Yami stood in the warehouse's shadowy interior, packing his bag with his belongings. It had been seven months since he holed up in this town for training.
He had refined his Devil Fruit powers, now able to access the one-tailed cloak mode that Naruto used against Sasuke in the anime. Yami could maintain this form for a full hour without breaking a sweat!
He had learned how to effectively incorporate his tail in combat, while also practicing swordsmanship using wooden blades.
During his solitude, Yami even created his own version of breathing techniques inspired by the Demon Slayer world. However, his techniques were vastly superior—compatible with any weapon and powered by Haki. He had enhanced both Sun and Moon Breathing, evolving them into Solar Breathing and Lunar Breathing respectively. He had also mastered many swordsmenship skills from different anime worlds like Star-burst stream and Battojutsu.
(Comment on which sword techniques or power he should make/have.)
As for Haki, Yami had unlocked both Armament and Observation Haki. While he still couldn't maintain them all day, he could now casually keep both active for up to eight hours straight. However, he understood something crucial—quantity wasn't everything.
Haki only improved through real battles.
Without challenges, his Haki's quality would stagnate, no matter how long he maintained it. Still, his potential was undeniable—even without combat, his Haki was evolving slowly but surely.
Truly, his natural talent was no joke.
Yami gave the warehouse one last look before throwing on a cloak with a hood and donning a mask to hide his identity.
"Time to get some blades," he murmured. "Can't call myself a swordsman without swords."
Outside, the sun hung high in the sky, casting golden light over Loguetown's cobbled streets. He moved with purpose through the market square. The smell of sizzling skewers and fresh bread filled the air. Vendors shouted over one another, children ran laughing, and tourists took pictures near the execution platform.
Yami turned into a narrow street, eventually stopping in front of a modest two-story building. The sign above the door read:
"Ipponmatsu's Sword Shop."
He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before stepping inside.
The interior was lined with rows of mounted swords, each meticulously labeled. Guns were also displayed, carefully arranged. Behind the counter stood a thin man with rectangular glasses and a long nose—the shop owner, Ipponmatsu.
"Welcome," the man greeted politely. "Looking for something specific—"
Before the man could finish, Yami vanished and reappeared behind him, knocking him unconscious with a swift blow.
"Why would I buy anything if I'm going to be a pirate?" Yami muttered. "I'll be both evil and good. Adventurous and kind like Luffy... and scheming and evil like Blackbeard."
He scanned the weapons, starting with a sleek pair of white pistols.
Then, rummaging through the barrels beside the counter, he found the sword he had been searching for. Entering the room behind the counter, he found the second.
Returning to the main area, he placed his chosen weapons on the counter—two pistols and two swords. Then, on second thought, he grabbed two more high-quality blades as spares, storing them in his bag.
His gaze landed on the four weapons that would be his core arsenal.
The first sword was sleek and straight with a black sheath— Yubashiri.
The second had an ominous aura. Its hilt was wrapped in red, and the blade glowed darkly— Sandai Kitetsu , the cursed blade known to bring death to its wielders.
Yami strapped both swords to his back in a Deadpool-style cross, his duffel-like bag slung over one shoulder. The pistols were holstered at his waist.
He gave the unconscious shopkeeper one last glance before slipping out the door. Spotting no one around, he activated his Devil Fruit power, launching himself onto a nearby rooftop in a blur—almost as if he had used Soru.
He headed straight for the harbor.
By the time Ipponmatsu woke up—and by the time Smoker and the Marines began searching for the pirate who had raided the sword shop—that very pirate was already long gone.
Now, Yami sat aboard a departing ship headed for Foosha Village.
His goal?
To kill a certain protagonist for one of the most broken Devil Fruits in existence... and to woo a certain green-haired beauty while he was at it.