Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 271 Driven by Interests: Harboring Pirates?

"Is the security in Rogge Town really that good?" Ning Yuan was somewhat surprised as he walked along the wide street and looked at the unhurried Rogge Town residents on both sides.

He thought Loguetown was like the US, where gunfights happened every day.

"It wasn't like this before; it only got better these past two years after Colonel Smoker came!" Tashigi walked beside Ning Yuan, her pretty face slightly flushed.

She was still pondering what their current situation was—had they gotten on the ship first and then fallen in love?

"Um, I want to tell you, I'm not a casual person. I don't know what happened today," Tashigi recalled the situation. "I think I was caught up in that atmosphere?"

Of course, it was also because of Ning Yuan's appearance and temperament that she didn't reject him.

"Love arises without warning, and deepens with time!" Ning Yuan laughed, "I understand that feeling!"

"Hmm!" Tashigi nodded, her face flushing again. "So, what's our relationship now?"

Lovers? He hasn't even confessed his love yet!

They can't even be considered husband and wife.

"They're lovers!" Ning Yuan said straightforwardly. "Of course, it's up to you to decide. What do you think?"

Tashigi thought for a moment and asked, "What about Nojiko?"

"Just like you!"

Tashigi immediately became unhappy again.

As a young girl, how could she not have imagined a perfect love story?

How could I share something I've just encountered for the first time with someone else?

Ning Yuan didn't know what to say. Although the original owner next door was also building a harem, to be fair, it was all due to decades of getting along and the gradual increase in harem.

When it comes to the "sea king" aspect alone, Ning Yuan's experience is really not that extensive.

So after much deliberation, Ning Yuan chose to remain silent, leaving the choice to Tashigi.

Or, to be more domineering, just declare that you are my woman?

But he's never been a domineering person, so he can't portray that kind of aura.

"This is the dojo where I learn swordsmanship!" Tashigi suddenly stopped in front of a building.

Ning Yuan looked up and saw that this was a store that didn't look much different from other buildings, with a sign above the door that read: "Flow Dojo!"

"Flow!" Ning Yuan pondered the word, as if it were something very impressive.

"Senior Sister?" A disciple from the martial arts school came out carrying a basin of water, which was full of deep red color and had a fishy smell.

Blood!

"What are they doing?" Tashigi didn't think too much about it. The dojo was full of people practicing swordsmanship, which was physically demanding. They often killed fish and pigs, so it was normal to have blood in it.

But as soon as she spoke, the disciple visibly tensed up!

"Oh, the teacher just killed a big fish and is about to cook a meat feast for everyone!" the disciple hurriedly said.

Tashigi, distracted, didn't notice this and instead exclaimed happily, "Looks like I've come at the perfect time! I can even get a free meal of fish!"

"Uh, hehe!" The disciple gave an awkward laugh. "Well, I'll go report it!"

After saying that, he poured the bloody water into the sewage ditch by the door and was about to turn around and call for help.

But Tashigi had grown up here since childhood and didn't consider herself an outsider at all. She simply pulled Ning Yuan inside.

"I joined the dojo when I was four years old and have been studying here for twelve years. My relationship with my teachers is probably closer than with my parents!" Tashigi explained.

So bringing Ningyuan along really felt like meeting the parents.

Although she was very unhappy, the relationship had already begun, and she would choose to accept it.

To be fair, the atmosphere surrounding One Piece is still somewhat conservative; women like Big Mom are ultimately a minority.

Ning Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the interior structure of the dojo.

Ningyuan was no stranger to dojos; there were many such places in the Land of Iron. However, perhaps because it was located in Loguetown, where house prices were high, the dojo's interior was quite small.

Furthermore, two staircases were built on both sides of the central training field leading to the rear, which made the training field appear even smaller.

It's only slightly bigger than a boxing ring.

Right now, there are two people in training clothes sparring in the ring. One of them is holding a wooden longsword, while the other is holding three swords.

However, he held two hands in his palms and tucked one under his arm.

"Kinichi, why are you carrying three knives?" Tashigi asked curiously as soon as she entered and saw this scene.

