"You really are something else…" Asuma muttered, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he took the chakra-infused knuckle blade from Garou.
That was fast. Almost too fast.
"You've misunderstood," Garou said quickly, sensing Asuma's doubt.
"I've been working on these sword techniques for a while now. It's just… I never had a chakra weapon to test their full potential until now."
Hearing that, Asuma's mood lifted slightly. At least it wasn't one of those ridiculous, spontaneous breakthroughs, no sudden enlightenment or freak genius moment. If it had been, he might've suffered a minor breakdown right then and there.
Still…
Even with that explanation, it was only mildly comforting.
That slash Garou demonstrated earlier… its value was obvious. If Asuma could somehow integrate it into his own style, it would make his Wind-style technique nearly flawless.
But reality didn't care about potential.
He couldn't do it.
It wasn't pride, nor some mental block.
He simply didn't have the skill. The level of chakra control needed for Garou's technique was absurd. Monstrous, even. As a seasoned jonin, Asuma was painfully aware that he didn't meet that standard.
"Young people these days… terrifying," Asuma muttered, eyes distant.
"It's actually a combination of two principles," Garou explained casually. "Vibration and explosion. Putting them together's a bit tricky, but if you split them, it gets easier."
"…Right." Asuma remained silent for several seconds, choosing neither to agree nor argue with Garou's definitions of "tricky" and "easy."
Because he knew full well, the difference in difficulty between those two approaches was immense.
Combining vibration and explosive chakra in one seamless motion required S-rank chakra control, and that's only because the village didn't bother grading difficulty above S.
Even when the techniques were separated, executing them with Garou's precision wasn't simple. It might not demand perfection, but it still took ridiculous effort.
"I'll give it a try when I get back," Asuma said at last. Then, with a hint of sheepishness, he added, "By the way… about that explosive acceleration technique?"
He didn't want to sound too eager, but that move was genuinely useful in real combat.
"Oh, that?" Garou smiled faintly and clenched his fist. "Just a little trick using instantaneous chakra detonation. At its core, it's this technique."
With a casual motion, he slammed his fist to the ground.
The resulting boom echoed as a sizable crater formed beneath him.
'Super Strength?' Asuma blinked, startled. At first glance, it resembled the Super Strength technique used by Tsunade. But it wasn't quite the same.
This wasn't Tsunade's technique.
This… was Garou's own version of Super Strength.
A terrifyingly efficient chakra detonation, applied through both fists and feet.
Yet another technique with an outrageous learning curve.
Feeling simultaneously impressed and defeated, Asuma handed over a scroll.
"This is a jutsu I've been developing. Take a look when you have time. Also… good luck on your exam."
With that, he turned to leave, clearly trying to escape before curiosity got the better of him.
He couldn't stay any longer.
If he did, he might end up mooching off Garou completely. He'd already given him Wind Cutter earlier.
And honestly, he didn't have any more jutsu left to trade.
"Thank you, Asuma-sensei." Garou unrolled the scroll and bowed slightly, genuine gratitude in his voice. It detailed a jutsu Asuma had been refining, one that allowed wind chakra to remotely control weapons infused with the same element. It didn't have a proper name yet, but Garou recognized the principle at once.
Wind Release: Verdant Mountain Gale.
He couldn't use it personally, not with his current condition.
But the theory was solid and inspiring. With some tweaking, he might be able to reverse-engineer a similar effect for his own arsenal.
And who knows?
If Tenten ever mastered Wind Release affinity, this technique would be perfect for her.
Unfortunately, the chakra-infused blade wouldn't be ready before the Chūnin Exams.
"But even with just chakra wire," he mused, "I should be able to handle most average opponents."
Orochimaru wouldn't dare come at him directly. Not yet.
Knowing the Sannin's twisted logic, Garou figured Orochimaru still saw him as a "recruitable" talent.
The Fourth Kazekage, though…
That man was an entirely different problem.
Since taking power, his entire agenda had revolved around surpassing Konoha and restoring the Hidden Sand's prestige. It wouldn't be surprising if he orchestrated something behind the scenes during the exams.
