As the days passed, the trainees who were gradually making a name for themselves at the Elite Training Camp went on one mission after another, and each earned a moniker of their own.
They were—
The Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit user who always charged at the very front of every mission: "White Hunter Smoker."
The Paramecia Cage-Cage Fruit user, who could mercilessly lock up anything that passed through her body with enormous handcuffs, and who was quietly becoming the dream girl of many trainees: "Black Prison Hina."
A master of the most twisted sword style. Though terrifying in appearance, he had a strong sense of justice. In their last battle, he used his original Right Angle Sword Style to slice open the enemy pirate ship: "Ship-Slicing Hero T Bone."
"Little Rosinante," who relied on his father in everything and was determined to become the Navy's greatest doctor.
"Leon, why did you turn down Lieutenant Colonel Natsu's offer to give you a moniker?"
"Having a moniker of your own is a sign of strength!"
"Besides, I heard that even Sakazuki and the other Vice Admirals got their monikers from Lieutenant Colonel Natsu!"
Leon rolled his eyes at Rosinante.
"Didn't you turn down the title 'Death Doctor' too, and change it to 'Little Rosinante' yourself?"
"I'm different," Rosinante protested. "I did it to match my father's old code name..."
"Besides, your moniker, 'Bandage Iron Fist,' sounds like it has a lot of potential!"
"Heh."
Leon lay on the ground with his hands behind his head.
"If I were coming up with the monikers..."
"I'd call Smoker 'Smokey' or 'Big Smoker.'"
"Old T Bone would be 'Great Sword Zombie.'"
"Since Hina likes bondage, she can be 'S&M Queen.'"
"As for me..."
"How about 'Cosmic Super Invincible Thunder Dragon Warrior'?"
"What kind of names are those..."
As he spoke, Rosinante glanced around. Seeing that no one was nearby, he furtively pulled a cigar out of his coat—a cigar he'd gotten from Smoker.
Rosinante awkwardly lit it, then asked Leon hopefully,
"What about me?"
"You..."
"..."
"Rosinante... your uniform's on fire."
"Huh?"
Only then did Rosinante slowly turn his head and see the flames merrily burning on his Navy uniform.
"My brand-new uniform!"
"Damn it!!!"
A stream of white smoke rushed over from the distance and put out the flames on Rosinante.
"You two were hiding here."
Smoker appeared in their sight.
"Thanks, Smoker."
Rosinante, whose face was blackened on one side, remembered to thank him.
Leon eyed Smoker, who had two cigars in his mouth and his chest bared, and asked curiously, "You're not doing extra training today?"
"Now that's rare, Smoker."
"Hmph."
"Even though it's a rest day, I finished my extra training before coming here. Unlike you two..."
"Oh?"
Rosinante interrupted Smoker with great interest and pointed toward the dormitory in the distance. "Are you here waiting to bump into some girls too?"
Smoker's expression changed. He pictured Vice Admiral Tsuru hanging his body from a clothesline like a piece of laundry...
"I'm not here for anything like that!"
He'd spent ages looking for Leon and the others before thinking of this secluded spot, an "smoking area" where he wouldn't be disturbed.
Smoker took a deep breath and looked at Leon with a serious expression.
"Leon, I came here specifically to find you."
After practicing nonstop for the past few months, Smoker felt he'd more or less mastered the Smoke-Smoke Fruit's abilities. Unfortunately, he'd had no chance to fight Leon at the training camp.
So he'd decided to take the initiative.
"I want you to fight me with everything you've got!"
"That's not a good idea... We're all classmates. What if one of us gets hurt by accident..."
Leon refused without hesitation. At the words "gets hurt," Rosinante's eyes lit up.
It'd be great if someone got hurt!
That way, I could treat...
"I just got my hands on a batch of top-quality cigars."
Smoker spoke softly.
"But then again, sparring every now and then helps us all improve together!" Leon quickly changed his tune. "Smoker, let me see how strong you are now!"
Leon stood up. Rosinante, who had already moved some distance away, shook his head regretfully.
They were all classmates, so he'd let Leon do without his cheering today.
Smoker watched Leon before him with a grave expression.
When the two had first met, he'd been able to sense the astonishing strength Leon possessed.
But later, he could no longer see through Leon's bandages at all. He had no idea how much power the man's body contained.
"White Hurricane!"
Smoker went all out from the start. He turned his entire body into smoke, then released a vast cloud in an attempt to trap Leon.
Unable to keep up with Leon's growth no matter how hard he tried, Smoker had ultimately chosen to eat a Devil Fruit.
This Logia Devil Fruit ability, one of the rarest powers in the entire world, was the source of Smoker's confidence that he could defeat Leon today.
But despite taking the initiative, Smoker didn't get the result he wanted.
Leon leaped high into the air, dodging the smoke as it rushed toward him.
"It's not over yet!"
"White Vine!"
The smoke beneath Leon's feet spiraled upward, trying to grab him out of the air.
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