The improvised boat of the three companions cut through the waves toward Orange Town. The sun was already beginning its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet. The sea breeze still carried the weight of recent events, and a relative calm floated in the air.
Nami sat at the back of the boat, next to Koby. Wrapped in a blanket Luffy had given her, she stared absently at the horizon. Her body was exhausted, her mind reeling from what had happened. Yet there was a strange serenity in her posture. Perhaps it was the shock, or simply the presence of those who had saved her.
Koby, for his part, was deep in thought. He stared at the water slipping past the hull, his gaze distant, absorbed in a cold, methodical analysis of his situation. He wasn't naive: his lack of knowledge about this world would be a long-term problem. Even if he possessed strength no ordinary man could rival, he knew it wouldn't be enough. He needed to understand the rules of this world, its stakes—and most importantly… how far he could go.
"You're thinking again," said Zoro, sitting not far off, arms crossed, his usual bored expression on his face.
Koby looked up at him. He knew Zoro wasn't the kind of man to speak without purpose.
"I'm thinking about my strength," he replied simply.
"And what conclusion did you reach?"
Koby let out a slight sigh. "It's not enough," he said, glancing down at his hand.
He had no illusions: his current strength, though respectable, didn't make him the strongest man alive. He had faced dangerous opponents, but he had never been truly tested against someone of Zoro's caliber. One day, that would happen. And he needed to be ready.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, amused. "Not enough, huh? Yet you managed to sneak onto a pirate ship, take out several guys, and save that girl without a scratch. That's not bad."
Koby shook his head and looked Zoro straight in the eye.
"Zoro, if you and I had to fight to the death right now—who would win?"
Zoro didn't answer immediately. His gaze sharpened, analyzing Koby with newfound focus. This wasn't just idle talk anymore. Koby had asked a real warrior's question—a question that left no room for jokes.
For a moment, silence settled between them, broken only by the soft sloshing of waves against the boat's hull. Nami gave Koby a discreet glance, intrigued. She didn't know this boy well yet, but one thing was certain—he didn't speak lightly.
Finally, Zoro closed his eyes and exhaled sharply before replying in a serious tone:
"I don't know."
Luffy turned his head, surprised by the swordsman's answer. Koby, however, didn't flinch.
Zoro opened his eyes again and locked gazes with Koby. "Honestly, I've never seen you go all out. And you don't really know what I'm capable of either. So how could we possibly know who'd win?"
Koby nodded slowly. He had expected that kind of answer, but hearing Zoro admit it gave him a strange sense of satisfaction. It wasn't arrogance, nor vanity—just mutual recognition between two fighters who knew they hadn't yet revealed the full extent of their power.
"That's exactly my point. My strength might seem enough for now, but it's not. I haven't yet faced a truly dangerous opponent—and I don't think you have either. Your dream is to face the world's greatest swordsman. If you had to fight him now… would you be confident enough to say you'd win?"
Zoro placed a hand on one of his swords, his fingers brushing the worn hilt. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. He glanced briefly at Luffy, who remained seemingly unbothered by the tension, then looked back at Koby.
"Honestly? No," he admitted. "I know I'm not ready yet. Realizing that—that's already half the journey."
Koby nodded in agreement. There was no misplaced pride or false humility in Zoro's words. Just a clear-eyed acknowledgment that they had not yet been pushed to their limits, nor tested by the harshest of foes. It was both frustrating—and motivating.
"But even so," the swordsman continued, "if I had the chance to fight him now, I wouldn't back down. If I did, it would feel like everything I've done up to this point was meaningless."
Zoro stared into the horizon for a moment, as if searching in the line of waves for the silhouette of the fabled swordsman he hoped to face someday. His gaze hardened, becoming more determined.
"So I won't back down," he said again, voice slightly lower. "Even if I lose. Even if it costs me my life. That would still be better than living with the regret of never trying."
A slight silence followed. The lapping of the waves against the boat, the steady breath of the wind—all of it stood in contrast to the gravity of their words. Sitting slightly apart, Nami listened discreetly. These men didn't speak for nothing; every word was weighed, and she could sense the quiet resolve in both of them.
Koby turned his eyes to the undulating surface of the sea.
"I want to keep growing stronger. Only strength allows us to stay good. When you're weak, you have no choice—you suffer cruelty, you bow to violence and injustice. But when you're strong… you can choose. Choose to help, to protect… to be kind, plain and simple."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink into the salty air.
"That's what I want: to be strong enough to never have to close my eyes or bow my head to cruelty. I want kindness to not be a luxury—but a choice I can make freely. I want to become the kindest man in the world."
At those words, the boat seemed to fall into a brief silence. To declare oneself "the kindest man in the world" could seem naive or grandiose—but deep down, it was a personal challenge. Koby had set himself a demanding course, one that required him to grow as much mentally as physically. He wanted to make sure his values would never be compromised by fear or force.
After a moment, Zoro gave a faint, amused smile.
"Sounds a bit idealistic… but if that's your path, follow it all the way. This world is harsh enough to crush anyone who doesn't cling to something."
Nami, for her part, looked at Koby with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. She knew well what it meant to be forced to submit to someone stronger. Hearing Koby say he wanted to reverse that logic through strength and kindness touched her more than she expected.
Koby nodded again, diving back into his thoughts. He saw himself aboard Alvida's ship, helpless witness to dreadful scenes. Cries for help, desperate faces… so many people abandoned to their fate, and he—too weak then—to do anything.
He knew he wasn't responsible for every life at sea. His own survival had always come first, to the point where he never saw himself as a hero. Yet he dreamed of being able to answer those calls without fearing for his own safety. The right to be kind only belonged to those who could defend themselves.
"I still lack the strength—and the conviction," he thought, clenching his fists. But there was no discouragement in him. Only a stronger resolve. As soon as he had the chance, he would begin serious training. Because to become the kindest man in the world, he needed enough strength to never look away. Not even from the strongest man alive.
The boat continued its journey across the sea. The hours that followed passed quickly, filled with occasional lighthearted conversation.
Nami slowly began to open up to the three-man crew, realizing she was truly out of danger now.
Then, as the sun reached its peak, Zoro spotted a strip of land in the distance.
"Hey guys, I think we've arrived," he said, pointing toward an island ahead.
The wind blew gently as the small crew approached Orange Town. From their boat, they could already see collapsed rooftops and partially destroyed buildings. The sight sharply contrasted with the stories or rumors Nami had once heard. Once peaceful, Orange Town had clearly been ravaged.
"Looks like there's been some serious trouble here," Zoro remarked, arms crossed, scanning the shore with his sharp gaze.
"This isn't normal," Koby murmured. "There's no one in the streets."
Luffy, standing at the bow, his straw hat billowing in the wind, wore a more serious expression than usual.
"Smells like trouble."
They docked without issue. No one was waiting for them at the harbor.