Chapter 63: Asuma's Cigarette Count Rises with Every Garou Breakthrough

Hiashi Hyuga had come and gone.

His visit had lasted mere minutes, just enough time to drop one key sentence and assert the presence of the Hyuga clan.

"The Hyuga are interested in working with you."

To Garou, though, it was obvious.

The clan was imploding.

Those weekly elder meetings were probably erupting into daily screaming matches by now.

Rigid traditions were colliding head-on with innovation.

His new Gentle Fist variants were shaking the very foundation of their ancient, stagnant power structure.

And Hiashi was panicking.

Garou couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

In truth, he didn't lack for collaboration offers right now. Between the Fire Temple's barrier and his ongoing research into chakra-enhanced tools, his workload was already bursting at the seams.

That's why he'd created a shadow clone to keep working while he chatted with Hiashi.

He didn't have time to waste, even a five-minute conversation needed backup.

Back inside his house, Garou checked on the clone.

It was scribbling designs and calculations across a sheet of parchment, deeply focused.

Garou paused… then grabbed another book and a fresh scroll.

"Seriously?" the clone said, looking up, deadpan.

"You and I can't process the same thought stream simultaneously. Better we split tasks. Less interference."

"…Fair point."

With that, they resumed in sync.

Garou sketching new array patterns while the clone finished refining the Fire Temple barrier system.

By late afternoon, the upgraded seal design was complete.

For the first time in days, Garou had a moment to breathe. He pulled a book off the shelf, settled in with some tea, only for a familiar chakra signature to approach outside.

Asuma and Chiriku. Again.

They hesitated at the door like shy schoolkids, not wanting to interrupt. Garou opened the door before they could knock.

"Asuma-sensei. Master Chiriku. Good timing. The redesign is finished. Would you like to take a look?"

Chiriku blinked. "Wait… what? Already?"

He had prepared a diplomatic preamble, but the realization hit mid-sentence.

The entire barrier revision was done?!

He lit up like a firework. This was the primary reason for their visit, everything else was secondary.

The thought that it had already been completed left him beaming.

"Please, come in," Garou offered. "Sorry, the place is a mess. I haven't had time to organize the drafts."

The two followed him inside.

Asuma glanced around and couldn't help the knot that formed in his chest. If it weren't for Garou's still-boyish features, he might've forgotten the kid was barely twelve.

Twelve, and yet already beyond most jōnin.

The room was littered with paper. Seal diagrams, chakra models, calculations in a script so precise it could pass for typeset. In the corner, Garou's clone was still scribbling, entirely engrossed in optimizing a parallel seal concept.

"I thought you said you were done," Chiriku said, looking confused.

"That version's complete," Garou replied. "But while I was wrapping it up, I thought of an improvement. The clone's working on that variation now."

Chiriku's face twitched. 'You mean… a breakthrough that took us centuries… and you just thought of a better version?'

He exhaled slowly, processing the frustration and admiration.

Asuma gave him a subtle nudge and whispered, "Focus on the review. You can fall apart later."

He was right.

There'd be time for self-loathing after they verified the seal. Garou handed over a thick stack of parchment, pages heavy with ink and embedded chakra flow guides.

Asuma retreated to the porch to smoke, giving them space.

Chiriku opened the bundle, flipping carefully through each page. Every so often, he'd pause to ask questions. Garou answered them without missing a beat.

Eventually, Chiriku stopped.

"You truly are…" He caught himself, the compliment dying in his throat.

No point saying "genius." A boy like this had probably heard it so often it was background noise.

Instead, he pressed his palms together and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Garou."

Garou waved it off. "No need for that. You gave me access to the Iron Wall Barrier's formula. This was an equal exchange."

But even as he spoke, his mind was already moving.

The barrier's ability to detect specific chakra types was brilliant.

With a few adjustments, he could repurpose it as a medical scanner. By syncing it with sensory jutsu like Telescope Technique, it could track deviations in chakra flow, instantly diagnosing internal injuries or illness.

That's what the clone was working on now.

Meanwhile, Chiriku was still digesting everything.

"We confirmed your theory," he said suddenly. "Meditating in different locations absolutely helps. Even within the Forest of Death, results vary from point to point."

Garou nodded calmly. "As expected."

Gift of the Sages was just a variation of natural energy absorption.

A primitive cousin of Sage Mode. But unlike the structured techniques at Mount Myōboku, it had evolved more chaotically.

"Have your monks experiment more," Garou advised. "Some of them might already be close to awakening it."

"They will," Chiriku replied, practically vibrating with excitement.

Garou continued, "Also, do you still have records of your older exorcism rituals? The ones from before chakra techniques took over?"

"Most have been lost," Chiriku said bitterly. "The Fire Temple went through hard times. It wasn't until the Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder was created that we regained our prestige."

"What a shame."

Garou looked genuinely disappointed.

Then, after a beat, Chiriku suddenly straightened.

"Garou, this may have started as a trade, but you've given us far more than we expected. If you'd like, I can personally teach you the Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder."

"No need," Garou said quickly. "I'm more interested in the principles behind it. If you're willing to continue sharing knowledge and meditation techniques, that's more than enough."

He paused. "Though… I do have one request."

"Of course."

"If possible, could you help me gain permission to pass on the techniques I'm refining? I won't share the Gift of the Sages itself, but the methods I've derived, my version, I'd like to teach them to people I trust."

Chiruki thought for a long moment.

"…Alright. I'll make the case when I return."

"Thank you."

Garou understood the complexity of that ask.

Gift of the Sages wasn't for everyone.

Even with the best environment and training, most would still fail. But those who could awaken it… deserved the chance.

Before leaving, Chiriku walked Garou through the Fire Temple's hierarchy, timelines, and political hurdles.

Even under the best conditions, it would take half a month to finalize anything official.

Garou wasn't worried.

Even he would need months to master Gift of the Sages, and even longer to adapt it.

If he wanted to pass it on, he'd have to stabilize it first. Half a year was a fair estimate.

Until then, he'd let his shadow clones handle the meditation.

Chiriku packed up the documents with utmost care.

Garou gathered up the scrap paper, ruined drafts, rejected models, and tossed them into a small iron fire basin outside.

Asuma joined him, watching the fire crackle to life.

The flames danced in the fading afternoon light, casting long shadows over the yard.

Garou fed the fire another sheet and watched the ash drift up into the air like tiny spirits escaping their vessel.

Beside him, Asuma took a long drag from his cigarette.

Then, softly, almost hesitantly, he said,

"Kid… do you know what the Will of Fire is?"

Garou blinked. "Huh?"

Asuma smiled faintly, eyes distant. "It's something the old man always said."

"When the tree leaves dance,"

"One shall find flames."

"The fire's shadow will illuminate the village,"

"And once again, tree leaves shall bud anew."

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