"Do you like the sea, too?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni turned at the voice and saw a tall figure standing beside him.
Nearly three meters tall, he wore round sunglasses and a long black cape, with a crisp blue hat embroidered with a snow-white seagull. The uniform was distinctly naval, but unlike the suits of Vice Admirals Garp and Zephyr, or the simple uniforms of lower-ranking Marines, it radiated a sharp, serious presence.
Yoriichi immediately recognized him: Aokiji.
Aokiji tilted his head slightly but, seeing no reaction from Yoriichi, ignored him. Holding the railing, he gazed at the sea.
"My code name is Aokiji," he said softly. "I'm a colonel at Marine Headquarters."
Yoriichi frowned. A colonel on Garp's ship? Normally, a colonel could lead their own vessel.
"I'm Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a civilian," Yoriichi replied, still processing the situation.
Aokiji smiled. "I know. Vice Admiral Garp asked me to come here… to teach you combat at sea."
Yoriichi blinked. He had expected Garp to instruct him directly, but leaving it to Aokiji wasn't a bad decision. After all, even as a colonel, Aokiji's strength and judgment were formidable.
"Colonel Aokiji, why are you on Garp's ship?" Yoriichi asked.
Aokiji chuckled. "I'm set to be promoted to brigadier general this year. My 'family'—meaning Marine Headquarters—has arranged for me to study under Vice Admiral Garp. Learning from him is a rare privilege."
Yoriichi noted Aokiji's enthusiasm. The young man was only in his early twenties but already a colonel about to become a brigadier general—a meteoric rise by Navy standards.
Yoriichi's admiration aside, he didn't have time to dwell on titles. He needed strength.
"Captain Aokiji, are you free now?" Yoriichi asked, hand resting on his sword.
"Vice Admiral Garp asked me to train you, so we shouldn't waste time," Aokiji replied, his eyes glinting.
Yoriichi felt urgency course through him. The sea could wait—his training could not.
"Vice Admiral Garp wants me to teach you the Six Styles of the Navy," Aokiji continued. "I haven't mastered them myself, but I'll do my best to guide you."
"Do you know the Six Styles of the Navy?" Aokiji asked casually.
"I don't," Yoriichi replied bluntly.
"Then let's learn through combat, not theory," Aokiji said, moving toward the center of the deck. The vast warship, though full of Marines at their posts, offered ample space for their duel.
"Understood!" Yoriichi said, drawing his long sword. Principles could guide him, but experience under a skilled mentor would teach him mastery.
"Then I'll begin," Yoriichi said, holding his sword upright.
Aokiji waved him off casually. "Don't overthink it—just attack."
Without hesitation, Yoriichi pushed off the deck and lunged at Aokiji.
Sun Breathing – Seventh Form – Yang Hua Tu!
The tip of his sword aimed straight at Aokiji's chest.
Aokiji hadn't anticipated such speed. Reflexively, he activated his Devil Fruit power, turning his chest to ice. The blade struck nothing but cold, unyielding ice.
Before Yoriichi could react further, Aokiji vanished.
"This is one of the Six Styles of the Navy—Shave!" Aokiji's voice rang from behind. A flash of ice appeared as he countered Yoriichi's next strike.
Yoriichi's speed wasn't as great as Aokiji's, but his combat awareness allowed him to anticipate movements.
Crack! The blade struck ice instead of flesh.
Aokiji, lowering his gaze to his frozen waist, thought: The Six Styles aren't perfect… and yet, this kid is fast!
Raising his head to explain the "Iron Block" technique, he froze—Yoriichi had vanished again, already behind him.
"Shaving… not difficult," Yoriichi said, his tone calm. "Good technique."
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(End of Chapter)