One Piece: Heaven-Defying Talent

Shimotsuki Kozaburo took a few puffs from his pipe, hands behind his back, and said confidently, "Not much, not much—about fifty percent."

Everyone nearby looked shocked, and Cavendish exclaimed, "Senior Shimotsuki, a 50% chance is actually quite high! Supreme swords have less than a 10% success rate over thousands of years. With a 50% chance, you have a real shot at making history! Your name will be remembered by future generations, and the supreme sword you forge will amaze the world!"

Shimotsuki Kozaburo laughed at Cavendish's words. "Well said! If I can forge this supreme sword, I'll make a blade for you as well, boy!"

Delighted, Kozaburo turned to Chiba, "Chiba, how about giving me this material?"

Chiba just smiled, "Let's wait a bit longer. Senior Tenguyama Hitetsu hasn't given his answer yet. Let's see how confident he is."

Kozaburo scoffed, "Him? He'll be lucky if he's 30% confident. This material was meant for me, Shimotsuki Kozaburo."

Just then, a deep voice interrupted, "Hmph, Shimotsuki's skills are nothing compared to mine." Tenguyama Hitetsu emerged, looking assured and focused.

Chiba greeted him with a smile. "Senior, how confident are you in forging a supreme sword?"

Hitetsu folded his arms. "I'm 70% sure I can forge the supreme sword."

Kozaburo looked outraged. "That's ridiculous! A 70% success rate? You're making things up just to get your hands on this material!"

Hitetsu shot back angrily, "How dare you question my integrity, Shimotsuki! When it comes to forging, I would never lie."

Kozaburo shook his head, still skeptical. "I don't believe you. A 70% success rate seems impossible."

Hitetsu replied, "If it were any other material, I might agree. But my family has a heritage in working with rare energies. The essence of the fire phoenix within this claw can be perfectly harnessed by my unique techniques, and with my enhanced Armament and Observation Haki, I can channel the phoenix's energy to its fullest."

"Shimotsuki, you've learned a bit from me, but only the basics. True mastery requires refinement, beyond just theoretical knowledge. If you forge this material, you'll likely ruin it."

At Hitetsu's words, Kozaburo fell silent, his face clouded with frustration. He knew there was truth to what Hitetsu was saying, but he wasn't ready to admit defeat.

"This may be true," Kozaburo conceded, "but even with your higher confidence, you risk creating a cursed sword, dangerous to anyone who wields it."

"This material is meant for Rebecca. If the sword becomes a demon blade, how will she use it safely?"

"And don't forget, a 70% chance is not a guarantee. There's still a risk of creating a cursed blade that no one can wield. Putting this material in your hands would be reckless."

Cavendish quickly added, "Exactly! A 70% chance of forging a cursed sword is too risky. It would be safer with a 50% chance of creating a supreme sword that can be wielded without danger."

Vista chimed in, "Rebecca's strength will only continue to grow. She could handle the blade even if it has some demonic properties."

"So, I believe Senior Tenguyama Hitetsu should be entrusted with the material."

"The most important thing," Vista added, "is that only Senior Tenguyama Hitetsu can fully harness the fire phoenix's energy. If Senior Shimotsuki forges it, the essence of the phoenix may be lost, and we'd miss out on the blade's true potential for rebirth."

The two groups resumed their heated argument. Hina turned to Chiba, asking, "So, Ye Jun, who do you think should forge this material?"

Chiba considered for a moment, then replied, "Honestly, I think both of them could do it—and both of them might fail."

"What do you mean by that?" Hina asked, confused.

"It's simple. If Hitetsu forges it, he'll likely harness the material's power, but there's a high chance of creating a cursed blade that could overwhelm its user. And if Kozaburo takes it, he may make a stable weapon, but the essence of the fire phoenix may be lost, which would be a waste of such rare material."

Hina laughed softly, "Then why don't you forge it yourself? You'd ensure it's done right."

Chiba shook his head, smiling. "Better to let them handle it. If I take over, they'd both be upset, and I did promise them a chance to work with the best materials when I found them. I can't go back on my word."

Hina frowned, "But if you give it to Hitetsu, Kozaburo will be unhappy, and if you give it to Kozaburo, Hitetsu will be unhappy. You're in a bind either way."

Chiba grinned, "Then I'll let both of them work on it together."