Luffy grinned mischievously, his bck gaus glinting uhe sun. "What, tired already? You've only dowenty ps. If you want to be strong, you've got to keep going." His tone softened just a little, though his pyful smirk remained. "Besides, this is nothing. You're doing great… for now."

  Sabo gritted his teeth but found himself smiling faintly despite his exhaustion. There was something about Luffy—his energy, his fidehat made even grueling tasks like this feel almost inspiring.

  Ann slowed down to a jog, panting heavily, her blonde ponytail swaying with each step.

  "I'm dying here," She muttered dramatically.

  "No dying until we spar," Luffy teased, stepping forward. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Alright, stop!"

  Both Sabo and Ann practically colpsed onto the grass, wheezing as they tried to catch their breath.

  Uta, who had been lounging at the edge of the clearing, stood and wandered over with an amused expression. Her red and white hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her sharp eyes twinkled with i as she gazed at Luffy.

  "You really enjoy putting them through hell, don't you?" Uta said, smirking softly.

  Luffy shot her a lopsided grin. "It's not hell. It's training. They'll thank me for this when they're stronger."

  Uta tilted her head slightly, a small blush creeping up her cheeks as she watched him. Luffy had that effe people—he could say the simplest things with such charm that you couldn't help but believe him.

  "Sparring time," Luffy said suddenly, g his hands together.

  Sabo groaned but stood up, rolling his shoulders. Ann followed, albeit a little slower, shooting Luffy an accusatory look.

  "You phis all along, didn't you?" She asked, her voice half-exasperated, half-pyful.

  Luffy shrugged with an i grin. "Maybe. Now, e at me."

  Sabo stepped forward first, fists raised. His posture was sharp aermined, but there was a fire in his eyes that had been stoked by Luffy's relentless pushing. "Don't bme me if I nd a hit."

  Luffy chuckled, casually raising his gau-cd hands. "You try."

  The moment, Sabo lunged forward, throwing a swift jab aimed at Luffy's side. Luffy dodged effortlessly, stepping just out of reach, his movements fluid and trolled. Sabo didn't let up, though, pressing forward with a barrage of punches and kicks. Each attack was sharper tha, a Luffy avoided every single oh ease, his eyes calm and focused.

  "Not bad, Sabo. Yetting faster," Luffy said casually as he ducked under a kid slipped behind Sabo in one smooth motion. Before Sabo could react, Luffy tapped his back lightly with his fist, a sign that he could've ehe spar right there.

  "What the—!" Sabo turned around, wide-eyed. "How did you move that fast?"

  Luffy just grinned. "Focus on trolling your breathing and footing. If you lose bance, you're done for. Want tain?"

  Sabo nodded, his admiration for Luffy only deepening. He wasn't just strong; he was fident and trolled, exuding an effortless domihat made Sabo want to push himself even harder.

  "Alright, Ann, your turn!" Luffy called, turning to the blonde girl with a grin.

  Ann sighed dramatically, though there was a determined spark in her eyes. "Fine, but don't uimate me, Luffy."

  Luffy tilted his head, that charming smirk never leaving his face. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it."

  Ann rushed at him, her fists flying with surprising speed. Unlike Sabo, her movements were less refined but full of energy. Luffy blocked and dodged each hit, his grin widening. As she threunch at his chest, he caught her wrist mid-motion and spun her gently around, causio stumble slightly into his arms.

  "Careful," Luffy teased softly, his hands lingering for just a moment too long on her waist before he released her.

  Ann's face turned red, and she quickly stepped back, gring at him even as her heart raced.

  "You did that on purpose!" She accused, though there was no real anger in her voice.

  Luffy chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Who, me? I'm just teag you to watch your bance."

  Ann huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Behind her, Uta watched the iion with barely cealed amusement, though her gaze lingered on Luffy a little lohaended.

  Sabo, oblivious to the subtle exges, wiped the sweat from his brow. "Alright, Luffy, what's ? You said something about Ryou?"

  Luffy's expression grew more serious as he nodded. "That's right. Ryou is the advanced version of the Armament Haki that you guys learned. Now it's time to increase the iy even further... You o learn to let your power flow through your strikes without wasting energy."

  He stepped forward, holding out his hand and g his fist. A faint, invisible pressure pulsed around it.

  "Ryou is like this," Luffy expined, his voice calm but firm. "It's not just about hitting your target—it's about hitting them from the i. Watch closely."

  Luffy walked over to a thick tree trunk and, with a seemingly light tap of his fist, the tree cracked loudly down the ter, splitting parten.

  Sabo's jaw dropped.

  "That's insane," Sabo whispered, staring i the damage.

  Ann was equally stuhough she tried to py it off. "That… that's pretty cool, I guess."

  Luffy turned back to them with a smirk. "Your turn to try."

  The training tinued into the afternoon, with Luffy patiently guiding Sabo and Ann through the fuals of Ryou and improving their close-quarters bat skills.

  Every now and then, when Uta and Sabo weren't paying attention, Luffy would sneak a pyful smack to Ann's rear, earning a sharp yelp and a gre from the bck-haired cutie. But despite her protests, the blush on her cheeks gave her away every time.

  "You're impossible," She whispered angrily at one point, though her lips betrayed a tiny smile.

  Luffy just winked. "You love it."

  By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, all three of them were exhausted.

  Sabo sprawled out on the grass, staring at the sky, while Ann sat nearby, gring at Luffy half-heartedly as she rubbed her sore muscles.

  Uta approached with a small basket of fruit and water, her soft humming breaking the silence.

  "You three look like you got run over by a Sea King," Uta teased, setting the basket down. Her lic eyes lingered on Luffy for just a sed too long, admiration clear in her gaze. "You really don't go easy on them, do you?"

  Luffy stretched, flexing his toned arms with a fident grin. "What's the point of training if you don't push yourself? They'll thaer."

  Sabo groaned, still ft on his back. "I might thank you tomorrow… if I move."

  Ann shot Luffy anre, but there was no real anger behind it. "Yeah, yeah. You better hope I don't figure out a way to get back at you."

  Luffy's smirk ure mischief. "Is that a challenge? Because I like challenges."

  Ann looked ready to retort, but Uta interrupted with a soft ugh. "You're incible, Luffy."

  --- ? ? ? ---

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