Sengoku had just finished lunch and was strolling back, planning to take a quick nap in his office.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
"Tokikake?"
He was stunned to see someone sitting cross-legged in front of his office door.
His head immediately began to ache. He knew exactly what kind of person Tokikake was. Although the guy had some talent and the potential to become an Admiral, his appearance was rather... special? And yet Tokikake, completely unaware of his limitations, had the audacity to pursue Gion.
Impossible!
Sengoku, along with many others, had long since written him off.
Even during the ceremonial guard detail that morning, they'd deliberately excluded him and chosen someone else. But from the look of things, he'd already figured that out.
"…So, what do you want?" Sengoku asked, already feeling the headache set in.
Tokikake, arms still crossed, spoke indignantly, "Who was that guy? What makes him so special that Gion personally went to receive him? It's not like we're short on elites wanting to join the Marines. Why not just send anyone else?"
Sengoku was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head, opened the office door, and motioned for Tokikake to come in.
"Let me show you his file." He pulled a basic profile out of a drawer and handed it over.
Tokikake raised an eyebrow and began to read. Every few minutes, his eyes widened in shock, and he looked up in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me. A Swordsman? At his age?"
"I'm not kidding. Keep reading," Sengoku said calmly.
"This…" Tokikake continued flipping through the file, growing more and more astonished. A storm raged in his heart.
This boy was somehow connected to Rayleigh, Dracule Mihawk, and even Amazon Lily. The only recorded battle was also incredibly impressive. He had taken them down alone, without a scratch.
Even Tokikake himself couldn't manage that. His mood soured, but he still refused to give in, stubbornly arguing, "There's no concrete evidence. Who's that good at fifteen? If he were really that strong, he would've shown up on our radar way earlier. Now he suddenly pops out of nowhere? Something's fishy!"
In the face of his protests, Sengoku remained calm and replied, "For now, I'm treating it as real."
"But does Gion really need to be the one receiving him?" Tokikake objected.
"What, you think I should send you instead?" Sengoku shot back mercilessly. "With that face of yours?"
"..." Tokikake instantly fell silent, as if stabbed in the chest.
"Alright, you've seen it. Now go. Don't cause me any more trouble." Sengoku waved dismissively, clearly ready to chase him out.
"No!" Tokikake suddenly gritted his teeth, speaking each word with fire, "I want to be part of the team welcoming this Swordsman too!"
"You'll scare him off!" Sengoku was alarmed.
"If you don't let me, I'm not leaving!" Tokikake sat down on the floor, arms crossed, staring the Fleet Admiral down.
"You…" Sengoku was so furious he felt dizzy. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down. Finally, he sighed and said, "You can't be the representative, but I'll let you join the ceremonial guard."
"Fleet Admiral!" Tokikake lit up, still trying to negotiate.
"That's the final offer. If you keep pushing, I'll throw you out with my fists!" Sengoku warned coldly, clenching his fist.
Crack! His knuckles cracked loudly.
A cold sweat ran down Tokikake's forehead. He quickly backed down: "Thank you, Fleet Admiral!"
"Now get lost!" Sengoku growled.
"Goodbye!" Tokikake scampered out of the office.
---
Meanwhile, aboard a Marine warship heading toward Marineford, inside a cabin, Junichi summoned his system panel with a thought.
Shing!
---
[Host: Uchiha Junichi]
[Age: 15]
[Skills:]
– Chakra Molding — Mastery (240/10,000)
– New Uchiha-style Swordsmanship — Mastery (54/10,000)
– Ninja Tool Throwing Technique — Mastery (25/10,000)
– Clone Technique — Mastery (358/10,000)
– Transformation Technique — Mastery (454/10,000)
– Substitution Technique — Mastery (239/10,000)
– Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique — Mastery (307/10,000)
– Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique — Mastery (215/10,000)
– Sly Mind Affect Technique — Mastery (374/10,000)
– Mist Servants Technique — Mastery (343/10,000)
– Armament Haki — Skilled (142/1000)
– Observation Haki — Skilled (203/1,000)
– Basic Swordsmanship — (Max Level at Beginner)
– Cutting Steel — (Max Level at Beginner)
– Flying Slash — (Max Level at Beginner)
---
My ninjutsu has improved a lot.
With the evolution of his Sharingan to two-tomoe, his talent for ninjutsu had also subtly improved.
Fire Release, Yin Release, swordsmanship, throwing techniques... They had all reached the Mastery-level. And their proficiencies had all broken past 100!
Even his Armament and Observation Haki had risen from just over 100 to the 200s.
There's this new skill…
Junichi's gaze shifted to the last entry in the skill list.
A brand-new skill had appeared.
---
[Unnamed: Beginner (5/100)]
[Effect: Based on Yin Release, emits an invisible spiritual sword from the eyes that strikes the enemy's mind.]
---
The realm of a Great Swordsman is already the peak of swordsmanship. Next, I must begin to blend elements beyond swordsmanship into my blade. Ultimately, to either cut through all things with the sword, or to express all truths through it.
His expression turned contemplative. Any "art" taken to its limit shed its physical form and began to express the truths behind existence. There were two paths of expression: One sword that broke all techniques, or one sword from which all techniques were born.
In truth, both paths lead to the same destination, two sides of the same coin. There was no need to consciously choose one.
During his recent training, he had instinctively blended genjutsu into his swordsmanship, creating a new skill of his own.
This original skill had now been logged by the system.
Since it's based on mental force... let's call it Eye Blade. He thought for a moment and gave it a fitting name.
Immediately, the skill's name changed.
[Eye Blade: Beginner (5/100)]
"Not bad." He nodded and closed the panel. He felt more and more confident about dealing with the weasel.
My main goal in joining the Marines is to fully learn the Rokushiki… and ideally, to master Life Return.
Once I've mastered the Rokushiki, it'll be about time. Rejection will hit 100%.
That would be the moment to return.
After some thought, Junichi confirmed his next course of action and closed his eyes to continue training.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Wild waves of power surged from within him, forming invisible armor that wrapped around his clothes.
At the same time, the location, movements, auras, and states of everyone aboard the ship were being detected through his Observation Haki.
---
[You have practiced Armament Haki. Proficiency +1]
[You have practiced Observation Haki. Proficiency +1]
---
As the system continued to announce gains in proficiency, the warship arrived at its destination.
---
---
50 Advance chapters!
[email protected]/Malphegor