"Oh, I saw a swordsman on the street today, carrying three swords!" The guy named Jin Yi saw Tashigi but didn't greet her, presumably because they were very familiar. "I'm really curious how he uses those three swords!"

"That guy is Zoro, the Three-Sword Style. He holds his third sword in his mouth!" Ning Yuan reminded him.

"It's on the mouth?" Jin Yi was stunned and quickly changed the position of the third knife.

The way he moved the food from under the armpit to his mouth left Ning Yuan stunned. He thought, "This person better not have body odor or anything, otherwise the smell..."

"Like this?" Jin Yi shook his head, then put the knife down. "There's no way to exert any force!"

"People's physiques are different. Some people can exert as much power as their arms with their mouths!" Ning Yuan laughed.

"Is that so?" Jin nodded. "But no matter what, it's still a bit strange. Wait, who are you? Tashigi, did you bring her here to become your apprentice?"

"Ah, no, no!" Tashigi blushed, quickly shook her head, and then said firmly, "This is, this is my lover, his name is Ning Yuan!"

"Lovers?" Jin Yi was stunned, then the two longswords in her hands clattered to the ground: "Wait, how could this be! Didn't we just see each other four days ago? You were single then!"

"Well, love is something that arises without knowing why, and it goes on and on!" Tashigi didn't know how to explain it either. She had met someone and gone to bed with them on the very first day they met?

She could only repeat Ning Yuan's words and consider it love at first sight.

"And you still write poetry!" Jin Yi felt even more upset.

The person opposite him also threw down his sword, then jogged off the stage and into the backyard, shouting as he ran, "Something terrible has happened! Senior Sister has a boyfriend!"

"Uh!" Tashigi gave an awkward laugh. "I didn't know they would do this!"

"You seem to have a lot of prestige in this dojo!" Ning Yuan exclaimed.

Tashigi blushed slightly: "It's alright!"

"Let me tell you, our senior sister is the most talented and strongest disciple in the entire dojo!" Kin-ichi challenged Tashigi's modesty, "Since four years ago, no one, including the teacher, has been a match for her! You're her boyfriend, you must be incredibly strong! By the way, where's your sword?"

"Uh..." Ning Yuan looked at Tashigi, whose face turned even redder: "Kinichi, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not talking nonsense!" Jin Yi asked with a surprised look, "Wasn't it you who beat me so badly I couldn't get out of bed four days ago?"

"Hehehehe!" Tashigi gripped her sword tightly. If Ning Yuan hadn't been there, she really would have drawn her sword and killed someone!

Can you please not say these things in front of your lover?

I'm a lady!

"Well, he's never been the brightest," Tashigi quickly turned to explain, "I'm not that violent!"

"I understand!" Ning Yuan nodded, then sighed with emotion.

Previously, Tashigi said that she was the best disciple in the dojo, and Ning Yuan thought she was just a little bit better than others.

I never expected that she could beat her own teacher.

It's clear that she's not just a little bit stronger, but a huge improvement! Or rather, she's on a completely different level from the others in this dojo.

But even with her immense strength, Tashigi was utterly powerless against Zoro.

It felt like a genius from the lower realm who had spent half his life striving to ascend to the upper realm, only to finally become one of the 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals who ganged up on Sun Wukong.

Tashigi hasn't met Zoro yet, so she still has confidence. However, since she hasn't experienced setbacks, it's unknown whether her ambition is as strong as the original version.

There should be some. Luffy wants to become the Pirate King, and Zoro wants to become the world's greatest swordsman. So, is Tashigi's dream small?

"Tashigi has a boyfriend??" While I was thinking, the backyard of the dojo was bustling with activity, and seven or eight people had already poured out.

The leader was dressed in a white Taoist robe and wooden clogs. He was hunched over and looked to be in his fifties or sixties.

Is this the teacher at the dojo?

He looks very ordinary, without any of the aura of a hidden master. He should just be an outstanding representative among the vast number of ordinary people in the One Piece world, a top student in an ordinary high school.

The old man's hands were covered in blood, and he was holding a sharp knife. Seeing Tashigi's gaze fall upon him, he quickly hid the knife behind his back and then laughed, "Tashigi's back! Is this your boyfriend? Introduce him to everyone!"

