Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 37 - 35: That Awkward Moment When Everyone Bows at You...

Chiruki stood in silence for a long moment, his thoughts spiraling into doubt and disbelief.

Eventually, he turned toward Kakashi and asked, "Kakashi, how long did it take you to learn sealing techniques back in the day?"

"Uh... I didn't really study them in my youth," Kakashi replied with a casual shrug. "Later on, it didn't take me too long. You know why."

He didn't elaborate further.

But anyone who knew the legend of the Copy Ninja would understand.

The Sharingan.

With the Sharingan and a library of scrolls, Kakashi could absorb and replicate techniques at a remarkable pace.

That was how he mastered basic seals like the Evil Sealing Method.

Still, anything beyond the fundamentals wasn't his domain.

Chiruki drew in a deep breath and glanced over at Garou.

Forget comparing himself to them.

But truthfully, even Kakashi was surprised.

Garou had only studied the chakra-absorption seal yesterday to refine a personal technique.

And in just a single night, he had figured out how to merge that absorption seal with the Binding Formation, and even optimize it on the spot.

If Kakashi compared his own younger self to Garou now, he wouldn't dare call himself a prodigy. He had a massive archive of copied jutsu backing him up, and even then, he felt barely adequate.

The room fell into a quiet lull. Garou remained deep in thought, mentally refining his modified version of the Binding Formation, calculating how to make it easier to deploy and replicate.

Everyone else was caught up in introspection.

Was it that they were lacking? Or was Garou just that far ahead?

It only took a few seconds for them all to reach the same conclusion. Clearly, Garou wasn't someone ordinary.

Trying to measure up to him was pointless.

Everyone collectively exhaled in relief.

A smile slowly returned to Chiruki's face. "Garou, regarding our Fire Temple's barrier techniques, when negotiations begin with Konoha, we'd be honored if you could assist."

"No problem at all," Garou nodded, hiding his inner delight.

This went smoother than expected.

While it wouldn't directly get him access to the mysterious gift of the sages, at least he had made an impression on Chiruki.

When the time came, surely Chiruki would be willing to explain the underlying principles. Breaking open that little window of understanding was how greater possibilities began.

Kakashi gave Garou a sidelong glance.

'This kid... He actually pulled it off.'

Kakashi didn't step in to stop him. Garou had made contact through proper channels, no underhanded tactics. If he actually managed to uncover the essence of the "Gift of the Sages," the Fire Temple might be the one coming to him for answers.

"Thank you very much!" Chiruki bowed deeply.

After witnessing Garou's capabilities firsthand, he realized that this boy could genuinely breach their seals.

Age didn't matter when it came to true genius, and Garou was humble to boot. Chiruki's impression of him was nothing but positive.

"By the way, has Konoha's demand for herbal medicine increased recently?" Chiruki asked offhandedly.

Kakashi blinked, then nodded. "Yes, actually. Why do you ask?"

"The young lady you're escorting, Lady Sakuraba, her actual purpose in traveling was to request that I visit her clan and serve as a temporary guardian."

Chiruki quickly summarized the situation.

Upon hearing it, Garou felt only one thing.

Fate truly works in mysterious ways.

It turned out that the Sadaki clan dealt in medicinal herbs as a side business. More specifically, it was Lady Sakuraba that oversaw it.

The recent demand spike was tied to the Medicinal Bath Garou had invented. Many of the herbs used in it were sourced from Lady Sakuraba, which had caused a stir in the Land of Fire's herb trade.

But that wasn't all.

Rival clans had seized the opportunity to suppress their business.

On top of that, internal power struggles plagued the family. That was why Sakuraba had sought external support, to break the impasse.

Chiruki sighed after explaining. "To be honest, I'm not the one who can resolve her problems. I can protect her from direct threats, yes, but her struggle isn't on the battlefield."

Technically, Konoha shinobi didn't accept missions involving noble clan politics within the Land of Fire. In a sense, Sakuraba's request was a desperate gamble.

"That makes sense," Kakashi murmured after a moment, nodding.

He didn't know much about trade or business, but when it came to clan infighting, he understood all too well.

Even the Hatake Clan had its share of internal drama.

Imagine what it was like in the sprawling aristocracy of the Capital.

He turned to Garou.

The Strength-Enhancing Medicinal Bath was Garou's invention.

The current partnership included Konoha's medical division, the Nara Clan, the Akimichi Clan, and Garou himself.

So, in many ways, Garou held influence over the situation.

Sakuraba's predicament might be solved with his involvement.

Chiruki noticed that too. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he asked, surprised, "Wait... could the bath everyone's talking about actually be your creation?"

Garou scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed. "Yeah... sort of."

"Garou developed a formula that's in high demand right now," Tenten explained with a smile.

Chiruki's expression froze for a second before returning to normal. "Would you be willing to help? If not directly, perhaps I could pass a message along."

"I don't deal with the business side," Garou replied. "Just tell her this. She needs to connect with the Nara Clan. If her herbs are truly high quality, Nara will support her."

Chiruki nodded earnestly, palms pressed together in thanks. "You have my gratitude."

"It's really nothing," Garou said casually.

But truth be told, if the Sakuraba's business fell apart, the medicinal bath's production might also be affected.

The ingredients were already rare. This wasn't a good time for supply chain issues.

On the flip side, if Sakuraba managed to ally with the Nara Clan, not only could production increase, but higher-grade versions of the bath might even become viable for mass production.

In business, mutual benefit was everything.

Chiruki bowed again, deeply respectful. But inside, his thoughts were reeling.

When he first met Garou, he merely assumed the boy was a bright shinobi from Konoha. But now, his perception had been shattered and rebuilt multiple times.

In his heart, the word "genius" no longer did Garou justice.

Later that afternoon, word came that Lady Sakuraba was ready to return home.

Now that she had direction, she was eager to act.

Garou and his team would continue to escort her, so they remained close. On the road, Sakuraba no longer hid in her carriage like before.

Every now and then, she peeked out, quietly observing Kakashi, Garou, Tenten, and Sayo.

Finally, around noon the next day, as they neared the capital, the group stopped for a short break. Sakuraba stepped down from her carriage, walked over to their resting area, and bowed gracefully.

"Thank you all for escorting me safely."

"We took a mission, you made a request. Protecting you was our duty. No need to thank us," Kakashi replied with a small shake of his head.

Sakuraba smiled softly, then turned to Garou. Her expression grew solemn as she gave a deeper bow.

"Garou, I can't thank you enough for your help yesterday. I'll never forget it. Someday, I'll repay the favor."

"It's really no big deal," Garou said with a shrug. "Konoha needs stable herb supplies too. If your business hits trouble, it affects us as well. Mutual interest, that's all. Whether it works out depends on you."

Garou wasn't surprised by her gesture.

Anyone who grew up among the noble circles knew how to read between the lines.

It wasn't hard to figure out he'd used Chiruki to send a message.

Sakuraba shook her head. "Another clan member could run the business just fine."

"But without the business, I lose my right to control my own future. That difference is everything."

With that, she bowed deeply again and returned to her carriage.

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