Chapter 85 (Patreon)

Fifteen days.

Half a month, barely more than two weeks.

It was neither particularly long nor especially short.

Even so, it was enough time for many things to change.

The first to change were the members of Team Ten.

After experiencing Sarutobi Asuma’s death and finally avenging him by defeating Hidan, the three of them seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

Nara Shikamaru was no longer as lazy or unmotivated as before. He had become far more mature, carrying himself with a calmness and sense of responsibility that had not been there in the past.

From time to time, he would visit Mihawk and stay for a while.

Shikamaru respected Mihawk’s intelligence just as much as he respected his strength. Because of that, most of their conversations revolved around the Akatsuki and the threats the organization might pose in the future.

They discussed the Akatsuki’s known members, the abilities they had displayed, their apparent habit of operating in pairs, and the possibility that their hunt for the jinchūriki was part of a much larger plan.

Whenever they spoke, Shikamaru would often hold a lighter between his fingers, idly turning it over and over.

However, he never lit a cigarette.

It was simply something Asuma had left behind.

Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Chōji had changed as well.

Both of them had become considerably more diligent in training their respective clans’ secret techniques.

Ino spent more time refining the speed and accuracy of her Mind Body Switch Technique, while Chōji began placing greater emphasis on controlling the immense power of the Akimichi Clan’s Expansion Jutsu.

Team Ten was changing.

So was Team Eight.

Mihawk did not know whether Aburame Shino had undergone any particularly noticeable changes. Shino had always been quiet, disciplined, and difficult to read.

Hinata, however, had undoubtedly changed.

She remained as gentle and considerate as ever, continuing to help Mihawk with his meals, clothing, home, and other daily needs.

However, whenever Mihawk began his own training, Hinata no longer remained at his house and quietly waited for him to finish.

Instead, she returned to the Hyūga compound.

Through Hanabi, his rather enthusiastic little informant, Mihawk learned that Hinata was not returning home to practise the tea ceremony or flower arrangement.

She had gone directly to Hyūga Hiashi and asked him to teach her more ninjutsu and other combat-related techniques.

Her change reminded Mihawk of what she had said that day.

A faint ache rose in his heart.

No matter how hard Hinata trained, it would be difficult for her strength to play a meaningful role once the battles reached the level seen during the final stages of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

When powerhouses such as Madara Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, Might Guy, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha entered the battlefield, ordinary shinobi could do little more than struggle to survive the aftermath of their clashes.

Even Mihawk was not completely confident that he could avoid the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Unless Sasuke protected him with his Complete Body — Susanoo, the moment Six Paths Madara reflected the Infinite Tsukuyomi from the moon, Mihawk would likely be caught just like everyone else.

His swordsmanship might allow him to cut through mountains.

His Haki might allow him to sense danger from kilometres away.

However, neither of those things guaranteed that he could resist a genjutsu cast across the entire world.

Even so, Mihawk could not bring himself to stop Hinata from becoming stronger.

He understood her personality too well.

Hinata rarely asserted herself and usually accommodated the wishes of those around her. She was gentle, patient, and willing to endure hardship without complaint.

However, once she truly resolved to accomplish something, not even Mihawk would be able to dissuade her.

Because of that, he did not try to stop her.

Strengthening herself would at least give Hinata greater confidence and improve her chances of protecting herself when danger arrived.

Hinata’s change also created an excellent opportunity for Hanabi.

Whenever Hinata returned to the Hyūga compound, Hanabi would often come and stay at Mihawk’s house.

Each time Mihawk finished training, she would cling to him like glue and refuse to leave his side.

Her lively presence helped fill the quiet emptiness left behind whenever Hinata was absent.

Mihawk had known Hanabi for six years less than he had known Hinata, but that difference had never affected the bond between them.

If anything, Hanabi’s upbringing had made her even more attached to him.

Hiashi had begun training her in the Gentle Fist from an early age.

Beyond the seemingly endless training that occupied most of her days, Hinata had been the only person to whom Hanabi had ever truly been close.

When Hinata lost to her during their spar, Hanabi had felt guilty.

Her older sister remained as gentle with her as ever, but that kindness only caused the guilt buried in Hanabi’s heart to grow stronger.

Later, Hanabi learned the truth.

Hinata had merely allowed her to win.

Her older sister had actually become extremely powerful, and the person responsible for training her was Mihawk.

From that moment onward, Hanabi became deeply curious about him.

Then she witnessed his strength for herself.

His seemingly invincible swordsmanship and the unshakable calmness he maintained no matter what happened possessed an overwhelming appeal to a precocious young girl like Hanabi.

It was as though she had suddenly discovered an idol of her own.

