— — — — — — —
Just as Mihawk was about to speak again, Koshiro interrupted him and said, "However, I can show you my strongest slash. You can experience its power for yourself."
"But using it directly on you... that's out of the question."
"You are undoubtedly a top-tier swordsmanship genius. Your future in swordsmanship is boundless. I don't want to see you fall at my hands now—that would be far too unfortunate."
Mihawk was momentarily stunned by Koshiro's words. Then, after a brief pause, he gave a small nod and a grateful glance toward Koshiro before bowing slightly. "Thank you, Koshiro."
"No need for thanks! Just watch closely!"
Koshiro smiled. In the next moment, his aura surged explosively, and the sheer intensity of it seemed to freeze the very air around them.
At the same time, black lightning-like energy crackled in the space surrounding him.
His blade quickly became enveloped in both Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki, radiating an overwhelming presence.
"Slash!"
In the blink of an eye, Koshiro swung his sword powerfully towards the open ground ahead.
Riiiiip!
A terrifying slash erupted from his blade, expanding rapidly. Within an instant, the energy wave had traveled hundreds of meters, growing to a massive size along the way.
Wherever the slash passed, it left behind a deep trench in the earth, dozens of meters deep.
The sand on both sides of the trench was sliced so cleanly that it looked like a polished mirror.
The slash continued for thousands of meters before gradually fading away.
The ground now had a massive abyss stretching for several kilometers, with an invisible yet lingering force along its edges that radiated sharpness and danger.
"Incredible!" Mihawk exclaimed in awe. "That sharp aura—is that the essence of the swordsman's will? But why is it so immensely powerful? And why does it carry such a unique presence?"
Mihawk had witnessed the entire slash, and he couldn't help but marvel at it.
As a great swordsman himself, he naturally understood and had mastered the swordsman's will and Haki.
But compared to Koshiro's sharp aura, his own was far weaker for some reason. Moreover, Koshiro's sword carried a distinct energy that he had never encountered before.
Even among other top-tier swordsmen, he had never seen anything like it.
He couldn't help but be curious.
"Haha! The reason my attack was so powerful and carries that unique aura is because I've been practicing a training method for Sword Aura that was taught to me by our captain," Koshiro explained with a smile.
"Through this method, I continuously refine and hone my swordsmanship, allowing my power and control to grow stronger."
"Additionally, this method allows me to comprehend a special attribute unique to my sword aura."
"What you sensed just now is my wind-element sword aura."
Koshiro's revelation was no accident—he had already received Kaito's permission to share this information.
The goal, of course, was to recruit Mihawk.
Otherwise, with Mihawk's pride and personality, attempting to recruit him the normal way would likely fail.
And that was something neither Kaito nor Koshiro wanted.
"Oh?"
Sure enough, Mihawk was visibly shocked. "Your captain has such profound mastery over swordsmanship? He created something like special Sword Aura?"
"He even discovered the concept of attribute-based sword aura?"
"I've never heard of anything like this before!"
"If I'm not mistaken, your captain isn't even that old yet. In fact, he's still not an adult, right?"
"Is he really capable of such a feat?"
It wasn't that Mihawk was being skeptical for no reason—it was simply that the Uchiha Pirates Captain, Kaito, was far too young.
"Haha!" Koshiro chuckled. "Age doesn't determine ability! Geniuses don't follow conventional logic!"
"Just like how many swordsmen can't understand how someone like you reached such mastery at a young age."
"This world is full of surprises, and true talent deserves recognition!"
"My captain is precisely such an existence."
"Besides, there's no reason for me to lie about this, is there?"
Even Koshiro himself had been left speechless when Kaito first taught him the sword aura training method.
"That's true," Mihawk admitted, nodding slightly.
Indeed, Koshiro had no reason to lie about something like this.
And it was precisely because of this that Mihawk was even more astonished.
He knew he was a swordsmanship genius, but if what Koshiro said was true, then in front of Uchiha Kaito, he was nothing.
At least, he knew for sure that he could never create a sword aura training method or an attribute-based sword aura technique.
Such new training techniques. He deeply desired to learn these methods.
But for something that important… he wasn't shameless enough to ask for it outright.
Even if he did, they probably wouldn't teach him, right?
So Mihawk sighed with some regret. "Such an extraordinary training method… it's a shame I have no chance of learning it. What a pity."
"Well… it's not entirely impossible!" Koshiro suddenly said with a knowing smile.
"Hmm?" Mihawk was taken aback and looked at Koshiro in surprise. "Really? What would I need to do?"
If it was truly possible, he didn't mind paying a hefty price.
He knew that if he could learn the sword aura and attribute-based sword aura training methods, his future swordsmanship would reach an entirely new level.
He might even reach the very pinnacle of swordsmanship.
That was something he simply couldn't refuse.
"Join our crew," Koshiro stated directly. "After your goodwill toward our captain reaches a sufficient level, you'll sign a contract. That's all."
"At that point, not only will you gain access to the sword aura training method, but there will also be even greater benefits waiting for you."
"It all depends on your choice."
Koshiro didn't beat around the bush. With someone like Mihawk, being straightforward was the best approach.
"Join your pirate crew? I've never considered something like that before…"
Mihawk mused for a moment.
"But for the sake of the sword aura training method, it's not impossible."
"However, this 'goodwill' requirement—isn't that a little strange?"
"Can goodwill really be measured quantitatively?"
As for the contract, Mihawk wasn't too concerned.
For such an important legacy, using a contract was already a display of sincerity.
After all, in Mihawk's understanding, a contract was just a written agreement. Whether to abide by it still depended on the person who signed it.
Of course, with his pride and personality, once he signed a contract, he would never go back on his word.
"For most people, no. But our captain has his ways. You don't need to worry about that."
"So, do you want to give it a try?"
"Before you meet the goodwill requirement, we can't teach you the sword aura training method. But daily sparring and exchanging insights on swordsmanship—those are always possible."
Koshiro smiled as he pressed Mihawk for an answer.
"Is that so? Your captain is even more intriguing than he appears."
Mihawk glanced toward Kaito, deep in thought.
After a brief pause, he nodded at Koshiro. "Alright! I accept."
"I'll do my best to fulfill the requirements and sign the contract with your captain to obtain what I desire."
.
.
.