Leo stood alone in the dark alley, the air thick with the smell of blood. The remaining five bounty hunters stood frozen, staring at the crumpled body of their leader, too scared to run. Leo knelt directly in front of them, his eyes fixed on the heavy bundle he had just snatched.
He slowly and carefully ripped the wrapping cloth away.
It was the Katana—a sheathed, terrifyingly beautiful Katana. It was a sword that felt immediately alive in his hands, radiating a cool, intense pressure.
Leo gently drew the blade an inch from the scabbard.
The blade shone with a silver-blue hue, looking like a night sky scattered with faint, glowing stars. The hamon (blade pattern) formed a twisting line that looked like a coiled dragon ascending into the heavens. It was exquisite, far beyond anything he had seen.
DING!
A message, loud and triumphant, flashed directly in his vision, confirming his astonishing luck.
Objective Complete: Find a Katana of Noble Quality.
Katana Grade: Ō Wazamono (Great Grade Blade)
DING!
Summon Requirements Met!
Would you like to start the Character Summoning now?
YES / NO
Leo immediately slammed the blade back into its indigo scabbard, the small action echoing loudly in the silent alley.
"No, not right now," Leo whispered, his heart hammering against his ribs. This is too exposed. Too many eyes are on me right now.
He quickly examined the sword's components, committing every detail to memory. The tsuba (guard) was shaped like a spiral cloud, and the saya (scabbard) was a deep indigo with faint gold kanji that read "心を空に" (Empty your heart).
It looks like it came from Wano, Leo thought, his mind racing. But I haven't seen this specific blade in the anime. Is it just a random sword, or something new? Well, whatever. It's a Great Grade Katana. That's enough!
He quickly tucked the prize under his robe, securing it with his belt. He needed to get back to Shakky's immediately, but as he turned to leave, a high-pitched, abrasive sound wave suddenly slammed into the alley.
KAA-CHING!
The noise was physically painful, forcing Leo to clutch his ears and drop to one knee. It felt like being hit by a rogue sound blast.
Leo slowly looked up, his face hardening as he fought through the painful ringing in his ears. Standing at the alley entrance, blocking the weak sunlight, was a towering, uniquely proportioned figure
Leo instantly recognized the figure, despite his civilian knowledge being fuzzy on names. This was the Supernova Scratchman Apoo, the man whose body was a musical weapon.
Leo stood still beneath his robe, his expression calm and unshaken, showing no trace of fear.
Apoo took a step closer, his long limbs moving in a jerky, unsettling rhythm. He pointed a flat, extended hand at Leo.
"Hey! G-g-give me that sword -back, b-b-boy! That's mi-ne!" Apoo's voice was a sharp, fragmented mix of high notes and scratches. "Are- you a sword-smith? HMM?"
"No," Leo replied, his voice flat. "I'm just a collector. It fell into my lap. I like it. It's mine now."
Apoo's head snapped forward, the motion accompanied by a loud, aggressive BRASS CLANG. "What -did y-ou say?! It belo-ngs- to my Big Boss! Give it back or I'll play yo-ur funeral song! You don't know who you're stealing from!"
"Who is your boss?" Leo asked, acting completely ignorant, though his mind was racing. If Apoo is here, and he's talking about a "Big Boss," that means the Wano plot is already moving. Apoo is Kaido's subordinate, meaning this Katana is Kaido's property!
"You-want-to-know-my-Boss?" Apoo shrieked, his voice rising in volume. "If-he-hears-his-treasure-is-gone, he-will-send-sub-ordinates-to-bury-you-in-the-Sea! This-ain't-no-cheap-steel!"
Apoo pointed his finger at the bulge beneath Leo's robe, his eyes gleaming with malice. "That-Katana-was-forged-by-Shimotsuki-Kozaburō! Its-name-is-Tenseiryū (Heavenly Star Dragon)! It-be-longs-to-the-Wano-Country. Now, hand it over!"
Leo felt the blood drain from his face, not out of fear, but sheer awe. Shimotsuki Kozaburō! The legendary swordsmith who created Enma and Wado Ichimonji! This truly is a Meito!
My luck is really straight from the heavens! A Great Grade Blade came directly into my hand!
Leo slowly met Apoo's gaze. A cold, dangerous grin spread across his face, a mirror image of the chaotic spirit the sword represented.
"Tenseiryū," Leo repeated, testing the name. "A beautiful name for a beautiful sword. And no, I don't feel like giving it to you, Supernova."
Author's Note: Hey everyone! I know you're probably thinking, Which katana is this? I've never heard of Tenseiryū! You're right—it's not a canon katana! It's just one of the many extraordinary swords created by the legendary smith, Shimotsuki Kozaburō., and before you say the author randomly gave a sword to him, don't worry, it will have a story of its own.
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