My fight against Nobuaki was not as swift as I had expected. That was due to a single reason.
"Despite all my precautions, I truly underestimated the value of experience. Growth gained through real combat and growth gained through training are two completely different things."
Despite all my training, I had made stupid mistakes during that fight.
There were times when I didn't pay attention to my surroundings and foolishly slipped on a rock.
There were times when, even with Observation Haki, I mistimed my dodges or my strikes.
There were also moments when I failed to calculate the proper amount of invisible Haki needed to be effective.
All of those mistakes stemmed from my lack of experience.
If training allows one to learn and perfect their abilities, combat, on the other hand, allows them — except in very rare cases — to become useful in real life.
During this fight, I had elevated many of my techniques to an unprecedented level.
And I'm not even talking about my use of Armament Haki. The flow of Haki had become as fluid as water and as fast as lightning.
Reviewing my progress took some time, but I eventually managed to sort everything out. Still, something bothered me. The fight had ended several minutes ago, yet no one had tried to attack me.
My legs were still aching and my Haki reserves had been reduced to only a quarter. A terrible headache kept intensifying. Even so, I needed to see how Toji was doing.
When I turned my head toward him, I immediately understood why no one had attacked me.
They were too busy chasing Toji.
I could see dozens of people lying all over the field, groaning while clutching their crotches, while three others chased Toji at a superhuman speed.
Just from that alone, I could understand what had happened.
Those idiots must have tried to capture Toji while I was fighting. They underestimated him at first and rushed him without cursed energy, and before they even realized it, ten of them were already down.
"This kid really remembers rule number three: when in doubt, always aim for the gronk-nuks."
Especially since when we arrived, they were already in the middle of training, so they had to be exhausted.
The remaining three finally realized their actions were useless without cursed energy and began using it. But Toji's physical abilities, combined with his senses and the fatigue of his pursuers, allowed him to escape until now. However, I could see things were getting tighter and tighter.
"HEY, YOU OVER THERE?!" I shouted to call them.
They turned their attention away from Toji, who instantly widened the distance between them.
"LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE HIM."
I pointed behind me with my thumb, and when they followed my gesture, what they saw made their eyes widen in panic.
It was, of course, Nobuaki's body.
All of that bravado was nothing more than a bluff. In my current condition, it was impossible for me to withstand three opponents enhanced with cursed energy, especially without weapons.
Still, I needed to create an aura of invincibility.
"YOU SHOULD COME PICK HIM UP! AT THIS RATE, HE WON'T SURVIVE!"
I began walking toward Toji while pretending to ignore them.
They immediately took the opportunity and rushed toward where Nobuaki was lying. They quickly retrieved him and hurriedly left with his body.
When I reached Toji, I saw that he wasn't in very good condition, yet he was smiling as if he had just won a game of tag.
He bounced around me enthusiastically.
"Big brother, big brother, did you see me? I did this, then this, and finally this."
He gestured wildly in every direction, and it warmed my heart enough to almost make me forget the pain and exhaustion.
"Yes, yes, Toji, I saw you. That was very impressive. But you do realize that it's not enough, right?"
He looked at me, confused, seemingly not understanding the implication.
"Now that we have equipment, we're going to resume physical training. So get ready."
Toji panicked and began trembling.
"B-Big brother, are you serious? We have to go back to that torture?"
"Of course."
Despair spread across Toji's face. He dropped to the ground and began complaining while rolling around.
"NO! I DON'T WANT TO! I WANT TO WATCH TV! I WANT TO PLAY HIDE AND SEEK! I DON'T WANT TO TRAIN FROM MORNING TO NIGHT UNTIL I PASS OUT!"
That went on for a period of time that I personally found excessively long.
'What's gotten into this kid? Whatever… I'm too exhausted to pay attention.'
---
Two days later
We were truly in deep trouble.
I knew our actions would have consequences, but I never imagined they would come this quickly or this intensely.
The number of cursed spirits was absolutely overwhelming. It bordered on nonsense.
I had miscalculated. I thought that at our age, Naobito would protect us at least a little.
I was naive.
The moment he learned what we had done, the leader of the Kukuru unit threw us into a training pit filled with cursed spirits. And Naobito did nothing to stop it.
They weren't very strong. There was only one semi–Grade 2, yet their numbers were overwhelming.
When I activated Observation Haki for the first time inside that room, I instantly vomited.
The cursed energy I had felt until now was already disgusting, but cursed spirits were on an entirely different level.
They were pure concentrations of cursed energy and malice.
Their very existence was so vile and malicious that I collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Toji still couldn't perceive them, but seeing me in such a state for the first time in his life filled him with terror.
That sight brought me back to my senses.
'Come on, pull yourself together, Zoro. If you collapse now, who will Toji rely on?'
I stood up with difficulty and positioned myself in front of Toji.
He raised his head to look at me.
I forced a fake smile and gave him a thumbs-up.
"It's fine now. Why? Because I'm here!"
As I repeated the line of a certain Symbol of Peace, three cursed spirits leapt toward us.
Both of my fists became coated in a layer of black Haki.
I had never managed to do this before — using Haki on multiple parts of my body at the same time. But the situation I was in forced me to shatter my limits.
I unleashed a barrage of punches that completely pulverized the cursed spirits.
SPLASH!
Their guts and fluids spilled over me.
But before I could express my disgust and discomfort, we were surrounded.
'This won't work. I need to find a way to line them all up in front of me.'
"Toji!"
"Yes, big brother?"
"At my signal, run toward the corner of the room."
He nodded and took a sprinting stance.
We weren't far from the nearest corner, but at least five cursed spirits blocked our path. I had to clear them first.
I crouched down, raised my arms to shoulder level, and began spinning.
Mutoryu: Tatsumaki
A powerful gust of wind swept away the cursed spirits blocking our path. I feared Toji wouldn't understand it was the signal, but fortunately he started running instantly.
Relieved, I ran after him as well. For a brief moment, I lowered my guard — and immediately regretted it.
The semi–Grade 2 launched an energy attack toward Toji. I sensed it with my Haki, but I failed to stop it in time.
The attack struck Toji's face and blood burst from his head.
"TOJI!"
What I failed to notice was that a pure will began leaking out of me at that very moment.
I didn't know it yet…
but I had just awakened my Conqueror's Haki.
Author's thoughts.
Nothing to say except that the chapter wasn't very exciting.
However, I have a survey for you. Lately I've had several fanfiction ideas, two of which I find promising, so I'll let you choose.
1) In JJK with six eyes and construction.
2) with all power rangers powers in young justice.
These are not the final names, they are just to help you quickly understand the concept.
So, I'll let you vote in the comments for the one you think I should write after the end of this fanfiction.