Cooper: No Matter How Many Come, I'll Kill Them All!

"Master-level techniques have greatly increased power!"

Junichi muttered to himself.

"For example, Fire Release can reach temperatures over three thousand degrees—enough to melt steel!"

"Who cares how strong your body is?"

"One fireball, and I'll burn your whole body to charcoal!"

That was also why Junichi had not given up on ninjutsu.

Ninjas were spellcasters, and spellcasters often had a higher damage ceiling than physical fighters.

The master-level Great Fireball Technique was proof of that.

Not to mention that beyond ordinary ninjutsu were even greater powers: secret techniques, forbidden techniques, Bloodline Limits, Bloodline Selection, and more.

"With the proficiency system, both sides of my strength can advance together."

Junichi smiled inwardly.

"When the time comes..."

"I'll use powerful ninjutsu to bully the muscle-headed brutes of the pirate world."

"Then I'll use the pirate world's Haki to bully fragile ninjas."

"That picture is simply too beautiful."

Junichi's thoughts raced as he made his decision.

He would do it!

The Ten Thieves Rat Pirates were not enough to threaten him.

"I'll accept this gift, Mr. Mihawk." Junichi spoke seriously to Hawk-Eye.

Hawk-Eye naturally had no objections. Smiling, he said, "Good luck."

"Go and return quickly."

"Fair winds."

Rayleigh and Shakuyaku offered their blessings as well.

They would not help Junichi.

If they had to step in and personally deliver a Great Grade Sword into Junichi's hands for something as trivial as this, then the whole endeavor would be meaningless.

Junichi would have no reason to go to sea.

He might as well find some place and live out his days until old age.

"They'll fence the goods on Kalle Island." Holding the leather pouch, Junichi rose and gave the three a slight bow. "Time is short. I'll set off first."

"Go on, go on." Shakuyaku waved a hand.

Rayleigh and Hawk-Eye raised their wine cups in farewell.

"Goodbye."

Junichi raised his cup as well, drained it in one gulp, then turned and walked out of the bar.

He headed straight for the docks.

After renting a boat, he put to sea.

The sailing knowledge Rayleigh had taught him finally came in handy.

Evening.

Jingle!

The bar's door was pushed open, and Hancock entered, exhausted after an afternoon of hard training.

"I'm back."

She spoke weakly, then immediately slumped over the bar counter.

"Big Sis Shakuyaku, please give me a glass of fragrant fruit juice," Hancock murmured. "I'm dying of thirst."

"Honestly..."

Shakuyaku helplessly tapped her on the head. "This is a bar. What kind of business is it for you to come here for fruit juice every day?"

Though she said that,

Shakuyaku still mixed her a glass of juice.

"Hehe, thank you, Big Sis Shakuyaku." Hancock drank with satisfaction.

After recovering some of her strength,

she curiously looked around, searching for someone.

But she did not see him.

"Stop looking. Junichi went to sea," Shakuyaku said, knowing whom she was searching for.

"Huh!?"

Hancock was stunned. She stared wide-eyed at Shakuyaku. "When?"

"Why so suddenly?"

"Why didn't he say goodbye to me?"

Shakuyaku glanced at her and slowly said, "It's only a short trip. He's hunting a pirate, and he'll be back after a while."

"So that's how it is." Hancock breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down on the counter.

But after only a moment,

she lifted her head again and pressed Shakuyaku, "How long is 'after a while'?"

"One or two weeks, maybe?" Shakuyaku answered uncertainly.

"That long?" Hancock's expression fell.

"Can't be helped. This is a troublesome enemy." Recalling the intelligence, as well as Rayleigh and Hawk-Eye's assessment, Shakuyaku said, "Junichi may end up in a hard fight."

"One or two weeks would be under favorable circumstances."

"If things don't go smoothly, it could take even longer."

After all, Junichi was only one young man, while the other side was an entire pirate crew.

There was a massive difference in numbers.

He would certainly have to use guerrilla tactics, gradually whittling down the pirate crew before finally confronting Captain Cooper.

That would take time.

That was Shakuyaku's judgment, but she did not tell Hancock the specific intelligence.

It was basic confidentiality.

"Ah..."

Hancock looked even more dejected, her brows knitting together.

It would actually take that long.

"So stop worrying about him and focus on your training," Shakuyaku advised, poking Hancock's forehead with a finger.

"Got it." Hancock nodded gloomily.

Outside the Sabaody Archipelago.

On a sea route leading toward Kalle Island.

"Drink! Drink as much as you want!"

"We made a killing this time!"

"Yeah! Several centuries' worth of that island's savings all went into our pockets!"

"We can live it up for a long time now!"

Dozens of pirates laughed loudly across the deck.

They had just conquered an island, slaughtered the town's security force, and seized the wealth the townspeople had accumulated over centuries.

The Ten Thieves Rat Pirates had made a fortune.

Even the lowest-ranking ordinary crewmen would receive a large share.

"The captain's bounty is definitely going up again!"

"It'll probably reach two hundred million!"

"A toast to Captain Cooper!!"

Someone raised a cup toward the captain.

The others followed, laughing as they raised their own cups.

"A toast to Captain Cooper!!"

"A toast to Captain Cooper!!"

"A toast to Captain Cooper!!"

For a time, their voices boomed like thunder.

Every pirate stared eagerly at their captain, their eyes filled with respect.

Strong, and able to make them money.

Such a captain was simply perfect!

"Hahaha! Drink all you want! Eat all the meat you want!" Captain Cooper laughed as he swallowed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

The atmosphere grew even livelier.

All the pirates excitedly drank and ate meat, traded dirty jokes, and bragged loudly.

Only the high-ranking members of Cooper's pirate crew remained calm.

"Captain..."

A tall, skinny man with shrewd eyes leaned close to Cooper and said, "Is it really wise to be this conspicuous? A lot of people have their eyes on your blade."

Cooper did not care.

He lightly pressed a hand against Demon Eye at his waist and sneered. "Dustin, I'm a great pirate with a bounty of 120 million Beli!"

"In the first half of the Grand Line, who can stand against me?"

"As long as it's not that Hawk-Eye bastard, no matter how many come, I'll kill them all!"

At those words,

the tall, skinny man named Dustin looked helpless. "Hawk-Eye has been in the Grand Line recently. It seems he's coming after you, Captain."

"No need to worry. He's been at the Sabaody Archipelago for days and still hasn't put to sea." Cooper said dismissively, "Once we fence the loot, we'll head to the Four Blues and enjoy ourselves. Do you think he'll be able to find us?"

"That's true." Dustin nodded, persuaded by Cooper.

The banquet continued.

Soon, it was deep into the night.

The pirates gradually fell asleep, their snores deafening.

Cooper returned to the captain's quarters to rest.

After arranging the night watch, Dustin lay down on the deck and went to sleep.

Before long,

the ship had become completely silent.

And at that very moment,

a shark swiftly cut through the sea and arrived beneath the ship.

The shark surfaced and transformed into the figure of a young man.

Junichi Uchiha!

Using the Transformation Technique, he had silently approached the Ten Thieves Rat Pirates!