"Rokushiki: Rankyaku!" (Six Styles: Storm Leg)
On the shores of Ohara Island—
Over a hundred identical blond boys simultaneously kicked toward the sea.
Their movements were lightning-fast and razor-sharp, slicing through the air with audible shockwaves as azure-blue blade-like leg strikes shot out.
"Swish swish swish—"
Hundreds of blue leg blades cut across the sea.
A few seconds later, dead fish floated up on the waves—all cleanly split in half, blood staining the ocean red.
"Amazing! Naruto, you're an absolute genius!"
"Seriously! I've been to a Marine branch, and even those Marines aren't as strong as you!"
"You're practically like a master swordsman from the legends..."
"Just you alone might be on par with an entire Marine division..."
"..."
Cries of amazement echoed along the beach.
The scholars from the Tree of All-Knowing watched the blond youth in front of them with faces full of awe.
These were seasoned scholars, well-read and rich in archaeological experience. The books they had read could fill a basketball court.
Yet even they had never seen a boy with such overwhelming talent.
In just two months, the blond boy had mastered Rokushiki and was now executing it flawlessly.
They had seen CP agents from the World Government before—but this blond youth felt even more formidable than them.
Their gazes shifted toward another group of blond clones.
Unlike the ones at the beach, this group was practicing Shigan (Finger Pistol).
Each extended index finger pierced the air like a bullet, creating sharp shockwaves and afterimages.
The trees struck by the technique bore deep, nearly penetrative holes.
Several other groups of Naruto clones were spread across the area, each training a different part of Rokushiki.
After about half an hour, the hundreds of clones began to dispel in waves, vanishing into puffs of smoke.
Near a tree stump, the original Naruto clutched his temples with a grimace.
"Ugh, so tiring… the backlash is still too much…"
That was the downside of Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique): when clones dispelled, the returned memories, experience, muscle memory—and the exhaustion, pain, and stress—would all rush back at once.
Only Naruto could handle that. Any other ninja would probably collapse—or even die from the feedback.
"Naruto-kun, you're incredible!"
Robin, the dark-skinned girl, looked at Naruto with admiration. "In such a short time, you've already mastered all of Rokushiki!"
Naruto smiled and replied, "Robin-chan, you've made amazing progress too. You've already grasped the basics of Busōshoku no Haki (Armament Haki)."
Robin blushed and lowered her head.
Her right index finger shimmered with a faint steel-like sheen, reflecting light—tough, sharp, and seemingly indestructible.
"It's time I started training in San Shoku no Haki (Three Types of Haki) too…"
Naruto thought to himself.
Over the past two months, thanks to his clones, he had fully mastered Rokushiki and greatly enhanced his physical strength.
At this point, he felt more like a native of the pirate world than anyone else—maybe even stronger.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Naruto formed another seal and summoned a dozen clones to begin fishing in the sea.
The surrounding scholars couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
Ever since Naruto began training in Rokushiki, he had been catching huge quantities of fish daily.
And he wasn't stingy—he always donated a portion to the Tree of All-Knowing, letting them feast during this time of hardship.
Before long, a bonfire blazed on the beach.
Hundreds of fish skewered on sticks sizzled over the flames, their skins crisping to golden perfection.
Naruto grabbed a fish and bit into it without hesitation.
"Robin-chan, this fish is so good!"
He couldn't help but marvel.
Even after two months, he still got excited every time he ate it.
Robin nibbled on her fish and looked at Naruto curiously. "Naruto-kun, it's just plain grilled fish, isn't it?"
"That's not the point," Naruto said, shaking the skewer in his hand.
"It's the nutrition. These fish are packed with nutrients."
Maybe it was the high-oxygen environment of the pirate world—or something else—but the animals here were absurdly nutritious.
Every time he ate, he felt a surge of energy coursing from his gut.
Robin didn't quite understand. She took a small bite of her fish and murmured longingly:
"I remember Dr. Clover saying that Sea Kings are the most nutritious food in the ocean… and that they're unbelievably delicious. Just one bite, and you'd never forget the taste."
"Sea Kings, huh… the rulers of the sea…"
Naruto couldn't help but gulp.
"Alright, decision made!"
He clapped his hands. "Once I master all three types of Haki, I'm going out to hunt Sea Kings!"
"E-Eh?!"
Robin's face turned pale with surprise.
Naruto laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not that weak. With ninjutsu on my side, most pirates can't even touch me."
"But…" Robin still looked uneasy. She feared Naruto might vanish forever, like her mother once did.
Naruto noticed her expression and flashed a bright smile, gently patting her head.
"Robin-chan, wanna come out to sea with me?"
"Really?!"
Robin's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded vigorously.
"Yes! I want to go out to sea with Naruto-kun!"
Naruto smiled softly.
He had to set sail—if not for anything else, then to save the scholars of Ohara.
This island would one day face the Buster Call. When that time came, everyone here would die.
But before that happened, he could find a remote island in this sea to relocate the scholars and help them escape the massacre.
"..."
Another midday arrived.
Standing on the water with chakra under his feet, Naruto grasped his right wrist with his left hand and shouted:
"Raiton: Chidori!!!" (Lightning Style: Chidori)
In that instant, his black-gloved right hand erupted in blinding blue lightning, the noise of chirping birds piercing the air.
From afar, it looked like he was wielding a miniature blue sun—immense and terrifying.
With a stomp, Naruto dashed across the surface of the ocean, blue lightning blazing in his wake.
Violent arcs of electricity surged across the sea, dyeing the water a luminous blue.
Fried fish began floating to the surface.
After sprinting for dozens of meters, Naruto finally came to a stop. He looked down at his right hand, a trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
"Still not quite right. I can't perfectly control Chidori yet…"
After training for some time, he had managed to learn Kakashi's Chidori, but the jutsu was extremely difficult to master.
Without a special dōjutsu (eye technique), running with it active would cause the lightning to backfire on the user.
If he hadn't protected his hand with Busōshoku no Haki, the volatile lightning of Chidori would've turned his arm into a well-cooked dish.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]