A cannon blast interrupted Bridge and Graves's lovers' quarrel, signaling the official start of the year-end assessment.
The host appeared in the center of the arena, and Chiga was surprised to see that the host was none other than Kake, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Kake had finally shed his perpetually brown casual clothes, donning a black suit. However, due to his physique and appearance, he resembled a large black pig.
Kake struck a pose he considered dashing and eloquently recited the competition rules. At the end, he even glanced at Gion on the high platform.
However, the audience below was not very forgiving. Seeing him dawdle on stage for a long time without announcing the start of the competition, they forgot that he was, after all, a Vice Admiral, and loudly urged him to get off the stage.
Kake's face reddened slightly. He hastily announced the start of the competition and scurried off.
The competition rules were simple: since there weren't many trainees in the training camp, the participants were divided into four large groups—A, B, C, and D. Two people formed a small team for a duel, and the entire arena was divided into four sections. Ultimately, four winners would be decided, who would then draw lots to form new groups for duels.
The winners of the two groups would participate in the finals, while the two losers would compete for third place.
Chiga, Bridge, and the other two were conveniently distributed among the four large groups, thus avoiding the awkwardness of eliminating their own people at the start.
Chiga was in the first group of Group A, meaning he was the first to go on stage. The start of the competition was announced , a staff member came to notify Chiga to step onto the stage.
Bridge and the others also went to their respective competition areas.
Chiga calmly walked onto the fighting platform and stood in the center. His Rinnegan eyes shimmered in the sunlight. He looked up towards the high platform and gently made a reassuring gesture.
The high-ranking Marine officials on the platform all looked at Gion. With their strength, they naturally saw that Chiga had been looking at Gion just now.
Gion didn't pay attention to the reactions around her. When Chiga appeared on stage, her eyes lit up, and her body unconsciously leaned forward. Tsuru, who was beside her, glanced at her, thinking that her sister might be serious this time. A few days ago, she had even come to her asking to prepare a few Devil Fruits for that Uchiha Chiga.
Good heavens, preparing Devil Fruits, and several of them at that. Did she even hear what she was saying? Was her good sister treating Devil Fruits like cabbages? But since it was her own sister's chosen person, what could she do? She could only agree, considering it a dowry?
However, agreeing was one thing. Tsuru still needed to carefully observe Uchiha Chiga, both his strength and his character.
Chiga on the platform retracted his gaze and turned to look at his opponent.
Chris's expression was grim. As a trainee from the same batch as Chiga, how could he not know Chiga's strength? Smoker's miserable state in the cafeteria was still vivid in his memory.
How could he encounter such a pervert?! Chris thought tragically.
Chiga naturally didn't know how rich Chris's inner thoughts were. He stood quietly in place, waiting for the signal to start the match.
Finally, a gun fired, and the match began.
The moment the gun fired, Chiga remained motionless. He merely lifted his eyes slightly and unleashed a minimal-power Shinra Tensei. The next moment, Chris was already embedded in the wall beneath the audience seats.
This match lasted only one second from start to finish. Contestants in other areas hadn't even made their first move.
The audience didn't even know what had happened, and the match was already over. Some were still looking around blankly, searching for Chris.
On the high platform, Gion was delighted to see Chiga end the battle decisively. She was the first to applaud, and then one person led the entire audience, gradually filling the entire arena with applause.
Although there was no fierce fighting, the impact of such absolute strength was immense. Chiga's first move also made everyone truly realize that his strength perfectly matched his reputation.
Chiga on the platform did not rush to leave. He used Bansho Ten'in to pull Chris out of the wall, allowing him to land steadily on the ground.
Chris hadn't sustained any serious injuries; he was just dazed by the repulsive force and had now regained consciousness.
Seeing that Chiga had specifically pulled him down, which gave him some dignity, the slight complaint in his heart dissipated. Before leaving, he cast a grateful look at Chiga.
Tsuru on the high platform also nodded slightly at Chiga's actions. No matter how great the difference in strength, he knew how to respect his own people, which she, leaning towards the Dove faction, greatly approved of.
Others were more concerned with Chiga's strength. Sengoku smiled as he stroked his small beard. The more astonishing Chiga's performance, the more it proved that his vision and decisions were absolutely correct, didn't it?
Kizaru stopped clipping his nails and said in a peculiar manner,
"Kowai ne (How scary), this newcomer named Uchiha Chiga. I heard he didn't eat a Devil Fruit but has more than one ability. He's truly a little monster."
Gion glared at Kizaru upon hearing this, and thought, You're the monster, you perverted, flashing yellow monkey!
Akainu adjusted his hat. He wasn't particularly interested in Chiga's attack methods. In his view, any attack method was a manifestation of strength; as long as the strength was sufficient, nothing else mattered. He already had a preliminary understanding of Chiga's strength.
Although that Chris was knocked down in one move, it didn't mean he was weak. Chris was from the elite training camp, and Akainu, who had also been there, knew that people from there couldn't be too weak; they at least had the strength of a Colonel.
For such a person to be resolved by Chiga in one move already said a lot. This Uchiha Chiga possessed at least the combat power of a Rear Admiral, and he was less than 18 years old!
He must recruit this Uchiha Chiga and make him understand his justice. At the very least, he couldn't let him go to Aokiji. How could indecisiveness end evil?
Aokiji maintained his sitting posture, only secretly glancing at Akainu. He knew that Akainu had taken a liking to this Uchiha Chiga and wanted to bring him under his command.
Before the Ohara incident, he wouldn't have bothered with this, but after that event, he strongly disagreed with Akainu's justice. Therefore, if Akainu truly tried to recruit him, he wouldn't stand by idly. If a promising talent like Chiga were to join Akainu's crew, it might lead to the emergence of a second Akainu.
The high-ranking Marine officials, each with their own thoughts, fell silent and quietly watched the remaining matches