After repeatedly pestering Hinata to introduce her to him, Hanabi gradually came to understand Mihawk better.

Her feelings toward him slowly changed.

What began as distant admiration gradually deepened into genuine trust and reliance.

However, Hanabi herself could not tell whether what she felt was merely dependence or something more complicated.

She liked staying by Mihawk’s side.

She liked the gentleness with which he always indulged her.

She liked his handsome appearance and his overwhelming, unrivalled strength.

She even liked the commanding manner in which he teased and lectured her whenever she became too mischievous.

Before she realized it, the young girl’s heart had already become firmly attached to Mihawk.

Mihawk, however, remained completely unaware of those feelings.

In his eyes, Hanabi was still the energetic little girl who followed him around, demanded his attention, and became annoyed whenever he praised Hinata more than her.

Each day, Mihawk teased Hanabi, accompanied her during her training, and continued refining the abilities he had obtained from the Hawkeye Template.

He did not neglect his daily sword training either.

One thousand swings.

Every day, without exception.

However, with the Hawkeye Template already at seventy-nine percent, ordinary repetition could no longer increase its progress as easily as it had during his childhood.

The abilities, experience, and swordsmanship contained within the remaining twenty-one percent were far more profound than everything that had come before.

Simply swinging his sword a thousand times was no longer enough.

To advance further, Mihawk would need powerful opponents, true battles, or a genuine breakthrough in his understanding of the sword.

Even so, the system had not completely ignored his persistence.

On the fifteenth consecutive day of completing his daily training, a notification suddenly echoed through his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have completed one thousand sword swings for fifteen consecutive days.]

[Although your Template progress has not increased, your unwavering dedication has deeply impressed the Strongest Template System.]

Mihawk calmly waited for the system to continue.

[Ding! A special weapon belonging to Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk has been issued.]

[Please do not become overly excited.]

Mihawk’s eyebrow rose slightly.

The system’s unusually considerate warning gave him a faint sense of expectation.

Could it be Yoru?

Even if it was not the complete Supreme Grade Blade, perhaps it would be a fragment capable of evolving alongside the Template.

The system’s voice sounded once again.

[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained—]

[Dracule Mihawk’s Kogatana!]

A small golden light appeared in front of Mihawk.

Something slowly descended from within it.

Mihawk stared at the object in silence.

It was a tiny cross-shaped knife attached to a thin chain.

The weapon was so small that, rather than being carried at the waist, it was clearly intended to hang around the wearer’s neck as a pendant.

Several seconds of silence passed inside the dojo.

Mihawk finally asked, “That is my reward?”

[Ding! Please do not underestimate this weapon.]

[The original Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk personally used this blade to defeat the Three-Sword Style swordsman Roronoa Zoro.]

[According to the system’s precise analysis, it possesses an exceptional record of one victory and zero defeats.]

Mihawk’s expression remained unchanged.

“…”

He reached out and caught the Kogatana.

Although its appearance was almost comically small, the moment his fingers closed around its hilt, he could feel that it was no ordinary decorative knife.

Its balance was flawless.

The edge was exceptionally sharp, and its construction was sturdy enough to withstand the force of a master swordsman.

More importantly, countless fragments of experience regarding its use flowed naturally into his mind.

Thrusting.

Parrying.

Deflecting.

Controlling the opponent’s weapon through the smallest possible movements.

To defeat an opponent while using the absolute minimum amount of strength.

Mihawk lightly turned the Kogatana between his fingers.

The tiny blade moved as naturally as though it were an extension of his hand.

Despite the system’s ridiculous introduction, the weapon was genuinely useful.

Against ordinary enemies, drawing Shigure Kintoki was often unnecessary.

Using the Kogatana would also force him to rely more heavily on his technique and Observation Haki rather than overwhelming his opponents with raw strength.

Mihawk fastened the chain around his neck.

The small cross-shaped knife rested against his chest, adding another unmistakable feature of the original Hawkeye to his appearance.

A final notification echoed through his mind.

[You have obtained Dracule Mihawk’s Kogatana.]

[Your “Hawkeye—Dracule Mihawk” Template remains at 79%.]

[Weapon description: A small blade reserved for opponents whom Hawkeye considers unworthy of facing Yoru.]

[Additional description: Its size does not matter. The humiliation inflicted by it remains immeasurable.]

Mihawk lowered his gaze toward the pendant.

For some reason, he had the distinct impression that the usually emotionless system had been waiting a very long time to deliver that final sentence.

Nevertheless, he accepted the reward.

A weapon did not need to be large to be dangerous.

In the hands of a true swordsman, even a knife this small could decide a battle.