Awakening Of Uchiha [Naruto/One Piece]

Chapter 10: Katsumi : Mikoto Is Mine

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Kaori nodded affirmatively after hearing the first half, but when she caught Katsumi's last sentence, her expression suddenly turned playful. "Oh? And who do you think is worthy of your Mikoto?"

"Of course, it's me… uh…"

Katsumi blurted out his innermost thoughts without realizing it, then immediately froze as he caught himself. Looking at his mother's amused expression, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Ahem! In any case, Fugaku isn't worthy of Mikoto! Mom, you agree, right?"

"You!"

Kaori couldn't help but laugh at Katsumi's awkward attempt to change the subject. She reached out, flicked his forehead with a playful grin, and teased, "Mom didn't expect you to be such a little pervert at your age!"

"You've already set your sights on Mikoto, haven't you?"

"But you're not wrong—Fugaku is indeed unworthy of Mikoto." Her tone shifted, thoughtful yet confident. "Moreover, from the future you described, it seems like in that timeline, you hadn't awakened your talent, and I wasn't there to change things."

"Now that your fate has shifted, the future will naturally be different. So, Mom supports you wholeheartedly in pursuing Mikoto in the future!" She smiled encouragingly. "But you'll have to work hard! Not only must you grow stronger, but you also need to begin building your reputation within the clan."

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As time passed, Katsumi dedicated himself to rigorous training aboard the ship. Whether sparring with the Sea King meat to enhance his physical strength or immersing himself in medical books, he focused entirely on his training. The Uchiha techniques brought along were also diligently practiced, his progress accelerating significantly once he added them to his God-rewarded Talent Panel.

In just a few attempts, he mastered new techniques, making future improvements much smoother.

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Two days later, the group finally reached a port in the 13th area of the Sabaody Archipelago.

There, they were greeted by Shakky and Rayleigh, who had been waiting for their arrival.

"Congratulations on your safe return!"

As soon as the ship docked, Shakky, accompanied by Rayleigh, boarded and greeted the crew. She then turned her attention to Kaori and Katsumi, bowing respectfully.

"You must be Uchiha Kaori and Uchiha Katsumi, the ones who saved my Nine Snakes Pirates. On behalf of Nine Snake Island, I sincerely thank you!"

"I'm aware of everything Naqi promised you. Sending you to Drum Island is hardly sufficient to repay your kindness. If there's anything else you need, please let me know. As long as it's not unreasonable, I'll do my best to fulfill your request."

"In addition, I have access to reliable intelligence. If there's any information you need, don't hesitate to ask. I'll provide it to you free of charge. Thank you again!"

Her tone carried genuine gratitude. Without Kaori and Katsumi's intervention, she couldn't imagine the devastation the Nine Snakes Pirates would have suffered. The thought of Hancock and others being captured by slave-hunting groups and sold to the Celestial Dragons sent shivers down her spine.

Hancock, as the future empress of Nine Snake Island, could not afford to meet such a fate.

"You're too polite. It was purely by chance that we were able to help," Kaori replied modestly, offering a polite smile.

"No!" Shakky shook her head firmly, her expression resolute. "A favor is a favor, and it must be repaid. Please, make your request. If you haven't decided yet, you can remember it for later and come to me when you're ready."

"Haha!"

At this moment, Rayleigh chuckled and patted Shakky's shoulder. "Alright, there's no rush to settle this now. This isn't exactly the best place for a discussion. Why don't we take everyone back to the shop first?"

As he spoke, Rayleigh glanced at Kaori, his expression questioning.

"Alright! Sorry to trouble you," Kaori replied politely, having no objections.

Before long, the group arrived at the entrance of Shakky's shop.

The signboard above the door read "BAR," which caused Kaori to pause for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at Shakky.

Shakky: "..."

"Ahaha!"

Shakky laughed awkwardly, clearly aware of the implication behind Kaori's look. Fortunately, her thick skin helped her recover quickly. She smiled, waved her hand, and explained, "You know how it is here—this place is full of all kinds of people. Villains and pirates are everywhere. A name like this adds a bit of deterrence."

"Right..."

Both Kaori and Katsumi nodded, their expressions skeptical but choosing not to press the matter.

With the brief awkwardness out of the way, Shakky composed herself and warmly invited them inside the shop.

Once inside, she served wine, juice, cakes, and other refreshments before turning the conversation back to their purpose.

"I heard you're heading to Drum Island to see a doctor?" she began. "Do you need me to introduce you to an excellent one? My husband knows a renowned doctor who should be able to help with the young man's condition."

It was obvious to anyone with experience that Katsumi's health wasn't normal. His frailty was evident, and even Kaori, though powerful, appeared to have a weaker vitality compared to others of her strength.

Shakky and Rayleigh had noticed this immediately. It was difficult to reconcile Kaori's delicate appearance with her ability to kill several pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million. However, both could sense a unique energy within hee, which likely contributed to her strength.

Despite their curiosity, neither Shakky nor Rayleigh asked about it—it would have been impolite to pry into such personal matters.

"Not for now!"

Before Kaori could respond, Katsumi spoke up, his tone calm but decisive. "We're going to find the witch doctor, Dr. Kureha, on Drum Island first. She should be able to resolve the issues between me and my mother. If not, we'll seek your help later."

"Oh?"

Shakky and Rayleigh exchanged surprised glances, clearly not expecting Katsumi to take the lead in the conversation.

Shakky nodded thoughtfully. "Dr. Kureha, the witch doctor? I know her! Her medical skills are truly extraordinary—perhaps even better than Crocus's. However, she's not easy to approach. If the reward doesn't meet her expectations, she won't lift a finger. I hope you're prepared for that."

"Yes, we're already prepared," Katsumi replied confidently.

"Is that so?" Shakky responded with relief. "That's good to hear. I wish you the best of luck!"

She then paused and added with a serious tone, "Now, have you decided on the reward you'd like? Please don't decline—I don't like leaving debts unpaid."

"We've already thought about this," Katsumi said, stepping forward. His gaze shifted between Shakky and Rayleigh before settling on the latter. "I want to use this favor, along with information about the son of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, in exchange for your Conqueror's Haki training experience, as well as the training methods and experience for Marine Six Styles and Life Return. Rayleigh, would that be acceptable?"

Rayleigh's eyes widened in shock. "What? Information about Roger's son? Are you saying that guy really has a son?"

For a moment, Rayleigh completely forgot to question how Katsumi knew about his identity. The revelation itself was too shocking, and it visibly shook him.

Shakky was equally stunned. "Katsumi, you've really surprised us! This is earth-shattering news."

She studied Katsumi closely, her curiosity growing. Since entering the shop, she had noticed that he seemed to take the lead in decision-making, even over his mother, Kaori. This dynamic reversal was unexpected and intriguing, leaving her more impressed with the young man.

…

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