"Swinging a sword…"
Sabo froze.
He stared at Ryukawa repeatedly swinging his wooden sword, performing the same simple, monotonous motion over and over.
His inner resolve began to shake.
Wait.
Could swinging a sword…
really make someone stronger?
This was way too different from the "secret cultivation technique" he had imagined.
Ryukawa didn't spare him another glance.
He simply continued.
Raise.
Swing.
Lower.
No mystery.
No flourish.
Just clean, flowing movement.
To anyone else, it looked plain and boring.
But to Ryukawa—
Every swing increased his strength.
He grew stronger every moment.
[Ding! Total swings: 9800]
[Reward: Swordsmanship Level +1]
…
[Ding! Total swings: 10000]
[Reward: Observation Haki – Initial Awakening]
"Hm?"
Ryukawa's swing stopped mid-motion.
Observation Haki?
At that moment—
A torrent of information surged into his mind like a crashing wave.
He absorbed it all instantly.
When his eyes opened again, a bright gleam flashed through them.
He exhaled deeply.
He felt… exhilarated.
He never expected to awaken it now.
He now possessed both Observation Haki and Armament Haki.
Only Conqueror's Haki remained.
But honestly—
He didn't value Conqueror's Haki as much.
Compared to Armament and Observation, Conqueror's Haki was mostly flashy intimidation.
Against weaklings, sure, it was useful for clearing a battlefield.
But in a true fight between equals?
Armament and Observation were far more decisive.
"With dual-color Haki awakened, my power in the East Blue is truly at the peak. I'm among the very top of the pyramid."
Ryukawa felt confident.
If the Marines gave him a bounty based on power alone?
He estimated around 150 million berries.
In the East Blue—
excluding hidden monsters—that was undoubtedly number one.
"Without realizing it, I've already become this strong."
"Time to see what Observation Haki can really do."
He calmed himself and turned to Sabo.
"Mind helping me test a newly awakened ability?"
"I—I'll gladly help!"
Sabo straightened immediately.
"Good."
Ryukawa smiled.
"In a moment, I'll close my eyes. You'll use that iron pipe of yours to attack me however you like."
"It's simple."
Sabo went pale.
"W-with your eyes closed? And you want me to attack freely?"
He couldn't picture this at all.
No matter how strong someone was—
they couldn't possibly fight blind, right?
"…No one can rely on instinct that much, right?"
"Yes."
Ryukawa said calmly, cutting off his doubts.
"You don't need to understand. Just do as I say. I have my reasons."
"…All right."
Sabo nodded, though still confused.
The commotion drew the attention of Hack and the rest of the squad.
Life at sea was monotonous; this was entertainment.
"That kid…"
"Is he planning to fight Sabo with his eyes closed?!"
Hack's expression tightened.
The more he watched Ryukawa, the less he felt he understood him.
A child—
yet doing impossible things with casual ease.
"Isn't this too reckless?"
Hack muttered.
"Sabo's no weakling. Even if this kid beat him once, closing his eyes throws the balance too far. What's he planning? Developing beast-like instincts?"
But then—
What happened next shattered Hack's assumptions.
Sabo attacked.
He swung his iron pipe toward Ryukawa's waist—
fast, accurate, controlled but not weak.
Just before it connected—
Ryukawa moved.
A simple sidestep.
Clean and effortless.
But perfectly timed.
He dodged it at the exact instant necessary.
"C-could that be a coincidence…?"
Hack whispered, pupils shrinking.
Even Sabo froze for a moment.
"Continue."
Ryukawa's voice was calm.
"Yes, sir!"
Sabo struck again—this time without holding back.
And again—
Ryukawa avoided it.
Effortlessly.
A tiny shift of movement—
and the attack whiffed past him.
Second dodge.
Sabo gritted his teeth and attacked again.
Third dodge.
Then a fourth.
And a fifth.
Every strike missed.
Every single one.
Hack and the Revolutionary Army members stared, dumbfounded.
"This isn't—"
"—this can't be chance."
"Not the second time. Not the third. Not the fourth."
"This is—"
"Inevitable."
Hack's mind roared.
His breath caught in his throat.
His hands trembled.
He knew this feeling.
He'd seen this kind of power before.
Warriors who could sense attacks—
predict movement—
feel intent.
Strong individuals who walked the path far above normal fighters.
They all had one thing in common.
"…Observation Haki," Hack whispered, voice trembling.
He swallowed hard.
"No doubt about it."
"This kid—at his age—has awakened Haki."
"My god…"
"What kind of terrifying talent is this?!"
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews (leave a review/comment!)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon: patreon.com/KageNaruto