Naruto: Copy System

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Shin glanced at Smoker, wondering why he had suddenly appeared. Was he also here to deal with Zephyr? Smoker was Zephyr’s student too.

Zephyr’s life was truly tragic. His students were scattered throughout the Marines, but now, few were willing to help him. Kizaru was determined to kill him, and only Aokiji had stepped in to help.

“Captain, can you help?” Just then, Hina came to Shin’s side and whispered.

“I can, but first, I want to know—what’s in it for me?”

Shin chuckled lightly and asked Hina.

Hina gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, “I’ll do anything you want.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Momousagi suddenly asked Shin and Hina, her face filled with curiosity.

“Nothing.” Shin smiled faintly and didn’t continue his conversation with Hina.

Hina was confused. Had Shin agreed or refused? She hoped he would agree to help, if only to repay her teacher’s kindness.

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“Vice Admiral Smoker, why are you here?” Kizaru asked Smoker.

At the same time, Kizaru intended to ask Smoker for help. After all, he was currently being blocked by Aokiji and couldn’t easily make a move against Zephyr.

Smoker had already been promoted to Vice Admiral, but he was the Vice Admiral of the G-5 Marine Base, not a Headquarters Vice Admiral.

“I’m here to hunt Shin Uzumaki,” Smoker said, his eyes fixed on Shin.

Shin was stunned. Was this guy’s brain broken? He was starting to suspect there was something wrong with Smoker.

Not just Shin—even Kizaru gave Smoker a strange look. ‘Smoker, you’ve got balls. I respect that. You’re willing to hunt down Shin Uzumaki when even I wouldn’t touch him? I hereby declare you the bravest man alive.’

“Smoker, my boy, you’re quite impressive. Have you gotten that much stronger?”

Kizaru was unusually polite to Smoker. Based on Smoker’s courage alone, he deserved his respect. Besides, Smoker probably wouldn’t be living much longer. Kizaru offered a silent moment of mourning for him.

“So you came to hunt me down? I’m right here. Show me what you’ve got,” Shin said to Smoker with a faint smile.

“DON’T TREAT ME LIKE A SMALL FRY.” Smoke billowed from Smoker’s mouth, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

“Sorry, but I do see you as a small fry.”

Shin’s expression was completely flat. ‘With your level of strength, how can I not see you as a small fry?’

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“Smoker, you should calm down,” Aokiji advised Smoker kindly.

He was once his junior, and though their relationship wasn’t particularly close, they could still exchange a few words. Aokiji didn’t want to see him get himself killed, and he still saw great potential in Smoker. Even though he had left the Marines, his heart was still with them.

‘Are they all looking down on me?’ Smoker thought, a little annoyed.

“I’m not the same person I was before, Shin Uzumaki. Let me show you my power—the power I’ve worked so hard for.”

From a distance, Smoker threw a punch at Shin, his arms turning into smoke and extending towards him.

“This reminds me of Orochimaru’s outstretched neck.”

Shin couldn’t help but comment as he watched Smoker’s fists.

From Smoker’s performance, it seemed his strength had improved quite a bit. But to think that was enough to challenge him?

“Not bad, but still not enough. I don’t even need to make a move.”

Shin had no intention of acting. Against someone like Smoker, why would he need to?

BAM!

Smoker’s attacks were all blocked. A defensive barrier of lightning appeared in front of Shin—a masterpiece by Olvia. Smoker’s hands were charred black, his brow twitching.

It was clear he was in considerable pain.

“The audacity…” Robin drew her sword.

She’d trained in swordsmanship as well—nothing exceptional, but she’d reached master level, capable of unleashing a flying slash that could cleave a warship clean in half.

Robin swung her blade at Smoker. The sea itself split under the strike, and in an instant, the sword energy shot toward him.

“Shit.” Smoker immediately raised his Jitte to block.

The weapon was forged from Seastone, one of the hardest materials in existence. It could clash with even Supreme Grade blades without a scratch—yet Robin’s slash had chipped it.

The damage wasn’t severe, but the notch was unmistakable. And this was with Robin’s swordsmanship being far from her peak. If she’d reached great swordsman level, that single strike would’ve killed him outright.

The webbing of Smoker’s hand was torn, his trembling hand unable to hold his weapon.

“I thought Smoker had gotten stronger. Turns out he’s still far from it,” Kizaru shook his head.

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Watching Smoker get injured, Kizaru had no intention of intervening; self-preservation was clearly his priority. He would not save Smoker—he could not, even if he tried.

Aokiji only shook his head and moved to help instead. It was not out of meddling but because he could not bear to see the Marines lose another capable officer.

Had things not gone so poorly with Akainu, he would never have left in the first place. Even now, his attachment to the Marines ran deep. That would never change.

Seeing Robin attack again, Aokiji acted without hesitation, helping Smoker block her attack.

“Aokiji, are you getting involved too? You sure like to stick your nose in other people’s business, don’t you?” Shin looked at Aokiji, his face unchanging.

But Aokiji could sense the danger in Shin’s words. At this moment, Shin’s words gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.

“Perhaps I shouldn’t, but right now, I have to,” Aokiji said.

Having left the Marines, he shouldn’t have been drawn into this whirlpool. He had even planned to retire completely, but now it seemed escaping this whirlpool wasn’t going to be so easy.

“Aokiji, you know, your little hero act is making things very awkward for me.”

Kizaru watched Aokiji and couldn’t stay quiet. Even Aokiji, who’d abandoned the Marines, was jumping in to save Smoker.

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