Ch.46 My Statement Remain True

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　East Blue Sea...

　Strawhats Captain Monkey D. Luffy currently was deep in his thought. He scrunched his face heavily as he try to guest which Zoro was real and who wasn't.

　The two Zoros were currently leaning each on the opposites railing of the boat. The same sitting posture, looking at each other with gritted teeth and scary-face, clearly unamused.

　"Hahaha! You're the one!" Exclaimed Luffy all of sudden towards 'Zoro' who leaned on the Portside of the boat.

　"Huuuh?!" Scorned the pointed 'Zoro' intending to discourage Luffy.

　Luffy grinned and said, "No! You must be the real one! Right? Rei..."

　After a few moments of eye contacts between both Luffy and 'Zoro'. The opposite Zoro suddenly slammed his swords scabard vertically on the deck.

　'Slam!'

　"Enough of this! Its realy riddiculous!" Said Zoro loudly.

　'Pooof!'

　The Zoro who had been pointed by Luffy finaly transformed back! Much to Luffy elated expression.

　"Its not riddiculous Zoro, its just an experiment..." Replied Rei wryly.

　Rei was feeling curious about the reason why Luffy could knew it was him when he disguised himself as young marine back at the marine base.

　So, he tried to test Luffy by disguising himself as 'Zoro' and mimicking his every movements. After 3 tries, the result?

　"3 out of 3. I don't know what to say Luffy..." Rei glanced at the excited Luffy.

　"Shishishi....I know because of your smell!"

　"My smell?!" Rei immediately sniffed around his body especialy the armpits area only to hear Luffy laughed out loud!

　"Luffy?"

　"Hahahahaha! I'm kidding! you don't smell at all Rei!"

　Rei was amused and quite reliefed with Luffy remarks. Rei looked at the carefree Luffy and he just concluded that his 'Intuition' was too scary to scoffed at!

　Zoro stood up and walked closer towards the sitting Rei, he squinted his eyes and said.

　"Disguising technique? What kind of devil fruit did you eat?" Asked Zoro feeling slightly agitated.

　He couldn't helped it. If Rei suddenly had a change of heart in the future, with his 'perfect' disguise Zoro felt he could be a dangerous adversity for their ragtags of pirate group!

　Rei was amused by Zoro behaviour, ever since their departure 2 days ago from Shells Town, Rei oftentimes noticed Zoro glared at him seemingly had something he wants to say.

　"I don't eat any devil fruit..." Rei shrugged his shoulders.

　"I don't believe it!"

　Rei sighed as he stood up, looking down at Zoro who was shorter than him. "Its up to you whether to believe it or not..."

　"Rei! Can you change to another one?" Luffy interrupted all of sudden.

　"Wait Luffy, i think our new crew has something to say..." Rei locked his eyes with Zoro feeling amused.

　Zoro keep silent for a few moments, until finaly he spoke, "I don't believe your remarks about that 5 minutes.."

　"Aah...." Rei chuckled as he understood Zoro's meaning, Luffy could only tilted his head feeling confused.

　Ignoring Zoro glare, Rei then proceed to move towards the middle of the boat. He took out his Chōkuto from under his sleeve much to Luffy increasing curiosity towards the former 'magical' sleeve.

　"Where did you put that sword Rei? It seems your sleeve can handle many things!" Luffy grabed Rei's sleeve and inspected it up and down, inside and outside.

　Rei laughed by his behaviour and said, "Lets say, its magic!"

　Luffy eyes twinkling with little stars and exclaimed, "So cool!"

　Ignoring Luffy. Rei used his Chōkuto sharp edge and began to draw a circle with diameter around 1 meter on the wooden floor of the boat.

　After he finished, Rei Then put his Chōkuto back inside his sleeve and looked towards Zoro while sneered, "Try to move me out this circle. You can use any means, If you still feel indignant with your defeat..."

　Zoro scoffed with Rei's challenge as he took out his white handle sword. The famous Meitō sword Wadō Ichimonji shone under the sunlight.

　Rei told Luffy to stay away, "Don't interfere Luffy. This is just a training!"

　Luffy nodded as he jumped towards the boat's cabin roof. Then he sat cross-legged with a grin feeling excited about the upcoming match.

　"I will make you take back what you said!" Claimed Zoro as he tied the black bandana on his head.

　Rei grinned and said, "My statement remain true. You right now is still no match for me much less for him..."

　The reason why Rei had so much confidence in his claim was simply because the Zoro at this time was still too much weaker than him years later.

　Since he fought with the later back then, he could see Zoro movement ever so clearly. Zoro's strength and speed were still patheticaly low even Rei didn't need to activate his Sharingan against him.

　Comparing him to Luffy, Rei still need to use several Ninja techniques to dealt with the later. Especially when Luffy used his signature moved such as Gomu Gomu no Gattling.

　"You're bluffing!" Zoro moved forward as fast as he could while swinging his swords downwards!

　'SLAAASH!'

　Rei moved sideways to dodge. Zoro noticed his movements and change his sword's trajectory into horizontal swipe by rotating his wrist!

　'ZOOOM...'

　Rei quickly squated with a grinn and holding his cheek while giving an amused look at Zoro's eyes.

　Seeing Rei cheeky smile, Zoro couldn't help but raised his right knee aiming it at Rei's head!

　'Swish....'

　'Wham!'

