Kizaru: Shuzuo's Sneak Attack Test!

Watching the gates slowly close, Major General Traine let out a sigh of relief... He could have gone in with them, but with a certain someone having appeared, he felt it was necessary to linger outside a little longer.

When he turned around, a figure had appeared where there had been nothing moments ago, leaning against the wall and clipping his nails.

Swish!

The guards and Traine snapped to attention and saluted in unison, shouting, "Admiral Kizaru!"

The man who had appeared outside the testing area was one of the Three Marine Admirals from the original story, the most inscrutable among them—"Kizaru," Borsalino.

He wore a bright yellow suit and draped over his shoulders was the Justice coat unique to admirals, its epaulets ornate. He was tall and thin, with black curly hair, a ring of beard around his face, and a pair of sunglasses.

He was difficult to read because Kizaru had never shown any particularly clear purpose in the original story. He seemed indifferent to everything.

In the two years after the great war, Akainu and Aokiji had fought on Punk Hazard for the position of Fleet Admiral due to their clashing ideals, yet Kizaru had shown no interest whatsoever... It was as if he did not care in the slightest what style the Marines would adopt in the future.

Akainu and Aokiji could be called the clearly opposed Marine Hawks and doves, but Kizaru... honestly, no one could see through him.

A certain comment from Earth had analyzed Kizaru very clearly. It went like this.

[Kizaru has no emotional conflicts, no conflicts over judging justice. There is no uncertainty or hesitation in him regarding anything in any sense. He is simply responsible for carrying out missions... nothing more.]

Setting aside the secrets hidden behind this man, Ron was Kizaru's counterpart in that regard. The only difference was their starting points. Ron genuinely found it troublesome and did not want to think through all those twists and turns.

At that moment, Kizaru leaned against the wall, clipping his nails with a pair of nail clippers.

Only after hearing the salute did he blow on his fingers and raise his head. His gaze passed over Traine and settled on the closed gates. He spoke very slowly.

"Say, Traine... That one who went in just now was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit User, right?"

"Uh..."

Why was Kizaru concerned about this?

Wasn't he indifferent to everything?

Traine was uncertain, but considering their difference in rank, he promptly replied, "Yes, Admiral Kizaru. His name is Ron. Vice Admiral Garp had me bring him to the New Recruit Camp for testing!"

"Ron..."

Kizaru repeated the name. With a puff, he blew the nail dust away, then slowly rose to his feet and spoke to Traine.

"Then let's go in and take a look... The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, lightning from the heavens? How frightening, how frightening indeed!"

Traine could not make sense of the situation, so he could only straighten his chest and raise his head. "Understood!"

The Test Field was a vast expanse of sand and gravel, with no people or equipment anywhere in sight. It was as empty as a desert. The moment Ron walked in, he thought he had come to the wrong place. Only after glancing back at the surrounding walls and the towering main fortress outside did he confirm that he had not somehow transmigrated again.

This was nothing like the gym-like Test Field he had expected! Never mind the high-tech equipment unique to the One Piece World—why was there not even a single person here?

Atop the high wall behind Ron, inside a room embedded in the wall, Kizaru and Traine stood watching Ron's every move through the window. When Ron cautiously took a step forward, Kizaru pursed his lips and gave a lewd little smile. "No one's there? This style of testing... Is it Teacher's beloved disciple, Brigadier General Shuzuo?"

The only person Kizaru would call Teacher was the New Recruit Camp Chief Instructor, the Former Marine Admiral, "Black Arm" Zephyr!

However, the two had long disagreed over certain ideals, and Kizaru never involved himself in matters concerning the New Recruit Camp. Traine had not expected him to know even Shuzuo's testing style so well.

"Uh... that's right. It should be Instructor Shuzuo."

After freezing for a second, Traine answered quickly.

The other New Recruit Camp instructors had all been selected for the role, while Zephyr and Shuzuo alone had stepped down into it. This had caused quite a stir at Headquarters back then, so Traine was very familiar with them.

