The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden veil over Shimotsuki Village.
Jin and Kuina sat side by side beneath the dojo's courtyard tree, the air filled with the distant sound of cicadas and the faint clang of wooden swords. But in this quiet corner, the only sound was Jin's voice.
"…so then I split the bastard's blade in half and told him to pick a new hobby. His crew fled before the second swing."
Kuina's eyes sparkled, lips tugging at a rare, honest smile. "You really did all that?"
"Every bit," Jin replied, reclining with hands behind his head. "East Blue's full of loudmouths with no backbone. I got rich off bounty-hunting mountain bandits. Easy money."
"You didn't fight pirates?"
"Too rare. Most of them are either hiding or too far from shore. Bandits were quicker cash." He smirked. "Not that you care about that. What about you? Any progress on that blade of yours?"
Kuina puffed her cheeks ever so slightly — a tell-tale sign she was proud but trying not to show it. "I've beaten everyone at the dojo. Including the visiting swordsmen from Loguetown."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Everyone?"
"Except my father," she admitted quietly.
Jin grinned. "That man's got iron bones. But the fact you're that close already... damn, you're dangerous."
They shared a brief moment of silence, the kind that came only when words weren't enough. Then, Jin stood, brushing off his pants.
"I'm not staying long," he said simply.
Kuina's smile faded.
"I came back to see you, but I can't stay stuck here. I've got to keep moving. There's more out there—stronger fighters, bigger storms, a world that doesn't wait."
Kuina looked down, gripping the hem of her sleeve. She knew this already. Jin was a storm. A wanderer. Shimotsuki could never hold him.
"…I figured," she said, her voice flat, returning to her usual calm.
Jin chuckled, stepping forward and poking her forehead lightly. "Don't look so cold. I didn't say I was going alone."
Her head jerked up, eyes wide.
"You want to come?" he asked. "With me. Out there. Train together. Fight real battles. Climb the peak of the sword."
Kuina blinked.
"…You're not joking?"
"Do I look like the joking type?"
She stared for a moment longer before a fire lit behind her eyes. "You mean it? You'll take me?"
Jin smirked. "I've never lied to you."
The answer hit her harder than any sword. She looked like she might explode from joy, but then hesitated.
"…Father won't let me."
Jin's eyes narrowed, but his grin never faded.
"I'll handle Koshiro."
Kuina folded her arms, trying to hide her excitement with an exaggerated huff. "If you screw this up, I'll never forgive you."
Jin laughed. "Then I better not screw up."
Kuma had been listening the entire time from the shade of a nearby tree, head resting on his paws, ears twitching with every word.
As soon as he heard "we're leaving," he sat upright like a thunderclap.
"Wait—wait—wait!" he bellowed, lumbering over. "You're leaving again?! Both of you?! What the hell am I supposed to do? I've already conquered this whole island! I want to see the sea too!"
Before Jin could answer, Kuina stepped in with a smirk.
"Of course you're coming, dummy. You're my underling. Where I go, you go."
Kuma froze, then burst into a giddy grin. "I'M YOUR UNDERLING?! YES! I KNEW IT!"
Jin snorted. "You're whipped."
Kuma didn't care. "Damn right I am!"
The three of them stood there under the falling sunlight — one swordsman, one future blade queen, and one massive, battle-hardened bear — each with their own dream of the horizon.
Nightfall – Slope Below Isshin Dojo
The village lay quiet, bathed in moonlight. Crickets sang softly from the forest's edge.
Jin stood at the base of the dojo's hill, hands in his pockets, looking up toward the lantern-lit hall where Kuina had just disappeared.
"She'll be waiting," he murmured. "That alone is reason enough to keep walking forward."
Then, without turning his head: "You've been watching me long enough. We might as well talk, Koshiro-san."
A breeze blew through the night.
And in the next moment, a figure stepped into view — not from shadow, but from the wind itself.
Tall, calm, and cloaked in moonlight, stood Koshiro — spectacles reflecting starlight, hair tied back in a loose tail, the air around him humming with the silence of control.
"You've sharpened your Observation Haki to that level already?" Koshiro asked, his voice smooth and even. "Are you truly only eleven?"
Jin turned to face him fully. "You already know the answer."
Koshiro gave a small smile. "I've seen monsters. But you're something else."
"Likewise. You've watched from afar, haven't you?" Jin said, eyes narrowed. "Even if we've never met formally, I know you've had eyes on me for years. As a father… I can't blame you."
Koshiro nodded once. "She is my daughter."
"And you're a damn good father," Jin added, sincerely. "You gave her foundation. Belief. I only gave her a way to dream bigger."
"That dream now leads her away from here," Koshiro said.
Jin didn't flinch. "It always would've. She was never meant to be caged."
The air between them shifted. Something unspoken passed between swordsman and swordsman — not hostility, but weight.
"I know why you're here," Koshiro said. "You want to take her with you."
"I do."
"And you think I'll let you?"
Jin's lips curled. "I think you'll try to test me. And I think I'll pass."
Their eyes locked — two warriors measuring one another in silence.
Then Koshiro's glasses flashed.
"I won't hand her over to just anyone."
"You won't need to," Jin said calmly. "You'll hand her over to someone who can carve open the sea and shield her from gods and monsters alike."
Koshiro was quiet.
Then, with a chuckle, he stepped back.
"We'll see," he said. "If you want to take her… then earn it. Come to me when the time is right. If your blade is worthy, she's yours to guide."
Jin bowed slightly. "I'll be back soon, Koshiro-san. Don't blink."
And with that, he turned and walked off into the night, the wind parting gently around him.
Koshiro stood alone beneath the stars, his gaze lingering on the boy's fading silhouette.
"…The world's not ready for you," he muttered, almost with a hint of pride
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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