“The Cursed Blade sandai kitetsu…
it’s said to lead its wielder to ruin.”
Kaguya spoke without even looking up.
“However, that’s exactly the kind of power I need.”
Cold sweat broke out on the Snub-Nosed Boss’s forehead.
“Young man, this blade has already caused the deaths of three masters.
You should…”
“How much?”
Kaguya interrupted him.
“This…
this blade is not for sale!”
The boss stammered.
“I don’t want to see anyone else die because of it…”
Kaguya let out a cold laugh, pulling a stack of Berries from his robes and slapping them onto the counter.
“Five hundred thousand Berries.
I think that’s enough to buy this ‘Cursed Blade’.”
The boss looked at Kaguya’s calm eyes, then at the thick stack of Berries, and finally let out a sigh.
“Since you’ve made up your mind…
then take it.”
The boss wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“But don’t say I didn’t warn you; the curse of this blade is no joke.”
Ignoring the boss’s warning, Kaguya sheathed the sandai kitetsu and turned to leave the weapon shop.
On the street, the sun was still scorching and the crowds were still bustling, but his state of mind was entirely different.
He gripped the hilt, feeling the icy sensation emanating from the blade, as if he could hear it whispering.
This Cursed Blade was indeed dangerous, but danger often came with power.
He needed this power, even if the price was falling into the abyss.
Kaguya then went to an equipment shop and ordered a batch of training gear for two hundred thousand.
After returning to the courtyard, Kaguya began to study the characteristics of the sandai kitetsu.
He swung the sword in a test strike; as the edge sliced through the air, it actually brought forth a faint, chilling wind.
With every swing, he could feel the evil energy within the blade trying to erode his will, but he did not back down; instead, he grew more determined.
“Since I’ve chosen this path, there is no turning back.”
Kaguya murmured under his breath.
Tsukikage was just an ordinary katana, no different from the standard-issue Marine blades.
In the days that followed, Kaguya began a training regimen that bordered on madness.
Every morning, when the first light of dawn spilled into the courtyard, he was already drenched in sweat, practicing his swordsmanship.
The evil energy of the sandai kitetsu was like maggots on a bone, constantly eroding his spirit, but he gritted his teeth and persevered throughout.
To counter the blade’s curse, Kaguya specifically went to the town’s library to search for ancient texts regarding Cursed Blades.
He discovered that to master a Cursed Blade, one needed not only a powerful physique but also an unwavering will.
Thus, he began to incorporate meditation into his training, attempting to reach a sort of balance with the evil spirit within the sword.
Late one night a month later, Kaguya was performing his daily sword practice in the courtyard.
Suddenly, the blade of the sandai kitetsu glowed with an eerie red light, and a powerful surge of killing intent erupted from it, rushing straight into his mind.
In an instant, countless bloody images flashed before his eyes—memories of the tragic deaths of previous owners.
“You want to control me?”
Veins bulged on Kaguya’s forehead as his hands gripped the hilt with a death grip.
“You’re not qualified!”
He slammed the sword into the ground and dropped to one knee, sweat dripping down like rain.
This battle of wills lasted for a full three hours until finally, the red light faded and the blade returned to tranquility.
Kaguya stood up, panting heavily, and suddenly realized he could no longer feel the chill from within the Kitetsu.
“I see…”
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a look of realization dawning on his face.
“This blade is testing the caliber of its wielder.”
From then on, Kaguya’s coordination with the sandai kitetsu became increasingly seamless.
He began to devote most of his time to physical training.
Kaguya set up a simple training ground in the courtyard; the wooden posts were covered in sword marks, and the sandbags were beaten to a pulp.
Every morning, he would run ten kilometers with heavy weights and then perform thousands of sword swings.
Sweat soaked his clothes and thick calluses formed on his palms, but he never stopped.
One evening, the setting sun cast his shadow long across the ground.
Kaguya stood in the center of the training ground, eyes closed in concentration.
The sandai kitetsu vibrated slightly in his hand, as if responding to his breathing.
Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open; the sword light flashed like lightning, instantly severing three wooden posts lined up together.
The cuts were as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest hesitation.
Kaguya muttered to himself with a frown.
He recalled the descriptions of master swordsmen from the original story—sensing the breath of all things and reaching the realm of cutting steel.
Kaguya knew he still had a long way to go before reaching that level.
In the following days, he changed his training method.
He no longer simply pursued strength and speed, but added practice for sensing the surrounding presence.
He blindfolded himself, relying solely on intuition to dodge flying sandbags or judge the trajectory of leaves falling in the wind.
Time flew by, and a year passed.
Kaguya had actually learned Observation Haki.
The reason he was able to learn Observation Haki so quickly…
…was thanks to that night’s confrontation with the Kitetsu.
The evil energy of the Cursed Blade had constantly stimulated his nerves, causing his spirit to be tempered on the brink of collapse.
Combined with a year of sensory training, he finally, on a night of the full moon, clearly “saw” everything within a hundred meters—falling leaves, crawling ants, and even the trajectory of the breeze brushing against the tips of the grass.
“Is this the power of Observation Haki…”
Kaguya slowly removed his blindfold, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips.
The sandai kitetsu vibrated slightly at his waist, seemingly excited by his breakthrough.
Sheathing the Kitetsu, Kaguya returned to the house.
This year of high-intensity training had caused Kaguya’s Berries to be consumed very quickly.
Because he needed to consume a large amount of high-energy food every day.
He had eaten at every single restaurant in Loguetown.
He had even left behind the legend of a Glutton in Loguetown.
Looking at his remaining one million Berries, Kaguya had the idea to “make money.”
“I need money now, as well as a cultivation method for Physical Techniques.
Well, the only place where I can get both at the same time is there.”
Kaguya turned his gaze toward the Loguetown Marine Base.
However, this time, he didn’t need to infiltrate as an undercover agent like he did in Shells Town.
With his current Observation Haki and physical fitness, he could easily sneak into the Loguetown Marine Base.
Although Loguetown was guarded by Smoker, Smoker only focused on his Devil Fruit abilities and neglected physical technique training.
Therefore, he didn’t know Haki at all.
Since he didn’t know Haki, he wouldn’t be able to discover Kaguya.
Thus, on the following night, Kaguya once again infiltrated a Marine Base.