Chapter 11 (Patreon)

Konoha, Year 60.

It was a year that would be remembered for a long time.

It marked the moment when the latest reincarnations of Asura and Indra truly began walking their paths as shinobi. In Mihawk’s previous life, it was also considered the year when the story of Naruto officially began.

And today was especially important.

This was where everything started.

Inside the Nerona dōjō, Nerona Mihawk stood beside the window in a simple kimono, a notebook held loosely in one hand.

Through the glass, he watched a small blond figure defacing the faces carved into Hokage Rock. As he stared at the familiar scene, a trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

Without realizing it, seven years had already passed since he arrived in this world.

For once, Mihawk had chosen not to train that morning. He had even told Hinata not to visit him today.

It was not because he wanted to witness Naruto’s prank.

He needed time to prepare for what was coming next.

Mihawk opened the notebook in his hand.

Every page was filled with Russian characters—writing that no one in this world would be able to understand. Recorded inside were the important pieces of information he still remembered about the future.

No one possessed a perfect memory.

Mihawk was no exception.

Because he had understood that from the beginning, he had started recording important events at regular intervals from the age of five.

Seven years had passed since then, and he had already forgotten many details.

There were minor characters who appeared only briefly, people whose faces he could barely recall, and even members of the Sound Four who took part in the Konoha Crush whose names had begun to fade from his memory.

Fortunately, Mihawk had expected that to happen.

He had written down the most important events long before he could forget them.

“March of Konoha’s sixtieth year—the new generation graduates from the Academy and undergoes their survival exercises.

“In May, Team 7 completes approximately three or four D-rank missions before the Land of Waves mission begins.

“By June 23, Teams 7, 8, and 10 will each have completed eight missions, meeting the qualifications to enter the Chūnin Exams.

“The Chūnin Exams begin on July 1.

“After the preliminary matches, the successful candidates receive one month to train before the finals.

“The Konoha Crush takes place during the final round.

“Uchiha Itachi returns to the village.

“The search for Tsunade begins.

“The confrontation between the three Sannin…”

Mihawk carefully studied every line, silently considering Team 7’s future movements.

As he read the words he had written years ago, forgotten scenes and images buried deep within his mind gradually resurfaced.

He spent the entire morning reviewing the notebook.

It was not until the Shadow Clone he had sent to the Academy returned that Mihawk finally stopped reading.

The clone released itself in a cloud of smoke, and its memories immediately flowed into his mind.

Because of Naruto Uzumaki, Iruka had made the entire class take an additional test on the Transformation Technique that day.

That meant tomorrow would be the graduation exam.

Naruto would fail because he could not properly perform the Clone Technique. Iruka would refuse to pass him, and Mizuki would take advantage of Naruto’s disappointment to manipulate him into stealing the Scroll of Seals.

Naruto would then discover the truth about the Nine-Tails sealed inside him.

He would also receive the first sincere acknowledgment of his life.

After learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto would finally graduate from the Academy.

Once he finished recalling the sequence of events, Mihawk closed the notebook.

He reached for the Shigure Kintoki resting beside him and rose to his feet.

It was time to complete his daily training task.

“Shhk—!”

A cold gleam flashed through the room.

The seemingly ordinary bamboo sword transformed into a true blade, its polished edge giving off a faint chill.

Mihawk swung.

The sharp blade sliced cleanly through the air.

It appeared to be nothing more than a simple downward slash.

Despite the speed of the strike, neither Mihawk’s kimono nor his long silver hair—tied neatly into a ponytail—moved in the slightest.

No gust of wind spread through the room.

Within Mihawk’s perception, however, everything around him seemed alive.

He could sense the Breath of All Things.

Some breaths were faint, while others were deep and heavy.

Wood, stone, steel, and even the empty air surrounding him possessed their own distinct rhythm.

All Mihawk needed to do was swing the blade in his hand.

If he wished to cut something, he could cut it.

If he did not wish to cut it, even the frailest object would remain unharmed.

By the time Mihawk completed his daily task, dusk had already settled over Konoha.

After taking a shower and changing his clothes, he prepared to leave the house and find something to eat.

“Mihawk-kun, have you eaten yet?”

Mihawk stopped.

Hinata, whom he had specifically told not to visit that day, was already standing in the living room. She held a carefully wrapped bento box in both hands.

Mihawk looked at her and smiled faintly.

“Not yet.”

Two years had passed, and Hinata was gradually beginning to resemble the girl he remembered from the anime.

The greatest difference was her temperament.

She was no longer as painfully timid as she had been in the original story.

After training alongside Mihawk for several years and witnessing a portion of his strength, Hinata had slowly developed a confidence that her original counterpart had lacked at this age.

She was still gentle and easily embarrassed, but she was no longer overwhelmingly weak-willed.

Her long, lilac-colored hair now reached her waist. Although she had not yet grown into the more mature appearance Mihawk remembered from later years, she already resembled the Hinata he knew from Shippuden.

She wore a pale coat and long trousers, her clothing as modest and conservative as ever.

Her clear lavender-white eyes rested on Mihawk with their usual warmth.

Between that gaze and the quiet consideration she showed him every day, Hinata had made the lonely path he walked toward strength feel far less empty.

Without either of them noticing when it happened, the girl had occupied a place in Mihawk’s heart for six years.

And Mihawk had long since occupied the same place in hers.

As he ate the bento Hinata had prepared, they talked about the Transformation Technique test at the Academy.

Mihawk casually mentioned Naruto’s Sexy Technique, deliberately describing Iruka’s reaction in enough detail to make Hinata’s face turn bright red.

The atmosphere inside the room remained warm and peaceful.

After Mihawk finished eating, the two continued talking for a while.

Eventually, he accompanied Hinata outside and walked her back to the Hyūga clan compound.

Mihawk did not take her all the way to the main entrance.

Their relationship still lingered somewhere between close friendship and romance.

More importantly, Mihawk had yet to reveal his true ability or accomplish anything that would establish his reputation within Konoha.

For a civilian to fall in love with the daughter of one of the village’s most powerful clans was no different from a commoner in a story wishing to marry a princess.

There would always be countless obstacles standing between them.

Even if Hyūga Hiashi had almost completely lost faith in Hinata, her position had not changed.

She was still the eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan’s main family.

Mihawk watched until Hinata disappeared through the gates before turning around and returning home.

Once inside his bedroom, he picked up the notebook again.

Leaning against the headboard, he continued reading beneath the light beside his bed.

The night gradually deepened.

One by one, the lights throughout Konoha went dark.

Only then did Mihawk finally close the notebook.

He rubbed his tired eyes, lay back, and prepared to sleep.

As drowsiness overtook him, his consciousness slowly began to sink.

Then the world around him suddenly changed.

Heaven and earth seemed to turn upside down.

Mihawk felt as though his soul had crossed an immeasurable distance through time and space before entering the body of a man with eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.

Standing across from him was a red-haired swordsman from the same generation.

The two men clashed fiercely.

This was no ordinary exchange of blades.

It was a duel between two swordsmen who stood at the very peak of the sea.

Every swing carried overwhelming power. Each collision of their swords sent violent pressure rolling across the surroundings, while enormous Ranged Slash Attacks tore through everything in their path.

This was one of the legendary battles between Hawkeye Mihawk and Red-Haired Shanks.

Their duels had shaken the Grand Line and become famous throughout the world.

Years later, even Whitebeard—the man known as the Strongest Man in the World—would tell Shanks that his legendary battles with Hawkeye were still fresh in his memory.