In the blink of an eye, Kane Uchiha vanished from his spot and reappeared before the testing machine.
The sudden movement left everyone in the training field stunned. That speed alone made him the center of attention. Even the test officer's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That speed... is that Soru? Where did he learn that?" The officer's mind raced. The move Kane just used was nearly identical to Soru, one of the Marine's famed Six Powers.
Ignoring the murmurs spreading through the crowd, Kane turned toward the stunned officer. "May I begin?"
"Ah yes, of course. Start whenever you're ready, Kane Uchiha."
Taking a slow breath, Kane closed his eyes. The Douriki test measured one's physical strength but to maximize his power, he planned to use something far beyond normal limits: Sage Mode.
His Sage Mode was no ordinary version. Back in the Shinobi world, Kane had studied under Orochimaru, who guided him to Ryūchi Cave the dwelling place of the serpents. There, Kane had mastered the Dragon Sage Mode, refining it further until his transformation began to resemble that of a true dragon.
When entering Sage Mode, his body and senses strengthened dramatically, and even his ninjutsu or the ocular powers of his Rinnegan became exponentially more potent.
When Kane's eyes opened again, a faint purple pigment now framed them, making his violet Rinnegan glow with even greater depth. His entire presence changed calm, commanding, and in perfect harmony with the surrounding natural energy.
The air trembled as nature's energy surged toward his right fist. Kane drew back his arm, his voice low and resolute.
"Sage Art: Dragon Fist."
To the onlookers, it didn't look like much just a simple punch, clean and controlled.
Then came the explosion.
A thunderous boom echoed through the arena, and a storm of dust and shattered stone swept across the ground. The testing machine was hurled backward, crashing into the ground several meters away.
When the smoke cleared, the crowd gasped. The Douriki tester crafted from pure seastone, the hardest material known to the Marines was riddled with cracks. Only the display screen remained intact, protected by Kane's precise chakra control.
The test officer rushed forward, checking the results. His face froze as he stared at the screen. His lips trembled when he finally managed to speak.
"Se seven thousand two hundred! Kane Uchiha's score is 7,200!"
The last words erupted from him in a shout that echoed across the courtyard.
The crowd went wild.
"Seven thousand two hundred?! That's impossible! Even high-ranking officers can't hit that level!"
"Did the machine break?!"
"Are you blind? Look at the damage! That thing's made of seastone!"
Every recruit who hadn't left yet began chattering, disbelief written on every face.
Who was this guy?
At that moment, a sharp gust swept through the entrance. Gion had heard the explosion and assumed something had gone terribly wrong. Using Soru, she appeared instantly in the arena.
Spotting the dazed test officer, she approached swiftly. "What happened here?"
The officer snapped to attention. "Vice Admiral Gion! The the last recruit, Kane Uchiha… his Douriki score was 7,200!"
"What?" Gion froze. Her gaze darted toward the center of the training field, where Kane still stood amid the wreckage.
He had already released Sage Mode, his expression calm, even cheerful. When he noticed her, he waved lightly and walked over.
"Hey, Gion," he said with a grin. "I think I did alright."
Alright? Gion nearly laughed out loud. You shattered a seastone tester and broke a record that probably shouldn't even exist!
Inwardly, she could only sigh. This kid really doesn't know how to be modest.
Her thoughts turned serious again. With that kind of score, word would reach Marine Headquarters in no time and when it did, every major figure in the upper command would want to see him for themselves.
And she was right.
Within the hour, the report landed on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk.
He was in the middle of one of his daily spats with his old friend Garp when the message arrived. Reading the number, he froze mid-motion so still that he didn't even react when Garp flicked a "booger of love" at his forehead.
"Oi, Sengoku, what's with that face?" Garp asked, half amused, half concerned.
Sengoku turned his head sharply, his expression grave enough to make Garp leap off the couch. For a moment, Garp thought the Fleet Admiral was about to retaliate. But instead, Sengoku spoke slowly, each word weighted with disbelief.
"Kane Uchiha… scored seven thousand two hundred in the Douriki test."
"Nani?!"
Even Garp, who treated most things with a laugh, lost his composure. His grin vanished, replaced by a look of shock.
After a long pause, he finally muttered, "Sengoku… you've really found a monster for the Marines this time."
Sengoku nodded solemnly. He couldn't help but wonder how Zephyr Kane's soon-to-be instructor would react when he learned about this.
One thing was certain:
The name Kane Uchiha was about to echo through Marine Headquarters.