Standing on the bustling docks of Shimotsuki Village, Koushirou silently observed Bardock and his crew disembarking from their massive golden ship. His mind raced as he attempted to identify them. He was absolutely certain of one thing: these individuals did not belong to any known faction within the East Blue.
Since the global news regarding the discovery of the City of Gold had broken quite some time ago, and Koushirou rarely paid close attention to world politics or treasure-hunting exploits, he didn't instantly recognize them.
However, his gaze suddenly narrowed, locking onto the distinct, black-scabbarded sword resting securely at Bardock's hip.
'That is...?!'
Koushirou unconsciously took two steps forward, his body practically moving on its own. His swordsman's instincts were screaming at him to get a closer look at that specific blade.
With his level of mastery, he didn't even need to be within arm's reach to clearly perceive the intricate details of the black sword. There was no mistaking it. That was the absolute, undisputed national treasure of Wano Country—the legendary sword once wielded by the 'Sword God', Shimotsuki Ryuma. He had studied detailed illustrations of that exact blade in his father's private journals. But... how could it possibly be here? It was supposed to be resting permanently in Ryuma's grave in Wano!
His heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and intense curiosity, Koushirou approached Bardock's group.
"Greetings. Welcome to Shimotsuki Village," Koushirou said politely, bowing slightly before looking directly into Bardock's eyes. "Excuse my abruptness, but... is the blade at your waist the Shusui, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords?"
Koushirou couldn't care less about seeming rude. He desperately needed to know why Shusui was outside of Wano, and more importantly, how it had ended up in the East Blue.
Bardock raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. "You have an incredibly sharp eye, sir. Shusui is still securely sheathed, yet you managed to identify it instantly."
Hearing the verbal confirmation, Koushirou let out a heavy sigh. "The port is entirely too public for such a sensitive discussion. If you wouldn't mind... would you be willing to continue this conversation at my humble dojo?"
This invitation aligned perfectly with Bardock's own desires, so he readily agreed.
As Koushirou led them through the village, Bardock noted the distinct architectural style. Many of the buildings heavily resembled the traditional wooden structures of Wano Country, though they were blended seamlessly with standard East Blue designs. Eventually, they arrived at a large, pristine wooden complex: the Isshin Dojo. This specific building was purely, unapologetically Wano in its aesthetic.
During the short walk, introductions were made. Upon hearing Bardock's name and looking closely at the massive golden galleon anchored in the harbor, Koushirou finally realized that he was hosting the world-famous adventurers who had discovered the Golden City. This realization instantly spawned a new theory in his mind: had Bardock's crew somehow infiltrated the isolationist Wano Country and stolen Shusui during their adventures?
Regardless of how they acquired it, Koushirou was certain of one thing: they were not here to cause trouble. They were not enemies.
Entering the spacious courtyard of the Isshin Dojo, Bardock was slightly surprised. He immediately spotted a young girl fiercely practicing her swings with a wooden bokken. It was Kuina. She was still alive. Her movements were incredibly rigid, highly disciplined, and possessed a remarkably solid foundation. Even at her young age, her raw skill was undeniably impressive.
Noticing Koushirou entering with guests, Kuina immediately halted her practice, wiped her brow, and bowed respectfully. "Father."
Koushirou smiled warmly. "Kuina, we have important guests. Please take a break from your training."
"Yes, Father," Kuina replied softly. As she stood up, her sharp eyes instantly locked onto the three swords strapped to Bardock's waist. She tilted her head curiously. "Are you a swordsman?"
"I suppose you could say that," Bardock chuckled.
Kuina frowned slightly, confused by the vague answer. "What do you mean 'you suppose'?"
"I utilize swords in combat, but I am not a 'pure' swordsman in the traditional sense," Bardock clarified. "Swordsmanship is merely one of my many combat tools, not my sole dedication."
In Bardock's eyes, someone like Dracule Mihawk was a true, pure swordsman. Bardock's own combat style was a chaotic, highly effective blend of Devil Fruit powers, Hasshoken martial arts, and Haki-infused brawling.
Kuina nodded slowly, only half-understanding. Koushirou, however, understood perfectly.
Once they were seated inside a private, quiet room within the dojo, Koushirou immediately addressed the elephant in the room. "Bardock. If my memory serves me correctly, Shusui is the sacred national treasure of Wano Country. May I ask how it came into your possession?"
Bardock decided to give him the condensed, abridged version. "It's actually tied to a massive upheaval within Wano. Have you heard of the Emperor, Kaido of the Beasts?"
Seeing Koushirou nod grimly, Bardock continued. "Kaido invaded and completely conquered Wano. Roughly a decade ago, another pirate named Gecko Moria challenged Kaido in Wano and was catastrophically defeated. Before Moria fled the country in disgrace, he managed to raid a graveyard and steal Shusui. A few months ago, I encountered Moria in the Florian Triangle, defeated him, and claimed the blade for myself."
