The Seniors' Provocation

There's an unwritten tradition in the recruit camp: when new recruits first join, the senior trainees give them a hard time.

No one knows when this tradition started; it's been around for many years.

Even the three former Admirals went through it!

However, in their batch, they directly fought through all the senior trainees and were admitted to the elite camp ahead of schedule!

And it was precisely because of this astonishing performance that they were branded as monsters from the very beginning!

In the end, they lived up to everyone's expectations; all three monsters went on to become Navy Admirals!

Over a hundred people broke away from the main group, heading towards them in a mighty procession. The remaining senior trainees didn't join them; a hundred people were enough, and they stayed to watch the spectacle.

Naturally, Yun Ye and the other new recruits noticed their actions.

At first, they paid no mind, but soon, a group of senior trainees blocked the path ahead of them.

With their way blocked, the new recruits' training march came to a halt.

Everyone looked on, confusion etched on their faces. Who were these people? What did they want?

Yun Ye looked up. He was the only one who sensed that the people ahead had ill intentions...

Among the new recruits, one young man couldn't help but frown, "Who are you guys? You're obstructing our training!"

This person wasn't stupid; he guessed they were other members of the training camp.

They couldn't be the only ones training; there had to be others, and these people were likely soldiers who had entered the training camp before them.

A nonchalant senior trainee stepped forward. Ignoring the new recruit who spoke, he looked at the newbies ahead with a mocking gaze and said sarcastically, "So, you're the new batch this year?"

His tone was incredibly impolite, even carrying a condescending air.

All the new recruits who heard this frowned.

The young man who spoke earlier spoke again, "We are new recruits, yes. And who are you? Are you also soldiers in the training camp?"

However, upon hearing this, the nonchalant senior trainee suddenly sneered, kicked out at the young man, sending him flying over ten meters away, and then coldly said, "Don't you know the rules? Here, you have to call us seniors!"

The sudden attack stunned all the new recruits, especially the one who was kicked. He clutched his abdomen, his eyes filled with bewilderment... Why did they suddenly attack?

Only the group of senior trainees burst into laughter:

"Hahaha, Jace, why did you suddenly attack? What if you scared the newcomers?"

"Exactly, what if you frighten the little kids?"

Although it sounded like they were reprimanding the senior trainee named Jace, their tone suggested otherwise; it was more like a provocation.

Jace shrugged it off, spreading his hands and smiling, "Who told them they didn't know the rules?"

This was clearly looking for trouble!

All the new recruits realized that someone was looking to cause them problems. Upon this realization, their expressions turned extremely grim.

The commotion here naturally did not escape the eyes of the training camp instructors.

Several instructors were currently inside a building, watching the unfolding scene.

It was routine; this kind of situation always happened when new recruits arrived.

They, the instructors, did not choose to intervene but instead observed the situation's development.

Failure wasn't terrifying; what was terrifying was the inability to recover.

This was also a test, a test for the new recruits.

An instructor with a muscular upper body, holding the rank of Rear Admiral, shook his head with a smile, "Here we go again. I hope they go easy on them and don't hinder the new recruits' upcoming training."

Another instructor, a bald man with the rank of Brigadier General, chuckled, "They won't. They know their limits."

The instructor with a sword at his waist suddenly thought of something and said with a smile, "I wonder how this batch of newcomers will perform. Dare they fight the senior trainees? I remember one batch of new recruits was truly fierce, even causing trouble for the senior trainees!"

"Was that Smoker's batch? Smoker and Drake, two Devil Fruit users, were active, and there was a little girl, right? Oh, her name was Tine? They all entered the elite camp. I heard Smoker and Drake have already graduated from the elite camp. Truly geniuses!"

Just then, Kage walked in, overheard their conversation, and inserted himself into the discussion with a smile, "Rear Admiral Maynard, Brigadier General Leighton, Brigadier General Mandel, what are you guys talking about?"

Maynard, with his bare upper body, saw it was Kage and greeted him with a smile, "Haha, Rear Admiral Kage, why are you only arriving now?"

Brigadier General Leighton, holding his sword, pointed forward and said with a smile, "Seeing the new recruits arrive, the senior trainees couldn't hold back."

Brigadier General Mandel also smiled, "It's the annual 'tradition.' They just love to cause trouble. I'll make everyone run an extra few dozen laps later!"

Kage's mouth twitched. He was bringing up a sore subject. How could he have only just arrived? Naturally, he had just finished his laps – three thousand laps. Even as a master of physical combat, it had taken him nearly a full day to complete!

Kage didn't want to answer that topic. Instead, he looked over there and immediately understood the general situation, "Are you talking about that 'tradition' that's been going on for who knows how long?"

In the past, he would have also watched these students mess around with a smile. However, this time, with the monstrous new recruit from yesterday who could repel him, would the new recruits still be bullied?

He looked over with a smile but found that Yun Ye's gaze also met his at that very moment, though he quickly looked away.

However, Kage's heart gave a jolt, and he thought to himself, 'This kid... it really is Observation Haki...'

Yesterday, he had vaguely felt that Yun Ye's perception was incredibly sharp, even able to capture his movements. He had suspected it then.

Now, it was almost certain that the one possessing this perception was definitely the Observation Haki among the Two-Color Haki!

Kage inhaled sharply. This kid was truly a monster!

Maynard looked at Kage and asked, "Yes, that's it. I remember Rear Admiral Kage, you were in the same batch as Admiral Aokiji back then, right? I heard that in that batch, Admiral Aokiji alone defeated all the senior students by himself?"

"Uh, you could say that. Admiral Aokiji showed terrifying talent even back then. Almost no senior student could withstand even one of his moves." Kage withdrew his thoughts, recalling the scene at that time. It was truly brutal...

"Hey, stop talking and watch. They've already started clashing!"

"I hope this time it doesn't get too out of hand, or we'll get scolded too!"

"We're watching, so no one will die."

Listening to his colleagues, Kage smiled and shook his head, "Don't worry, it won't get out of hand. The senior students will probably stumble this time..."

"Hm?"

The three looked at Kage with confused eyes.

Kage smiled without saying anything. "Just watch!"

The three were filled with doubt, not understanding the meaning behind Kage's words.

With this doubt, they turned their gaze towards the scene.

Returning to this side.

Yun Ye withdrew his gaze from the instructors and thought to himself, 'They didn't come out to stop it. Does that mean they tacitly approve of the current situation? Judging by their lack of surprise, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Is it some kind of "precedent"?'

Yun Ye's thoughts were clear, and he immediately saw through the situation, roughly understanding the instructors' purpose in letting things unfold.

It was nothing more than wanting to see the freshmen's reactions. Perhaps this was also a form of assessment...

'Heh, such deep schemes...'

Yun Ye couldn't help but inwardly complain, 'You guys have too many tricks!'

First, the instructors gave them a show of force at the beginning, and now the senior students were doing the same.

They were afraid the freshmen wouldn't recognize their own strength and become arrogant, right?