Mr. Mihawk, I've Mastered Cutting Steel

As he spoke, Hawk-Eyes walked over, ready to call a halt.

There was no point in practicing any longer.

It was time to rest.

Suddenly.

Whoosh!!

Junichi unleashed a sharp slash, then froze in place.

[You practiced Basic Swordsmanship once. Proficiency +1]

[Ding!]

[Your Basic Swordsmanship proficiency has met the requirement and has automatically advanced.]

[Basic Swordsmanship · Special (Max Level Upon Unlock)]

[You practiced Swordsmanship Secret Art · Cutting Steel once. Proficiency +1]

[Ding!]

[Your Swordsmanship Secret Art · Cutting Steel proficiency has met the requirement and has automatically advanced.]

[Swordsmanship Secret Art - Cutting Steel · Special (Max Level Upon Unlock)]

Whoosh!

A flood of insights and understanding poured forth like a clear spring.

Basic Swordsmanship!

Cutting Steel!

In an instant, Junichi had mastered both special skills and brought them to max level.

His aura changed as well.

It became more condensed, more steady, and more profound!

"Hm?"

Hawk-Eyes paused slightly. He sensed the change in Junichi.

But—

Such changes usually appeared when a swordsman's accumulated efforts finally bore fruit and led to enlightenment.

Junichi was a complete outsider, and his talent was poor.

Where would such accumulated effort come from?

Where would enlightenment come from?

"Was it an illusion..." Hawk-Eyes preferred to believe that his senses had been wrong.

However.

Junichi slowly raised his head and smiled at him. "Mr. Mihawk, I've comprehended Cutting Steel."

The moment those words left his mouth—

Hawk-Eyes' eyes widened as he stared at Junichi in astonishment. "Are you joking?"

"I'm not joking, Mr. Mihawk." Junichi shook his head and said calmly, "Just now, I grasped the secret behind Cutting Steel."

"You..."

Hawk-Eyes wore a stunned expression as he looked at Junichi in disbelief.

He wanted to ask, Do you even know what you're saying?

A clumsy sword-user who lacked a swordsman's heart, had no talent for swordsmanship, and had not even learned the basics—after practicing for barely over an hour, he dared claim that he had comprehended Cutting Steel?

Even swordsmanship geniuses would not dare say such a thing!

Even Hawk-Eyes himself had trained bitterly for more than ten years since childhood before comprehending Cutting Steel.

Are you insane?!

Hawk-Eyes wanted to snap at him like that, but then he recalled the change in Junichi's aura that he had thought was an illusion.

He also remembered how Mr. Rayleigh had endlessly praised Junichi's talent.

For a moment.

Hawk-Eyes hesitated. After a brief silence, he said, "Then show me."

"Alright."

Junichi walked ten meters away.

There stood an abandoned iron griddle stand, a type of cooking equipment used specifically for teppanyaki.

Someone had apparently discarded it here.

But it was still intact.

Perfect for testing a blade.

Junichi walked up to the iron griddle stand, raised his ninjatō, and brought it down smoothly.

Hawk-Eyes' eyes widened as he watched intently.

Whoosh!

The ninjatō fell, slicing through the iron griddle stand with silky ease and not the slightest resistance.

It was as effortless as cutting through a sheet of paper.

"!?"

Hawk-Eyes revealed a shocked expression and lowered his gaze to the severed iron stand.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest flaw.

"This isn't merely Cutting Steel—it's Cutting Steel at the utmost level!" Hawk-Eyes said in disbelief, his pupils contracting.

Ordinary Cutting Steel could not leave such a smooth cut.

Only Cutting Steel achieved through power condensed to the extreme could slice so smoothly and leave a mirror-like surface.

"You really comprehended Cutting Steel!!"

Hawk-Eyes turned to stare at Junichi in horror, feeling as though his entire worldview had been shaken.

He had considered whether this young man had already known Cutting Steel.

But he immediately rejected the thought.

Junichi's earlier clumsiness and stiffness while practicing Basic Swordsmanship could not have been faked!

When this young man had first accepted his guidance, he had truly been a complete outsider.

Yet that very outsider—

After practicing for a mere hour or so, had leaped straight to the mountaintop and directly comprehended Cutting Steel at its utmost level!

"Unbelievable..."

Hawk-Eyes stared at Junichi in shock, as if trying to find some part of the young man's physiology that differed from ordinary people.

Otherwise, how could he be such a monster?

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe that someone could transform from a novice into a great swordsman in barely over an hour."

"No wonder Mr. Rayleigh said you were exceptionally talented and would definitely surprise me."

"So that's how it is..."

Looking at Junichi as though he were a monster, Hawk-Eyes shook his head. "Your physical talent is lacking, but your comprehension is terrifyingly strong. You can forcibly comprehend knowledge and make it your own."

"What monstrous comprehension."

Hearing that—

Junichi's expression went slightly blank.

He had not expected others to interpret his cheat as exceptional comprehension.

Still, that worked out perfectly.

It gave him a reasonable explanation on the surface and spared him the effort of making up excuses.

"No matter how outstanding one's talent is, it still requires someone to teach them." Junichi smiled and flatteringly said, "It was thanks to your guidance, Mr. Mihawk, that I was able to comprehend Cutting Steel so smoothly."

"What guidance did I give?" Hawk-Eyes laughed bitterly and shook his head.

He regretted it.

Why had he refused when Junichi called him Teacher earlier?

Just imagine it.

One day, this young man would make a name for himself on the seas. At such a young age, his swordsmanship would be astonishing, and his fame would spread throughout the Grand Line.

When others asked, he would turn out to be Hawk-Eyes' disciple!

Hawk-Eyes was not only a great swordsman himself—he had even taught another great swordsman as his disciple!

How wonderful would that sound?

Besides, personally nurturing a formidable opponent would make life less boring in the future, Hawk-Eyes thought to himself.

He had always challenged powerful swordsmen across the seas to temper his swordsmanship.

After becoming a great swordsman—

Only Red-Hair and Golden Lion were worthy of his notice.

But although those two possessed formidable swordsmanship, they were not pure swordsmen and would not casually accept his challenges.

As for everyone else, they could not even stir his interest.

They were merely people who used swords, such as Rayleigh, Whitebeard, and Roger.

But now, things were different.

Hawk-Eyes looked at Junichi with blazing eyes. There's another opponent worth looking forward to!

"Ahem, Mr. Mihawk, it's already noon. Let's go back and eat," Junichi said, getting goosebumps from the way Hawk-Eyes was staring at him.

"Mm." Mihawk nodded, and the heat in his eyes receded.

It was not time yet.

Junichi had not yet grown strong enough to face him head-on.

He had to be patient.

"Let's go back." Mihawk's attitude was completely different from his earlier coldness. He became exceedingly enthusiastic. "After lunch, shall we continue training?"

"Is there any swordsmanship you want to learn?"

"Or I could help improve that third-rate swordsmanship of yours."

Ha ha...

Junichi wore a polite smile as he perfunctorily followed him back to Shakuyaku's bar.

He knew what Hawk-Eyes was thinking.

In the original story—

Hawk-Eyes had challenged swordsmen everywhere to temper his skills. He had even nurtured young swordsmen one after another, hoping they would become his opponents.

Damn it, a fruit farmer has set his sights on me.

Junichi secretly wiped away a cold sweat.

He had no interest in constantly fighting just to hone his swordsmanship.

To him, any battle without benefits was utterly meaningless.

He did not want to move at all.

I'll string Hawk-Eyes along for now... Junichi thought to himself.