Marine Headquarters – Vice Admiral Gion's Office
Knock, knock—
A light rap came from the door.
"Enter," Gion's voice called out, cool and composed, yet carrying undeniable authority.
The door opened slowly, and a grinning Roy pushed Kuina and Zoro inside.
Gion, who had been sitting at her desk reviewing documents, looked up and raised an eyebrow at the sight of the trio. "Roy? It's rare to see you have time to visit. What's this about?"
With a playful smirk, Roy pushed Kuina forward. "Hey, Sis Gion, could you help me out by taking this girl under your wing? When it comes to sword skills, she's missing a true master to guide her!"
Gion's gaze fell upon Kuina, eventually settling on the Wado Ichimonji at her hip. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she nodded.
"You must be Kuina. I've heard your performance in the training camp has been excellent."
Kuina stood up straight, her eyes firm. "Yes, Vice Admiral Gion! I want to become stronger!"
Gion gently closed the file in her hands and walked over to the young girl, looking down slightly. "Why do you want to become stronger?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Kuina blurted out, "To become the world's greatest swordsman!"
For a moment, a rare glint of admiration flashed in Gion's eyes.
"Very well," she said, her tone decisive. "Starting today, you will train with me."
"Thank you, Vice Admiral Gion!" Kuina bowed deeply, her eyes blazing with passion and respect.
Roy, standing off to the side, grinned and gave a wink. "Thanks, Sis Gion~"
Gion shot him a look but said nothing more.
After they left Gion's office, Zoro crossed his arms, looking dissatisfied. "Hey, Roy, why didn't you ask her to teach me too? I can feel she's an incredibly strong swordswoman!"
Roy ruffled his green hair with a mischievous grin. "What's the rush? I've already arranged an even harsher teacher for you!"
Zoro's eyes lit up. "Who?"
Roy gave a mysterious smile. "Follow me."
Marine Headquarters – Admiral Kizaru's Office
Kizaru was lounging comfortably on his sofa, legs crossed, sipping black tea while flipping through a magazine titled A Leisurely Guide to Fishing. He was even humming a little tune.
Knock, knock~
The sudden knock made Kizaru drawl out slowly, "Come iiiin~"
The door opened, and Roy entered with an expectant Zoro in tow.
Kizaru lifted his head, his gaze lazy, and broke into his signature lackadaisical grin. "Ooooh If it isn't the young Vice Admiral who causes the most trouble in the New World Not out fighting Kaido today? Did you come all this way to ask old me for a cup of tea?"
Roy sidled up with a grin. "Uncle, I was hoping to trouble you with a small matter~"
Hearing this, Kizaru immediately waved his hand dismissively. "Mmm You know me, I hate troublesome things"
Swish!
Roy didn't waste words. With a flick of his finger, a steaming bowl of North Blue Miso Chashu Ramen appeared on the table, its aroma filling the room.
Kizaru's eyebrow twitched as he was about to speak—
Swish!
A large bunch of the recently popular, glistening, honey-colored tropical bananas appeared next to the ramen.
Kizaru stared at the delicacies on his desk, his lips twitching slightly. "Kowai ne You really make things difficult for me"
Roy chuckled softly and, with a final flick—
Swish!
A slip of paper landed neatly next to the teacup. A few words were written on it in elegant script: [Assistance with three missions].
In an instant, Kizaru shot to his feet, his smile radiant. "Well, well, well These are just small matters! I absolutely love teaching the new generation, you know"
Zoro stood by, utterly dumbfounded.
"This... This is one of the legendary supreme powers of the Marines, Admiral Kizaru?!"
Kizaru casually picked up the bowl of miso ramen and took a bite, a slight curl at the corner of his lips. "Mmm~ This is definitely the taste of the North Blue!"
Marine Headquarters – Training Grounds
As evening approached, the setting sun cast its golden rays across the vast training grounds of Marine Headquarters.
Admiral Kizaru strolled leisurely to the center of the field, hands in his pockets. He glanced sideways at Zoro, who was standing ready, and spoke in his lazy tone, "Ooooh~ Green-haired kid. What is it you say you want to learn?"
Zoro had already taken his stance, two swords held at the ready, his eyes burning like fire.
"I want to get stronger! To become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Kizaru scratched the back of his head and yawned. "Mmm Then you've come to the wrong person. I'm not someone who relies purely on swordsmanship to get by"
Roy, standing nearby, chimed in with a laugh, "Uncle, I know all about your 'Ama no Murakumo Sword'~"
"Oh, my, my" Kizaru chuckled lazily. "You've exposed my secret"
He raised a hand, and a golden light gathered at his fingertips, slowly forming a longsword made entirely of light. The blade was slender and sharp, and though it hadn't moved, the very air around it began to ripple.
