The Deserted Island, Sengoku, and the Boy with a Sword
Beneath the azure sky, a few oddly shaped white clouds drifted past from time to time.
Occasionally, a few seagulls flew overhead, calling cheerfully.
On a fairly large deserted island out at sea,
a man with a seagull on his head and a pair of frog-eye glasses
sat on a reef, stroking the white goat beside him.
The area around the middle-aged man seemed to have become a forbidden zone.
None of the people coming and going in sky-blue uniforms dared approach.
"Have you still not found the cause?!"
On a warship not far away, a Marine soldier roared.
The Fleet Admiral's expression had everyone present sweating profusely.
Who the hell knew the warship would sound a danger warning...
At the time, it had struck them like a bolt from the blue!
They had cried out that their careers in the Marines were over...
"F-found it!!"
"Then hurry up and tell the Fleet Admiral!"
The soldier swallowed as he looked at the man not far away.
Sengoku's face was dark at that moment.
Anyone could tell that he was in a less than wonderful mood...
The subordinate patted his chest to bolster his courage,
hurried over to Sengoku,
and gave a military salute before declaring firmly:
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! We've completed the investigation!"
"The warship's cooling system has malfunctioned!"
Sengoku nodded expressionlessly.
"How long will it take to fix?"
"Three hours!"
Hearing his subordinate's answer,
Sengoku could not help feeling a headache coming on.
Being summoned by the Five Elders had already been a troublesome affair,
and now the warship had broken down halfway there.
At this rate, he would probably be getting the death stare from the Five Elders again...
"Ah... such a hard life I lead..."
Just as Sengoku was feeling melancholy,
he suddenly sensed a powerful surge of energy coming from the other side of the deserted island!
Sensing the intensity of that energy,
Sengoku's expression grew grave.
He muttered inwardly, At least general level!
"Who is it? What are they doing on this island?"
After a moment's thought, Sengoku told the subordinates behind him:
"A few of you, come with me!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Time slowly passed.
As Sengoku made his way over,
the boy at the other end of the deserted island finally opened his eyes.
A tiny flicker of flame flashed through his eyes,
and the corners of his mouth curved upward.
"Finally, I've mastered Shikai!!"
Looking at the sword hilt in his hand, which had turned a shimmering purple,
the boy was utterly exhilarated.
This was Ryūjin Jakka's normal form!
He let out a long, stale breath,
calming himself down.
"Phew... I can't get cocky! I can't get arrogant!"
"There's always someone better, always a higher mountain!"
"Training! Training is what really matters!!"
But just as he was about to test the power of Shikai,
his brow suddenly furrowed. His powerful perception allowed him to sense a human presence in an instant!
"Someone's actually coming..."
The boy muttered a few words, then set off at a dash toward the human presence.
Sengoku, who was searching for the source of the energy, was likewise frowning deeply.
"Who on earth is it..."
Just then,
a clump of bushes nearby rustled.
Sengoku's eyes instantly sharpened.
"Who's there?"
As his words fell, a tall, slender figure appeared before him.
The newcomer had a samurai sword tucked at his waist
and short, tousled black hair. Although his clothes were in tatters,
they could not conceal the air radiating from within him,
the air of a king of show-offs... ahem, confidence.
Like a human camera, Sengoku's mind
kept flashing through every wanted poster,
but he found none that matched the boy before him.
So Sengoku asked, "Stranded here?"
But the boy did not answer.
Because from his very first glimpse of Sengoku,
he had been somewhat dazed.
Running into the Marines was one thing...
But why did it have to be Sengoku, of all people?!
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