The vast ocean stretched endlessly under a bright and sunny sky. White clouds drifted lazily across the blue expanse, and the cool sea breeze rippled over the calm, glistening waves.
A small sailing boat rocked gently on the water.
Perona raised a delicate hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she scanned the horizon. "Hey, hey! Are you sure we're not lost?"
"How could we be? I'm not directionally challenged," Kaguya replied lazily, lying on a deck chair with a book in her hands.
"Then why haven't we seen land for so long?!" Perona spun around, planting her hands on her hips with an accusing glare.
"Probably because the boat is small, and you're making it sink slower with your weight." Kaguya nonchalantly flipped a page. "You should consider losing a few pounds, Nana."
"I am not fat!" Perona clenched her fists, shouting angrily. "And stop calling me Nana!"
"Fine." Kaguya sat up and tossed a map onto the table. "Here, take a look for yourself."
Perona grabbed the map, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head. Her lips pressed tightly together as she clenched the edges of the parchment.
"See? No more complaints now, right? There's no way I got us lost," Kaguya said smugly.
Perona bit her lip before finally exploding, "Idiot! You're holding the map upside down!"
"…Oh."
Kaguya blinked, flipping the map back and forth. A hint of awkwardness crossed her face.
Well, maybe, possibly, perhaps… she did have it upside down.
"Ahem," Kaguya cleared her throat and said with forced calm, "This isn't my fault. The map is poorly made, the labels are unclear. Anyone could've made the same mistake."
"You're just a hopeless fool pretending otherwise!" Perona shot her a disdainful look, pressing a hand to her forehead as if nursing a headache. "Ugh, how did I end up with such a useless master?"
Kaguya scratched her head. "Hey, as my subordinate, couldn't you at least pretend you didn't notice? It'd save me a lot of embarrassment."
"Nope! Because you are an idiot! A big, dumb fool!" Perona stuck out her tongue and made a face.
"Oh, you're so dead," Kaguya growled, her pride wounded.
"Ha! You think I'm scared—AHH! A COCKROACH?! That's cheating! You're despicable!"
"Oh, calling me despicable now?"
"HELP! SOMEBODY SAVE ME!"
After a brief scuffle, Kaguya suddenly stopped in her tracks, her gaze shifting toward the distance. There, just along the horizon, a faint shadow emerged, barely visible against the shimmering water.
Land.
Perona clung to Kaguya's shoulder, peeking out from behind her. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw the distant silhouette. "Finally!"
...
Once they reached land, they found themselves in what appeared to be a small, unassuming town—or rather, a village. It was modest in size, surrounded by lush forests and rolling grasslands. Not far from the village, a few acres of farmland stretched across the land, where farmers could be seen tending to their crops.
Walking along a shaded dirt path between the fields, Kaguya took a deep breath and exhaled in satisfaction. "Compared to the disgusting stench of the sea, the fresh air of the countryside is much better."
Perona, however, was unimpressed. "Ugh, what kind of backwater place is this? So disappointing! This is all your fault! We wouldn't be stuck in this dull, dirt-covered dump if it weren't for you."
Suddenly, a dark shadow darted toward them.
Smack! A crisp slap landed directly on Perona's head.
"Oww!"
Perona yelped in pain, clutching her head. She looked up angrily and shouted, "What the hell?! Are you crazy?! Hitting people for no reason?!"
"Hmph! That's what you get for insulting this place. Consider it a lesson!"
Standing before them was a young girl with short, ear-length hair. She appeared to be around Perona's age, with a hint of youthful innocence in her features. Despite her delicate appearance, she exuded confidence and carried a wooden sword in her hand.
It was this very wooden sword that had just smacked Perona on the head.
"You little—! You wanna fight?!" Perona shouted, fuming.
"Go ahead and try," the girl smirked, crossing her arms. "Just don't start bawling when you lose."
"What did you just say?!" Perona gritted her teeth.
