Swordsmanship Instructor—Dracule Mihawk

13th Street.

Mihawk stopped and looked at the tavern's name—Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

"This is the place." He nodded and pushed the door open.

Jingle!

The wind chime above the door rang crisply.

"Welcome."

Inside the tavern, Shakuyaku looked up and greeted him.

When she saw Mihawk, a smile appeared on her face. "Well, if it isn't the most talked-about great swordsman lately, Dracule Mihawk?"

"Miss Shakuyaku." Mihawk showed no reaction and merely gave a slight nod.

Then he looked toward Rayleigh, who was seated at the bar.

"Mr. Rayleigh." Mihawk walked over and sat down. "Where is the person I'm supposed to teach?"

"Don't be in such a hurry. Sit down and have a drink." Rayleigh smiled, took out a fresh glass, and poured Mihawk a drink. "Going by his usual routine, that boy should be back in half an hour."

"Is that so?" Mihawk picked up the glass and began drinking.

Half an hour later.

Jingle!

The tavern door was pushed open again.

A tall, handsome young man walked in from outside.

Junichi had returned from his training.

"Welcome back," Shakuyaku said with a smile.

"Junichi, come here..." Rayleigh waved with a smile, pointing at Mihawk beside him. "This is the instructor I hired for you—the newly risen great swordsman who's the talk of the seas, Dracule Mihawk."

Dracule Mihawk!?

Junichi looked over in surprise.

Beside Rayleigh sat a man with short black hair, sharp brows and eyes, and pupils as keen as an eagle's.

An incomparably dangerous, razor-sharp aura lingered around him.

It was as if his entire body were an unstoppable blade, ready to leave its sheath at any moment.

Rayleigh actually hired Mihawk to teach me?

Junichi was surprised. That's unexpected. Rayleigh already knew Mihawk at this point?

Despite his surprise, he greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, Mr. Mihawk."

Mihawk did not respond.

He was also sizing Junichi up, but after only a few glances, he frowned.

No!

Almost instantly, Mihawk had branded him with a negative judgment.

This boy was not a swordsman.

He could not sense any sincerity or passion for the sword from him.

"Mr. Rayleigh, I believe we agreed beforehand..." Mihawk ignored Junichi completely and turned to Rayleigh. "I do not teach mediocre people!"

He raised a hand and pointed at Junichi, his expression displeased. "This person cannot even be called a swordsman. You want me to teach an outsider?"

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere in the tavern turned cold.

"Don't be so hasty."

Rayleigh quickly said, "Junichi has talent. He is absolutely not mediocre; he merely lacks the guidance of a good teacher."

"That's right, Mihawk. Trust Rayleigh's judgment," Shakuyaku added.

"Is that so?"

Mihawk remained doubtful and turned to stare at Junichi distrustfully.

Both Rayleigh and Shakuyaku looked at Junichi with concern.

Anyone would get angry after being questioned like that, wouldn't they?

Yet to their surprise—

Junichi remained calm and merely chuckled. "I truly am not a swordsman. I used a sword crudely in the past, which is why I need Mr. Mihawk's guidance."

"At least you have some self-awareness." Mihawk gave a cold snort.

Junichi's smile did not change. He was not angry in the slightest.

The strong had reason to be arrogant.

Mihawk was stronger than him and highly skilled in swordsmanship, so he naturally had the right to judge him as he pleased.

Besides, Mihawk was not wrong.

He truly was not a swordsman.

Junichi did not care about that either. As long as he could learn something from Mihawk and improve his strength—

Say whatever you want.

Reputation is empty. Strength is what matters, Junichi thought.

"Ahem..."

Rayleigh stood up to smooth things over. "In any case, Mihawk, teach Junichi first. His talent will definitely satisfy you."

"Let's hope so." Mihawk rose with a cold face and put his top hat back on.

He looked at Junichi and said indifferently, "My time is precious. Let's begin now."

"Fine." Junichi nodded with a smile.

His time was precious as well.

"Please follow me. I know a place where no one will disturb us." Junichi turned, opened the door, and walked out of the tavern.

He led the way, with Mihawk following behind.

The two soon disappeared from view.

"Sigh..."

Inside the tavern, Rayleigh and Shakuyaku sighed together.

Mihawk's personality was truly troublesome.

They wondered whether the two would get along.

"Why did you find Mihawk?" Shakuyaku asked helplessly. "You know full well that his personality is a problem."

"He's the best swordsmanship teacher I could find." Rayleigh spread his hands innocently.

Shakuyaku thought about it and realized that was true, which only made her more helpless.

"I hope they can get along happily," she sighed.

Rayleigh, however, was quite confident. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. Once young Junichi displays his strength, Mihawk's attitude will definitely change."

Elsewhere.

Junichi led Mihawk to a small tree-covered island where he had been training recently.

There was no one around.

It was perfect for training.

"Begin." Mihawk crossed his arms and slightly raised his chin, his attitude disdainful. "Let me see just how terrible your current level is."

"Fine." Junichi calmly drew his ninja blade.

He automatically filtered out the bite in Mihawk's words.

Swish!

Junichi began demonstrating Uchiha Style Swordsmanship right there.

It was what he had learned since childhood, what he was most familiar with, and it had reached the "Proficient" level.

The moment he unleashed it, the air filled with dull howls.

It was forceful, fierce, and incredibly aggressive.

"..." Mihawk watched from the side, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

Once Junichi finished his demonstration—

Mihawk criticized him without mercy. "This swordsmanship of yours is meant to be used in conjunction with some kind of power, isn't it?"

"Wind?"

"Fire?"

Mihawk guessed casually, yet he had guessed the secret of Uchiha Style Swordsmanship correctly.

Junichi was secretly surprised.

As expected of a great swordsman. His insight was no joke.

Uchiha Style Swordsmanship had to be combined with Fire Release to unleash its tremendous power.

The essence of this swordsmanship was actually a form of ninja taijutsu.

"No matter what power it is, it doesn't matter." A trace of contempt flashed across Mihawk's face. "Even when used alongside that power, it is merely third-rate."

"If we speak solely of the swordsmanship itself, it is unbearably poor."

"The transitions between moves, the rhythm, the execution—everything is as crude as a child scribbling randomly."

Junichi's mouth twitched despite himself.

It was still swordsmanship passed down by the Uchiha Clan for over a thousand years.

Did he have to belittle it that badly?

"There is no future in practicing something like this." Mihawk looked Junichi over and said coldly, "I will teach you from the beginning. I will teach you true swordsmanship."

"Breathing, footwork, rhythm, how to exert force, stance..."

"If you follow the correct path and spend twenty or thirty years studying it, you should have a chance to comprehend Cutting Steel and become a great swordsman."

At that point, Mihawk paused.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "I will not teach you for very long."

"Roughly two months. Once I have taught you the correct swordsmanship, I will leave."

"Whether you can get started will depend on yourself."

Hearing this—

Junichi did not object and simply nodded. "No problem, Instructor Mihawk."

Two months.

That would be enough time for him to grind proficiency and unlock Cutting Steel.

Add Bookmark

Return to Contents

Report Chapter Error

Share with Friends: