Scatter, Senbonzakura

This statement was not Yaen mocking Gion, but a straightforward remark.

Yaen's physique was not comparable to other strong individuals. Perhaps for other strong individuals, even if they were hit by one of Gion's Flying Slashes, they would at most bleed on the spot, and their bones wouldn't even break. They could grit their teeth and continue fighting as if nothing happened.

But Yaen knew clearly that if he were hit, his entire arm might be crippled.

However, Gion obviously didn't believe this man's words. Instead, she pointed Konpira at Yaen and said.

"Warming up to this extent is almost enough, isn't it? Aren't you going to make a real move? Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

Yaen clicked his tongue in exasperation and said, "Captain Gion, I'm really not good at fighting. Please spare me, and we can call it a draw, how about it?"

"Heh~"

Gion gave a cold, beautiful smile, her gaze falling on the inconspicuous sword at Yaen's waist, and said.

"Aren't you a swordsman too? Draw your sword, and Sister Tsuru said you're a Cherry-Cherry Fruit user. Show me your abilities."

"Cherry-Cherry Fruit?"

Yaen's expression instantly turned as if he were constipated. He shouted towards Sengoku at the edge of the training ground.

"Old Man, how many times have I told you, it's not the Cherry-Cherry Fruit, it's the Cherry Blossom Fruit."

"You brat, 'Cherry-Cherry Fruit' is the correct naming method for newly discovered Devil Fruits," Sengoku replied loudly, feigning seriousness.

"What a bastard," Yaen couldn't help but grit his teeth and curse.

Gion's tone became sharper. "In short, draw your sword, Yaen, and let me witness your power."

"Sigh..."

Yaen sighed deeply, casually drew the katana hidden at his waist, and said, "Actually, I'm really not a swordsman, and this sword's purpose has never been for slashing..."

However, the repeated conversations had completely worn out Gion's patience.

The next moment, before Yaen could finish speaking, Gion transformed into a pink stream of light, and a hidden golden-yellow cold glint pointed directly at Yaen's chest.

Facing Gion's unusually sharp and swift attack this time, Yaen did not dodge. Instead, he raised the sword in his hand and chanted.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"

As Yaen's words fell, the sword Yaen called "Senbonzakura" rapidly decomposed from the tip, blooming and separating like beautiful, brilliant cherry blossoms.

In just an instant, the blade of Senbonzakura had completely disappeared, leaving only the hilt and guard in Yaen's hand.

The next moment, Gion appeared in front of Yaen, Konpira thrusting directly towards Yaen's chest.

However, the large amount of cherry blossoms scattering around Yaen instantly converged, deflecting Konpira from the side.

"What?!"

Gion was astonished that the seemingly fragile and beautiful cherry blossoms actually contained immense impact force, even capable of forcefully altering Konpira's trajectory.

Unknowingly, a petal brushed past Gion's cheek.

"Sizzle!"

A cut instantly appeared on Gion's fair skin, and drops of bright red blood seeped out.

"These aren't cherry blossoms, they're... blades?!"

Gion's Observation Haki swept over, and she instantly discovered that the essence of these beautiful pink cherry blossoms was actually tiny blades.

Gion's eyes widened as she gazed at Yaen, who stood before her, calmly adjusting his glasses. A feeling instantly arose in her heart.

'Fragile, beautiful, and dangerous!'

The next moment, Gion's slender legs exerted force, and defying common sense, her entire posture shifted from charging forward to retreating. In an instant, she backed away more than ten meters, attempting to create distance from the dangerous cherry blossoms surrounding Yaen.

However, in the blink of an eye, by the time Gion regained her senses, she found that her field of vision was completely covered by the cherry blossoms that followed her like shadows.

'So fast!'

Gion had no time to think. With a movement of Konpira, she attacked to defend.

"One Sword Style: Pila Ranbu!"

Instantly, a large amount of golden Flying Slashes were unleashed by the retreating Gion, sweeping towards the cherry blossoms like countless turbulent currents.

And those cherry blossoms, like leaves in a strong wind, scattered and fell wherever the Flying Slashes passed.

"It's useless..."

Yaen, standing still, shook his head and said.

"The cherry blossoms are fragile, but it's not that easy to make them completely disappear."

Then, Yaen gently lifted the hilt of Senbonzakura. The countless cherry blossoms that had scattered on the ground, emitting a pink glow, converged once more. They even bypassed from the sides, catching up to their target, and closed in on Gion in an encirclement.

"This is bad!"

Gion gritted her teeth. Armament Haki and Marine Rokushiki: Tekkai, these two defensive measures were instantly employed. She stood firm in place, appearing like a solid block of black steel, forcefully resisting the encircling cherry blossoms.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

A continuous series of collisions rang out, making Yaen's teeth ache slightly.

"Captain Gion, you're making this difficult for me. Using a technique like Tekkai is practically suicidal for most people. Even if I wanted to lose to you, I can't." Yaen's tone was filled with helplessness.

Gion, as expected of a future Marine Admiral candidate, was not weak in her mastery of "Marine Six Styles: Tekkai" and "Armament Haki," despite her young age.

A large amount of cherry blossoms continuously revolved around Gion, but they couldn't harm her in the slightest.

However, Yaen was well aware of the fact that "Senbonzakura's" attack power was weak, and he was not in a hurry to break through Gion's defense anytime soon.

After all, if he maintained it in the Shikai form of his Zanpakutō, Yaen could easily last until Gion got tired and lay down on her own.

Ten breaths, a hundred breaths, five hundred breaths...

Gion was truly tenacious. Yaen didn't know why she kept persisting. Her Armament Haki looked considerably thinner, yet she refused to give up.

It was a pity, but Yaen would not allow himself to be defeated. Otherwise, given Sengoku's personality and integrity, he might have forcefully made Yaen "marry" Gion, thus ensuring Yaen would settle down and become a Marine.

How could that be allowed?

Gion might be excellent, her future strength comparable to an Admiral, her beauty unparalleled, her figure graceful, and her beautiful legs captivating, but how could Yaen allow his dreams to stop at just Gion?

"So, I apologize, Captain Gion. Please forgive my rudeness upon our first meeting."

Yaen said with a full apology, then gripped the hilt of Senbonzakura and suddenly slashed towards Gion.

Instantly, the speed of the large amount of cherry blossoms continuously cutting Gion increased significantly. The pink light reflected under the sunlight became even more dazzling.