East Blue, Loguetown, Ipponmatsu's weapon shop.
The shop itself looked utterly unremarkable.
But those who knew the seas understood that true treasures were hidden here.
Ring—ring.
The door swung open.
"Welcome!"
The shop owner, Ipponmatsu, a short man with broom-like hair and shrewd eyes, hurried forward. Business had been terrible lately, and any customer was a blessing—especially when he saw that the person leading the way was the well-known and striking Marine officer, Tashigi.
"Ah! Sergeant Tashigi! Bringing a friend to buy a sword today?"
Tashigi pushed up her glasses and introduced Tobirama with utmost seriousness.
"Boss! This gentleman is a hidden master swordsman. Bring out the best blade in your shop!"
"Money isn't an issue!"
Ipponmatsu glanced at Tobirama.
The strange robe, the calm bearing, the sword at his waist—this was no ordinary customer. His eyes immediately lit up.
"Hehe, no problem at all!"
He rushed behind the counter and brought out several gleaming blades.
"This one's Shigure's sister blade—only a hundred thousand Berries…"
However, Tobirama didn't spare them even a glance.
His gaze fixed on a dusty wooden barrel in the corner.
Inside were dozens of chipped and broken blades, each priced at fifty thousand Berries.
Yet from that barrel, Tobirama sensed a cold, bloodthirsty malice.
"We don't need scrap metal."
He walked straight over, reached in, and precisely grasped one hilt.
"I'll take this one."
Shhk.
The blade slid half an inch from its sheath.
A purplish-red glow instantly lit the dim shop, flame-like patterns flowing along the steel and exuding an ominous aura.
Sandai Kitetsu.
"That—!"
Ipponmatsu's face turned deathly pale. Cold sweat poured down as he rushed forward.
"No! Sir, you can't buy that blade!"
"That's a cursed demon sword!"
"Everyone who's wielded it has met a terrible end! Please, for your own sake, put it down!"
Despite his greed, he was still a swordsman and couldn't bear to watch someone walk to their death.
Tashigi, startled, quickly added, "Sir… the curse is real. Maybe it's better to—"
"A curse?"
Tobirama smiled faintly, full of disdain.
Ignoring them, he drew the blade completely.
Clang!
A piercing sword cry echoed through the shop.
The blade trembled violently as crimson malice surged forth, trying to devour Tobirama's arm and will.
The demon sword's backlash.
"Hmph."
Tobirama snorted.
His will erupted.
Boom!
A terrifying aura—far more violent, far more domineering than the blade's malice—crashed down upon it.
If the demon sword was a venomous snake…
Then Tobirama was an ancient beast that devoured stars.
"How dare a lifeless object bare its fangs before me?"
Buzz…
The blade's violent trembling stopped.
The red malice recoiled, forced back into the sheath, becoming utterly docile—like a beaten creature begging for mercy.
"T-this…"
"The demon sword… is afraid?"
Tashigi stared in awe, her eyes sparkling.
"Amazing! You subdued a demon sword with sheer presence!"
"You really are a top-tier swordsman!"
Tobirama casually twirled the blade and sheathed it.
"The feel is acceptable."
He then flicked a black card onto the counter.
"How much. Swipe it."
Ipponmatsu stared at him for a long moment, then clenched his teeth as if making a final decision.
"No. I won't take your money."
He pushed the card aside and rushed into the back room.
Moments later, he returned carrying an exquisite black wooden case.
"Guest—this blade is meant for a true hero!"
He opened the case.
Inside lay an elegant longsword, jet-black with gold patterns along its scabbard.
"Yubashiri."
"This is my shop's greatest treasure—my family heirloom."
"It would only gather dust here."
"Please, take it with you and let it witness the heights of the world in the hands of the strong!"
Tears welled in Ipponmatsu's eyes.
For a swordsmith, there was no greater honor.
Tobirama nodded.
"You have good taste."
He accepted without hesitation.
He still left the card on the counter.
"I don't take advantage of others."
"That amount is enough to buy your entire shop."
With two swords in hand, he turned and left.
Behind him, Ipponmatsu collapsed to the floor, weeping in gratitude.
---
Loguetown streets.
The sun shone brightly.
Tashigi chirped happily beside Tobirama, talking nonstop.
"That was incredible! Was that some kind of aura technique?"
"Ah! That's the execution platform! The Pirate King—"
She walked backward as she talked.
"Oops!"
Thud.
She tripped over her own feet and fell flat, her glasses flying away.
"Ow… my glasses…"
A hand picked them up and gently placed them back on her nose.
Tashigi looked up into Tobirama's red eyes.
"As a Marine, you can't even walk steadily?" he said lightly.
"If you'd met real pirates, you'd be dead eight hundred times over."
Her face turned bright red.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm nearsighted, and I was just too excited…"
She hurried to change the subject.
"T-the port is just ahead! Let's go see the sea!"
Tobirama shook his head.
It was a miracle someone this naïve had survived on the seas.
Or perhaps Smoker had protected her too well.
Just as they reached the square leading to the port—
The atmosphere changed.
The noisy crowd fell silent.
Thick white smoke spread in all directions, sealing off every exit.
Click—click—click.
Synchronized footsteps echoed.
Hundreds of armed Marines emerged, muskets trained forward.
"W-what…?"
Tashigi stared at her colleagues in confusion.
"Is this a drill?"
The smoke gathered in front of Tobirama, forming a tall, muscular figure with silver hair, cigars clenched in his teeth, and a massive jitte on his back.
Smoker's eyes burned with undisguised killing intent.
"TASHIGI!"
He roared.
"Get away from that man!"
"Are you an idiot?!"
"Colonel Smoker?" Tashigi froze, then hurriedly said, "He's a good person! He helped me catch pirates—"
"A good person?"
Smoker laughed coldly and pointed his jitte straight at Tobirama.
"Look at him clearly."
"One trillion Berries."
"Killer of Celestial Dragons."
"Slayer of an Admiral."
"Destroyer of a Buster Call."
"Uchiha Tobirama—the most dangerous criminal in the world!"
Boom!
Tashigi's mind went blank.
She slowly turned to the calm man who had shopped with her, listened to her chatter, and returned her glasses.
The face overlapped perfectly with the wanted poster in her memory.
"Y-you… are Uchiha Tobirama?"
Her face drained of color.
Tobirama smiled faintly.
"How about it?"
"Didn't you say I looked like a good person, Sergeant Tashigi?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"You lied to me!"
"You're a pirate—why pretend to be a swordsman and make me guide you?!"
Tobirama shrugged.
"When did I ever say I wasn't a pirate?"
"You decided that yourself."
His gaze swept over the Marines, then settled on Smoker.
"Thanks for gathering everyone for me."
"It saves time."
He slowly drew Sandai Kitetsu.
Purple-red demonic light surged forth.
"The tour is over."
"Now—"
"It's hunting time."
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