"Teacher, do you have a patient?" Tashigi asked instinctively when she saw the small knife in the old man's hand.

"Ah, yes!" The old man, seeing he couldn't hide it any longer, could only nod. "You know, a lot of pirates came to Loguetown today, and quite a few townspeople were injured. I'll help treat them now!"

"Is the teacher also a doctor?" Ning Yuan asked.

"I only have a rudimentary understanding!" the old man said. "Those who practice swordsmanship are bound to have bumps and bruises. The more you suffer, the more you learn to treat your wounds, but that's all you can do. I can't cure diseases or save lives!"

"That's impressive!" Ning Yuan praised, then introduced himself, "My name is Ning Yuan, and I'm Tashigi's boyfriend!"

"A boyfriend is great!" the old man said with a smile. "Tashigi has a fiery temper and is incredibly strong. She always seems to look down on everyone, and I was always worried she'd never get married!"

"Teacher!" Tashigi stamped her foot. "You're talking nonsense again!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The old man nodded. "I'm Gota, the teacher here. Although I'm Tashigi's teacher, I've watched her grow up since she was a child; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her her father. Since she's chosen you, I can't say anything. I just hope you'll treat Tashigi well in the future and never let her down!"

"I won't!" Ning Yuan nodded, then asked, "Teacher, is something urgent happening here?"

Because the old man spoke too fast and omitted a lot of things.

For example, as a father, shouldn't you ask your boyfriend where he's from, what he does for a living, how much he earns, and whether he owns a house or a car?

Or perhaps, we could test their fighting skills or something.

How could you agree without asking a single question?

"Uh, the injury I have here is a bit serious, I have to go deal with it!" The old man hurriedly said, "Well, Tashigi, this place is just like your home, you can take care of your boyfriend yourself."

"Okay, teacher, you go ahead with your work!" Tashigi quickly nodded.

"Hmm!" the old man replied, and then hurriedly left.

"That's how my teacher is. Although she sounds cold, she's actually a very warm-hearted person!" Tashigi laughed.

Ning Yuan nodded, sat down on a chair next to Tashigi, and then asked, "By the way, didn't Smoker lead a group to Loguetown looking for Bucky this afternoon? Did they find him?"

"No!" Tashigi blushed. What was she doing while Smoker was busy looking for Bucky?

"With Bartolomeo's help, Nabaki is very familiar with the geography of Loguetown. Even with our thorough search, we still couldn't find him!" Tashigi said, a hint of resentment in her voice. "We asked every single house, but we still don't know where he's hiding!"

"It looks like Bucky got stabbed by the Jitte!" Ning Yuan said. "He's seriously injured right now!"

"Of course!" Tashigi nodded. "The Jitte is protected by Seastone. Even if he's a Devil Fruit user, he'll inevitably get injured!"

"With such severe injuries and being carried around by Bartolomeo for so long, if you don't get treatment soon, you'll probably die from blood loss!" Ning Yuan added, "Do you think there's anywhere in Loguetown where I can get treatment for my injuries without fear of being checked by the Navy?"

"Where would you find a place like this? We Navy all know the doctors in Loguetown. Nobody would dare lie to Captain Smoker's face, eh?" Tashigi's tone suddenly turned serious as she spoke, and her face gradually darkened.

A doctor isn't necessarily someone who can heal injuries!

Her teacher, Wu Tai, is also very skilled!

Moreover, all the Marines in Loguetown know that Tashigi came from this gym, so if they investigate this area, will they really search it thoroughly?

If we don't search, but only ask questions!

"You mean?" Tashigi thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up and was about to rush towards the gym's backyard.

"Senior sister!" Jin Yi quickly tried to stop Tashigi, "They're still treating her in the backyard, and the teacher said we absolutely can't let outsiders disturb them!"

"Am I an outsider too?" Tashigi shoved Kin-il aside in annoyance and then stomped up the stairs.

Jin Yi sighed, then glared at Ning Yuan: "You've ruined things!"

"What trouble have I caused?" Ning Yuan asked in astonishment. "If you're harboring pirates, that's what's truly bad, and it won't just ruin the dojo's affairs, but also Tashigi's future!"

