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Chapter 62: A Whim from Ten Years Ago, Realized Ten Years Later
Neither Sengoku nor Garp had anticipated this.
Yuichi had actually defeated an enemy within the first minute of battle!
Before the fight began, although they thought Yuichi might win, they never expected him to eliminate one of the Sannin so quickly.
Those falling petals...
Even Sengoku was surprised. "What kind of swordsmanship is this?"
Garp shook his head. "I don't know! Is this... even swordsmanship?"
In the Marineford plaza, Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk stared at the falling cherry blossoms. "Elegant, noble... able to turn the act of killing into such art! The title of World's Strongest Swordsman... it seems it should belong to him."
Hearing Hawkeye's emotional praise, Doflamingo's expression was a bit weird. "Hawkeye, this doesn't look like swordsmanship."
Hawkeye sneered. "Some people's swordsmanship can cut fire; others can conjure frost. These are just flowers. Perhaps it is simply a realm we cannot touch."
Doflamingo didn't know how to refute Hawkeye. Turning one's blade into flying flowers—this kind of technique was incredible. Even seeing it with his own eyes, he found it hard to believe it was truly just swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World.
On an island housing the NEO Marines, founded by the former Marine Admiral Zephyr.
Zephyr looked at the huge light curtain in the sky, watching Yuichi's world-shocking blow. He was taken aback for a moment, and then suddenly started laughing.
"Hahahaha... You really did it, Yuichi, my boy! I didn't expect... did you really complete this move?"
His laughter confused the people around him.
"Mr. Zephyr, do you know about this ability of Yuichi's?"
Behind Zephyr stood Ain, with her long flowing blue hair and large, bright eyes. She was overwhelmed by Yuichi's attack, which was both terrifying and poignant. Hearing Zephyr's laughter, she was curious. She knew that the astonishingly powerful Yuichi on the screen was Zephyr's former student.
Did Zephyr teach him this trick?
Zephyr smiled. "I don't know the kid's ability, but I heard about his idea for this move years ago, and I laughed at him for his whimsy. I didn't expect that one day this kid would actually develop it!"
Zephyr recalled the time he was supervising Yuichi's training in Marineford.
It was four o'clock in the morning on the training ground. He had sparred with Yuichi. Yuichi, who was twenty years old at the time, was already able to fight on par with him. Although Zephyr still had the upper hand in Haki and barely beat Yuichi in the end, the loss didn't sit well with the young Marine.
Yuichi had said that his sword hadn't really released the power it should have. He claimed that one day, when cherry blossoms fell all over the sky, his sword would show its true style.
Zephyr couldn't stop laughing when he heard such words. "The knife turns into a flower? How could such a thing be possible! Boy, are you still asleep?"
He had laughed at Yuichi's whimsy then, but now, the boy had really done it. Although it felt like a slap in the face, Zephyr felt incredibly proud.
My disciple has completely surpassed me!
Listening to Zephyr's narration, Ain's heart was even more shocked.
Ten years ago! A whimsical idea, realized ten years later. This man not only had perseverance beyond imagination but also an enchanting talent.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
On the screen, Yuichi stood surrounded by countless cherry blossoms, as if standing in a sea of petals. Under the gloomy gaze of Jiraiya and Orochimaru, Yuichi smiled lightly.
The index finger of his left hand flicked gently.
Instantly, it was as if a gust of wind surged, whistling and blowing the petals across the sky, galloping toward the two ninjas. Countless Senbonzakura fragments converged to form a giant wave.
Orochimaru jumped to the right, ready to dodge. But Jiraiya stood where he was, strong anger flashing in his eyes. Tsunade had been badly injured right in front of him. Although she should be fine now that she was back in the Hidden Leaf Village, allowing such a thing to happen before his eyes was something Jiraiya couldn't forgive himself for.
"Fire Style!"
"Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!"
Boom!
The flames spread rapidly toward the Senbonzakura. On one side, the sky was full of cherry blossoms; on the other, terrifying raging flames.
Two forces collided.
The shockwave caused the entire duel field to shake violently. The ground cracked open like a spiderweb, fissures spreading rapidly.
As flame and Senbonzakura clashed, the terrifying eruption of power made the spectators' eyes widen in shock. Such a spectacle was not easily seen.
"Not bad! But can you use this kind of Ninjutsu forever?" Yuichi's voice cut through the noise.
Yuichi opened his hands, and a more terrifying vortex of Senbonzakura sprang up behind him. Countless cherry blossoms rolled within the vortex, each petal a sharp blade.
"Go!"
Yuichi waved his right hand and pointed at Jiraiya. The Sakura vortex behind him rolled and rushed in Jiraiya's direction again.
At this moment, as the flames dissipated, Jiraiya yelled, "Orochimaru, hurry...!"
Hearing Jiraiya's cry, Orochimaru was annoyed, but his movements were not slow. "Don't order me, Jiraiya!"
His hands slammed onto the ground.
Countless tiny black snakes emerged from Orochimaru's sleeves and dove into the earth instantly. Immediately after, a massive group of black snakes burrowed under the floor.
In the next second, the floor around Yuichi exploded. Huge boa constrictors erupted from the ground, their mouths gaping as they bit at Yuichi.
Yuichi's eyes flickered slightly.
Hmph!
Shua!
The scattered cherry blossoms gathered instantly, circling Yuichi in a fast-spinning barrier. In the blink of an eye, the giant snakes biting toward Yuichi were all sliced into ribbons and fell to the ground.
Although the number of Senbonzakura fragments near the "Safe Zone" was small, Yuichi had another power in his hands.
Haki!
It was easy enough to layer Armament Haki on top of hundreds of Senbonzakura pieces. This allowed Yuichi to compensate for Senbonzakura's weakness—that the closer the enemy was, the harder it was to manipulate the blades.
.....
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