"Great Grade Blades of the 21, famous swords Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri?!"

"Vice Admiral sir, those two swords at your waist..."

Shimotsuki Kōshirō fixed his gaze on the two swords hanging at Yoriichi Tsugikuni's waist, his body trembling slightly as he spoke in a low voice.

These two blades were both from Wano Country. One of them, Enma, was especially familiar to Kōshirō. After all, it was forged by his very own father, Shimotsuki Kozaburo.

Yet now, these two legendary swords, which should have remained in Wano, were hanging on the hip of this young Marine Vice Admiral. In this moment, countless thoughts raced through Kōshirō's mind.

The Shimotsuki family had been the founding clan of Shimotsuki Village. They were originally samurai from Wano.

Gazing at the long swords on Yoriichi's hip, Kōshirō silently wondered: "Could it be... has Wano opened its borders?"

But the next second, he dismissed that idea. Back in Wano, these two blades had been in the possession of the Kozuki family, the ruling daimyo lineage.

Even if Wano had opened up, there was no way the Kozuki clan would simply hand over two famous blades to the Marines. Even assuming a close relationship, gifting just one sword would already be the limit.

There was no way both swords would end up in Yoriichi's hands.

"Oh, Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri?" Yoriichi chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he glanced down at the swords. "A relative of mine claimed them as spoils of war during a battle with Wano samurai."

He deliberately kept things vague, wanting to see where Kōshirō's loyalties lay. If Kōshirō was like the loyal "Nine Red Scabbards" who had followed the Kozuki clan, then Yoriichi would abandon any thought of recruiting him to the Marines.

But if Kōshirō now saw himself more as an ordinary 'East Blue local,' then he might just be swayed to come aboard.

Yoriichi could tell, Shimotsuki Kōshirō was strong.

"Wano samurai? Spoils of war?" Kōshirō was clearly shaken by the statement and couldn't help repeating it.

Raising his head slightly, he looked directly at Yoriichi's face and asked, "Could I... take a closer look at those two swords?"

"Oh? We're not exactly close, and yet you want to inspect another swordsman's blades?"

Yoriichi raised an eyebrow at the request, but there was no true rejection in his tone. In fact, there was a hint of amusement.

"Uh..." Kōshirō froze for a second, unsure how to respond.

It was indeed a bold request. If they were close friends, it'd be one thing, but this was their first meeting. It was hard to justify.

"You can take a look," Yoriichi said with a small smile. "But... you'll have to spar with one of my subordinates first."

"This subordinate of mine has long heard of the strength of the famed master of the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village. He's eager for a match."

"Right, Kyros?"

Without warning, Yoriichi pulled Kyros out from behind him and placed him in front. Kyros, utterly confused, still hadn't figured out what was going on.

When he finally registered Yoriichi's words, he scratched his head and nodded hesitantly. "Uh... I guess?"

Yoriichi gave him a firm slap on the back and added, "As long as you agree to that, win or lose, I'll let you see these famous swords."

Seeing Kyros's confused expression, Kōshirō realized this wasn't his subordinate's idea. It was clearly Yoriichi testing him.

Kōshirō gave a small nod. "Alright. I've always wanted to see such legendary swords up close."

"I accept your condition."

"Please, come in."

Under Kōshirō's guidance, Yoriichi and the others stepped into the Isshin Dojo.

The courtyard bore a distinct Wano aesthetic. The space before the dojo was simple, with white gravel on the ground and a path of stone slabs leading up to the dojo. Grayish-brown rocks were strategically placed to form a dry landscape garden.

A deer scarer knocked rhythmically against a stone basin. Water trickled gently nearby.

Kyros followed behind Yoriichi and Kōshirō, curiously glancing around. The architecture was completely new to him, unlike anything he had ever seen.

Once inside the dojo, Kōshirō gestured toward a wooden rack of bamboo swords. "Please, take whichever you like."

Then he walked to the center of the dojo and stood ready.

Kyros was still dazed until Yoriichi patted his belly and motioned him forward. As Kyros bent down, Yoriichi whispered, "Test his strength. But don't hurt him."

Kyros nodded, removed the giant sword from his back, set it aside, and casually picked up a bamboo sword from the rack before stepping into the ring.

Once Kyros entered, Kōshirō gave a small nod and said, "Please, go easy on me," gripping the bamboo sword in both hands and holding it before him.

Kyros nodded back, holding the sword in one hand, tip pointed downward.

Just from their stances, the contrast was clear. Kyros had a wild, unorthodox form, while Kōshirō had clearly undergone formal training.

"If you're ready, go ahead and start," Yoriichi said as he sat down on the side, casually untying his swords. Issho leaned against the wall, tilting his head slightly as if watching the fight.

"Be careful!" Kyros called out.

He crouched low, his knees bending as he launched forward in a sudden burst. His bamboo sword darted like a spear toward Kōshirō's chest, so fast it was nearly a blur.

Clack!

The instant the tip approached, Kōshirō raised his sword swiftly and cleanly deflected it, then stepped forward and struck back in a seamless counterattack.

Even Yoriichi looked slightly impressed. "Strong."

Kyros, however, rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the counterstrike and quickly getting back on his feet. He focused his gaze and murmured, "His moves are clean..."

"This Marine," Kōshirō thought to himself, watching Kyros roll with practiced ease, "doesn't fight like a swordsman, he moves like someone forged through countless battles."

"Is this what Marines are like?"

Just one exchange, and both had already read each other's styles. Kyros was shocked at Kōshirō's technique, while Kōshirō was equally surprised by Kyros's battlefield instincts.

Yoriichi stroked his chin and began evaluating Kōshirō.

"Definitely a samurai. His form is disciplined, he's received proper training."

"To have trained someone like Zoro, he must at least be at the level of a master who can cut steel."

"I wonder if he's learned Wano's Ryuo. Physically, he's not as strong as Kyros."

With his [Transparent World], Yoriichi could already see the outcome of the match from just that one exchange.

But he wasn't looking for brute strength. What he wanted to know was whether the older Kōshirō had awakened Haki.

If he had, then maybe... just maybe, he could even win against Kyros.

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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter

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