"What did you say!?
"You greenhorn, how dare you insult us! I think you're tired of living!"
"Do you dare to repeat what you just said!?"
Facing the enraged crowd, Renji calmly continued, "Many people question, many people mock. But I don't need anyone's approval. Every single one of you present here is trash."
Yamakaji on the stands raised an eyebrow at this.
Did that kid just curse him out too?
He's really ruthless.
Someone Garp thinks highly of is indeed not simple.
"How arrogant! Let me have a go at you!"
A person walked out of the training camp. He had dark skin and a physique that appeared extremely robust even in the world of One Piece.
Miguel. He was the acknowledged top five in terms of strength in the current training camp. He had been in the camp for less than a year, had already mastered Soru and Tekkai, and was a man determined to become an Admiral.
"But remember, Renji, you are the challenger." Miguel looked at Renji coldly, full of confidence in his strength.
Renji, however, shook his head.
Miguel sneered, "What? Are you scared?"
"Hahaha, he's already chickened out. As expected of Miguel. This guy is just someone who only talks big."
Renji extended a finger and grinned. "What I mean is, I'll take all of you on."
"…"
After a brief moment of frozen atmosphere, the faces of everyone in the training camp instantly flushed red.
"Damn it, I can't take it anymore! This kid is too arrogant! He hasn't put us in his eyes from beginning to end!"
"Miguel, quickly teach him how to respect veterans!"
Yamakaji's face on the stands also darkened. This Renji was a bit too arrogant. With so many people going at him at once, even if he could kill a pirate with a bounty of 17 million Berries, he'd still be drowned by a human wave tactic.
"Kid, you will pay for your arrogance." Miguel's face was extremely grim.
He lowered his head slightly, and the muscles in his legs suddenly exerted force.
Soru!
With a booming sound that cracked the ground, Miguel instantly vanished from his spot, then flickered erratically across the field.
Seeing this, Yamakaji on the stands exhaled a puff of smoke.
Miguel's Soru has improved again.
The current Marine faced no small threats. Seeing capable individuals grow stronger, Yamakaji felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.
"Hahaha, he's lost his bearings, hasn't he? Beat him, Miguel!"
"Let this kid know what it means to know his place!"
Miguel on the field was observing Renji while using Soru. He didn't underestimate Renji as much as he appeared to. Anyone specially approved to enter the officer training camp must have extraordinary qualities.
However…
So far, Renji remained in the same posture as before, unmoving, full of openings.
Was he overthinking it? Could this guy simply not sense his movements?
Renji didn't know Miguel's thoughts. He only thought Miguel's actions were stupid.
Was jumping around interesting? Pure waste of stamina, just to show off?
Under the perception of Six Eyes, Miguel's Soru was incredibly slow, completely unthreatening.
Finally, after a series of flashes, Miguel decided to stop holding back and attacked proactively. His robust figure shot up like a cannonball, reappearing less than two meters behind Renji.
Just as Miguel was about to punch, a terrifying scene unfolded before him.
Renji had turned his head at some point, and Miguel's gaze met those azure eyes perfectly.
How is that possible!?
"Why not?" Renji said softly.
Miguel's expression changed.
Could he hear his thoughts?
"That's right."
Renji's whisper caused Miguel's face to contort wildly, and he immediately cried out in alarm,
"You..."
Tekkai!
Seeing Renji's incoming punch, Miguel reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, hastily using Tekkai with all his might.
Thud!
A dull thud echoed.
Renji's fist hit Miguel's chest, and the latter's Tekkai deformed.
With a punch infused with Haki, how could such a level of Tekkai possibly withstand it?
A terrifying force swept through his body. Miguel felt his vision go black and lost consciousness.
"Of course, I just guessed." Renji chuckled.
He naturally couldn't hear Miguel's thoughts, but he could make a rough judgment.
Looking at Miguel, who was lying on the ground foaming at the mouth, the field fell into a dead silence, and Yamakaji's gaze also froze.
"Next, do you want to be knocked down by me one by one, or all at once?" Renji's soft words echoed across the training ground.
Are you kidding me!
Even Miguel was knocked out with one punch?
Did Miguel get careless? That must be the only explanation.
Drip!
A drop of sweat fell from a soldier's chin.
"Bastard! Don't be afraid, everyone! Let's go together! Kill this bastard!"
After a long silence, someone finally led the charge.
Renji showed a satisfied smile.
...
A few minutes later.
Looking at the hundred-odd bodies sprawled haphazardly on the ground, Yamakaji momentarily forgot he was still holding a cigarette, until it almost burned his mouth.
"Ah! Hiss..."
This kid actually took on the entire training camp by himself?
My goodness!
Yamakaji looked at Renji in disbelief, only to see the latter slowly turn his head to look at him.
Upon meeting Renji's gaze, Yamakaji's facial muscles involuntarily twitched.
Why did he feel like this kid wanted to take him out too!?
The next moment, Yamakaji saw Renji smile gently at him. "Together, Yamakaji-senpai."
...
Fleet Admiral's office,
Crunch... Crunch...
Crisp sounds continuously emanated, occasionally interspersed with hearty laughter.
"Hahaha, I don't know..."
Crunch!
"how Renji is getting along with Yamakaji."
Crunch!
"But speaking of which, Sengoku, can't you give me a little more of these senbei?"
Crunch!
"Haa..." Sengoku sat in his chair, rubbing his forehead, looking helplessly at Garp.
The latter was unconcernedly stuffing the special senbei into his mouth, crumbs falling all over him and even on the floor. He didn't look like a Marine Hero at all.
"You don't need to worry about that. Yamakaji is better at teaching than you are." Sengoku rubbed his head.
"Hahaha, that's true. I suppose by now, the kid should have already blended in with them."