At that moment, a man dressed in a traditional samurai outfit, wooden sandals clacking against the ground, rushed over. He wore round glasses and had a composed demeanor. "Kuina, what are you doing? Are you causing trouble again?"
"Hmph." The girl scoffed and turned away without answering, walking off without a second glance.
"Hey! Get back here, you brat! You think you can just hit me and leave?!" Perona fumed.
Kuina?
Kaguya paused. The name sounded familiar.
Right—she was Zoro's childhood rival.
In the original story, Kuina had tragically died at a young age after falling from a staircase and suffering a fatal injury. Kaguya hadn't expected to run into her here.
If that girl was Kuina, then the dignified man standing before them was likely her father—Koshiro.
"I sincerely apologize," Koshiro said with a polite smile. "Kuina is usually well-mannered and sensible, but recently, she's been rather irritable. Please forgive her."
Kaguya nodded in understanding. Ah, mood swings—every girl had those days.
"Are you serious?! You expect me to just forget about being whacked in the head?!" Perona protested.
Anyone would be upset about being hit out of nowhere.
"I truly am sorry," Koshiro said again, bowing slightly. "It's about midday. If you don't mind, why don't you both come to my home? I'd like to properly host you as an apology."
"Sounds good to me," Kaguya agreed with a nod.
"Wait, what?! You're just going to let this go for a meal?!" Perona cried. "Hello?! I'm the one who got hit!"
Kaguya suddenly turned to Koshiro and asked, "Do you have sweet donuts and hot cocoa?"
"Of course," Koshiro replied with a warm smile. "Our town's specialty is fresh-baked donuts, and the cocoa is made from locally sourced cocoa beans. It's quite delicious."
Perona hesitated, blinking in surprise before clearing her throat. She folded her arms and huffed, "Hmph! Well, since you're being so sincere, I suppose I can consider forgiving you."
But when she caught Kaguya's amused smirk, her face turned red with embarrassment. "What are you laughing at?!"
"Nothing at all. Let's go."
"Hmph!"
...
As expected, Kuina's home turned out to be a traditional dojo. It was a large wooden building, exuding an old-fashioned charm and a serene atmosphere.
Just as they were about to enter, a panicked voice suddenly rang out.
"Sensei! A large ship—there's a huge ship approaching!"
"A large ship?"
Koshiro paused for a moment before chuckling lightly. "Ships often stop by here for supplies. There's no need to make a fuss."
"But, Master—" the young boy hesitated, clearly anxious to say more.
"There's nothing to worry about," Koshiro reassured him with a gentle smile. "If something does happen, you can come back and tell me. For now, go on—I have guests to attend to."
"Alright, Master..." The boy sighed, disappointed, before hurrying off.
Watching him leave in such a rush, Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly in thought.
Koshiro turned back toward them with his usual composed expression. "He's one of my students—hardworking, though a bit mischievous at times."
"Are large ships common here?" Kaguya suddenly asked.
"Yes, quite," Koshiro nodded. "Though our village may seem insignificant, we're close to a bay with limited ports, so ships frequently stop by to replenish their supplies."
"I see." Kaguya gave a small nod and dropped the subject.
"Now then, my esteemed guests," Koshiro said with a smile, "I've already instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal. It should be ready soon, so please be patient for a little while longer."
"Make sure there are sweet donuts and extra-sugary hot cocoa," Perona added without hesitation.
This little girl really knew how to order people around.
...
The meal Koshiro provided was surprisingly lavish. Though there was no extravagant seafood or expensive meat, the homegrown vegetables and carefully prepared dishes carried a rustic charm. Their flavors were rich and satisfying, making even Kaguya go back for seconds.
After finishing her meal, Kaguya stepped out of the room, stretching contentedly. However, a sharp smack echoed through the courtyard, catching her attention.
In the yard ahead, a young girl stood firmly before a wooden training post, striking it repeatedly with a wooden sword. Her movements were sharp, her presence focused. Though still rough in execution, her level of dedication was undeniable.
Even for a child, her diligence was admirable. Many adults would struggle to match such determination. It was no wonder she had once been hailed as a prodigy among her peers.
