"Alright, let's give it a shot. I want to see just how strong I really am," Chiba said confidently.
After quickly finishing the food in his cart, he followed Hina to the training grounds.
"One-two, one-two!"
"One-two, one-two!"
It was time for the Marines' morning exercises, and a large number of soldiers were running in formation around the grounds. When they noticed Chiba and Hina approaching, heads turned, eyes widening in curiosity.
Chiba held his sword, infusing it with Haki until the entire blade was enveloped in an unseen but unmistakable pressure. This was the power of Armament Haki, and its force radiated around him.
Marines nearby felt the weight of it as though a mountain had pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe, let alone move.
"Fall back! Everyone, keep away from the training grounds!" the sergeant barked, guiding his troops to clear the area.
A crowd gathered, their attention fixed on the center of the field, watching with intense interest.
"Chiba is incredibly strong," Hina said, a newfound seriousness in her expression.
Hina donned her gloves, summoning her own Armament Haki, which enveloped them in a dense, jet-black layer. She tried to resist Chiba's overwhelming presence, but it became painfully clear that her Haki couldn't match his.
Chiba's Haki was simply overpowering, causing her resolve to falter.
It can't go on like this, she thought.
"Chiba, your Haki is indeed powerful. I can't beat you with Haki alone. Looks like I'll have to use my fruit ability as well," Hina declared, determination hardening her gaze.
With a swift motion, Hina threw her arms forward. "Binding Barrier!"
Two black fences extended from her arms, darting toward Chiba like serpents, closing in from both sides. In an instant, they were upon him.
But with a single, decisive slash, Chiba shattered both barriers. Hina's eyes widened in shock.
He broke through my fruit ability with just one strike? she thought, taken aback. But there was no time to dwell on it—she lunged forward, charging at him.
With her waist and arm drawn back, she gathered all her strength, focusing it into her right fist.
"Haaah!"
With a battle cry, Hina's waist snapped forward, unleashing a powerful punch aimed squarely at Chiba's face. Her fist, encased in Armament Haki, gleamed black under the sunlight, brimming with the force to shatter stone and break steel.
Chiba clenched his left fist, reinforcing it with his own Haki, which gleamed with a similar dark luster. He met her punch head-on.
Boom!
The clash was deafening, a shockwave rippling through the air. The Haki on Hina's fist bubbled like boiling water, black bubbles forming and popping until, finally, her Haki shattered. Her glove disintegrated, revealing her bare skin beneath.
With a low grunt, Hina was sent flying backward.
Chiba quickly restrained his Haki, moving in swift strides to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Are you alright? I didn't mean to go so hard on you," he asked, concern etched on his face.
"Chiba, you controlled your strength just in time. I'm fine." A smile played at the corners of Hina's mouth. "Chiba, your strength is astounding. Your Haki rivals that of a Vice Admiral at Headquarters. Hina is impressed… and also quite happy."
"But I don't understand… why is your Haki able to overpower mine so easily?"
Chiba explained, "Haki, at its core, is the manifestation of one's spirit—things like willpower and intent to kill."
"My physical training has reached a second stage, strengthening my body to the point where it generates purer spiritual energy. Combined with a focused Haki cultivation, the quality of my Armament Haki is simply much higher than yours."
"So, it's a matter of quality," Hina mused, realization dawning on her. Her eyes brightened with excitement. "Then if I also reach the second level of Giant Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, will my Haki rival yours?"
Chiba smiled, reaching out to playfully tap her nose. "Eager to surpass me, are you? When you advance Giant Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength to the third level, your Haki may be as strong as mine is now."
"However, your current Haki is already powerful compared to most others. I'd estimate that you could break through a Rear Admiral's Armament Haki with ease."
"If you can cultivate Giant Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength to the third level, taking on the Armament Haki of a Vice Admiral should be within reach."
"So, my dear wife, keep working on Giant Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength. Building up your physical strength will naturally enhance your Haki."
"And when your body strengthens, your fruit power will increase too. For now, let's set aside fruit ability training."
"Alright, Chiba, I'll listen to you!"
Originally, Hina had believed that fully developing her fruit ability was the best way to increase her strength. But after witnessing Chiba's display, easily breaking her fruit ability and overpowering her Haki with a single strike, she realized the importance of physical strength and Haki.
Chiba smiled as he gradually reined in his Armament Haki.
Clink!
The sword in Chiba's hand shattered into iron fragments, scattering on the ground.
"Even a Marine-forged sword can't handle your Haki?" Hina asked, astonished.
Chiba looked at the broken blade and nodded. "Looks like it's time I find myself a better weapon."
---
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
• 𝘽𝙤𝙜𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪
• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮
• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝
• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲
𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!
👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