One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 16: Devil Fruit User Appears

It's about six o'clock in the afternoon.

The final stage was ready, and spectators were entering the seats on all sides of the huge competition gym.

The seats were soon filled.

A rough count shows that there are at least more than two thousand people.

In the first row on the south side, seven luxurious seats are lined up in a row. The people sitting there are about fifty or sixty years old. They are wearing kendo uniforms, and they are calm and confident, with a strong aura.

"Is that the owner of the Seven Great Gyms?"

Xia Nuo lifted the curtain of the locker room and looked over there. "Do you recognize them all? Have they changed since five years ago?"

Junyi shook his head.

"No, it's still them. Not a single one has changed. The gray-haired guy in the middle, and the two next to him, were all my father's best friends. They were friends who risked their lives for each other when they were young."

"To be honest, only the two on the far right had any conflicts. As for the others, I remember that my father and I all had a good relationship."

"So, apart from the two people who had a bad relationship, the betrayal of the others seems even more strange, right?"

Xia Nuo pinched his chin and said, "It's really weird. It makes me a little scared."

People's hearts are fickle, but they can't do a 540-degree Thomas turn in 1 second.

There is only one force in this ocean that can do this.

——The power of the devil.

But...what kind of devil fruit can achieve this?
"Look over there."

Junyi suddenly whispered.

Shanuo followed and looked over.

Over there was the opponent's locker room. The edge of the door curtain had been lifted at some point, revealing half of a fox mask, staring at this side motionlessly.

To be precise, he was staring at Junyi.

"I always feel that this person seems to care about you very much."

Xia Nuo glanced at his younger brother and asked, "When you fought him this afternoon, did you sense a familiar aura from him?"

"I wanted to, but I flew out right after bowing, so..."

"Remember to fly slower next time, maybe you can smell it."

"...Your words are really, really hurtful."

----

It was soon seven o'clock.

"This is the gym dedicated to the Asakurajima Kendo Tournament. Welcome everyone! We're here for the finals of this year's Kendo Tournament!"

Under the spotlight, the host stepped onto the stage in the center of the gym and began the warm-up session.

When he finally introduced the two dark horses, especially when he mentioned that Shanuo was from Sakuraba Gym.

Murmurs broke out in many areas of the audience.

Obviously.

Even after five years, with all traces of the seven major gyms being erased, many people still remember the heyday of Sakuraba Gym.

Especially the former owner, Sakuraba Itsuki.

As the most famous swordsman in Asazakurajima and the founder of the Kendo Tournament, he has been an idol worshipped by many local residents for more than ten years.

Listening to these chaotic and noisy discussions, Chunyi had a complicated expression.

"It's your turn, Boss."

He glanced at the wall clock, whispered a reminder, fumbled in his trouser pocket with his right hand for a while, took out a light pink candy, and stuffed it into Xia Nuo's hand.

"what is this?"

"Sakura gummy candy. When I was little, I would accompany my father to various important events. My hands and feet would always tremble with nervousness. My father would buy me this gummy candy. I would chew it in my mouth and I would feel much better."

"It's only about 2,000 people. Is that considered a big occasion?"

"Eh?! Doesn't this even count?"

"Tsk, what a clueless country boy."

Xia Nuo tore open the candy wrapper and put the cherry blossom candy into his mouth.

"It's filled with filling, I like it." He grabbed the bamboo sword while chewing, and before stepping out of the locker room, he glanced at Junyi one last time and smiled, "Why don't you give me some encouragement, say 'come on' or something?"

"No need, I believe you." Junyi said seriously.

"Okay." Xia Nuo was slightly startled, then grinned, "It just so happens that I never do anything to disappoint others."

Swish!
The curtain opened and the spotlight suddenly shone on.

Amidst the thunderous cheers of thousands of spectators, Xia Nuo strode onto the center stage with a calm expression.

"Please."

Xia Nuo bowed slightly politely and made a standard starting gesture.

After all, he had practiced swordsmanship for more than a year. Although he didn't understand the fancy moves, he still knew the things that were just for show.

however.

After waiting for a long time, the white fox did not bow in return.

The other person stood there like a sculpture, without any reaction.

What is this guy doing?
He just frowned.

Suddenly, I heard the other person's low voice.

"Junyi...how has he been doing these past few years?"

Xia Nuo's heart trembled, and he suddenly looked up and looked at the eyes hidden behind the mask.

This was the first time the two of them were so close.

Under the abundant light from the spotlight, he could see clearly that the man's pupils were actually dark purple.

Dark purple is less common, but not uncommon.

But rather...

Junyi's pupils were also dark purple.

"Who are you to Chunyi?

Xia Nuo narrowed his eyes. "Why bother asking me? You're so secretive. If you really want to know, why don't you go find him and ask him in person?"

"..."

The white fox did not answer.

He just raised his head and looked coldly at the Den Den Mushi on the wall that was recording and broadcasting.

"Hey, what's going on? Why did both of you stop?"

"Why is he staring at the camera?"

"What the hell! Are we going to start fighting or not?"

There was no movement on the ring for a long time, and in the audience, the commotion caused by dissatisfaction and complaints was getting bigger and bigger.

……

Behind the large desk.

The middle-aged man who was enjoying the service of beautiful women with beauties on both sides suddenly changed his expression when he saw this scene.

"Asshole guy!"

He suddenly pushed the beauty away and stood up, putting his palms on the table and staring at the screen.

"Is he crazy?... At this critical moment, what is he planning to do? What is he planning to do?!"

The tall and thin figure on the screen still stood there motionless, staring at the camera quietly.

The middle-aged man gradually developed a very bad premonition in his heart.

"Oh, Mr. Carpenter, what's the matter? Don't get excited. Being angry is bad for your health. Come, I'll have another drink with you."

The blonde beauty on the right coquettishly picked up two glasses of sherry.

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Bang! He swung his arm violently, smashing the wine glass to the ground. His roar frightened several beauties so much that they retreated in fear and huddled in the corner of the sofa.

There was a knock on the door, and the bodyguard opened the door a little suspiciously:
"Mr. Carpenter, what's wrong?"

"Prepare the carriage... No! Have the driver drive my motorcycle downstairs! I want to rush to the competition venue as fast as possible!"

The "Carpenter" quickly put on his windbreaker and hat, and surrounded by several bodyguards, he opened the door and strode straight to the stairs.

After a while.

The modified jet bike sped away with its engine rumbling, crushing the fallen cherry blossoms all over the street.

The scenery and buildings on both sides changed rapidly. The "carpenter" tightly grasped the gilded handrail, his face as gloomy as water under the black wide-brimmed hat.

(End of this chapter)