Smoker Looks at Tashigi

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, three months have passed like flowing water.

Smoker stared silently at Tashigi, his sharp gaze revealing a hint of scrutiny. Over the past three months, he had noticed that Tashigi had been frequently taking leave. Especially in the last two weeks, even when she was physically present, she was often absent-minded and distracted, appearing completely distracted and in a very poor working condition.

Finally, Smoker could no longer suppress his doubts and asked, "Tashigi, what's wrong with you?" Normally, given his usual style, he wouldn't interfere with his subordinates' personal matters unless they affected official duties. However, Tashigi's current state clearly disrupted normal work, so he had to ask.

Upon hearing her superior's question, Tashigi shook her head slightly and replied softly, "It's nothing, Captain Smoker."

"Nothing?" Smoker frowned slightly, his eyelids twitching involuntarily. He wasn't blind; how could he not see that Tashigi was clearly troubled? He pressed on, "What happened? What's making you so distracted?" The words had barely left his mouth when a rumor circulating in the base recently flashed through his mind—that Tashigi had been dating a certain man. Could it be true?

"Are you in a relationship?" Tashigi seemed completely oblivious to this question, suddenly throwing out another one. "Captain Smoker, do you think women are destined to be inferior to men in the path of kendo?" This unexpected question caught Smoker off guard; he was clearly stunned, seemingly unable to keep up with Tashigi's leaps of thought.

After a long while, Smoker finally came to his senses. He looked at Tashigi thoughtfully and gently comforted her, "Tashigi, generally speaking, women may indeed be slightly inferior to men in terms of physical strength. But that's only one aspect... You must understand that while strength is important in swordsmanship, it's by no means the only key factor in determining victory or defeat. Therefore, you must not be discouraged. If you lack strength, try to compensate in other ways. As long as you persevere in your training, in time, you, Tashigi, will surely have a place among the future masters of Swordmaster!"

Upon hearing these words, a glimmer of light flashed in Tashigi's previously dull eyes, as if she had seen a ray of hope. However, this light was fleeting, and she quickly lowered her head again, muttering softly, "But... how can that guy explain it? He only used three short months..." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

"Huh? What did you say?" Smoker looked puzzled, not having heard Tashigi's last words clearly, and quickly asked.

Just then, Tashigi slowly turned around, her petite figure gradually walking towards the door. Each step seemed heavy, as if she were carrying a tremendous pressure. And in her eyes, there was an undisguised sense of loss, as if she had lost the most precious thing in her life.

Smoker watched silently, a sense of doubt and worry welling up inside him. He wondered to himself, "... Has this girl really fallen in love?" Tashigi's expression certainly resembled that of a heartbroken woman. However, what puzzled Smoker was why someone who had clearly experienced heartbreak was suddenly asking about kendo.

Having been single for decades and relying solely on his own hard work for everything, Smoker felt dizzy and completely bewildered by this complex situation. However, he knew he couldn't let things continue like this. After all, Tashigi was a subordinate he valued highly, and he certainly didn't want to see her grow increasingly depressed and despondent.

Thinking this, Smoker abruptly stood up, a resolute glint in his eyes. At this moment, he was determined to find out what had happened to Tashigi, no matter what. Only then could he help her out of her predicament and rediscover her vibrant and spirited self. So, without hesitation, he took a step forward, closely following behind Tashigi...

In a quiet, secluded grove on the edge of Loguetown, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Moke stood silently, meticulously polishing the Sandai Kitetsu exuding a mysterious aura. Each movement was gentle and delicate, as if handling a priceless treasure. Not far away, Yubashiri quietly against a thick tree trunk, her sword gleaming with a cold, clear light.

Moke and Tashigi had made a promise— Tashigi would teach him swordsmanship for three months. Now, time has flown by, and the three months have come to an end. Looking back to when he first decided to learn swordsmanship, Moke only wanted to make up for his shortcomings, but after this period of training, he has been completely transformed.

For the past three months, Moke has devoted himself entirely to the practice of swordsmanship. He trains diligently every day, constantly challenging his limits. As time goes by, he not only masters superb swordsmanship skills, but more importantly, his state of mind has also undergone a tremendous change.

Moke was once just an ordinary student who spent his time in his university dormitory eating instant noodles and watching movies. But now, after weathering the storms of life, the Hero's Heart, Strongman's Heart, and Swordmaster's Heart has quietly taken root deep within him. These precious qualities have made him resolute, courageous, and determined, no longer the naive young man he once was.

Just then, Moke suddenly sensed something amiss. His keen ears twitched slightly, as if he had caught some subtle sound. He quickly turned his head to the side. When he saw who it was, a bright smile bloomed on his face, and he called out loudly, "Tashigi, you've come!"