"Making this much noise when others are trying to rest—rather rude, don't you think?"
A calm yet teasing voice suddenly rang out.
"Who's there?!"
Kuina swiftly turned, her voice sharp as she glared in the direction of the voice.
From behind a tree emerged a silver-haired girl, stepping forward with an air of casual confidence.
Kuina stood upright, eyes narrowing. "It's you."
"That's right," Kaguya replied smoothly.
Kuina glanced at her coldly before turning to leave, uninterested in further interaction.
"Training mindlessly won't get you far. That's the most inefficient method," Kaguya said. "Balancing work and rest is the key to improving faster."
Kuina paused in her steps, then turned back, her expression indifferent. "You're an outsider. What gives you the right to lecture me? Just because you're a guest doesn't mean you can go around spewing nonsense."
"An outsider, huh?" Kaguya smirked. "In that case, how about a match?"
"A match?" Kuina scoffed. "There's no need. Don't think you can look down on me just because I'm young. You're just another arrogant fool."
"Arrogant?" Kaguya mused. "The truly arrogant one here… is you."
"What?!" Kuina's gaze hardened, locking onto Kaguya.
"If you're afraid to fight me, then forget it," Kaguya shrugged. "A person who lacks the courage to act will never achieve greatness."
Kuina turned back, her gaze cold. "You asked for this. Just so you know, I won't go easy on you just because you're a woman."
"Oh? You say that like you're not one yourself."
Kuina flinched slightly, biting her lip. Without another word, she grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and tossed it at Kaguya. "Fine. Let's do this."
Kaguya shook her head. "I won't be needing that."
"What?" Kuina scoffed. "Are you scared? If you're too afraid, you can back out now. But if you go through with this and end up crying, don't blame me for embarrassing you."
"That's not it," Kaguya said, stepping forward. "I just haven't fallen to the level where I need a wooden sword to fight a child." With that, she casually walked to a nearby tree and snapped off a small twig, no longer than a chopstick. "This should do. Though honestly, it feels like overkill. I doubt I'll find a smaller branch."
Kuina's delicate face twisted in anger. Clenching her jaw, she snapped, "Are you mocking me?!"
Kaguya smiled slightly. "Yes."
"You brought this on yourself!" Kuina seethed.
Without another word, Kuina lunged forward, gripping her wooden sword tightly as she swung down with full force.
But just as her strike was about to land—
Kaguya vanished.
Kuina's heart pounded. She skidded to a stop, eyes darting around.
"Your speed isn't bad, and your stance is solid," a calm voice whispered right behind her.
Kuina's pupils shrank. She spun around and slashed instinctively.
Clack!
The sound of wood striking wood echoed as Kuina's wooden sword met Kaguya's tiny twig.
"Your reflexes aren't terrible," Kaguya mused. "But—"
Seeing Kaguya's nonchalant expression, as if she wasn't even trying, Kuina's frustration boiled over. With a sharp breath, she pushed off the ground and charged, raising her wooden sword for another powerful slash.
Yet, before her strike could reach Kaguya, the tiny twig blocked it effortlessly.
"Still too inexperienced."
Kuina gritted her teeth, her knuckles turning white as she tightened her grip. Refusing to back down, she launched another assault.
Clack!Clack!
Wood met wood repeatedly as Kuina's attacks rained down like a relentless storm. Her strikes grew fiercer, faster, each blow leaving afterimages in the air.
But no matter how fierce her attacks became, Kaguya's twig remained an impenetrable wall. No matter how much force Kuina put behind her sword, it was effortlessly deflected every time.
"Little girl, I've let you have your turn long enough. Now, it's mine."
In the blink of an eye, Kaguya's twig shot forward, slipping past Kuina's defenses like a viper striking its prey.
Smack!
The force hit Kuina's wooden sword squarely.
A sharp pain ran through her hands, and before she could react, the wooden sword was sent flying from her grip.
Damn…! Kuina's eyes widened in shock.
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