One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

"Hey, Jack!"

"You don't need to follow me around for now. Spend the next few years training here on Onigashima. Only when I think you're strong enough will you be allowed out!"

"Also, don't forget the promise you made to Kaido-sama!"

At the mention of his promise to Kaido, Jack's ears perked up, and he quickly asked, "What promise, King?"

King smirked. "Last night, while you were drunk, you promised Kaido-sama that you'd train Yamato properly. He accepted your request."

"What?! Train that little brat?!"

"That's what you volunteered for! Don't try to back out of it, Jack. Kaido-sama even gave his approval."

King turned to leave, but Jack shouted after him, "King! I don't mind training Yamato, but can you at least tell me why you hit me when I was drunk? Did I offend you?"

As soon as the question left Jack's mouth, the room's temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

"What the—ow! Why are you hitting me again?! I'm not a kid anymore! This is embarrassing!"

Ignoring his protests, King left without another word.

Jack spent two whole days recovering before finally dragging himself out of his quarters. Starving, he headed straight to the dining hall, where he gorged himself on food until he let out a satisfied belch.

"Jack-sama," a pirate chef called out cautiously, "King-sama said you're to find Young Master Yamato after you've eaten."

"Young Master? Hah! Start calling her Miss Yamato from now on," Jack said with a dismissive wave before swaggering out of the hall.

Just a spoiled brat, huh? A little hardcore discipline should sort her out. Besides, her dad said I'm allowed to hit her.

He glanced at his reflection as he passed a window.

First, though, I've got to fix this ridiculous appearance. Off with the fake tusks, lose the mask, and change my hairstyle. I look awful!

When Jack reached the floor where Yamato was, he found her furiously striking a large training dummy with a wooden club, muttering to herself, "Stupid pervert! Take this! And this!"

Jack's face flushed red.

What's with the insults? You're the ones who barged into my room without knocking, and now I'm the pervert?

"Ahem!" Jack cleared his throat.

"Ah!" Yamato froze, startled.

At Jack's age, Yamato was surprisingly average in height and didn't resemble her father much. However, the small oni horns on her head left no doubt about her lineage. She was flushed from training, sweat dripping onto the floor. When her eyes landed on Jack, her face turned even redder, and she took a few cautious steps back, gripping her wooden club tightly.

"Stay back, you pervert! Don't come any closer!"

Unbelievable, Jack thought, exasperated.

She's really holding a grudge over that misunderstanding. I'll need to handle this carefully.

"Hey! Aren't you the one claiming to be a man?" Jack said, raising an eyebrow. "If you're really a man, why are you so worked up over seeing another guy?"

Yamato bristled at the accusation. "Who says I'm worked up? I don't care about that!" she retorted in a childishly high-pitched voice. "I'm a true warrior of the samurai!"

"Oh? Then why the overreaction?"

"I—I wasn't overreacting! I'm just tired from training!"

"Sure you were. Fine, I'll drop it, but stop calling me a pervert, samurai!"

"Humph!" Yamato huffed, plopping down on the floor in imitation of Jack, who had already taken a seat nearby.

As they sat in silence, Yamato's eyes began to wander, lingering on Jack's towering frame. Finally, she blurted out, "Hey, Dumb Elephant, I've got a question for you."

Jack stiffened at the nickname. "What?"

"Why did you have walnuts… there?"

It felt like lightning had struck him. Jack's face turned beet red, and he couldn't find the words to respond.

"That's… my secret! None of your business!" he finally shouted, slamming his palm onto the floor. "What you do need to know is that Kaido-sama sent me here to train you!"

Yamato's expression darkened at Jack's declaration.

"Oden is our enemy!" he continued, "He was just an idiot! As Kaido-sama's daughter, you should—"

"Shut up! Oden is a hero!" Yamato interrupted, raising her wooden club. "Pick up a weapon! I challenge you to a duel!"

Jack snorted. "You? A duel? I don't need a weapon to deal with a little brat like you!" He gestured for her to approach, adding smugly, "Come on, I'll even let you have three hits first."

"You arrogant jerk! I'll make you regret underestimating me!" Yamato shouted as she charged at him. Her speed caught Jack off guard, but he quickly crouched to avoid her strike.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

Yamato delivered three solid punches to Jack's stomach, then jumped back to observe his reaction.

It felt like being hit by cannonballs. Waves of pain radiated from Jack's abdomen, sweat pouring from his brow as he clenched his teeth to keep from crying out.

What the hell? Is this kid really only eight?!

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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg