East Blue, Loguetown Port
The sea breeze, carrying a salty scent, swept across the pier. The sound of the waves and the cries of the seagulls intertwined into a lively background noise. A 13-year-old Kuina stood at the port, her brow furrowed, one hand on her hip, the other tightly gripping the famous sword that symbolized her father's expectations—Wado Ichimonji. Her gaze was constantly alert, her entire being exuding a calm presence far beyond her years.
And behind her, an 11-year-old Roronoa Zoro was clutching his stomach, his face wrinkled in annoyance as he followed. "Hey, Kuina, I have to go to the bathroom."
"Huh?!" Kuina turned and glared at him. "We just got to Loguetown and you're already causing trouble! Mr. Roy told us to find Captain Smoker as soon as possible. We don't have time to wait for you."
"A man's got to do what a man's got to do," Zoro said righteously. "Besides, I'm not like you. I can't hold it for that long."
"You—!" A vein popped on Kuina's forehead, but she finally gritted her teeth and waved her hand. "Hurry up and come back! If you dare to get lost, I'll cut you down."
"Tch, who gets lost these days..." Zoro pursed his lips and turned to walk towards the public restroom next to the port.
Ten minutes later, in a strange alley in Loguetown
Zoro stood in the middle of a strange street, looking left and right. "...Where is this?"
"Is this the way I came from?" He looked left and right, not recognizing any of the houses in front of him. "I remember the bathroom was... on the left? No, it seems to be on the right..."
"Whatever, I'll just walk around and see."
And so, he wandered aimlessly, turning and twisting, and ended up getting even more lost. When he turned a corner, he inadvertently glanced at a slightly old sign: [Ipponmatsu's Weapon Shop]
"A weapon shop?" His eyes lit up, and he immediately pushed the door open. "Jingle—" A crisp bell rang. The shop was simply but formidably furnished, with various swords and blades on wooden shelves. The air had a faint smell of rust, and a few customers were looking at the swords. A shop owner with a pipe in his mouth was sitting behind the counter, concentrating on wiping a sword. Hearing the noise, he glanced up. Seeing it was a green-haired kid, he immediately lost interest. "Kid, I don't sell toy swords here."
Zoro ignored his coldness, his eyes sweeping over all the sword racks. Finally, his gaze landed on a pile of dusty "scrap iron swords" that had been carelessly piled in a corner. He walked over, his fingers fumbling around in it, and suddenly pulled out a katana that was entirely dark red, its blade pattern like the tearing claws of a demon.
The shop owner, Ipponmatsu, his face changed drastically, the pipe almost falling from his mouth. "Hey! Kid, don't touch that sword! It's a cursed sword! It's already killed several swordsmen!"
But Zoro gripped the hilt, his eyes burning with a fiery heat. "I want it."
"Are you crazy?!" Ipponmatsu was anxious and was about to rush out from behind the counter. "That sword's killing intent is too strong. It's common for it to kill its owner! Using it is suicide!"
Zoro grinned, the cursed sword in his hand, its body dark red, its blade ferocious, giving off a dark light. "Then let me see, which is stronger, its curse, or my life."
As he spoke, he suddenly threw Kitetsu into the air. The blade spun in the air, drawing a sharp silver arc, its cold light like a beast baring its fangs.
"Hey! Are you crazy, kid—!" Ipponmatsu shouted, but it was already too late.
The shop fell into a dead silence. Everyone held their breath, watching the cursed sword spin in the air, its cold light glinting. The sword spun in the air, the tip of the blade glinting coldly, carrying the scent of death as it fell rapidly.
There was not a trace of fear on Zoro's face. Instead, he held his left arm out in the air, closed his eyes, and did not dodge.
"Swish—!"
The blade fell like thunder, bringing with it a sharp gust of wind. Just as the tip was about to touch his skin, the cursed sword strangely deviated its trajectory, bypassing Zoro's arm—
"CLANG!!!"
Sandai Kitetsu plunged heavily into the wooden floor, the blade almost completely submerged, only the hilt trembling slightly.
Ipponmatsu's eyes widened, the pipe falling from his mouth with a "clack." The other customers were also dumbfounded, not daring to make a sound. Only Zoro slowly opened his eyes, looked down at the cursed sword deeply embedded in the floor, and a wild smile appeared on his lips. "It seems I won."
Ipponmatsu was silent for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing, "Wahahaha!" He walked over and threw an arm around Zoro's shoulder. "Kid, what's your name?"
"Roronoa Zoro."
"Good name!" Ipponmatsu slapped the counter and said cheerfully, "Just for that courage of yours, this Sandai Kitetsu, I'm giving it to you." He then turned and walked into the back room, and a moment later, carefully brought out another sword. It was a katana that was entirely silver-white, its scabbard carved with a flowing cloud pattern, its blade long, thin, and tough, as if it contained the soul of snow.
"And this—'Yubashiri,' it's the best sword in my shop. I'm giving it to you too."
"You're giving me this one too? Why?" Zoro was a little surprised.
Ipponmatsu grinned. "Because I feel like it! A swordsman like you deserves a good sword."
"I've been running this weapon shop all my life, and this is the first time I've seen a kid who can face down Sandai Kitetsu."
"Maybe one day, you really can become the world's number one swordsman."
Zoro took "Yubashiri" and immediately felt the warmth and pressure from the sword, a stark contrast to the ferocity of "Sandai Kitetsu." The two swords crossed at his waist, one black and one red, like the twin wings of fate.
"Thanks, boss," his tone was simple but steady and powerful. He turned to leave, the sunlight just happening to fall on his shoulder, making the two swords glint with a cold metallic light.
At this time, from the other end of the street, "ZO—RO—!!!" an angry voice roared like thunder. Kuina was holding Wado Ichimonji, running around at the intersection, a vein popping on her forehead. "You can disappear for an hour just to go to the bathroom?! Do you want me to really cut you down?!"
At the corner of the street, Zoro, who had just walked out, heard the familiar roar, and his shoulders trembled, cold sweat instantly breaking out. "Oh no..."
"It's over, it's over. Kuina's going to kill me..." He touched the two new swords at his waist, a confident smile on his lips. "But... it was worth it."
Loguetown, Marine Branch Office
Smoker sat behind a large desk, two thick cigars in his mouth at the same time, thick white smoke swirling around his resolute face. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the two little kids standing in front of him: a polite, sword-wielding girl, and a... bruised green moss-head?
"You must be Kuina and Zoro, right?" his voice was low and hoarse. "That guy Roy told me about you."
Kuina stood straight and nodded respectfully. "Yes, Captain Smoker. Mr. Roy said you would arrange for a warship to take us to Marineford."
Smoker snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Zoro. "What's with this kid?"
Zoro clutched his swollen cheek, his mouth twitching slightly. He didn't dare to make a sound. "Damn it... Kuina hits too hard."
Kuina's expression didn't change, her tone calm. "He got lost for forty minutes and delayed the plan, so I 'educated' him a little."
"'A little'?!" Zoro's face turned green. "You almost buried my head in the floor!"
Smoker raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on his lips. "Heh, the kid has a temper." He stood up, put on his coat with the word "Justice" on the back, and casually picked up the jitte on the table. "You're in luck. I was just about to go back to Marineford for a report." He said, his words muffled by the cigar in his mouth, "Come with me. The warship is ready."
The warship set sail, kicking up white waves. The wind howled. Zoro was趴 on the ship's rail, a bruise still on his mouth, rubbing his face with an annoyed expression. "Hey, Kuina, you hit way too hard."
Kuina was holding Wado Ichimonji and glanced at him coldly. "Who told you to get lost again? And to go to a weapon shop?"
"I just went to the bathroom and happened to pass by a weapon shop."
"Happened to pass by?" Kuina raised an eyebrow.
Zoro righteously patted "Sandai Kitetsu" and "Yubashiri" at his waist, a proud smile on his lips. "This is called a harvest! What do you know? Fate threw good swords into my arms. How could I not take them?"
Kuina sneered. "Next time you dare to run off, I'll chop you and your 'good luck' into eight pieces."
Zoro shrank his neck and muttered under his breath, "Violent woman..."
Smoker stood high on the bridge, looked back at the bickering pair, took a deep drag from his cigar, and let out a ring of smoke.
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