Mastering Flying Slash Required an Opportunity

"I think I understand now."

Junichi pondered, thinking to himself, To master Cutting Steel, a swordsman must walk their own path to the very end, refining their strength to the utmost precision.

And Flying Slash...

On the foundation of reaching the utmost, one must transcend one's personal style!

From the complexity of swordsmanship, one must find its foundation and use it to unite one's intent, strength, and technique!

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

The panel popped up with three more notifications.

Clearly, his line of thought was correct.

"There's no need to rush your comprehension of Flying Slash," Mihawk said. "The key lies in an opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

"That's right." Mihawk nodded. "When the opportunity comes, everything will fall into place naturally. If it doesn't, no matter what you do, you'll hit a wall."

As he spoke, Mihawk looked at Junichi.

"Rich experience can help you find that opportunity."

"So next, you can travel the seas like other swordsmen and fight different powerful opponents."

"When you have honed your swordsmanship in battle until it can no longer be improved, that will be when the opportunity appears."

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

The panel displayed another notification.

Junichi nodded. "I understand completely."

He now understood the path of a great swordsman.

Of course.

Understanding was one thing.

But Junichi had no intention of doing it.

There was no need for him to take the long path of cultivation known as "traveling."

That was something only pure swordsmen would do.

And he had cheats.

"Practice that swordsmanship of yours first. Let's see whether there are any details that need adjusting," Mihawk said. "I almost forgot—what is that swordsmanship called?"

"Uchiha Style Swordsmanship," Junichi answered casually.

"Uchiha Style..." Mihawk's eyes turned thoughtful at the name.

Junichi's full name was Junichi Uchiha.

So this should be a family-inherited swordsmanship style, one with the flavor of Wano Country.

Perhaps Junichi had come from Wano Country?

Mihawk merely made a passing guess before putting it aside.

The sea did not ask about one's origins.

Where someone came from was completely unimportant.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Junichi began training.

As he swung his sword, he adjusted its finer details.

Mihawk occasionally offered suggestions.

Gradually.

Junichi refined the New Uchiha Style Swordsmanship until it was without flaws.

But he did not stop.

Taking advantage of the momentum, he began cultivating the path of a great swordsman, integrating his own insights and understanding into his swordsmanship.

It was as though he were injecting a soul into the swordsmanship.

When a swordsmanship style came alive and became deeply personal.

It meant that person had reached the end of the swordsman's path.

"So impatient?"

Mihawk naturally saw what Junichi was thinking and could not help frowning. "I told you already, forcing yourself to seek an opportunity will only make you hit a wall... Experience is the proper path."

He could not help shaking his head.

Junichi was far too impatient.

But Mihawk did not stop him, merely watching from the side.

Young people were always more eager, and he could sense the hidden urgency in Junichi's eyes.

This youth seemed to have something he needed to do.

That was why he was so desperate to increase his strength.

There's no use trying to persuade him under these circumstances, Mihawk thought. I should wait until he hits a wall and calms down on his own.

With that in mind.

Mihawk walked some distance away and quietly began maintaining his black blade.

At his level, ordinary training meant little. What mattered more was comprehension and progress in one's realm.

The sun gradually slanted westward.

Before they realized it, the sun had begun to set.

Swish!

Junichi was still swinging his sword. His clothes were soaked through, as if he had been fished out of the water.

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

--

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

--

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

--

Only after a long while would the panel give him another notification.

Clearly.

Knowing something was one thing; doing it was another.

Junichi still lacked far too much.

An ordinary swordsman would need at least three years of travel and at least one life-and-death battle before they might find that opportunity.

But as always.

Junichi had cheats.

Whoosh!

After another slash, the panel faithfully displayed a notification.

[You are learning the secret art: Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]

He was gradually getting a feel for it.

The notifications were appearing more and more frequently.

I'll probably max out the proficiency by tomorrow, Junichi calculated.

"Let's head back, boy."

Mihawk ended Junichi's training and walked over from afar. Looking at him, he shook his head. "Your stamina is exhausted. Further training is meaningless."

"Alright." Junichi understood the reasoning as well and stopped swinging his blade.

After resting for a while.

He returned to Shakky's Rip-off Bar with Mihawk.

Jingle!

Accompanied by the sound of wind chimes, Junichi and Mihawk pushed open the tavern door and entered.

The moment they stepped inside.

A rich aroma of meat rushed toward them.

Steaming, lavish dishes covered the tavern tables.

Grrr...

Junichi's stomach immediately growled with hunger.

"Welcome back." Shakuyaku puffed on her cigarette and said with a smile, "Go take a bath, then come have dinner."

"Alright." Junichi immediately went upstairs to wash off his sweat.

At this dinner.

He ate even more than usual, consuming a hundred times as much as he had in the Naruto World!

After eating and drinking his fill.

Junichi was utterly exhausted, so he went to rest first.

On the first floor, Mihawk drank while chatting with Rayleigh and the others.

"How did it go this afternoon?" Rayleigh asked curiously.

"No progress." Mihawk shook his head.

Rayleigh, Shakuyaku, and even Hancock all showed surprised expressions upon hearing that.

"What are you surprised about?"

Mihawk was baffled. "He has already mastered Cutting Steel. The next step is Flying Slash, the most difficult part."

"This is the realm of a great swordsman!"

"Did you think it would be easy? Countless swordsmanship geniuses have been trapped at this stage for their entire lives!"

The three exchanged glances.

A hurdle that trapped geniuses might not necessarily trap Junichi.

"Sorry, it's because Junichi awakened Armament Haki and Observation Haki in a single day before, so..." Rayleigh said, scratching his head.

"So you thought he would master Cutting Steel and Flying Slash in one day?" Mihawk wore an incredulous expression.

The three nodded in unison.

Mihawk was instantly speechless. What did they take great swordsmen for?

Cabbages?

"It won't be that fast." Mihawk shook his head. "A great swordsman needs an opportunity. It cannot be achieved through training alone."

"Mr. Mihawk, do you think Junichi can't master Flying Slash?" Hancock raised her little hand and asked.

She cared deeply about Junichi's affairs.

At every meal, she did not eat with her sisters or the Kuja women, instead coming over to Junichi's side.

"That's not it."

Mihawk glanced at the little girl, thought for a moment, and said, "I simply think that he won't be able to master Flying Slash in a short time... He will need at least three years of experience before he might find that opportunity."

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