Still, no matter what he tried, the current Konoha was stronger than Suna.
The Kazekage wouldn't dare act openly.
As for the jinchuriki…
Garou had been spending more time than usual lately studying sealing techniques. If Gaara did show up at the exams…
He wouldn't mind personally strengthening that unstable seal.
"Alright. Time to sort out which techniques to focus on." Garou flipped open his notebook, pen tapping lightly as he organized his thoughts.
Making a solid plan ahead of time would allow him to act quickly and decisively during the exam.
First on the list, he scribbled.
[Puppet Techniques]
He then added "Ninja Tool Manipulation" in parentheses. Of all the Sand Village's unique techniques, Puppet Jutsu was by far the most coveted.
Second on the list:
[Wind Release and Sealing Techniques]
The Sand's wind-style jutsu were exceptional.
But Garou wasn't interested in flashy, show-off moves like Sealing Technique: Lion Closing Roar.
What really intrigued him were things like Hidden Cloth Jutsu and Cloth Paralysis Jutsu, esoteric techniques exclusive to Sunagakure's puppet and sealing corps.
If he wanted to "learn" them, the exams were the perfect opportunity.
The Sand would send their best genin. Even if they wanted to hold back, they couldn't afford to lose face.
And that meant Garou, even as a Konoha genin, had a better chance of accessing their secrets by clashing with them directly.
After running through his checklist, he exhaled slowly.
But just as he closed the notebook, a chill ran down his spine.
He was being watched.
Again.
No doubt about it.
That crafty old man, the Third Hokage, was probably using his crystal ball again.
Garou rolled his eyes internally.
---
Hokage's Office
The room was quiet.
Hiruzen and Kakashi stood side by side, gazing at the now-darkened crystal ball. After a long pause, they exchanged looks
"Ahem. Hokage-sama, what now?" Kakashi asked dryly.
"We let him go," Hiruzen replied, exhaling a long sigh. "You saw it yourself. Garou wants to go. He even listed out his entire plan in that notebook of his."
He let out a weak chuckle. "And to think we were worried about his safety…"
"…Yeah."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, unsure of what else to say.
Garou was smart without question.
But he was reckless too.
"I'll go check in with the others," Kakashi said. "If they're willing to participate, I'll make sure to keep an extra close eye on them."
"Good. Oh, take this."
Hiruzen handed him a pair of glasses.
Kakashi blinked. But the moment he slid them on, realization dawned.
These weren't ordinary glasses. They were an upgraded variation of the Telescope Technique.
"Designed by Tenten," Hiruzen said with a satisfied nod. "I just added a few sealing arrays myself."
"…Thank you," Kakashi murmured, bowing slightly.
Not just to Hiruzen, but to both Garou and Tenten.
These glasses had a unique effect: they could partially suppress the Sharingan.
It wasn't a complete fix.
The eye still activated automatically and tended to overanalyze everything, draining chakra. But this was a massive improvement.
"At least now I can leave without worrying."
Kakashi sighed in relief.
He had been concerned that his absence would affect the younger generation, especially Garou.
But now, it was clear.
They were more than capable.
"By the way, Hokage-sama," he added, "if Garou gets promoted to Chūnin, who's taking over as his team leader?"
"Genma Shiranui," Hiruzen answered, puffing from his pipe.
'Genma?' Kakashi's brow lifted, then narrowed in recognition.
"You're hoping he'll attempt the Flying Thunder God Technique, aren't you?"
"With his talent? It's possible," Hiruzen said calmly. "Even if he can't fully master it, he may invent something new based on its principles."
Kakashi nodded, but a faint flicker of concern passed through his eyes.
Hiruzen caught it. "What's wrong? You disagree?"
"I just hope Genma is mentally prepared," Kakashi said slowly. "If it were up to me, I'd recommend Yamato instead."
He paused, then added, "Even I have to stay sharp around Garou. Otherwise, he'll end up teaching me something."
"Genma's skillset is too narrow. He might end up drained within a few days… left only with suffering and existential dread."
"…That bad?"
"You could ask Asuma."
"…"
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