The Agreement

In the Head Instructor's office, Zephyr had also learned of Uchiha Senga's results. He looked at the numbers on the file on his desk, then raised his head to stare doubtfully at the soldier who had delivered the documents, his expression clearly saying, "Are you kidding me?"

The soldier swallowed hard and insisted again that he was serious.

Only then did Zephyr reluctantly accept the news.

"I understand. You may go." He waved his hand to dismiss the soldier, rubbed his temples, and replayed the information from the file in his mind.

Navy recruit, age 16, Uchiha Senga, no Devil Fruit consumed, Doriki Value 7200. All these details combined hit Zephyr like a shock, leaving him momentarily dazed.

This is the promising recruit Sengoku told me about? You call this promising? This is already a damn monster, isn't it!?

Zephyr felt sure Sengoku was trying to mess with him. Ever since his wife and children were killed by pirates, the quality of new recruits in recent years had been mediocre, and Zephyr had been considering retiring from the Navy for good. When Sengoku found out, he naturally tried to dissuade him, and since Zephyr knew the Navy had been struggling lately, he temporarily set the idea aside.

That twisted joker! Zephyr mentally dissed Sengoku viciously.

To be fair, Sengoku was innocent. On his honor, at the time he just wanted to let Zephyr know about this person, so he could properly mentor Senga in the training camp and not waste his talent. He was also afraid that overselling it might look like favoritism, so he phrased it mildly. Who knew Senga would be this insane!?

"Who would've thought that after Sakazuki and the others graduated, a recruit with this kind of talent would appear. Looks like the Navy's future still has hope."

Staring at Senga's photo in the file, Zephyr resolved to focus his training on this Uchiha Senga in the camp. He absolutely couldn't let his talent go to waste—especially his personality. There must not be a second Borsalino!

With that thought, Zephyr got up and headed straight for the training camp, ready to get a good look at this monstrous new recruit named Uchiha Senga.

By now, Senga had entered the Headquarters Elite Training Camp with the top entrance score, unaware that a purple-haired old man had already set his sights on him.

At the moment, he was being gossiped about by a group of new recruits on the path.

"Look, that's Uchiha Senga, the monster with a Doriki Value of 7200!"

"What strange eyes. Is he some kind of exotic race?"

"So handsome..."

"Stop drooling. Look at the beauty next to him, then look at yourself. You think he'd notice you?"

"Get lost!"

All kinds of chatter reached Senga's ears. He shook his head helplessly. Whether in the world of Naruto or One Piece, the hype squad and the lovesick were always everywhere.

"What's with that face? Being liked and admired by so many people, you're probably floating on air inside, you smug, tsundere jerk."

The speaker was Gion. She had followed Senga in, claiming it was to see him off to his final stop—definitely not to keep some lovesick little girls from snatching him up. Definitely not.

"Come on, stop teasing me. This whole spotlight thing was your idea. Now I can't keep a low profile even if I want to."

"Gold shines no matter what. Talent can't be hidden. Stop complaining."

Talking as they walked, they arrived at the training camp dormitory. Gion stopped.

"I'll see you off here. I have to go now. It'll be a while before we see each other again. Don't miss me too much, little Senga~"

"Alright, alright. It's not like we'll never meet. When I get out, we'll have a good meal together."

Suddenly, Gion's expression shifted, turning fierce.

"Did you forget something?"

"Huh?" Senga looked confused.

"What were you squeezing during the test?"

"Uh..." Senga felt a bit awkward. He'd gotten carried away in the heat of the moment, and what he did was definitely over the line.

Pfft. Seeing Senga standing there awkwardly like a dumb goose, Gion covered her mouth and laughed.

"Relax, I'm not going to eat you." She even reached out and pinched his cheek.

Senga, caught off guard, let her get away with it and quickly dodged aside, which only made Gion laugh harder.

"Still such a kid. I didn't think you'd care about that kind of thing." Gion stopped laughing, composed herself, and straightened his clothes just like she had during the test. This time, Senga didn't say anything. He knew Gion wanted to face the upcoming separation with a cheerful mood.

"When you graduate from the training camp, if you can become a Rear Admiral, I'll grant you one condition. How about that?" Gion suddenly said.

Senga looked at her quietly. Everything was understood without words.

"Haha, that's almost impossible, right, Senga?" As if talking to herself, Gion stopped adjusting his clothes.

Senga stepped forward and hugged her, whispering softly in her ear.

"Is that all? No challenge at all."

Gion's face flushed red. She hurriedly pushed him away, left a quick "Stop bragging," and fled like she was running away.

Senga watched her retreating figure, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Then just wait and see, Gion."