Naruto: Can't Use Ninjutsu? I'll Create the Strongest Fighting Style-Chapter 47 - 45: How To Stay One Step Ahead Without Actually Running Faster

Chapter 47 - 45: How To Stay One Step Ahead Without Actually Running Faster

Kakashi took the scrap of cloth and bit his finger to draw blood. With swift precision, he began weaving hand signs.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke appeared, and out stepped a dog wearing a forehead protector.

"Another mission already?" the dog grumbled.

"Pakkun, I need you to track this scent." Kakashi handed the cloth to him.

Pakkun took a sniff and immediately recoiled in disgust. "Ugh, the stench of blood is overwhelming. I could smell this from miles away!"

Still, he lowered his head and began trotting off in a particular direction.

"Follow him."

"As expected of Kakashi," said Nobu, quickly falling into step behind him, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

Tenten moved beside him, silently watching their surroundings. Behind them, Garou began to lag behind deliberately.

"Garou-kun."

A figure stepped from behind a nearby tree.

"Kasumi. I need your help. Use the Transformation Jutsu. Let's switch places for a bit."

"But you can't use the Transformation Jutsu well. What about your voice?"

"I've read the theory a few times. It's nothing too difficult."

"Did you notice something?" Kasumi transformed into Garou, while Garou took on her appearance.

Her chakra control had improved a lot recently, so her transformation was nearly flawless, enough to fool even a seasoned Jonin.

Besides, Nobu wasn't exactly skilled in sensory or detection techniques. As a samurai, he was focused more on combat than reconnaissance.

"Nothing concrete yet, but that guy... he's not acting like his goal is that enemy of Yuichi's. I think he's targeting Kakashi-sensei."

Kasumi's expression shifted. "If that's true, then he must be prepared. Anyone who dares go after a Jonin like Kakashi-sensei wouldn't come unarmed."

"Kakashi-sensei and I both took precautions. I don't know what his plan is, but that doesn't stop me from setting up my own."

"Understood."

Kasumi didn't hesitate. "I'll catch up with them. We don't want to raise suspicion."

Garou nodded subtly, moving ahead of her to hide his presence in the thick underbrush, his chakra concealed expertly.

Back with the group, "Garou" rejoined them. Nobu frowned slightly.

"Kakashi-sama, are we missing someone? Could it be Yuichi attacked one of us?"

"No. She specializes in stealth. She's already gone into hiding."

Kakashi covered for them smoothly. He had already guessed that Garou and Kasumi had switched places.

"But... she's just a Genin. Can she really handle it?" Nobu asked anxiously.

"I'm still here," a voice answered.

A soft rustle of leaves overhead revealed her position.

Kasumi was stunned.

Garou's voice imitation was spot-on. If he hadn't spoken, she wouldn't have known where he was at all. She was only capable of hiding herself that well thanks to her Kekkei Genkai.

'So what's his secret?'

Not to mention, she remembered that Garou's transformation jutsu was practically nonexistent, he could barely do it. And yet now, not only did he imitate her voice, but even her chakra signature was obscured.

Tenten looked just as surprised. But quickly, she shook it off.

Well, for a genius like him, unless it's something truly beyond his reach, he probably doesn't even need time to learn it. Voice mimicry wasn't even a real jutsu. Just another tool. The gap between a prodigy and a normal ninja was staggering.

Kasumi sighed inwardly.

"That's a relief," said Nobu, pretending to relax.

"The enemy's incredibly cunning. My teammates were ambushed with traps and poisoned when they split up."

"Let's move. We can talk later," Kakashi interjected, cutting the man off mid-rant.

They followed the trail leading north from the village. freёweɓnovel.com

'North...?' Nobu thought. "Is he heading toward the Land of Iron?"

"That sly bastard," he growled, seemingly outraged.

"I wouldn't have guessed he'd dare head back there. Without your insight, Kakashi, we'd never have seen that coming."

Garou, leaping across the treetops, was expanding his chakra perception as far as he could. But even at full extension, he wasn't sensing anything.

'Damn it. Not far enough?' He frowned, analyzing the situation.

His sensory ability, granted by the Bodhi Seed, was extraordinary in precision. It had helped him in the past to develop ninjutsu and sense incoming threats.

But it came with a major flaw.

He had high precision, but low range.

Even with his enhanced mental focus, he could barely sense anything beyond a kilometer or two.

'Is there a way to stretch it farther?' He paused for a moment, then grinned.

'Of course there is. In games, when your system can't handle the graphics, what do you do? Lower the resolution!'

Lower the pixel count, turn off the effects, suddenly the unplayable becomes playable.

'Sensory perception should be similar, right?'

With that inspiration, Garou immediately began experimenting.

Sensory techniques weren't complicated at the core. Aside from unique cases like the Byakugan, most ninja perception relied on mental energy. Genjutsu experts, for instance, often had great sensory skills. They understood how to manipulate mental energy.

Garou couldn't use Genjutsu. But thanks to the Hokage's vast collection of books, he'd studied mental control extensively. Although he hadn't developed any new techniques from it, he knew enough to try fine-tuning his sensory range.

He succeeded.

His sensory field expanded twofold.

The trade-off was blurred perception.

Where before he could detect precise chakra signatures and even movement patterns, now all he could sense were vague, hazy chakra blobs, like pixelated figures on an old monitor.

He couldn't tell who was who, but he didn't need to.

"I don't need clarity. I just need awareness."

He exhaled slowly.

Then his expression shifted.

There were five chakra signatures within his range.

Aside from Kakashi's group, there were three other clusters. One was trailing them from about four kilometers behind, likely a hidden ally or maybe even Kakashi's backup.

But the other two were unknown.

'One could be Yuichi. But the other?'

Too far to make out clearly, but one thing was certain. The three clusters were far enough apart that they weren't working together.

'Predator. Prey. And another predator watching both?'

It looked like a classic case of the hunter being hunted. He picked up his pace, trying to close the gap just enough to sharpen the image.

Kakashi looked up.

There was a subtle shift in the rustling overhead. Only someone like him would even notice.

Garou sped up. Did he sense something?

"Pakkun," he called.

"Still on the trail. That bastard masked his scent with chemicals, but I can still track the residue."

"That's good enough. Keep moving."

"Tch. You're the boss," Pakkun muttered, speeding up.

Nobu didn't suspect anything. After all, even Kasumi hadn't noticed Garou pulling ahead.

Which meant... for now, they were safe.

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