The next morning, a soft mist blanketed the entire dojo.
Luffy was still fast asleep, sprawled out on his bed.
Far from the dojo, in an open clearing, Zoro walked slowly on foot until he arrived before a solitary stone monument.
"Kuina... if it were you, what would you choose?"
Zoro sat down before Kuina's grave, leaning back on his hands as he gazed up at the faint sunlight struggling to pierce through the morning fog.
The damp air clung to his skin, making each breath feel heavy.
Gradually, Zoro felt his consciousness slipping into a strange place.
In this place, he had returned to the past, to the day before his final match with Kuina.
The duel began.
But this time, the outcome was different.
As Kuina unleashed a fierce slash, Zoro, with the composure of a seasoned swordsman, parried her blow with one sword and swung another toward her wrist.
Clang!
Kuina's sword was knocked from her hand, falling to the ground.
Zoro stared blankly at the defeated Kuina.
But Kuina simply smiled and looked at him with gentle eyes.
"Zoro, you've gotten stronger."
Zoro glanced at his own hand, then back at Kuina. In a quiet voice, he asked, "Have I… really gotten stronger?"
Kuina gave a soft smile. "You really have. But it's not enough. You need to become even stronger."
She stepped forward and tapped Zoro lightly on the forehead.
"You need to become strong enough… that even in heaven, I can still hear your voice."
"Heaven...? What are you talking about, Kuina?"
Kuina pulled her hand back, her smile tinged with sorrow.
"I have to go, Zoro."
Zoro's eyes widened in confusion. "Go? Go where?"
A strange, heavy feeling welled up inside him, like he already knew the answer, but didn't want to accept it.
Suddenly, a monster appeared behind Kuina. It had three heads, skeletal white faces, and nine mantis-like blade arms.
Kuina stood behind the creature, smiling through her tears as she waved goodbye.
"No! Kuina! Where are you going?!"
Zoro's face was drenched in tears as he reached out to grab her, desperately, futilely.
But she only grew further and further away. Zoro fell to his knees, crying out in anguish.
The beast raised one of its massive arms, blade held vertically, and brought it down.
In an instant, the world shattered. Everything split apart from where Zoro knelt, crumbling into ash.
In the pitch-black void, Zoro pounded the ground with his fists, howling in despair.
Drip… drip…
Zoro's eyes shot open.
"You're awake?"
Luffy stood over him, holding a paper umbrella, shielding them both from the rain.
"…It's raining?" Zoro rose to his feet, staring out past the edge of the umbrella. It wasn't clear if he was speaking to Luffy or himself.
Luffy stepped forward with the umbrella, his tone calm. "Yeah. Your face is soaked."
Zoro wiped the water from his face, murmuring, "Is that so…"
"Let's head back."
Actually, Luffy had come to find Zoro the moment the skies began to darken. His clothes were damp from the rain, but he knew all too well, the water on Zoro's face wasn't just from the weather.
Zoro turned to look once more at Kuina's grave, then down at his own feet.
The memory of the dream remained vivid in his mind.
"Luffy!" Zoro suddenly called out.
Luffy turned back to face him.
Zoro asked, still a little lost, "Can you… really make me stronger?"
Luffy smiled. "That's not up to me, that's up to you."
Zoro chuckled softly.
"Yeah… fair enough. So, what are we going to do next?"
"We're gonna be pirates!"
Luffy handed the umbrella to Zoro, he was too short to hold it comfortably for both of them.
Zoro hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head. After a pause, he muttered, "Pirates, huh? Doesn't matter. Even if I become a villain… I'll be the strongest one!"
He couldn't shake the strange, helpless yet familiar feeling that lingered from the dream, the image of that terrifying, world-breaking monster.
Taking the umbrella, Zoro walked back toward the dojo with Luffy.
But Luffy frowned slightly. Something was odd, Zoro had clearly made up his mind to join him, yet the system hadn't given any notification.
Is it because he hasn't officially agreed yet…?
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Inside the dojo.
Koushirou sat quietly indoors, his face serene.
He watched the silhouettes of Luffy and Zoro, one small, one tall, approaching through the rain.
"What's meant to happen will happen," Koushirou murmured with a sigh.
He had originally planned to let Zoro begin his journey once he was older, but Luffy's strength, and his invitation, had changed his mind.
As they entered the building, Luffy stepped in first. Zoro carefully closed the umbrella and set it by the door.
Luffy led the way, and Zoro followed closely behind.
Heh. This feeling… isn't bad.
"We'll leave tomorrow," Luffy said, turning to Zoro. "Take today to get everything ready."
"Tomorrow… got it."
Luffy couldn't help but appreciate Zoro's attitude.
He was still just a kid, yet able to stay grounded and composed.
Partly because of Luffy's overwhelming strength at such a young age… and partly because of Kuina's death, and the dream that had shaken Zoro to his core that morning.
They entered the main hall.
Koushirou sat formally in the center, calm and dignified.
Beside him were two cushions, three elegant teacups, and a pot of freshly brewed tea.
"Master," Zoro greeted him respectfully.
"Koushirou-sensei," Luffy bowed as well.
With his ever-gentle smile, Koushirou gestured to the cushions. "Come, sit for a while."
Luffy and Zoro took their seats across from him.
Every time Luffy saw Koushirou's smiling, squinting eyes, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease.
Smiling eyes like that… they're always the scariest.
"Zoro," Koushirou said, as if he already knew the answer, "you've made your decision, haven't you?"
Zoro's eyes locked straight ahead. "Yes, Master! I've decided to follow Luffy on his journey."
With that, he bowed deeply, slamming his forehead to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Master… but I've decided to become a pirate with Luffy."
In all these years, Zoro had called him "Master" only a handful of times. He had never bowed this formally.
Koushirou picked up a cup of tea, gently blowing away the steam. The vapor fogged his glasses, making his gaze all the more unreadable.
"A pirate, huh…" he murmured, pausing before continuing. "Zoro, always remember, whether you're a pirate, a marine, or just an ordinary man, first and foremost… you are a swordsman."
"Yes, Master. I won't forget!" Zoro didn't raise his head, his tears hadn't finished falling.
Koushirou stood and took two swords from the wall, the Wado Ichimonji and a large-grade katana.
"These were Kuina's. I believe… you'll make good use of them."
"Kuina…"
Tears still streaked Zoro's face as he looked up, at his teacher, and at the Wado Ichimonji in his hands.
"I understand," he said, taking the sword with both hands. "I'll reach the top of the world, with this blade by my side!"
Zoro drew the long katana, nearly as tall as he was, and held it carefully in his hands, savoring its weight.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Koushirou continued their conversation.
"Zoro is the most talented child I've ever trained.
I don't know how you became so strong at such a young age, but don't waste Zoro's potential.
If you do… it would've been better for him to stay here and build a solid foundation."
"Koushirou-sensei, I promise you, I have a plan.
Believe in me. I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'll shake this world to its core."
With a Mental Power energy nearing 200, even if it was less than half of Conqueror's Haki, it was already enough to astound and earn Koushirou's trust.
"…In that case, I'll entrust Zoro to you."
"You won't regret it!"
[Ding! First partner acquired. Partner System activated.]
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