"Then I suppose I'll get just a teensy bit serious~" Kizaru's gaze was languid, but his aura changed in an instant. With a single step—
Zing!
Zoro's pupils contracted, his entire body tensing. Kizaru's figure vanished in a flash of golden light, and in the next instant, the light sword was already at Zoro's throat.
"So fast!" Zoro was stunned, a cold sweat breaking out across his brow. He didn't dare move a muscle.
Kizaru chuckled and retracted the light sword. "Speed is weight, you know~ Have you ever been slashed at the speed of light, kiddo?"
Zoro gritted his teeth. "Again!!!"
"What a troublesome kid!" Kizaru sighed. His figure blurred once more, precisely forcing Zoro back again and again. Zoro couldn't keep up with his parries, as every slash arrived like a bolt of lightning.
"Don't just chase after power. The movements of your two-sword style are too straightforward~"
"If you don't improve your physical technique and observation skills, even the strongest swordsmanship is just clumsy swinging~"
After being relentlessly pressed for dozens of moves, Zoro finally found an opening and managed to lightly graze the trail of the light sword, roaring as he counterattacked.
"I don't want to win against you now! I want to win against the 'future you'!"
Kizaru's eyes narrowed, and the corner of his mouth turned up. "My, my~ So you don't rely entirely on brute force after all!"
Meanwhile, at Gion's Dojo
Gion, dressed in a kendo uniform, had her sword, Konpira, resting quietly at her waist. Across from her, Kuina held her breath, gripping her Wado Ichimonji, her stance perfectly straight.
"The way of the sword is not merely about swinging a blade!" Gion's voice was steady, her gaze sharp. "Mind, Technique, and Body—each one must be polished to the absolute extreme!"
Kuina tightened her grip on her sword and nodded firmly. "Yes!"
"Your spirit is good, but you're too bound by the rules of your style. Your movements are too rigid!" As soon as Gion finished speaking, her Konpira was unsheathed in a flash.
Clang!!
A razor-sharp slash passed by Kuina's cheek at an impossibly fine angle, slicing off a few strands of her hair.
Kuina didn't flinch or even blink. Instead, she tightened her grip on her hilt.
Gion nodded in satisfaction. "Your courage is impressive. But from this point on, I will not hold back with a single strike!"
Kuina took her stance, the tip of her sword pointed forward, her eyes burning with a fierce fighting spirit.
"Please instruct me!!"
Konpira danced, its blade arcing like the moon. Gion's figure moved constantly around the dojo, her footwork light and her strikes swift, pushing Kuina to break her limits, inch by inch.
"Predict the position of my next attack! Don't just watch with your eyes; 'feel' it with your heart!"
Kuina gritted her teeth and persevered. With every successful parry, she improved slightly. Sweat streamed down her hair, but she never took a step back.
Dusk – Roy's Courtyard
A gentle evening breeze carried the rich aroma of barbecue across the courtyard.
Zoro, his training finished, was collapsed on the ground, soaked in sweat, his face exhausted but his eyes glittering with fighting spirit.
"That lazy old man... he's ridiculously strong!"
Roy, sitting under a tree, laughed heartily. "Don't be fooled by his demeanor. He's a genuine Marine Admiral!"
Zoro, still panting, tightened his grip on his swords. "Next time, I'll definitely land a hit on him... even if it's just one!"
Kuina, now in a fresh set of clothes, walked over, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Vice Admiral Gion is terrifying. She can see through my every move!"
"She's known as 'the female swordsman closest to the rank of Admiral,' you know," Roy added with a smile.
"I feel like what I'm learning from her is more than just swordsmanship..." Kuina looked up at the darkening sky. "It's also a sense of true resolve."
Roy smiled faintly and teleported over to the grill. "Belle-mère, is it ready yet?" he shouted, flipping the skewers. "The kids are starving!"
Belle-mère emerged with a huge platter of fragrant grilled meat. "Alright, alright! Stop shouting! I made double portions for everyone today!"
Nami and Nojiko helped by bringing out juice and bread, while a thrilled Luffy ran around the yard, handing out skewers.
Just then, Kizaru appeared out of nowhere in a corner, munching on a banana. He strolled over slowly. "Mmm After working so hard to train the kid, it wouldn't be too much to crash a barbecue, would it?"
Laughter, the smell of meat, and the lingering echo of fighting spirit filled the air. Under the setting sun, the new generation of Marines was steadily on the rise.
-------
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