Tashigi, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately sprang into action.
She leaped onto the ship, her eyes fixed on Kaku. A look of fierce determination was etched on her face as she stared him down. Kaku, initially taken aback, spoke first. "I'm just an old man here to watch the fight. I didn't mean to bother you."
Tashigi didn't fall for the act. She exposed his identity without hesitation. "You're Kaku, a member of CP9. You've been operating undercover in Water 7 with Rob Lucci, Kalifa, and Blueno, all to assassinate Mayor Iceberg and steal the blueprint for Pluton!"
The mention of Pluton ignited a deep anger within her. She had first learned of the ancient weapon in Alabasta, where Crocodile had used it as an excuse to incite a civil war, causing countless deaths and forcing Princess Vivi to go undercover at great risk. The weapon was a scourge, a harbinger of death and destruction.
Now, CP9 wanted to murder a good man like Iceberg, a mayor beloved by the people and instrumental in Water 7's prosperity, just to get their hands on its blueprints. This was not justice. The Marines and the World Government shouldn't operate this way. With that thought, she resolved to fight this so-called CP9.
Kaku's act dropped instantly. "Since you know so much, I can only assume Jabra and Blueno have already been caught. My orders are to eliminate them. But since you're standing in my way, you'll have to die first."
He drew two blades from his coat, the steel glinting menacingly. Tashigi responded by pulling out Hanasu Hanasu no Mi, gripping the sword with both hands.
"Soru!" Kaku vanished in a flash. Tashigi was ready, instantly slashing to her side to meet Kaku's twin blades. He was surprised; he hadn't expected this seemingly weak girl to keep up with his speed. It was clear that no one from the Straw Hats' crew was an ordinary person.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their swords clashed rapidly, sending sparks flying. Tashigi was at a disadvantage in pure swordsmanship and was constantly pushed back. However, thanks to the medicinal bath, her stamina had drastically improved, and she was able to hold her own for the time being.
Tashigi's greatest asset was her quick wit and adaptability. Although she had only been trained by Shimotsuki Koushirou for a few days, she had absorbed his teachings on swordsmanship. Her skills were a little rusty, but she was rapidly improving.
Before long, Tashigi's movements became more fluid and confident. Kaku was once again taken by surprise. In a short amount of time, the girl had transitioned from a defensive fighter to an aggressive one.
"Her swordsmanship talent is truly enviable!" he thought. Kaku then changed his strategy, attacking with his two blades while also using his legs to unleash a flurry of Rankyaku slashes.
Startled, Tashigi used Geppo to leap into the air, dodging the attacks. Kaku, shocked that she knew the Six Powers techniques, followed suit and continued his relentless assault with both his blades and more Rankyaku.
This was Kaku's signature Four-Sword Style. The members of CP9 specialized in different aspects of the Six Powers. Rob Lucci excelled at Shigan, Kaku at Rankyaku, Jabra at Tekkai, Kumadori at Kami-e, Kalifa at Geppo, and Fukurou was an average user. Kaku's skill with a blade, combined with his mastery of Rankyaku, made his four-sword style a unique and deadly art.
Initially, Tashigi was overwhelmed, but she quickly adapted. The muscle memory from Koshiro's lessons kicked in, and she began to counter Kaku's attacks with increasing ease.
A small smile formed on Koshiro's face as he watched from a distance. Tashigi not only resembled Kuina in appearance but also shared her exceptional talent for swordsmanship.
As Karl had pointed out, her potential had been held back by poor teachers, like Smoker in the Marines. The short time she had spent training with Koshiro had made a monumental difference. Tashigi herself was surprised by her rapid progress and was incredibly grateful to her new master.
Tashigi wielded her sword with growing confidence, her skills becoming more refined with each clash. Though she sustained a few minor injuries, she was steadily gaining the upper hand. Kaku, using his Four-Sword Style, was feeling the pressure. He knew that if he continued at this pace, defeat was inevitable. To avoid being branded a failure by the World Government, he had to go all out.
He began using the Six Powers more frequently alongside his swordsmanship, with a particular focus on Rankyaku. Tashigi was caught off guard, and one of the powerful wind blades caught her squarely on the back, leaving a bloody gash.
Koshiro almost rushed to her aid but stopped himself. He knew Tashigi had a long journey ahead with the Straw Hat Pirates, and she couldn't be coddled. An injury was part of a swordsman's life. He held back, but his heart ached for her.
"That long-nosed man has no mercy! Tashigi is so lovely and sweet. I swear, I'll kill him!" Koshiro narrowed his eyes at Kaku, who suddenly felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
Despite the pain, Tashigi gritted her teeth, her tears welling up but not falling. She persevered, and soon, she once again adjusted to Kaku's intense fighting style and took the offensive. In the midst of the battle, she noticed a certain familiarity in Kaku's post-Rankyaku movements. Seizing an opportunity, she sheathed her sword in a flash.
"One-Sword Style: Iai-giri!"
In that moment, a profound sense of peace washed over her. She felt she could cut through anything, even a man of iron. She could hear the very "breath" of her blade.
Slash!
Tashigi struck, landing a clean cut on Kaku's chest. He stared at her in disbelief as a stream of blood spurted from the wound. A sharp pain shot through him, and his head swam, but a smile formed on his lips. He dropped his swords, gave Tashigi a thumbs-up, and slowly fell to the deck.
"You won... 100 million."
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