Punching my way through One Piece

The waves roared around Noboru's small rowboat as he pressed on through the Grand Line, the sea reflecting the tension in the air. He could feel it again—another presence, though this one was different. Stronger, more organized, and radiating a clear sense of authority. The Marines were nearby.

Noboru narrowed his eyes. He hadn't planned on getting involved with the Marines just yet, but in the unpredictable world of the Grand Line, plans rarely went as intended. His arms moved with steady rhythm as he rowed, each stroke bringing him closer to the approaching threat. He smirked. Perhaps fate had decided to test him sooner than expected.

The Marines' ship appeared in the distance, cutting through the waves with precision. Unlike the ragged pirate galleon from earlier, this ship was sleek and formidable, adorned with the proud insignia of the World Government. Noboru's senses were finely tuned, his Observation Haki stretching out like invisible tendrils across the ocean. He felt their presence before he saw them—dozens of Marines, well-trained, disciplined. But that wasn't all. 

There was a much stronger force aboard that ship.

Noboru stood up, his eyes scanning the deck of the vessel as it approached. He could see the menacing figure of a Vice Admiral standing at the bow, his arms crossed over his chest, his presence practically oozing confidence. The man's long coat fluttered in the wind, the gold epaulets on his shoulders gleaming in the sunlight.

"Vice Admiral Hino," Noboru muttered to himself, recognizing the name from the bounties he'd seen in passing. Hino was known for his ruthlessness and mastery of Rokushiki, the elite martial arts of the Marines. He wasn't just strong—he was dangerous. A man who hunted pirates like sport. 

Hino's sharp eyes locked onto Noboru, and his lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He raised his hand, signaling to his men.

"Stop the ship!" the Vice Admiral barked. The Marines scrambled to obey, pulling ropes and adjusting sails until the ship came to a halt just a few hundred meters from Noboru's tiny boat. The Marines aboard formed neat lines along the deck, rifles at the ready. Their disciplined movements reminded Noboru of the Marines he had fought before—formidable, but rigid. Predictable.

The Vice Admiral stepped forward, his voice booming across the water. "You there, pirate! Identify yourself!"

Noboru let out a quiet sigh. He had no interest in a lengthy conversation. "Name's Noboru," he replied, his voice calm but carrying easily over the crashing waves. "I don't suppose you're here to leave me in peace, are you?"

Hino's smile widened, revealing sharp, predatory teeth. "You're a fool if you think we'll let you sail these seas unhindered. You're a pirate, no better than the rest of the scum that infest the Grand Line." He gestured toward Noboru's boat. "This ship belongs to the Marines now. Surrender, and I might spare your life."

Noboru's smirk faded, replaced by a flat, emotionless stare. "You want the boat? Come take it."

The tension between them snapped like a taut rope. Hino's eyes gleamed, and with a flick of his wrist, he signaled his men. "Men! Take him!"

A wave of Marines leapt from the ship, landing with trained precision in the water around Noboru's boat, their rifles raised as they waded through the waist-deep water toward him. The rows of soldiers moved with synchronized efficiency, determined to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. But Noboru's expression didn't change.

He waited until they were close enough—then moved.

Without warning, Noboru unleashed his power. His fist swung forward with the speed of a bullet, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air. The force of his punch didn't even need to connect physically; the air pressure alone sent a dozen Marines flying backward, their rifles snapping in half as they crashed into the water.

The remaining soldiers froze in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock. Noboru cracked his knuckles, his Haki swirling around him like an invisible storm. "That was a warning," he said. "I don't like repeating myself."

The Vice Admiral's eyes narrowed, his grin fading into a scowl. "So you're not just some weakling pirate after all. Good." He cracked his neck, then crouched slightly, bending his knees as if preparing for something. Noboru's Observation Haki flared, recognizing the sudden change in the air around the Marine. He'd seen this before.

"Geppo," Hino growled, vanishing from the deck in a blur of motion. The Marine Vice Admiral shot into the air, his body suspended on a platform of air as he kicked off invisible footholds. He moved with lightning speed, rebounding through the sky in unpredictable patterns.

In a flash, Hino appeared directly above Noboru, his fist cocked back, covered in Armament Haki. "Rokuogan!" he roared, thrusting his fist downward, aiming to shatter Noboru's entire boat in one devastating blow.

But Noboru was ready. His eyes flickered, and in an instant, his own Armament Haki coated his forearms, turning his skin jet black. He raised his arm casually, catching Hino's fist with his palm. The impact created a massive shockwave, sending a geyser of water into the air around them, but Noboru didn't budge.

Hino's eyes widened in disbelief. "You—!"

"Too slow," Noboru muttered, his grip tightening on the Vice Admiral's fist. With a quick twist of his arm, Noboru flung Hino through the air like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into the side of his own ship with a thunderous impact. The Marines aboard the ship shouted in panic as their commanding officer slammed into the deck, the wood splintering under the force of the collision.

For a moment, there was silence.

Noboru turned back to his boat, as if he had already lost interest in the fight. But then, a rumbling laugh echoed from the Marine ship. Noboru's eyes narrowed as Hino rose from the wreckage, wiping blood from his lip. His face was twisted in a savage grin. 

"Not bad, pirate," Hino sneered, his breath labored but filled with excitement. "But I'm not done yet."

Noboru's eyes locked onto the Vice Admiral. "Neither am I."

Hino's body flickered again, launching toward Noboru with renewed fury. Their clash sent shockwaves across the water, each exchange of blows shaking the surrounding ocean. Fists coated in Haki met with deafening cracks, each strike splitting the air around them. Noboru moved with grace and precision, dodging Hino's attacks with ease, countering with brutal efficiency.

The fight was over in a matter of minutes.

With one final blow, Noboru's fist connected squarely with Hino's chest, shattering his Haki defenses and sending him crashing through the ship's mast, which snapped in two as the Vice Admiral's body slammed into the deck. The ship itself creaked and groaned under the strain, tilting dangerously to one side.

Noboru didn't look back as he returned to his rowboat. The Marines were finished. He could sense their fear, their hesitation. Hino wasn't getting up this time.

As Noboru began rowing once more, he glanced back at the sinking Marine ship. "Maybe next time, you'll think twice before picking a fight."

His boat slipped into the distance, leaving the wreckage of the Marine vessel behind. He didn't dwell on the encounter. His focus was already elsewhere—on the horizon, where new challenges awaited.