Chapter 009: The Tea Boar’s Provocation, Burning with Fury

“Haven't any of you eaten? All of you are moving like turtles—get running!”
Under the blistering sun, behind Marineford, on the rugged mountains, a hundred or so young cadets, each carrying an iron weight larger than themselves, ran with sweat streaming down their faces.
Even from a hundred meters away, the sound of ragged, hurried breathing was unmistakable.
At the very front, as always, the four monsters led the group—Akainu and Kizaru in the lead, followed by Aokiji and Xuan Ye.
But no one noticed that the iron weight strapped to Xuan Ye’s back, though as large as everyone else’s, was twice as heavy—a secret only he and Zephyr knew.
Indeed, the weight Xuan Ye bore was double that of the others, and his entire body seemed soaked, leaving a damp trail behind him as he ran.
“If you don’t finish this ten-kilometer run today, none of you will eat. Pathetic cowards, you’re not even as tough as women.” Zephyr’s face was full of disdain as he taunted the cadets. Sometimes, he didn’t even spare the female cadets, though he was much more lenient with them.
Hearing this, the male cadets, already on the verge of collapse, flushed with shame and threw themselves forward, running as if their very dignity was at stake.
As time passed and noon approached, nearly everyone finished the run—except for a few who couldn’t persist, whom Zephyr expelled from the academy without hesitation.
This academy saw new faces come and go all the time; clearly, those who didn’t meet the standard would only ever serve in the branches.
In the afternoon, all the cadets gathered on the training ground, for today they would be introduced to the ultimate physical arts: the Six Powers.
Excitement lit every face—everyone yearned to master these advanced techniques at once.
“I think you all know what I’m about to teach you.” Zephyr cleared his throat, looking at the crowd barely containing their excitement. “That’s right. With your current physical condition, you can barely start learning the Navy’s Six Powers.”
“But let me be clear—don’t overestimate yourselves. If you’re not strong enough, don’t train these techniques or face the consequences.”
“If you haven’t trained hard enough, blame yourself—no one else.” His gaze was deep and sharp as a blade. Everyone felt compelled to lower their heads, save for a few with absolute confidence in themselves.
“The Six Powers are: Finger Gun, Iron Body, Shave, Moonwalk, Tempest Kick, and Paper Art…”
“Shave is achieved by stepping on the ground more than ten times in an instant, using the reaction force to move at explosive speed. Master it, and you’ll be invisible to the naked eye.”
“Tempest Kick uses a high-speed kick to create a vacuum slash…”
On the platform, Zephyr explained each technique in detail, even demonstrating them. No one noticed the hundred-meter-long crack that appeared in the ground—caused by Zephyr’s Tempest Kick.
As dust flew and the earth split open, every face—Xuan Ye’s included—was struck dumb, soon followed by wild excitement.

Shave for high-speed movement, Moonwalk for running through the air, Tempest Kick and Iron Body for overwhelming attack and defense—these were powers every cadet dreamed of.
“I warn you again: without a strong enough body, don’t try to learn these. If you’re confident, pick just one technique to start with.” After his explanations, Zephyr warned them once more. “No training this afternoon; take time to digest what you’ve learned.”
With Zephyr’s departure, excitement erupted across the grounds.
Beneath a leafy tree, Xuan Ye sat cross-legged, quietly reflecting on Zephyr’s teachings. Though he already knew them in advance, as the saying goes: reviewing old knowledge brings new insights—there’s never harm in revisiting lessons.
“Ye, which techniques do you plan to learn?” A lazy voice drifted by—Aokiji lay flat beside Xuan Ye, looking utterly boneless.
Without waiting for a reply, Aokiji continued, “Well, knowing you, you’ll probably want to learn them all.”
“I don’t have that much energy,” Xuan Ye replied, eyes closed and tone cold.
“Huh!” Aokiji sat up, surprised. “That’s not like you at all—aren’t you supposed to be crazy for this stuff?”
“So in your eyes, I’m just a madman? Are you praising me or mocking me?” Xuan Ye opened his eyes, those dark yet bright pupils calmly meeting Aokiji’s exasperating face.
“Ha…haha…” Aokiji yawned, unbothered by Xuan Ye’s coldness—he was used to it. In Xuan Ye’s world, there was nothing but training. With anyone else, Xuan Ye wouldn’t even bother replying.
This thought consoled Aokiji somewhat.
Perhaps to prove Aokiji right, just then, a stunning beauty with a slender waist strolled gracefully toward Xuan Ye.
“Xuan Ye, may I sit here?” The beautiful Gion, known as Momousagi, dressed in long trousers, smiled gently at him.
Xuan Ye glanced at her unmatched beauty and figure with indifference, then closed his eyes again, resuming his training with his Devil Fruit powers.
Being ignored left Gion indignant—not to mention her beauty, but her status alone should have warranted some respect.
She knew Xuan Ye was under the care of her elder sister Tsuru; no matter what, he shouldn’t be so cold to his benefactor’s little sister.
Her cheeks flushed with anger—Gion was truly upset.
“Well, that’s just how Ye is,” Aokiji smiled helplessly. “You’re welcome to sit, Gion.”
“Hmph…” Gion snorted and turned away, leaving.
The moment she walked off, a piercing sound sliced through the air—a long spear, trailing wind, shot straight at Xuan Ye’s heart.

With a flash, Xuan Ye’s eyes snapped open. His right hand shot out, and in a thunderclap, he caught the spear mid-flight. The ground beneath him split with a boom, but he held the trembling weapon in his grip, standing up, his gaze locked on Chaton, who sat with Akainu in the distance.
“To treat Gion like that—you deserve to die,” Chaton said, not realizing his mistake, instead looking to Gion for approval, though her face had turned livid.
Tossing the weapon aside, Xuan Ye simply glanced at Gion with even more indifference before turning to leave.
He knew he was being dragged into something, but he didn’t care—Gion and Chaton were nothing but roadside weeds to him. People and weeds belonged to different worlds.
Besides, he didn’t believe Chaton acted without Akainu’s involvement. It wasn’t that Xuan Ye lacked temper, but he simply didn’t want to waste time on trivialities—training was his sole purpose.
Meeting Xuan Ye’s emotionless gaze, Gion felt a sudden discomfort, growing more and more irritated.
Chaton, perhaps emboldened by Xuan Ye’s lack of reaction, grew more smug—after all, showing off in front of one’s beloved was a rare chance.
Without hesitation, Chaton snatched up another weapon and hurled it fiercely at Xuan Ye’s back.
The weapon’s force sliced the air like a streak of icy light, scraping the ground as it flew.
With another resounding crash, Xuan Ye turned and caught the projectile single-handedly. This time, his usually calm eyes blazed with fury.
His face twisted, eyes fixed on Chaton, he spat out each word, icy and murderous: “Not stirring up trouble doesn’t mean I’m afraid of it. Three strikes, and I won’t hold back.”
Everyone stared at Xuan Ye, sensing for the first time his menacing presence beneath the usual indifference.
“How terrifying… When he’s angry, he’s truly frightening.” Aokiji, closest to Xuan Ye, shuddered, feeling as if a raging beast stood before him, ready to destroy at any second.
Perhaps stunned by Xuan Ye’s threat, Chaton froze for a moment. When he came to, Xuan Ye was already walking away, while the other cadets looked at him strangely.
Humiliated, Chaton’s blood boiled. In a fit of anger, he grabbed yet another weapon and attacked again.
…