Tashigi gripped the hilt of Shigure tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the excessive force. Recalling the past three months, she had devoted herself to teaching Moke the basics of swordsmanship during the first month, patiently explaining and demonstrating each move; the following two months had become frequent and intense sparring between the two. It was through this daily practical training that Moke's combat experience had skyrocketed.

Tashigi pursed her lips slightly, her gaze complex as she looked at the young swordsman before her— Moke. She said softly, "Moke, among all the people I've met, you are undoubtedly the most talented swordsman. In just three months, you've achieved what I could accomplish in six years of arduous training. Not only that... you've already forged your own path in swordsmanship, while I? I'm still trapped in those fixed sword techniques learned from others. So, you've already surpassed me..." Tashigi paused, then slowly turned and walked towards where the Yubashiri was placed. Each step seemed heavy, yet carried a hint of anticipation and joy.

Finally, she reached the Yubashiri and gently picked it up. As the cold, familiar touch entered her palm, Tashigi, a sword fanatic, felt an indescribable joy well up inside her. From this day forward, the Yubashiri would belong entirely to her. This honor was a well-deserved reward. After all, for the past three months, she had unreservedly imparted to Moke the essence of her years of accumulated swordsmanship.

Then, her bright, star-like eyes slowly turned, finally settling on Moke. A hint of barely concealed anticipation and curiosity flickered in her clear, watery gaze. Her lips parted slightly, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song. "I know perfectly well that since half a month ago, every time we sparred, you've deliberately held back, never revealing your full strength. Now, seeing that you're about to leave this place and soar to great heights, I wonder if you could grant me this small wish, allowing me the opportunity to witness firsthand your unique, inimitable, unparalleled technique?"

Upon hearing this, Moke was slightly taken aback at first, but quickly recovered. A faint smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded slightly, indicating his agreement to the request. Immediately afterward, he slightly bent his knees, his center of gravity slowly lowering. At the same time, his large, powerful hands gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his arm muscles taut, veins bulging, displaying a posture of ready-to-strike.

In the blink of an eye, a surging, suffocatingly powerful aura erupted from Moke's body, sweeping across the surroundings like a violent whirlwind. Even the renowned Sandai Kitetsu, which he held tightly in his hand, seemed to sense the long-suppressed power deep within its master's heart; the sword trembled slightly, emitting a chilling, eerie Ghost Aura.

However, what was most astonishing was that Moke's originally clear and bright eyes underwent a dramatic change. They gradually changed from their normal color to a deep, almost dark green, like two precious gems hidden in endless darkness, shimmering with a mysterious and captivating light.

With a deep roar, "One- Inazuma One Sword Style - Demon Flame Flash!" Moke vanished from Tashigi's sight in an instant, moving so fast that his trajectory was impossible to detect.

However, only a few seconds had passed when something unexpected happened. Moke reappeared like a ghost, mysteriously standing about three or four meters behind Tashigi. At this moment, he was slowly and gracefully sheathing the renowned Sandai Kitetsu in his hand, with movements as elegant as a dancer.

Almost at the same instant, a deafening roar suddenly rang out. Everyone present was startled by the sudden sound and froze, looking in the direction from which the sound came. They saw that a thick tree, more than three meters tall, that had been standing next to Tashigi had been cut in half at some point!

What's even more astonishing is that a strange flame is burning on this massive, broken tree trunk. The flame's color is not ordinary; it's a unique and captivating purple, faintly interspersed with a hint of green light. This peculiar combination of colors makes the flame appear both indescribably beautiful and exuding a chilling aura of danger.

This eerie flame seemed to possess a life of its own, spreading with unimaginable speed. Like a ravenous beast, it frantically devoured everything in its path. In the blink of an eye, the once peaceful scene had transformed into a raging inferno, with scorching waves of fire rolling and surging upwards, as if to set the entire sky ablaze.

Of course, this Ghost Flame was formed from eerie and sinister Ghost Aura. Upon seeing this scene, Tashigi's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief and astonishment. Just three months ago, this guy didn't even know how to properly wield his sword! Yet now... he could unleash such powerful and terrifying sword techniques! At this rate, he was probably only one step away from becoming a true Swordmaster!

Not only was Tashigi incredulous, but even Moke himself, when he occasionally recalled the past, was filled with doubt and confusion. He often pondered to himself: why did he possess such astonishing and extraordinary swordsmanship talent? After much contemplation, a seemingly absurd possibility surfaced in his mind—perhaps it was because he had successfully absorbed the legendary Sandai Kitetsu and merged with it, thus becoming the so-called "Kitetsu Swordman." It was precisely because of this that he was able to display such exceptional talent in the path of swordsmanship.

Of course, besides that, there might be another possibility. That is, he originally possessed such amazing talent in swordsmanship, but in his previous life, due to various reasons, he never had the opportunity to cultivate and use it... However, after careful consideration, compared to the latter possibility, Moke was actually more inclined to believe the former guess about the "Kitetsu Swordman). After all, that explanation was simply too incredible, making one want to explore the hidden mysteries within.

