This Man Is Different

"Yes, sister."

Sandersonia covered her mouth but didn't expose the Empress's thoughts.

She honestly relayed everything she knew, including the Chakra refining method taught by the Uchiha, and the feeling of energy flow.

As well as the key points of Chakra control underfoot when treading on water, she explained it as detailedly as possible to her sister.

And so, the Empress began her secret training.

However, things were far from as simple as she imagined.

Starting too late was one problem, but more crucially, the cultivation and application of Chakra were completely different from the Haki system she was familiar with.

Haki focused more on the burst of willpower and bodily instincts.

Whereas Chakra, especially techniques like "treading on water," required incredibly precise control.

The Empress's talent was undeniable; with her half-baked sister's explanation, she managed to successfully refine Chakra within just one month!

This aptitude was terrifying.

But... the amount was too little!

The Empress started too late, and her training time was far shorter than that of other clan members.

Now, the Chakra within her body, let alone compared to the Uchiha, was even weaker than that of many newly initiated Kuja warriors.

This meager amount of Chakra, like a trickle, made supporting a continuous-consuming technique like "treading on water" twice as difficult.

At this moment, the Empress had secretly come to a secluded bay behind the palace.

She took a deep breath, recalling the key points described by Sandersonia, and attempted to gather the pitiful Chakra within her body onto the delicate soles of her shoes.

Once, twice...

The Chakra was intermittent, either unable to stably cover the soles of her feet, or it would instantly dissipate due to a lack of sustained power the moment it touched the water's surface.

"Plop!"

With a soft sound, the Empress's jade feet once again sank into the seawater without suspense, the cold water soaking her shoes, socks, and the hem of her skirt.

"Damn it!!!"

The Empress stomped her feet in anger in the shallow water, a blush of shame and annoyance rising on her beautiful face.

Although the seawater in the shallow area couldn't cause her serious harm yet.

But looking at her wet and disheveled appearance, and then thinking of the ordinary warriors on the sea surface looking excited, a huge sense of frustration surged into her heart.

She, the great Empress Boa Hancock.

Had actually failed at such a basic technique!

And it was a secret practice, a failure no one knew about!

If this were to get out...

"Hmph! It must be that Sandersonia's explanation was unclear! Such a crude technique, it's better not to learn it!"

The Empress tried to hide her embarrassment with anger.

"Your method is wrong."

Just then, a male voice suddenly rang out.

"Who?!"

Empress Hancock sprang up like a startled cat, instantly bristling!

She spun around abruptly, and upon seeing who it was, her anger surged to the top of her head.

It was that Uchiha Shisui!

When did he arrive? How much did he see?!

Overwhelmed by shame and anger, the Empress, almost without thinking, followed her instinctive reaction.

Her slender jade fingers formed a heart shape in front of her chest, instantly creating a giant pink heart!

"Insolent cur! How dare you peek at me! Slave Arrow!"

"Whoosh--!"

The pink heart-shaped beam, carrying a heart-stopping fluctuation, instantly shot towards Shisui, its speed astonishingly fast!

At such close range, and caught off guard, Shisui had no time to make any effective evasive maneuvers.

He could only watch helplessly as the light engulfed him.

When the pink light dissipated.

The expected petrification did not occur.

Uchiha Shisui was still standing in place, perfectly fine.

He even maintained the posture he had been in, about to speak, but with a hint of stunned interruption on his face.

He looked down at his unharmed body, then looked up at the Empress, who was looking at him with disbelief, and scratched his head somewhat sheepishly:

"Uh... Your Majesty Empress, are you testing me? Thank you for holding back."

Shisui thought the Empress had deliberately controlled the power and was merely giving him a sudden warning, not actually activating her ability.

After all, he had personally witnessed the power of this move a few months ago.

With a single strike, over ten clan members were completely petrified without any resistance!

Among them were even elite Uchiha with Three Tomoe, who didn't even have a chance to retaliate.

"Holding... holding back?!"

The Empress's beautiful eyes widened, and she was completely stunned.

She had absolutely gone all out just now, how could she have held back?!

This guy... why is he fine?!

Could it be that he's immune to my petrification even without that green bone?

Looking at Shisui's sincere gaze, the Empress felt a blockage in her chest, almost choking her.

Was this bastard doing it on purpose?! Was he mocking me?!

However, before she could lash out again, Shisui had already adjusted his mindset, as if the attack just now was merely a minor incident.

He put on his gentle and serious expression again, pointed at the Empress's feet still standing in the seawater, and said gently:

"Your Majesty Empress, the main problem with your failed attempt to walk on water wasn't the amount of Chakra, but its continuity.

You should imagine Chakra as a flow of water, not releasing it all at once. Instead, like breathing, you need to evenly and continuously cover the soles of your feet with it, and constantly make micro-adjustments with the ebb and flow of the water's ripples to form a dynamic balance..."

Shisui began to explain the core points of walking on water in detail.

His tone was sincere, his eyes were clear, and there wasn't the slightest hint of mockery or impatience.

It was as if he were simply guiding an ordinary beginner who had encountered difficulties.

The reprimand that was already on the tip of the Empress's tongue was blocked by his earnest explanation.

She stared blankly at Shisui, feeling the genuine sincerity in his words, and the anger in her heart seemed to be doused with a basin of warm water.

Although she still felt stifled and embarrassed, the killing intent and extreme shame inexplicably dissipated by more than half.

This guy... is he serious?

Does he really think I was holding back just now, and that he's now sincerely teaching me?

The Empress looked at Shisui's only remaining clear eye.

Slave Arrow failed, was it because he wasn't attracted to me at all?

If he wasn't attracted to me, why would he be teaching me so earnestly?

The Empress's mind was in a bit of a mess.

She just felt that the one-eyed blind man in front of her wasn't so detestable anymore.

"...Hmph!"

In the end, the Empress merely snorted coldly and turned her head away awkwardly.

But her ears perked up slightly; she didn't interrupt Shisui's explanation, nor did she attack again.

Is this... considered tacit approval?

Seeing this, Shisui smiled helplessly.

Although the person opposite him possessed extremely terrifying abilities.

Compared to her powerful strength, many of her actions, in Shisui's eyes, were like those of an immature little girl.

Judging by the attitude of the Kuja clan members towards her.

She must also be a kind-hearted person deep down!

And so, in this secluded bay, a bizarre yet harmonious scene unfolded.

The genius ninja of the Uchiha Clan was patiently instructing the Empress of the Kuja Clan.

And the Empress, despite still maintaining a proud and unwilling expression on her face.

Her body, however, was honestly following Shisui's instructions and trying again.