　Unfortunately, Rei already noticed his intentions. So, Rei rotating his body lower than his squating position making Zoro's knee missed its target and then he gave Zoro's other feet a low swiping kick!

　Before he enjoyed the blue sky view, Zoro was quick to stood back on his feet, only to see Rei was standing still while shaking his head in disapproval.

　"Not yet!" Gritting his teeth Zoro began his barrage of attack wildly hoping to move Rei from that damned circle!

　'SLASH! SLASH! SWISH! ZOOOM! STAB....'

　However, no matter what kind of attack Zoro does. Rei was able to dodge it perfectly!

　After it took a long time of useless attempt to strike his opponent body just once. Zoro Grew frustrated and took a few steps back.

　For some reason Rei could see a tranquility within his opponent indifferent eyes now. At the final moment, Rei finaly activated his Sharingan after he saw Zoro inserting his sword back into scabbard.

　Zoro's left hand was wide away from his body as his right hand which holding the swords scabbard rotating slowly at his front in 360° until finaly putting it besides his right waist.

　Zoro lowered his head as he held the sword's upstraight handle in reverse grip from beside-and-over his head, then he muttered, "Ittoryu...."

　Rei contenance grew ever so excited! With Sharingan he could clearly see his opponent moved from the previous spot towards him so fast it looks almost blurred!

　If only he didn't have Sharingan with Dōsatsugan or 'eyes of insight' ability, Rei was sure he couldn't perceived Zoro's technique which he just performed!

　In lightning speed movements, Zoro slides forwards and unsheate his sword and putting it back into scabbards once again behind Rei!

　"...Shishi Sonson!"

　'SLAAAASH!'

　Zoro's sword managed to cut the opposites railing cleanly! When he looked back towards Rei. He couldn't help but stunned as the later was still unscathed and frowned while holding his long ponytail-end.

　Zoro took a look at the wooden floor as his attention was captured by something on it.

　"Wow! So fast! Zoro you're awesome!" Yelled Luffy as he jumped down and took Rei's strands of white hair which had been cut by Zoro's technique.

　Rei didn't care about his several strands of his hair. His attention went to Zoro and he said, "Congratulations, You just cut several strands of my hair..."

　Zoro sat cross legged in frustration and exhaustion. He still couldn't believed that he was still unable to touch Rei's body!

　Rei movements was too much different than those who could avoid Zoro's assault in the past. The former had much more distinctive style, Rei seems able to see his attacks before Zoro even move!

　"Ah! That red eyes again! How can your eyes turns red like that?" Luffy noticed Rei's still active Sharingan and exclaimed in wonder.

　Zoro looked up and sees Rei usual silver eyes now had change its color, he has red pupils with fine black circle and 3 tadpole-like pattern surrounding the middle.

　"This is Sharingan, you can assume it that my vision has become much better with this technique..." Rei answered simply.

　He had no intention to hide his abilities towards his friends, the more his friend knew about what he capable of, the more their synergy would tighten in future battle, Rei thought.

　Luffy nodded his head several times and spoke, "You also used that when fighting against me before right?"

　Rei nodded and returning his eyes back to silver, "I did, you have more versatile techniques back then Luffy. I need to keep track on your moves."

　"I see, thats cool!"

　Rei spoke towards Zoro once again in serious manner without smiling, "You need to train like i said Zoro. Train untill you can't move everyday, and maybe someday i'll admit that my statement was wrong."

　Zoro took his bandana off in silent. Right just when he sat down he heard Rei spoke once again.

　"Maybe i can help you with that."

　Zoro raised his eyebrow in question at Rei, and the later had faint smile as he took out 2 kunais from under his sleeve.

　"Take these and swing it everyday until you can't move your body."

　Rei threw the Kunai which stabbed on the wooden deck right in front of Zoro.

　Zoro went and grab the kunais in sluggish manner. When he pulled out the Kunai, he couldn't help but looking at Rei in question once more. The Kunais was actualy just an ordinary steel without any weight on it. Zoro felt he could swing it all day long!

　Rei chuckled as he sends his chakra towards the Kunais, then he weaved his hand quickly, "Chõkajugan no jutsu...."

　'WHAM!'

　Suddenly Zoro's hands went down as if he was being pulled downwards by an elephant!

　"Whats this?" Zoro feel surprised as his both hands were gettiing pressed under the Kunais without being able to move!

　Rei chuckled as he adjusted his chakra output towards the Kunais. He said, "Thats just an ordinary kunais, but i change their weight slighty."

　"You call this slightly?" Exclaimed Zoro as he struggles to lift the kunais which made a dent on the deck! He also remembered that he had experienced something similiar back then.

　Rei just smiled until finaly Zoro lifted the kunais up with difficulty. Then the later began to use the kunais as if it were 2 swords, Zoro was struggling but Rei could see his eyes shining with determination.

　"Rei, Let me try that too!" Luffy was curious as he saw Zoro struggled to swing the small kunais.

　Rei granted Luffy's wish as he imbued another kunai with his technique. Luffy was fascinated and began to mimic Zoro's monotone movements.

　Rei actualy had a plan when he joined Luffy as pirates, he knew about the strawhats crew in the future and when he decided to join Luffy, he also determined to help each crew to unlock their potentials early on.

　Butterfly effect? Whats that? Rei didn't care about those small change as his transmigration had already rippled the space and time within the world of OnePiece, thats what he actualy thought.

　As long as Rei and Strawhats were strong enough, Rei knew they would overcome any adversities which might come in future.

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