What is a true genius?
In Guy's eyes, the so-called prodigies from major clans weren't true geniuses. They simply had better bloodlines, superior environments, and countless resources.
For a civilian to rise to greatness, the path was a thousand times harder. That's why he admired Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage so deeply.
"Lord Third, even though that boy can't perform nature transformations or genjutsu, he independently developed a technique astonishingly close to the Rasengan!"
"He's a different kind of genius!"
In the Hokage's office, Guy was speaking passionately, almost vibrating with excitement as he made his case.
Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, took a slow, thoughtful puff from his pipe as he studied the boy's report.
"And how is his taijutsu?" the old man asked after a moment.
"His muscle control and raw physical strength surpass even Rock Lee's," Guy reported earnestly. "I had initially planned to recruit both into my team after graduation, but now I see... keeping Garou Zenin under me would be a waste."
Sarutobi fell into a long, contemplative silence.
The report was detailed and blunt.
[Name: Garou Zenin]
[Chakra control: Top-tier]
[Academic scores: First in class]
[Taijutsu performance: First]
[Kunai and shuriken jutsus: First]
[Ninjutsu: Unable to perform even basic Clone Jutsu]
[Genjutsu: Easily dispels illusions, but cannot cast any]
Yet somehow, he had, through independent thought, arrived at a technique nearly identical to the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan.
There was no question about it.
Garou was a genius, one that didn't fit into the usual molds of talent.
"Lord Third!" Guy pressed again, unable to contain his excitement.
"I'll meet him first," Sarutobi said after a long pause. "Then we'll decide."
---
Later that afternoon.
"Today's shuriken test results are in! Garou and Tenten tied for first place. The rest of you need to step up!" the instructor announced.
"Yes, sir," came the half-hearted reply from the rest of the class.
Tenten clenched her fists but sighed in resignation. She had long since accepted it. Ever since Garou's rapid rise a year ago, her reign as number one in weapons training had ended. Now she was lucky to tie. But Garou wasn't just a specialist in shurikenjutsu.
In every field outside ninjutsu and genjutsu, he was simply... unstoppable. Every instructor at the Academy, when speaking of him, would inevitably end with a thumbs-up and a long, helpless sigh.
Tenten couldn't help but admire him... though part of her wished he'd just stick to throwing practice and leave some records for her.
"Garou-kun, want to practice throws together?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure, uh… actually, can you give me a minute?" Garou replied, glancing toward the teacher calling him over.
He gave Tenten an apologetic smile before jogging away. The teacher waving him over was Mizuki, competent at teaching basic techniques and weapon skills, though otherwise... unremarkable.
"You called for me, Mizuki-sensei?" Garou asked.
"It's not me," Mizuki said with a smile. "Lord Hokage is visiting today. He specifically requested to meet you. Head to the conference room immediately."
Garou's heart leapt into his throat.
It worked. He was sure of it. This had to be thanks to Guy-sensei putting in a word. Suppressing the grin threatening to burst across his face, he bowed and sprinted off.
Watching him disappear down the hall, a few of his classmates muttered enviously:
"So lucky..."
"Even the Hokage wants to meet him. That's on another level."
"Tch, what kind of genius can't even use ninjutsu?" one scoffed bitterly.
The others fell silent.
Rock Lee, off to the side, merely shook his head and jogged toward the training field.
These people had no idea.
They saw only the shining surface. But none of them saw the blood, sweat, and silent tears Garou shed to get there.
---
Outside the meeting room, Garou knocked politely.
"Lord Hokage, sir."
"The door's open. Come in."
"Yes, sir."
Garou entered respectfully, finding the Third Hokage calmly reading through a thick folder, glasses perched low on his nose.
Without looking up, Sarutobi spoke: "I see from your records that besides training, you've spent a great deal of time in the library these past two years?"
"Yes, sir," Garou replied. "Without talent for nature transformations, I realized I'd need to create techniques that don't rely on them."
"But the more I studied, the more I understood… creating new jutsu requires deep knowledge across many fields."
"Quite right," Sarutobi said, nodding approvingly.
Too many Academy students underestimated theory classes. It was rare and precious to find someone like Garou who understood how vital real knowledge was.
Still... it was a shame.
'Such potential, shackled by an inability to learn even the basics of elemental ninjutsu…' The Third Hokage sighed quietly.
"I heard," he said, "you also developed a new technique?"
"Well," Garou scratched the back of his head, "I wouldn't call it new exactly. It turns out the Fourth Hokage had already created something very similar. I managed a basic version without realizing it and only recently understood how to improve it."
"Show me," Sarutobi said kindly, setting the folder aside.
Garou nodded and, just as he had done with Guy-sensei, demonstrated forming and spinning the condensed chakra orb in his hand.
The Hokage observed closely, noting the fine control and the stable structure.
Different process than Minato's method... but the result was startlingly close.
"You didn't know the Rasengan beforehand, and you developed this on your own," Sarutobi said, smiling. "That is invention, Garou. Don't sell yourself short."
"Yes, sir."
"Any other ideas you've been working on?"
"Yes," Garou said without hesitation. "I believe there's untapped potential in chakra shape manipulation and ultra-dense compression."
"Techniques based purely on raw chakra have the advantage of being performed without hand seals. Combined with taijutsu, they can be devastating."
He spoke smoothly, passionately, eyes shining.
This is the interview that will decide everything.
Sarutobi listened carefully.
He nodded, impressed, but after a moment chuckled and said, "You're not wrong. Past masters have explored these paths, but they eventually moved on because adding nature transformation usually makes jutsu vastly stronger."
Garou fell silent.
He couldn't deny it.
Even the Rasengan itself was, in a sense, incomplete. The Fourth Hokage had intended to combine it with nature transformation, creating something even more powerful.
Sarutobi went on, "Kids like you and Rock Lee are rare. For most, ninjutsu is the easiest and quickest route to power."
"That's true," Garou admitted. "But I just happen to be... the exception."
"Exactly," the Hokage said with a smile. "And sometimes, it's exactly those exceptions that push the world forward."
He leaned back thoughtfully.
"You showed Guy-sensei your technique for a reason, didn't you?"
Garou straightened. "Yes, sir. I want to request early graduation so I can begin studying medical sciences in the hospital."
"Medical ninjutsu?" Sarutobi raised an eyebrow.
"No, not to become a medical ninja," Garou clarified quickly. "I want a deeper understanding of human anatomy. The best place to learn that is the medical department and if possible, I'd like to study the chakra scalpel technique as well."
He laid his ambitions bare. Better to be honest. Sarutobi valued transparency and trying to play politics with him would only backfire.
Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the desk thoughtfully.
"Early graduation programs were abolished years ago. However... a special permission form for 'alternate study' could be arranged."
He paused, then smiled again.
"I'll set a full Chūnin-level practical exam for you, excluding ninjutsu, of course. Pass, and you'll get your transfer."
Garou's heart soared.
He bowed deeply. "Thank you very much, Lord Hokage!"
It would be hard, yes.
But better an impossible challenge than being trapped forever in the Academy.
He would pass.
He had to.
_______________________
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