Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 29 - 27: The Scroll Was Ancient, But So Was Hayate’s Lung Capacity

Chapter 29 - 27: The Scroll Was Ancient, But So Was Hayate's Lung Capacity

"Cough, cough, cough."

Just as training reached its peak, a sudden, violent fit of coughing echoed across the dojo.

Had it been anyone else, Garou might've assumed someone was either trying to interrupt or simply because of how close he was with Kasumi, and wanted to make their presence known.

But not here. This was the Gekko Clan Estate.

And the man coughing?

Well... his body really was that weak.

Garou turned toward the sound and studied the man carefully. He was pale, ghostly pale. His breath came raggedly, as though even standing upright required sheer willpower.

Honestly, it was a miracle that someone in this condition was still active-duty.

Even Tsunade would probably be at a loss.

"Uncle!" Kasumi called out, her bright grin lighting up her face as she waved him over. "These are my new teammates! This is Garou Zenin, and that's Tenten. I brought them here to train with swords."

The man nodded gently, trying to hide the strain in his breath.

"Train seriously," he rasped, voice calm despite the dry edge in his throat. "Don't dishonor our sword techniques."

"Yes, Uncle!"

Kasumi instantly straightened, posture sharp as a drawn blade.

The man turned his gaze toward Garou, who noticed his eyes were sharp, even if his body wasn't. "Do you have a moment?"

Garou blinked, then nodded. "Sure."

"Follow me. Cough, cough. Kasumi, Tenten, you two continue."

He turned and walked deeper into the compound. He didn't cough again, but the tightness in his frame said he was holding it back.

Garou followed silently, footsteps steady on the wooden floor.

After a few steps, the man finally spoke again.

"The Hokage asked me to give you something. Manuals passed down from the Second Hokage himself. I was planning to bring them to you later, but since you're here..."

Garou's eyes widened slightly. "The Second Hokage's manuals?"

The man nodded. "They're sword manuals. You may not use the exact techniques, but the theory... it could serve you well."

He reached inside his vest and pulled out a carefully-wrapped scroll, old but well-preserved. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he added, "Also... thank you. For helping Kasumi with her swordsmanship."

Garou waved it off. "It was mutual. We just helped each other."

He accepted the scroll with both hands.

"If you find any part unclear," the man said, "you can come ask me."

"Thanks," Garou replied, then hesitated.

"Actually, what I said earlier... might help you, too."

The man tilted his head slightly. "Help me?"

Garou's expression turned serious. "You should cut down on field missions. Your condition's deteriorating fast. If you stay off the battlefield, you might live longer."

There was no malice in the statement, just blunt honesty.

The man gave a small, open smile. "And what would I do with more time?"

His words weren't bitter, just... accepting. Quiet, like someone who had made peace with the path he chose.

Had he truly wanted a longer life, he wouldn't have become a shinobi.

Garou didn't answer right away. Then he said, "I'll prepare some medicine for you to try. It won't be a cure, but it'll ease the symptoms. And if we can find Lady Tsunade... maybe there's a shot."

Hope flickered in his voice, though he didn't let it take root.

Deep down, Garou knew better. Hayate's condition was chronic, degenerative, and well beyond the reach of most conventional treatments.

Even Tsunade, especially in her current state, plagued by hemophobia, would probably struggle.

But still, offering a glimmer of hope didn't hurt.

"Thank you," Hayate said quietly.

He already seemed to be thinking of how to repay the gesture.

Garou, meanwhile, had already begun to unfurl the scroll. His eyes scanned the pages quickly, soaking in the theory.

The Second Hokage had a reputation for ruthless brilliance, and it showed.

Deception. Speed. Precision.

Use clones and illusions to misdirect. Strike with swift, pinpoint accuracy once the enemy was off balance.

Garou didn't know genjutsu, but the core ideas translated. Swordsmanship wasn't just about slashes and stabs. It was about creating openings and seizing control of the rhythm.

'Iaijutsu... dual blades...'

The second blade didn't need to be physical.

He could forge one from chakra, a blade, a needle, something unexpected.

An invisible strike. An illusion hidden in real steel.

Without another word, Garou headed back to the training field.

Hayate was about to depart. He had his own tasks, his own errands, but something stopped him.

He stayed.

He watched.

The Third Hokage had once said that complete sword forms were meaningless for someone like Garou.

'So then... what kind of sword techniques will he create?'

Garou was practicing Iaijutsu at first, sharp draws, explosive motion, but then it began to shift.

Subtle at first. Then faster. Stranger.

"What's he doing?" Kasumi asked softly, slipping beside her uncle without taking her eyes off the display. "It looks... weird."

She'd long since stopped trying to compare herself to Garou. That road only led to frustration. He wasn't normal.

Trying to keep up was like trying to race a thunderstorm.

Hayate squinted. "Looks like... dual blade style."

"Dual blade?"

Kasumi stared harder. Garou was using both hands, but not like typical twin-sword users.

One hand wielded a sword with fluid slashes. The other traced odd, flicking motions, faint chakra lines weaving through the air.

'This isn't the usual one-offense-one-defense style. This is... something else.'

"Can you tell what he's doing?"

Hayate hesitated. "Hmm."

"Uncle?"

"Seems like he's combining it with an assassination-style technique."

"Oh."

Then, abruptly, he turned. "The Hokage needs me. I'll leave you to host them."

He vanished in a blur of movement.

Ran away, really.

In truth, Hayate had no idea what Garou was doing. But he knew enough to know he didn't get it.

And there was no shame in that.

He'd never claimed to understand everything.

Kasumi sighed, watching her overly prideful uncle retreat. Then she turned back toward the training field.

At least Tenten was still normal.

She could still measure herself against her.

By the end of the day, every last drop of energy had been squeezed from their bodies.

They collapsed in a tired heap, muscles sore, arms trembling.

And then, the next morning,

Garou suggested another group training session.

Both girls wore identical looks of dread.

This was becoming a pattern.

Training with Garou wasn't just exhausting, it was like being mentally and physically curb-stomped by a genius.

A relentless genius.

But to be fair, he didn't hoard knowledge.

He pointed out their flaws. Broke down the mechanics behind the "limit state" technique.

So yes, it hurt.

But it hurt in that oddly satisfying, progress-driven way.

Three days later,

"Well, well, you've all been training hard."

A familiar, lazy voice drifted down from the treetops.

Kakashi, flipping through Make-Out Paradise, appeared entirely too relaxed.

"Yeah," Tenten replied, hands on her hips, "Unlike a certain teacher who vanished and left Garou to run the class."

"Ahaha. Well, if someone's good at something... I let them do more of it," Kakashi chuckled.

"Anyway, you all want to go on a mission?"

"A mission?!"

Kasumi practically bounced.

"Absolutely, yes!"

Garou merely shrugged.

Missions didn't excite him much these days.

Probably just chores. Catching cats. Escorting merchants. Hauling supplies.

Nothing meaningful.

But then Kakashi's voice shifted. "What if I told you... we're starting with a C-rank mission?"

Garou's brow arched slightly. Now that was interesting.

C-rank missions didn't usually involve real combat, but they were a step up.

Bandits. Rogue samurai. Trouble in the outer territories.

Also, the fact a rookie team like theirs got a C-rank so early meant someone had pulled strings.

He wasn't going to complain.

"Then meet at the Hokage's office in an hour," Kakashi said, vanishing with a flick.

"Yes, sir!"

The trio shared a quick glance, then took off, leaping into the treetops, heading toward their next challenge.

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