It wasn't until Zoro was completely exhausted and Hiroto seized an opportunity to knock him far away with a strike that he could no longer crawl back up. Only then did the battle end.
By now, the sun hung low, announcing the conclusion of this sparring match.
"Whew..."
Hiroto held his twin swords and let out a long, hot breath.
He felt it—a new strength in his muscles, bones, and even his blood.
[Status Panel Updated]
[Strength: D++ → C (100-million bounty standard)]
[Constitution: D+ → C- (Nearly 100-million bounty standard)]
[Constitution: C- → C+ (Entry bonus, 100-million bounty standard)]
The moment the notification popped up, Hiroto's entire skeletal structure emitted a series of crackling sounds, and his physique expanded several sizes in the next instant. But then it shrank back or rather, compressed back to its original size.
Surging power was born at this moment, giving Hiroto the illusion that he could flip over a hill.
Simultaneously changing was his internal stamina, which had become noticeably more robust.
It was clear that the shortcomings of his glass cannon situation had been partially compensated for.
In the distance, Zoro, who had barely managed to climb back up, was covered in dirt. He didn't seem to mind, but his gaze was complex as he looked at Hiroto, who had clearly grown stronger once again.
He understood once more what his teacher had meant by those few words.
But... he still wouldn't give up!
Thinking this, Zoro once again assumed his Three Sword Style stance, prepared to fight Hiroto to his absolute limit.
However, at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
"It seems I came at the wrong time."
Hiroto: "!?"
Zoro: "!!!"
Only then did the two realize that a figure had appeared beside the clearing of the tangerine grove at some unknown point. Before the other party spoke, neither of them had sensed him at all.
"Who are you?"
Zoro's expression changed, his eyes turning sharp as he pointed his blades at the unfamiliar middle-aged man.
The stranger did not answer, instead looking at Hiroto with a strange light in his eyes. "You recognize me? Where have we met before?"
This inquiry was not without cause. The moment Hiroto saw him, there was a clear emotional fluctuation. Even if it was very subtle on the surface, it was still very conspicuous to Issho, who possessed powerful sensory abilities.
"There are various incredible abilities in this world, aren't there?"
Hiroto still held his twin swords, his eyes unable to hide his surprise as he looked at the middle-aged man.
He naturally knew the origin of the man before him.
After the Marineford War, Sengoku resigned due to the fallout, and Akainu and Aokiji fought for the position of Fleet Admiral. In the end, Aokiji lost and left the Marines with injuries.
Because of the heavy casualties in the Marineford War, it could be said that vacancies appeared in the upper and middle-level power of Marineford. They were forced to conduct a massive World Military Draft among the populace.
The man before him was one of the two who became new Admirals, code-named Fujitora.
It should be noted that there were originally two Admiral candidates within Marineford.
Tokikake and Momousagi.
Under such circumstances, the fact that he could pass through layers of selection to become an Admiral showed how strong he was.
However...
Hiroto couldn't help but look at Issho's eyes.
At this time, he actually hadn't blinded himself yet?
"I had a whim to see this unusual pirate, and now it seems the trip was worthwhile. Can you even glimpse the future that hasn't happened yet?"
Issho's expression became complex. He wasn't truly blind yet, and his Observation Haki had reached the point where he could perceive the emotions of others.
Hiroto's series of instinctive reactions, the changes in his emotions, combined with his own situation.
An incredible, yet possible answer emerged.
The man before him could glimpse parts of the future.
For a moment, a storm of shock rose within Issho's heart.
Of course, on the surface, his expression remained unchanged, but his attitude became somewhat humble.
"Could I receive some guidance from you?"
Hiroto: "..."
This was an unexpected development.
Issho's question immediately changed the entire atmosphere.
Hiroto thought for a moment, summarized the current information, and then asked, "You are lost, aren't you?"
"I am ashamed that at such an age..."
Issho gave a bitter smile and stopped himself, looking at Hiroto with anticipation. "In the future you see, what exactly am I like?"
"Neither good nor bad."
Hiroto said, "You strike yourself, blinding your eyes to the evils of the world, thinking it to be a form of seclusion. But you still can't suppress that heart of yours. Finding that the world has begun to slide into disorder, you become a Marine Admiral, traveling across the seas."
"However, looking at everything, you are still deeply mired in endless evil, unable to implement your inner justice, yet unable to lay down the burden on your shoulders. In the end, you achieve nothing."
This was the truth.
In the original story, Issho was in this kind of conflicted state.
At first, he blinded himself to live in seclusion, but then he couldn't resist participating in the 'World Military Draft' and became an Admiral.
Later, in the Doflamingo incident, he used Luffy's hand to bring the Dressrosa incident to a close. He also used this to destroy the Seven Warlords of the Sea system, which he believed was wrong at the time.
It seemed quite good but in the incident where the Revolutionary Army attacked Mary Geoise, he actually charged up a big move on the spot, pulling down a meteorite, intending to give the Holy Land a big blow under the guise of 'dealing with the enemy'.
He completely disregarded the lives of the Celestial Dragons nearby, making Aramaki lose his cool as he tried to stop him. It could be said that with just this move, it was hard to say if Issho could keep his position as an Admiral.
Afterward, he was even more direct, taking the initiative to stop Aramaki because the Revolutionary Army was rescuing slaves again. The reason given at the time was 'I want to destroy the system'.
The problem was, once he was liquidated afterward and lost his position as Admiral, what else would Issho have destroyed?
The answer was obvious: Issho had always been doing what he thought was right.
But except for the Warlord system, he did not get the final result he wanted. The true system had always existed within Mary Geoise.