Onepiece: I Am Aizen, The Strongest Admiral

At the training ground, Zephyr's words left no room for misunderstanding. Everyone present knew the stakes—graduation hung on their ability to prove themselves against him, and failure would mean watching their efforts over the past year vanish. For some, the tension was palpable, but among the students, Aizen, Sakazuki, and Polusalino stood unshaken.

Zephyr's voice cut through the murmurs. "You'll have until one this afternoon to finalize your teams and strategies. At that point, the test begins." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away. There was no room for questions; his word was law.

Aizen wasted no time. Turning to Sakazuki and Polusalino, he proposed, "Why don't we team up? The three of us together should make for an ideal combination."

Polusalino, ever nonchalant, shrugged. "Fine by me," he said lazily, as if it made no difference who his teammates were.

Sakazuki hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "I'd rather test my strength against you, but fighting by your side will give me a chance to see how far you've come." His tone betrayed his lingering competitiveness, but his practical nature won out.

As the afternoon sun reached its peak, the training ground buzzed with quiet anticipation. The elite camp students were all present, their nerves on edge. Zephyr arrived precisely on time, his commanding presence silencing the group immediately.

"The test is simple," Zephyr declared. "I'm your opponent. Your goal is to land a hit on me. A standard attack earns one point, while a strike to a vital area earns three. But if I strike you, your points will be deducted. At the end, I'll factor in everything to determine your final score and decide if you pass."

His eyes swept across the gathered students. "If your team ends up with a negative score, you fail—no exceptions."

For many, his words landed like a blow. The weight of the past year of training bore down on them. No one wanted to fail after coming this far, but Zephyr's reputation as a formidable Marine and their judge was daunting.

Among the crowd, Aizen stood calm, as did Sakazuki and Polusalino. They had no illusions about the challenge ahead, but their confidence didn't waver.

From the sidelines, a curious voice broke the tension. "Is this the first batch of elite camp students? They don't look like much."

All eyes turned toward the source of the remark. A young girl, accompanied by a woman wearing a Marine Vice Admiral's cloak, stood at the edge of the training ground. The girl's youthful arrogance was apparent in her tone, and the Vice Admiral beside her regarded the scene with quiet composure.

The Vice Admiral was none other than Tsuru, one of the Marine's most respected strategists, and the girl at her side was Ido, her step-sister. Though young, Ido's talent was undeniable. She had already reached the threshold of the elite camp and was regarded as a prodigy in her own right.

"Be careful with your words," Tsuru said gently, though her eyes carried a hint of amusement. "Some of these students might surprise you. Especially him." She nodded toward Aizen.

Ido's eyes followed Tsuru's gesture, settling on Aizen. She scrutinized him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I can't tell how strong he is," she admitted finally. "But he's certainly good-looking. The two next to him—well, they look powerful, even if they're not exactly easy on the eyes."

Tsuru chuckled softly. "It's normal that you can't sense his strength. You're not yet at the level to recognize it. Just like you can't gauge mine."

Ido's eyes widened. "He's as strong as you, Sister Tsuru? That's impossible! He's not even twenty!"

Rather than answer, Tsuru offered a teasing smile. "If you're impressed, should I arrange something between the two of you? He seems like he'd make a good match."

Ido blushed, her usual bravado faltering. "S-Sister Tsuru! Don't joke about things like that!"

Tsuru's smile didn't waver. "Who said I was joking?"

Back on the field, Zephyr's booming voice brought everyone's attention back to the test. "Enough distractions. It's time to begin."