He Has No Swordsman's Heart

"Don't call me teacher. You're not qualified to be my student."

Mihawk said coldly, "I only came to teach you to repay a favor."

"Then... Mr. Mihawk?" Junichi immediately changed how he addressed him.

It was only a form of address.

He had no intention of forcing himself on someone who did not welcome him, insisting on becoming Mihawk's disciple or anything like that.

"Fine."

Mihawk nodded, then said, "Let's begin now."

"Okay." Junichi's expression turned serious.

Next.

Starting from the beginning, Mihawk explained the principles, methods, rules, and more behind swordsmanship to Junichi.

He completely dismantled the art, broke it down bit by bit, and fed it straight into Junichi's mouth.

He could casually draw upon every school of swordsmanship.

In Mihawk's eyes, no matter the school or style, their essence was the same.

They were all meant to refine one's will, gather one's strength into a single point, and thereby comprehend "Cutting Steel"!

So, he taught the most fundamental core directly.

Junichi was greatly astonished as he listened.

His thoughts felt unblocked, and all the confusion that had troubled him before suddenly became clear.

[You are learning the secret art "Cutting Steel." Proficiency +1]

[You are learning the secret art "Cutting Steel." Proficiency +1]

[You are learning the secret art "Cutting Steel." Proficiency +1]

As he listened.

Junichi's proficiency slowly increased as well.

Half an hour later.

Mihawk stopped explaining and said instead:

"Now, start practicing with basic swordsmanship."

"Correct those mistakes."

"Work the breathing, force generation, rhythm, and everything else I told you into it."

As he spoke.

He raised his chin slightly, signaling that Junichi could begin.

"Okay."

Junichi nodded, gripped his ninja sword again, and slowly swung it.

Slash, chop, cut, thrust, sweep, upward slash...

He started practicing again from the basics.

A complete set of basic swordsmanship could work every muscle group in the body, training the swordsman as a whole.

But Uchiha Style Swordsmanship was not so comprehensive.

So, some of the moves were unfamiliar to Junichi.

His movements were clumsy and halting, and his practice looked extremely stiff.

He had even less attention to spare for breathing, force generation, stance, and the like.

"As expected..."

Mihawk watched and shook his head, sighing softly. "Not only do you lack a swordsman's heart, you also have no talent for swordsmanship."

"I take back what I said earlier."

"Forget twenty or thirty years. You probably won't comprehend 'Cutting Steel' even in your entire lifetime."

Hearing that.

Junichi's expression did not change at all.

He truly had no talent. He knew that very well himself.

But it did not matter.

Players with cheats did not care about something like talent.

[You practiced basic swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[You practiced the secret art "Cutting Steel" once. Proficiency +1]

The system panel.

Unwaveringly displayed Junichi's growth.

"Practice by yourself, then." But in Mihawk's eyes, there had not been the slightest improvement.

He had no interest in watching a complete novice awkwardly swing a sword.

It was a waste of time.

"I'll come back at noon." Mihawk left those words behind and walked away.

"Take care, Mr. Mihawk."

Junichi did not mind at all. He even had the mood to wave goodbye.

Then.

He continued training.

[You practiced basic swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[You practiced the secret art Cutting Steel once. Proficiency +1]

Street 13.

Mihawk returned to Shakky's Rip-off Bar and pushed open the door.

Jingle!

"Welco... You're back already, Mihawk?" Shakuyaku asked in surprise.

Rayleigh seemed to have thought of something and was just about to speak.

"That boy's talent is completely lacking." Mihawk shook his head, walked to the bar, and sat down. "He has neither a swordsman's heart nor talent for swordsmanship."

He looked at Rayleigh, puzzled. "I don't understand why you thought he had decent talent."

"As far as I can see, there's no point in him pursuing the path of swordsmanship."

"He'll never comprehend 'Cutting Steel' in his life!"

At that.

Rayleigh did not argue. Instead, a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Because not long ago.

He had held similar thoughts.

He had thought that Junichi was not suited to cultivating Haki and would have a hard time awakening it.

Then the result had proved him wrong.

"Don't rush. Give the young man some time," Rayleigh said with a smile.

"This isn't a matter of time..."

Mihawk shook his head. He had no intention of arguing and instead said, "I'll teach him for around two months and guide him onto the right path."

"How far he can go after that will depend on himself."

"That's enough." Rayleigh nodded.

"Good." Mihawk breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Rayleigh might make some troublesome request, but fortunately, that had not happened.

He only needed to spend two months repaying the favor.

He could treat it as a two-month vacation.

"Come to think of it, I actually have a request for Miss Shakuyaku." Mihawk looked at Shakuyaku beside him.

Shakuyaku's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "Oh? A customer?"

"I want information on the Ten Thieves Rat Pirates, especially their location." Mihawk stated his request. "Their captain possesses one of the 21 Great Grade Blades, Demon Eye. I came for that sword."

Shakuyaku began thinking when she heard that, trying to recall whether she had information on that pirate crew.

Rayleigh, meanwhile, grew curious. "So you've been active in the first half of the Grand Line recently because you were chasing that Great Grade Blade?"

"That's right."

Mihawk nodded, his expression turning solemn. "That captain isn't a swordsman. He hasn't even comprehended Cutting Steel. A Great Grade Blade in his hands is a waste, an insult to a famed blade!"

"I'm going to reclaim Demon Eye!"

"And let this blade find a suitable owner!"

Rayleigh smiled but offered no comment.

That was Mihawk's personality and way of doing things. He had no reason to interfere.

"I vaguely remember them. I'll give you the detailed information tomorrow." Shakuyaku had finished recalling it and said, "A thirty-percent advance payment. One million Berries."

"Fine." Mihawk nodded and directly took out the money.

After paying, he left the bar to buy daily necessities and book a hotel in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Around noon.

Mihawk returned to where Junichi was training.

[You practiced basic swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[You practiced the secret art Cutting Steel once. Proficiency +1]

--

[You practiced basic swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[You practiced the secret art Cutting Steel once. Proficiency +1]

--

[You practiced basic swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[You practiced the secret art Cutting Steel once. Proficiency +1]

--

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Junichi kept swinging his sword. Even though he was panting heavily and drenched in sweat, he did not stop.

Inside his body.

The Sea King meat he had eaten earlier continuously transformed into a warm current, restoring his stamina.

"Almost there..."

Junichi narrowed his eyes and murmured.

He had accumulated almost enough proficiency.

He could feel that threshold.

Swish!

Junichi immediately practiced even harder.

It was then.

Mihawk returned. He watched Junichi diligently practice his swordsmanship, while a patch of ground had already been soaked through with sweat.

But Mihawk's expression remained utterly unmoved.

Hard work was the cheapest thing there was.

Without talent, no amount of hard work could make someone an outstanding swordsman.

"Minimal progress."

Mihawk watched Junichi swing his sword and shook his head in disappointment. "I overestimated this boy's talent earlier."

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