"What does her future have to do with us?!" Jin Yi's expression, which had been fine, darkened immediately upon hearing Ning Yuan mention future prospects. "She's a Navy corporal, and she's under the command of Navy Headquarters Captain Smoker. She has a bright future ahead of her; she might even become a captain's wife in a few years. By then, will she still remember us down-on-our-luck comrades?"

Ning Yuan's gaze froze.

"And you!" Jin Yi sneered at Ning Yuan. "I don't know how you became her lover, but I advise you to break up with her as soon as possible. She's a heartless person; she'll abandon us for her future, and sooner or later she'll abandon you for her future too!"

"Abandon you?" Ning Yuan was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Hmph, she's a disciple of the dojo, she grew up here since she was a child, that's twelve years! The kindness of her education and upbringing—how could she be any less!" Jin Yi said resentfully. "And we, her fellow disciples, treat her like our own sisters!"

"And what happened? She joined the Navy, and became one of Captain Smoker's confidantes, yet she won't even do us the slightest favor!"

"What kind of convenience do you want?" Ning Yuan asked curiously. "If it's joining the army, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"

They've all trained and have a foundation, and they're locals, so the Navy won't refuse them.

"Who wants to be one of those smelly marines!" Jin Yi said irritably. "I'm talking about money! So many people in the navy need training! Can't we be hired as instructors? So many people in the navy need to eat, can't we supply them? And we can even make navy uniforms and equipment!"

Ning Yuan was speechless. So you want to eat the navy's logistics money?

"Tashigi is just a corporal, how could she possibly care about these things?" Ning Yuan said.

"But she's not just any corporal!" Jin Yi said. "She's a corporal who serves under Colonel Smoker. Aren't these things just a matter of a word from her?"

To be fair, what he said makes a lot of sense. Corporal Tashigi is indeed someone Smoker trusts a lot, and if he speaks up, the Navy Logistics Department should give him some face.

"But your strength is even inferior to Tashigi's. How can you be an instructor?" Ning Yuan asked. "As for the food and clothing, does someone in your family work as a chef? Or do you own a textile factory? Are the quality and safety guaranteed? If you're a professional in this field, you can directly contact Smoker. He's a righteous person and won't deny you a chance!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Jin Yi looked at Ning Yuan disdainfully. "That stuff, once I get the qualification, I can have as many as I want, right?"

"Oh, so you actually have nothing, and you're just hoping to use your connections with Tashigi to get something for nothing?" Ning Yuan was taken aback.

"Don't put it so harshly, it's not like we're not giving her any profit!" Jin Yi said.

"How much?"

"One-tenth!"

"Ten percent?" Ning Yuan exclaimed in astonishment, "Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?!"

"Don't forget, she's been with our dojo for twelve years. Given our relationship, we don't even need to give her any profits!" Jin Yi said irritably. "Besides, she has a bright future ahead of her, why would she need to share any money?"

Ning Yuan laughed: "Does she not have parents? Or has she not paid her tuition?"

Jin Yi was stunned.

"She's just here to study, how come in your mouth she's come here to beg for food?"

Jin Yi's face darkened: "I thought you, as his boyfriend, would be more sensible, but I didn't expect you to be just as naive as him?"

"It's not that we're naive, it's that you're naive!" Ning Yuan shook his head, then patted Jin Yi on the shoulder: "Young man, you should find a regular job. This kind of crooked path isn't for you!"

After saying that, Ning Yuan continued, "I won't tell Tashigi what you said, but don't even think about Tashigi going back to the gym in the future!"

Even if Ning Yuan didn't whisper in his ear, Smoker would still take Tashigi out to sea.

"Heh, you want to sever ties with the dojo?" Jin Yi sneered. "Dream on!"

"What are you planning to do?" Ning Yuan asked gleefully. "You're not trying to frame us, are you?"

"That's right, I framed you!" Jin Yi said frankly, "Why couldn't Colonel Smoker find Buggy the Clown? It's because Tashigi and your boyfriend were harboring pirates!"

Ning Yuan sighed. It's true, money really can be a powerful motivator!

A twelve-year friendship proved so fragile in the face of self-interest.

They even resorted to framing me!

(End of this chapter)