"Tap tap tap..." At this moment, a clear and heavy footstep sound suddenly came, breaking the original tranquility. Moke and Tashigi were attracted by the sound almost at the same time, and turned their eyes in the direction from which the footsteps came.

When they saw who it was, they were both slightly taken aback. It turned out that the person standing before them was none other than Navy Captain Smoker! As for Moke, he knew very well that he would meet this powerful captain sooner or later, but he never expected to meet him in such a place and in such an unexpected way.

In contrast, Tashigi seemed somewhat guilty. After all, she was alone with Moke at that moment, and Smoker had caught them red-handed. However, the next second, something unexpected happened— Smoker first looked at Tashigi, then said in a slightly questioning tone, "This is your boyfriend?" He then sized Moke up, his eyes sharp as knives, as if trying to see right through Moke. Next, he coldly said to Moke, "You brat, now that you're with Tashigi, you'd better be more considerate of her from now on. As a grown man, how can you be so petty with your woman?"

Upon hearing this, Moke was utterly astonished, his mouth agape, completely bewildered. He thought to himself, "Huh??? What's going on? When did I become Tashigi's boyfriend?" At the same time, Tashigi was equally confused, but soon a blush spread across her cheeks, as alluring as a ripe apple. She first stole a glance at Moke, then immediately rushed to Smoker, hurriedly explaining, "Captain Smoker, you've misunderstood! It's really not what you think. I just came here today to teach him swordsmanship; there's nothing special between us!"

"You're actually going to teach him swordsmanship?" Smoker's face was filled with disbelief. He had witnessed that kid's sword strike with his own eyes! Its power was astonishing. Even in the talent-filled Marine Headquarters, such swordsmanship would easily qualify him as a lieutenant commander! Although Tashigi was indeed quite talented in swordsmanship, she was still too inexperienced at the moment. Judging from her current strength, if we had to decide who would teach whom, it would be more suitable for this kid to teach Tashigi.

Smoker's expression was like a sharp dagger, piercing Tashigi's heart. However, despite the considerable shock she felt, Tashigi forced herself to suppress her emotions and recounted the entire story to Smoker in detail.

"What?!" Smoker exclaimed in surprise after Tashigi finished speaking. When he turned his gaze back to Moke standing not far away, his expression had completely changed. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, and he stammered, "So... so this guy is not only a Devil Fruit User, but he also went from knowing nothing about swordsmanship to being this skilled in just three months?"

Okay, here is the expanded version based on the data you provided:

Well, he had to admit, Moke's swordsmanship talent truly astonished him. After all, Moke was Zephyr's direct disciple! And from what he knew, among his own class, and even those two years before and after, there had never been anyone as freakish as Moke. Among the many students taught by the legendary Zephyr, perhaps only the three renowned top-tier warriors —Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji— possessed such astonishing and freakish talent! Thinking of this, Smoker couldn't help but sigh softly.

He silently took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it skillfully, and took a deep drag. As he inhaled, a thick cloud of smoke quickly filled his mouth and slid down his throat into his lungs. Then, he slowly opened his mouth and exhaled the smoke he had inhaled.

In an instant, wisps of smoke, like a group of playful sprites, rushed out of his mouth. They intertwined and entwined, gradually spreading and swirling around Smoker's body. From a distance, these wisps of smoke seemed to form a thin cloud barrier, enveloping his entire body and giving him an air of mystery.

However, the seemingly hazy smoke had no effect on Smoker whatsoever. On the contrary, it acted like a miraculous medicine, gradually calming the somewhat agitated Smoker and allowing his restless heart to slowly return to its usual calm state.

Just then, when Smoker raised his head again and turned his gaze to Moke not far away, he suddenly realized that the person in front of him seemed different from before. At this moment, in his eyes, Moke was no longer just an ordinary being, but rather a rare and priceless treasure.

The light emanating from Moke was dazzling and mesmerizing, almost blinding, like the most Shine star in the night sky. Even in the pitch-black surroundings, as long as Moke stood there quietly, everyone's gaze was drawn to him as if by some mysterious force.

Smoker took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and carefully considered his words. After a while, he slowly opened his mouth and said in a low, expectant voice, "I wonder if you are interested in joining our great naval force? If you are willing to dedicate yourself to the naval cause, I would be very happy to personally recommend you to the Marine Headquarters."

Someone with such extraordinary talent and unparalleled strength as yourself would be incredibly fortunate to become a member of our Navy! While I cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that I can secure a higher-ranking position for you, I believe that a position as a lieutenant commander at headquarters would be a piece of cake for you.

Of course, this is just the beginning of your illustrious military career... As long as you persevere and strive hard in the future, your future will surely be bright and limitless!