"I'm worried they might be targeting you, or more specifically, the jōnin in our squad. So I think you should preserve your strength, Sensei," Garou said.

Kakashi's clone frowned. The real one had considered this already, of course. But still...

"I'll be cautious. I won't take unnecessary risks."

"Just confirm their numbers and come back," the clone finally said, hesitating before vanishing and returning to the original.

Not far behind, Kakashi blinked and then frowned strangely.

'Controlling mental energy to extend perception?'

That was already in the realm of secret techniques. Mental energy was one of the most mysterious forces in the shinobi world, only a few clans and shinobi even knew how to use it.

'And this kid figured it out by himself?'

That's terrifying intuition.

As for all that "not precise enough" or "still working on control" humble talk? Kakashi dismissed it completely.

Garou had no idea how absurd he sounded.

If he really perfected such precise manipulation, the Yamanaka clan would probably trade their entire set of secret techniques for it.

"Phew..."

"You're not getting tired already, are you?" a small voice grumbled.

Pakkun, perched on Kakashi's shoulder, sniffed the air, already exhausted. If even the substitute was getting tired, it meant break time might be coming.

That would make him very happy.

Too bad.

Kakashi raised a brow. "You've had enough rest. Get down and run with us."

"Ruff!"

"Now."

"...Fine."

"...."

"Kakashi, you've got the direction locked in?" Nobu asked, noticing Kakashi was subtly speeding up.

"Our heading is correct. Just keep running. We need to move faster. He might not have had time to cover his trail," Kakashi replied.

Nobu clenched his teeth and followed.

'As expected of the Copy Ninja.'

Tenten kept glancing behind at Garou.

He was acting oddly quiet, too quiet. It wasn't like him. It reminded her of... Kasumi.

'Wait a minute.'

Garou had dropped back once earlier, maybe to maintain his act, but it could've been to swap places with Kasumi.

'Even though I noticed it first...'

Still, Kasumi was the more natural choice for a swap. Her whole style was about blending into the background. Nobu wouldn't suspect her.

Tenten frowned internally but shook it off.

Now wasn't the time for that kind of thinking. If Garou had switched out, it was because he'd discovered something.

He was probably no longer even near them now.

That made her anxious.

By this time, Garou was already a kilometer away from Kakashi, roughly the edge of Kakashi's perception range. He didn't push further ahead, opting to maintain that buffer.

"I'm still about three kilometers from the group ahead. If I get a bit closer, I can use a mid-tier perception setting and pick up more detail. No need to take unnecessary risks."

"I wonder which squad is tailing us from behind."

"Anbu?"

Garou wasn't trying to die, especially not from something reckless. That would help no one.

After running for a bit, he narrowed his perception range. Instantly, the number of chakra signatures became clearer.

There were several ahead.

One person stood in the middle, while the rest fanned out in a semi-circle, forming a perimeter.

The central one was probably the "Yuichi" Nobu had mentioned.

'The others are Samurai from the Kiyotani clan...

Then there's the group beyond them... but who are they?'

Unfortunately, narrowing the range meant that group was now outside his detection limits.

Judging by the distance, he'd need to advance at least another kilometer to reach them. That would leave him just over a kilometer from Yuichi—dangerously close.

No choice.

Time to take the long way around.

Garou shifted direction. He trusted Kakashi would understand his intent.

Sure enough, as a veteran Anbu captain, Kakashi understood instantly.

Garou taking a detour could only mean one thing.

He suspected the direct approach would lead to detection.

'So, he's already that close to one of them?'

Garou picked up speed.

Not long after, Kakashi finally located Yuichi.

Though Garou was now outside his perception range, Kakashi didn't panic. The kid had excellent situational awareness. He could be trusted.

Had it not been for concern over Tenten and Kasumi, Kakashi might've even approved Garou entering the Chūnin Exams this round.

And yet, in Kakashi's eyes, holding back was a positive trait.

If the boy had insisted on joining the exams no matter what, Kakashi wouldn't have been angry. He'd understand. But a small part of him might've been disappointed.

Garou carefully worked his way around, pausing to consume a military pill and restore stamina.

Then, as Kakashi's actions stirred Yuichi's group, Garou reached the third chakra cluster.

Four people in total. But their presence felt odd, simultaneously powerful and unstable. It wasn't that they were weak... but their chakra signatures fluctuated wildly, like they couldn't control their strength.

In other words: powerful, but weak.

Garou mulled it over for a while, until something clicked. If memory served, the Land of Iron was close to the Village of Artisans.

To get from the Land of Earth to the Land of Iron, they'd have to pass through the Land of Artisans.

And around this time... the "Four Celestial Symbols Men" were active in the Artisan Village.

Those guys relied on ninja tools, powerful, but erratic. Which perfectly matched the "strong yet weak" type.

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