Zoro remained skeptical, but Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement.
"An illusion? That sounds awesome! Let me try!" Luffy grinned, plopping down cross-legged.
"Alright then," Naruto smiled, placing a hand on Luffy's shoulder. "You go first. I'll set up a fantastic adventure for you inside the illusion."
"It's not just for fun, either. You'll be able to train and gain actual combat experience. Sounds great, right?"
"A big adventure? Count me in!" Luffy shouted, even more thrilled at the prospect.
Naruto began channeling his chakra, and a genjutsu slowly enveloped Luffy.
Luffy's eyes glazed over—and then he collapsed to the ground.
"Oi, Luffy! What happened? That genjutsu hit that hard?" Zoro exclaimed, shocked. "You just patted his shoulder and he's already out?"
It reminded Zoro of what happened back at the naval base. Naruto had only spoken a few words, and even Bellemere had followed his commands without resistance.
If this power were unleashed in real combat…
If Naruto casually released it on the battlefield, he could knock out entire enemy forces in an instant. They'd be helpless—completely vulnerable.
A technique like this wasn't just powerful—it was decisive. It could end battles before they began.
But Naruto? He was using it to train his companions.
Truthfully, if he wanted to, Naruto could head straight for the Red Line and march into Mary Geoise itself.
With just a few hand signs and a well-cast genjutsu, he could have the Celestial Dragons dancing like puppets. He could easily declare himself the "King of the World."
But that wasn't Naruto's style.
He'd come to this new world with a different purpose. He wanted to experience it—live in it.
It was like the Journey to the West. The scriptures weren't the point—the journey was.
Naruto believed in savoring the process. If he rushed to the end and claimed victory immediately… wouldn't that be boring?
So, he chose to take it slow.
He would follow Luffy and the Straw Hat crew, walk their path with them, help them overcome powerful enemies, and provide guidance and training.
That, he thought, would be much more satisfying.
"So… you can really train inside an illusion?" Zoro asked, intrigued. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."
There wasn't much to do on the ship anyway. His chakra was depleted, and he was starting to feel restless. Entering a genjutsu didn't sound so bad.
Naruto gave him a knowing smile, then snapped his fingers.
The illusion activated instantly.
"Pay attention," Naruto's voice echoed in Zoro's mind. "Everything inside will feel completely real. To heighten the immersion, I'll temporarily suppress your awareness of the real world."
"Enjoy yourself. Time inside will last about one month, but out here, only an hour will pass."
Zoro's consciousness began to blur. His thoughts dulled as the illusion took hold.
When he came to, he was standing in a fog-covered plain.
A figure emerged from the mist.
"I am the White Fang of Konoha," the man declared, gripping a blade in one hand. "Prepare to die."
Zoro's eyes narrowed, a thrill running through him.
"Oh? A swordsman? Just my kind of fight."
His sense of reality had faded. He no longer remembered where he was—or even who he was. All he knew was the blade in his hand and the opponent before him.
"A weak grip, unstable footing, slow strikes, delayed reactions…" White Fang criticized, eyes sharp as steel.
Zoro exhaled slowly.
This… was going to be fun.
"None of them fought properly."
"You still think you can compete with me? Keep dreaming."
"Let's start over—from the basics. Back to the fundamentals, Suzhen."
A flash of white light cut across the illusion, and Zoro instantly understood—he was dead.
His opponent had been Konoha's White Fang—Sakumo Hatake, the father of Kakashi. A legendary swordsman whose true strength remained shrouded in mystery due to his untimely suicide.
Still, his reputation endured.
During his prime, he single-handedly crushed a large force from Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand. Some even believed he rivaled the legendary Sannin in might.
A man like that? Facing a fledgling swordsman like Zoro?
It had been over in an instant.
Zoro's vision blurred for a while, then cleared again. The scene before him had changed.
A new figure stood in front of him, sword already drawn.
"I am Moonlight Gai. Let me test my blade—prepare yourself!"
Moonlight Gai was a minor figure from the Hidden Leaf's history. He had shown up early in Naruto's timeline and died not long after. His strength was modest at best.
Still, the moment he unleashed his signature technique, Crescent Moon Dance, Zoro found himself on the back foot.
He staggered slightly under the pressure but quickly found his rhythm. Slashes met slashes, footwork clashed, and sparks flew.
After a tense exchange and a few light injuries, Zoro emerged victorious.
"Hmph. Who's next?"
The air grew colder. Mist rolled in.
And then, from within the fog, a figure emerged. A tall man, face half-covered in bandages, massive blade slung across his back.
The Demon of the Hidden Mist—Momochi Zabuza.
His name alone had presence. His reputation—terrifying.
A man known for his silent killing technique, who once said a single blow should be enough to kill. That's why he was called Zabuza of the Demon Blade. One strike. No second chances.
Zabuza circled Zoro like a predator.
He began naming human body parts—heart, liver, spine—his voice flat, like a butcher taking orders.
Zoro couldn't see him. The Hidden Mist Jutsu clouded everything, and without the ability to sense chakra, Zoro was cut down swiftly.
Darkness.
Then—light.
Zoro revived. Still inside the illusion. Still facing Zabuza.
"I get it now… this is to train my perception—my senses," Zoro muttered as the fog thickened again.
Over and over, the cycle repeated. Death, rebirth, battle, defeat.
And outside the illusion, Naruto lounged lazily atop the fox-shaped figurehead at the ship's bow, fishing rod in hand, letting the sea breeze brush past him.
One hour had passed. He was starting to get bored, so he shifted some of his attention to his Shadow Clone stationed in Shields Town.
The clone had made decent progress—rising from a lowly laborer to a full soldier after defeating a passing pirate.
Now, the Navy Headquarters had dispatched inspectors to the town.
Naruto immediately realized what this meant—an opportunity for his clone.
Soon, Captain Morgan ("Axe-Hand" Morgan) would be removed and escorted back to headquarters. And the officer handling it?
Vice Admiral Garp.
That's the real prize.
Naruto hoped to use this chance to learn more about the Rokushiki techniques—Six Powers—and Haki through proximity to Garp.
His interest in these systems of power had only grown.
(And hey, there's always treasure to be made along the way.)
Later, at the Baratie, he'd likely run into Dracule Mihawk. That encounter would be even more useful for observing Haki in action.
Naruto smirked. Once Zoro had challenged Mihawk and taken his beating—that's when he'd make his move.
He'd test himself against the world's strongest swordsman.
"By that point," Naruto murmured, "Zoro will have gone through serious training. His combat sense will have leveled up."
"I should be able to push Mihawk a little… maybe."
He glanced over at Luffy, still lying motionless beside him.
In Zoro's illusion, Naruto had arranged battles with some of the most iconic swordmasters from the Naruto world.
Because the only way to sharpen a sword is by crossing blades with another.
Naruto never intended to teach Zoro ninja kenjutsu—it wasn't his style.
Zoro's strength came from his unique Three-Sword Style—his own creation, forged through instinct, grit, and personal growth.
So instead, Naruto crafted challenges that would refine those instincts.
Endless friction. Constant duels. Death and rebirth. Learn or fall.
It was experience—raw and brutal.
And now…
Naruto's gaze shifted once more.
"What kind of illusion… did Luffy end up in?"
...
TN:
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