Hearing the answer, Kizaru pursed his lips. The wrinkles on his old face made that lewd expression look frighteningly ugly. "Oh my... It seems Teacher Zephyr thinks quite highly of Ron... This should be entertaining!"

Traine's mouth twitched, but he could not refute that.

If it was Shuzuo, then he truly could assess Ron's current shortcomings most accurately. But the process...

Meanwhile, in the Fleet Admiral's Office, Sengoku looked at Zephyr with mild surprise after hearing the report and asked, "He only gained his Fruit Ability around a month ago and has never undergone any real combat training. Are you sure you want Shuzuo to handle this?"

Shuzuo's testing methods were simply the nightmare of every Marine newcomer!

"Please rest assured, Fleet Admiral. Shuzuo knows his limits!"

Zephyr answered with complete confidence. At the same time, he glanced at someone snoring away across the desk and grinned. "Besides, I need to check whether he was led astray during that month aboard Vice Admiral Garp's ship, and whether he needs correcting..."

Pop!

The snot bubble burst. Garp opened his eyes blankly and looked around.

What just happened?

Why did it suddenly feel a little chilly?

But then he remembered that this was Sengoku's office, so no accident could possibly happen. Garp rubbed his nose, tipped his head back, and went right back to sleep.

At once, black fumes seemed to erupt from Sengoku's body, his teeth grinding with a creak.

"Gar...p..."

In the broad sandy field, Ron walked forward slowly, every muscle in his body tensed.

He did not let his guard down just because no one was around. This was an important Marine location; it made no sense for it to be unguarded. Besides, since this was a test, anything could happen!

"Huh?!"

After taking a few steps, Ron stepped on the ground and gave a startled cry. He suddenly crouched down, grabbed a handful of sand and soil, rubbed it in his palm, and fell into thought.

"I see..."

"Hey, you're the recruit here for testing, right? Sorry, I went to the bathroom just now... Wait a moment, we'll begin the test right away!"

A voice suddenly rang out. Ron instantly spun around, lightning nearly bursting from his body. But he immediately restrained the impulse, his mouth twitching.

"Uh... all right! Take your time, Instructor..."

An inconspicuous little door in the wall was pushed open, and a Marine officer emerged. The insignia on his shoulders told Ron that he was a Colonel. If nothing unexpected happened, he was the New Recruit Camp instructor responsible for the test.

"Come to think of it, no one's come for testing in ages... It's not even time for the recruits' semiannual tests. I was dragged back in the middle of a meal and told there was a test to conduct... Sorry, I really didn't mean to leave you hanging, kid!"

The Colonel complained as he walked over, apologizing to Ron at the same time.

"No problem. I also... just got here."

Did I get it wrong?

Ron stood there with an awkward expression, beginning to question his entire life.

Seeing Ron's dazed expression, Kizaru's lips slowly curled into a smile from the viewing platform.

"Here it comes..."

Boom—!!

Sure enough!

The moment his words fell—

The sand behind Ron suddenly exploded. A figure burst out from underground, fast as lightning and light, reaching Ron's back in an instant. Kizaru's sharp eyes spotted the pitch-black Haki wrapped around the man's fist. Ron would not be able to evade this punch through Elementalization!

This... was the testing style of Brigadier General Shuzuo, the person in charge of the Test Field...

Actual combat!!

In his eyes, soldiers existed to fight!

The complicated testing of speed and strength, like mere flashy routines, was not entirely meaningless, but it could never be as accurate as real combat data!

Especially when facing a sneak attack, a person's practical combat ability could be seen most clearly!

A Marine elite commander, proficient in Two Types of Armament Haki, with extraordinary mastery of swordsmanship and Rokushiki, hiding sinisterly underground to launch a sneak attack on a recruit—there was no way to evade and no way to block... No wonder Shuzuo's tests were considered nightmares by every new recruit!