"Why choose me?" Zoro asked with genuine curiosity.
"It's simple. I see your potential clearly. I believe you can become the world's greatest swordsman, and I'm willing to give you this platform to train and achieve yourself."
Kai persuaded earnestly: "Following me, you'll witness the world's broadest landscapes and face the strongest enemies!"
Zoro's eyes grew brighter the more he listened.
No ambitious swordsman wouldn't want to venture out and see the world with their own eyes.
"I'm willing!"
Zoro couldn't wait another moment.
After all, he was an orphan. The only thing worth missing on this small island was Kuina's memory.
As long as Wado Ichimonji stayed with him, he didn't care where in the world he went.
"Then it's settled." Kai grinned with satisfaction.
Another potential seed acquired.
Excellent.
At the same time, in the courtyard, the battle between Hawkeye and Shimotsuki Koushiro had also reached its conclusion.
Hawkeye's clothing was slightly disheveled, while Shimotsuki Koushiro bore a long gash across his chest, bleeding freely but with dignity intact.
"You're not bad at all."
Hawkeye sheathed his sword and rarely offered genuine praise.
"To think East Blue could nurture a swordsman of your caliber. Truly remarkable."
"With your natural talent, spending a few years adventuring in the New World and becoming a great swordsman wouldn't be strange in the least."
Hawkeye could tell that Shimotsuki Koushiro didn't have much real combat experience. Reaching the swordsman level was purely due to exceptional talent.
Shimotsuki Koushiro sheathed his sword, clutched his wounded chest, and shook his head with quiet resolve: "I don't have that kind of ambition. This lifetime, I'll probably remain as I am."
After speaking, Shimotsuki Koushiro said no more and allowed his disciples to help him bandage his wounds.
Just as Shimotsuki Koushiro finished treating his injury, Zoro came looking for him with obvious purpose.
"Sensei, I've accepted Kai's invitation."
"What?!"
Shimotsuki Koushiro's glasses nearly flew off his face.
He looked at Zoro in complete disbelief, hoping desperately that Zoro would tell him this was just some elaborate joke.
But clearly, Zoro lacked that sense of humor entirely.
"I've decided to join the Beast Pirates."
Zoro was completely serious: "I want to see broader landscapes and face stronger enemies. Only this way can I become truly stronger!"
Shimotsuki Koushiro took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to beat some sense into Zoro.
He wasn't opposed to Zoro going to sea. Good men should indeed see more of the world.
But you can't expect to reach heaven in one step!
You haven't even left the newbie village and already want to enter the final dungeon.
"Zoro!"
Shimotsuki Koushiro's voice suddenly rose with unprecedented severity: "You understand nothing! Do you truly know what the Beast Pirates represent? Do you comprehend what kind of terrifying abyss that sea area called the 'New World' really is?!"
He decided to educate Zoro about the New World's genuine terror: "The Beast Pirates are one of the three strongest forces in the New World, opposed by the equally peak-level Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates! These three pirate crews have countless strong fighters and rampaging monsters. Any random officer could devastate the entire East Blue."
Shimotsuki Koushiro paused for emphasis: "There, Zoro, cutting mountains with one slash and splitting seas with one sword isn't empty talk, but genuine everyday reality."
Although he'd been holed up in Shimotsuki Village, he had Revolutionary Army information channels and wasn't completely cut off from world events.
Unexpectedly, Zoro became more spirited the more he listened.
"Humans can really achieve such incredible levels? I must see it with my own eyes! No, I want to reach that realm myself too!"
Sigh!
Maybe he should just beat him unconscious.
Why was this stubborn brat so impossibly headstrong?
Shimotsuki Koushiro's face darkened with frustration.
But looking at Zoro's fearless, determined eyes, after a long internal struggle, he sighed heavily.
"Zoro, I want you to understand something clearly. Once you join the Beast Pirates, you must be prepared to die at any moment. The ocean's storms are absolutely no joke."
"I understand completely, Sensei."
Zoro's gaze was crystal clear and unshakably determined as he spoke with solemn conviction: "Even if I die, I'll die on the path to becoming stronger. This is my absolute resolve!"
In that case, what more could Shimotsuki Koushiro possibly say?
Despite the throbbing pain in his chest, he slowly stood up: "Perhaps you can't fully comprehend the significance now, but this is the last thing I can teach you."
Shimotsuki Koushiro walked to a corner of the room, pulled out a solid iron rod as thick as an arm, and stood it upright on the ground.
"All things in this world have their unique breathing rhythm. When you can perceive and grasp their breathing, you can cut through absolutely anything!"
SWOOSH! A brilliant blade flash appeared like a startling glimpse.
The next second, the iron rod's upper half slowly slid down, clanging to the ground with a mirror-smooth cut surface.
"This is the realm of cutting iron."
He sheathed his sword, then found a thin, delicate white paper and gently suspended it in the air.
"A true swordsman can cut through the hardest steel, but also consciously avoid cutting a single sheet of paper."
SWOOSH! Another swift blade flash.
Zoro's eyes were glued to the blade that passed cleanly through the paper.
The thin white paper actually danced and floated in the air, following the blade's precise movement.
Finally, it fell back into Shimotsuki Koushiro's hand, completely undamaged.
"This is what defines a true swordsman."
Shimotsuki Koushiro sheathed his sword again and exhaled gently.
Looking at the completely dumbfounded Zoro, he felt the frustration in his heart dissipate considerably.
"Beyond that lies forging your own black blade."
Shimotsuki Koushiro's face showed a trace of genuine longing: "That's beyond what I can teach you. You can learn from others, like Hawkeye. His sword Yoru is a legendary black blade."
"Alright, this is absolutely all I can teach you."
Shimotsuki Koushiro slowly sat down, clutching his chest. The demonstration had aggravated his wound, making him wince in obvious pain.
"Thank you, Koushiro-sensei! I'll remember everything in my heart."
Zoro performed an extremely solemn bow of gratitude.
As Zoro stood and was about to open the door to leave, Shimotsuki Koushiro couldn't help but speak: "Stay alive, Zoro."
"Don't worry, Sensei. Before becoming the world's greatest swordsman, I absolutely won't fall."
Zoro raised Wado Ichimonji high above his head: "I'll work hard for Kuina's share too!"
At the same time, far away in the Sorbet Kingdom, at a church distant from the city...
"WAHHH!"
"Run for your lives!"
"We're going to be eaten by a vampire!"
Three little boys ran crying toward the gate in absolute terror.
A pink-haired little girl in patched overalls chased them aggressively with boundless energy.
But at the entrance, the little girl stopped.
She raised the international friendly gesture and shouted loudly: "Farewell, you annoying brats! Don't come back!"
The three boys reached the entrance and immediately changed their attitude: "Nyah nyah nyah! You can only chase us this far, Bonney!"
"You little bastards!"
Bonney got furious and tried to give them a flying kick.
But before she could fully take off, a large hand with distinctive paw pads gently caught her.
A man of unusually large build with black curly hair and black-rimmed glasses spoke in a gentle voice completely at odds with his intimidating size:
"Bonney, please don't go outside, okay?"
"Don't worry, Papa. I won't go out because I don't want to see you sad."
Bonney held Kuma's massive hand in return and said obediently.
The three boys had scattered and fled the moment Kuma appeared.
"Bonney..." Kuma hugged his well-behaved daughter and cried with deep emotion.
"Ah, you're such a crybaby."
Bonney looked disgusted but didn't push away from Kuma's protective embrace.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Kuma's wrist began ringing.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Dragon."