Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 38 - 36: Kakashi Goes Book Hunting While His Students Talk About Generational Trauma

Chapter 38 - 36: Kakashi Goes Book Hunting While His Students Talk About Generational Trauma

Sakuraba had returned home.

Their mission was complete, and it was time to head back to the village.

Tenten looked a little reflective.

"So even girls from noble clans don't always have it easy, huh?"

Before this, she had envied those born into noble clans.

She thought they naturally had better treatment, unlike commoners like herself, who had to work twice as hard just to become a ninja.

But now, she realized her own situation wasn't that bad.

"Every position comes with its own hardships. Life in those big clans is often more restrictive than ours. It's not just the nobles in the capital, even in our own village, it's the same."

Garou's words seemed to hint at something.

A figure in white suddenly flashed through Tenten's mind.

'Is he talking about that guy? Neji... did he have to deal with this kind of stuff too?'

She didn't say anything. Instead, Kasumi chimed in.

"The Hyuga, right? I've heard the difference in treatment between the Main Family and the Branch Family is huge. Only one heir becomes head of the clan, the other's sent to the Branch Family."

"What's the actual difference between them?"

Tenten was puzzled.

"Even the Branch Family has access to powerful jutsu and possess the Byakugan, right?"

Kasumi shook her head. She didn't really know either.

The two of them turned to Kakashi and Garou, hoping for answers, but Kakashi remained silent.

Garou didn't answer right away either. He paused, then said, "I'm not sure, but I've been studying sealing techniques lately. The scrolls talk a lot about curse mark-based seals."

"You mean..."

Tenten immediately caught on, eyes widening in mild shock.

"Maybe."

"Anyway, clan politics aren't really our business," Kakashi said as he glanced at Tenten and Kasumi. "You guys done eating?"

"All full."

"In that case... huh? Wait a sec! You keep eating. I'm going to grab something real quick." Kakashi stood up, originally planning to leave, until he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and perked up instantly.

A bookstore.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, where're you going?" Tenten called out.

"Forget it, we'll just wait here," Garou said, holding her back with a shake of his head.

He had finished the three volumes on sealing arts. There wasn't much point rereading them now.

With some rare free time on his hands, he closed his eyes and focused on the Bodhi Seed in his mind, trying to observe the changes in its patterns.

Suddenly, he noticed a previously faint pattern had grown much deeper.

'That's the one representing the Chakra Threads, right?'

Surprised at first, Garou quickly understood why.

Until now, he'd only used Chakra Threads to manipulate tools. But lately, he'd developed a new technique, cutting. That enhancement seemed to reflect in the Bodhi Seed's potential.

'Interesting.'

Turns out even simple jutsu could be worth diving into.

He might not benefit directly, but if others could master it, it would still be an advantage for him.

With that thought, Garou pulled out a notebook and started writing.

Tenten glanced sideways, clearly curious and wanting to peek, yet hesitant, worried the notes might be confidential.

Jutsu development was kind of private, after all.

"If you want to look, go ahead. No need to be so nervous. It's nothing classified."

Garou chuckled.

Tenten beamed and leaned over, eyes bright. She saw the heading.

[Nature Transformations of Chakra Threads]

After a few seconds, she grasped what he was going for.

"Wait, Chakra Threads can undergo nature transformation?"

"Why not?" Garou asked in return.

Tenten was stumped for a moment, then finally managed, "But not every chakra nature would work with it, right?"

"Of course not. Based on what I've thought through, Wind Release is probably the most compatible. Then Lightning and Fire."

"What about Water Release?"

"Technically possible. But it's kind of redundant, since that's already the core of the Second Hokage's technique."

Garou clarified.

Tenten nodded thoughtfully.

"I heard Rock Village has some rare Earth Release variations. If you could fuse one of those with Chakra Threads, maybe it'd do something unique."

Garou added the thought while finishing up his meal.

Tenten mulled that over for a while, then shook her head in frustration. The idea was great, but her chakra affinity leaned heavily toward Earth Release, and she was still working on developing a second nature transformation. Who knows when that would happen.

So this one was probably out of her reach.

"No need to overthink it," Garou assured her. "Chakra Threads are inherently small-scale."

"In practice, Wind Release is the only one that's truly effective. Lightning and Fire are more like support."

"Because Wind is good for..." Kasumi added.

"Cutting."

"Got it. If I'm going to train a second nature, it's going to be Wind Release!"

Tenten was fired up.

Garou could offer pointers when it came to nature transformations, but beyond that, there wasn't much he could do, nor was it his primary interest.

Jutsu had its limits.

Unless you had a kekkei genkai, you'd never match the power of Sage Techniques.

He was writing this down mainly to give Chakra Threads a future development path.

Let others experiment and build on it, which, in itself, was part of Garou's little test.

Whether it would succeed or not, it was hard to say. But it didn't cost him much time, so why not toss a stone into the pond and see what ripples came.

Kakashi returned not long after.

He looked refreshed. Suspiciously refreshed.

Garou leaned in and asked, "Sensei, did you find the new release?"

"No, Jiraiya-sama hasn't published anything new. For now, it's still... cough, cough..."

"Why am I even telling you this? Kids shouldn't ask too many questions!"

Kakashi rebuked him with mock seriousness.

Garou just grinned.

This came from the man who once read that book in front of them and didn't even notice Kasumi was watching until Garou warned him. If not for that, she might've finished half the novel.

Kakashi became flustered, though luckily the mask hid it.

After a moment, he muttered, "Okay, I didn't find the new volume, but I did get a special edition. Supposedly it's a spin-off with a more... violent twist."

"Probably just some publisher cashing in on the license."

Garou glanced at it skeptically.

Kakashi cleared his throat. "That's not the point."

"Heh."

"...This brat's getting cheekier by the day."

Not that cheeky was exactly accurate.

Garou wasn't cute by any definition. The kid was already more dangerous than most adults.

Kakashi thought so, at least.

With no escort duty and full-speed travel, they reached the Hidden Leaf Village before sundown. By the time the gates came into view, the group was already winding down.

"Finally back!"

Tenten stretched her arms with a yawn, then clenched her fists in excitement. "Kakashi-sensei, anything else on the schedule today?"

"No, you're free. But tomorrow, meet me at Training Ground 25. Kasumi, same for you. Garou... up to you. Tomorrow is mostly about jutsu drills."

Kakashi actually sounded serious for once.

"I've got something in the morning. I'll drop by in the afternoon and bring some of those custom soldier pills."

"Sounds good."

Kakashi stepped through the gate.

At the checkpoint, he signed in and filled out the mission paperwork. Then he waved his hand.

"You're all dismissed."

"Yes, sir!"

In a blink, everyone had scattered, leaving only Kakashi and two Chūnin by the gate.

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