Naturally, Bardock strategically omitted the horrific detail that Moria had also stolen the actual, physical corpse of Ryuma and turned it into a grotesque zombie. Given that Ryuma was literally Koushirou's legendary ancestor, dropping that specific bombshell might have provoked an incredibly negative, highly emotional reaction.
"So Wano has truly fallen into such a dire state?" Koushirou murmured, his expression darkening with profound sorrow. "I have heard horrifying rumors of Kaido's brutality even here in the East Blue. I can only imagine the immense suffering the citizens of Wano—and the remnants of the Shimotsuki clan—are enduring under his tyrannical rule."
"The situation is incredibly grim. I wouldn't recommend visiting anytime soon," Bardock said simply, not elaborating further.
Koushirou took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. He looked directly at the black blade. "Bardock... Shusui is the ancestral blade of my family line. I know this is an incredibly presumptuous request, given the immeasurable value of a Named Sword, let alone a Black Blade... but is there any conceivable way I could convince you to trade it back to me?"
"Oh?" Bardock raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. "What could you possibly offer in exchange for a national treasure?"
"Would another blade of the exact same grade—one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords—suffice?" Koushirou asked quietly. As he spoke, his eyes briefly flicked toward the pristine white-scabbarded sword resting near Kuina's practice gear in the hallway: the Wado Ichimonji. Theoretically, that blade was meant to be Kuina's ultimate inheritance, but reclaiming his clan's lost honor took absolute precedence.
"Not quite," Bardock shook his head slowly. "Remember, Shusui isn't just a Great Grade Sword; it's a permanently forged Black Blade. Its durability and cutting power are significantly higher. However... if you trade me that white sword, and explicitly teach me the exact, secret Wano methodology for forging a Black Blade, and teach me the advanced principles of Wano's Ryuo (Flowing Cherry Blossom Haki)... we have a deal."
Ever since Bardock had awakened Advanced Armament Haki, he had been constantly trying to permanently forge his golden staff and his swords into 'Black Weapons'. He poured oceans of Haki into them daily, but absolutely nothing happened. He had no idea if his methodology was flawed or if he was simply missing a crucial philosophical component. To avoid wasting years on a dead-end training method, he desperately needed guidance from a true master.
Furthermore, while his current mastery of Advanced Armament Haki (Internal Destruction) was incredibly strong, he felt he had hit a plateau. Learning the unique, highly refined Wano application of Ryuo might provide the crucial inspiration he needed to break through to the next level.
Koushirou didn't hesitate for a single second. "Deal."
Compared to the profound, spiritual significance of reclaiming his ancestor's legendary blade, parting with the theoretical secrets of forging a Black Blade and the techniques of Ryuo was a microscopic price to pay.
"Excellent." Bardock grinned. He decisively unbuckled Shusui and casually tossed the legendary weapon across the table.
Honestly, Bardock didn't feel deeply attached to Shusui. Wielding a Black Blade that someone else had forged felt inherently unfulfilling. He vastly preferred the idea of forging his own weapons into Black Blades through his own blood, sweat, and willpower.
Koushirou caught the blade with absolute reverence. He then stood up, walked into the hallway, and gently picked up the Wado Ichimonji. Kuina watched him with wide, misty eyes. Her heart ached fiercely at the loss of the beautiful blade, but she silently lowered her head, refusing to protest her father's decision.
Koushirou returned and formally handed the Wado Ichimonji to Bardock.
Bardock grasped the white hilt and smoothly drew the blade. He gave it a few test swings, feeling the immaculate balance and the razor-sharp edge. It was undeniably a masterpiece, entirely worthy of its rank among the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords.
With the trade finalized, Koushirou fulfilled his end of the bargain. "To forge a Black Blade..."
Koushirou spent the next hour meticulously explaining the deep, almost spiritual secrets of the Shimotsuki clan's forging process, as well as the highly nuanced application of Ryuo.
As it turned out, permanently forging a Black Blade wasn't merely a matter of blindly pumping massive quantities of Armament Haki into the steel over several years. If it were that simple, the New World would be flooded with them.
Forging a Black Blade required a state of absolute, unified combat will. The user and the blade had to become entirely synchronized during prolonged, desperate battles against overwhelming opponents. The blade essentially had to 'absorb' the user's fighting spirit and Haki during moments of absolute, life-or-death crisis. Attempting to forge a Black Blade passively during peaceful training was nearly impossible; the difficulty multiplier was astronomical.
Regarding Ryuo, Bardock realized that the fundamental principles of the Wano technique were already heavily integrated into his own mastery of Advanced Armament Haki. However, Koushirou shared several highly specific, subtle applications of 'flowing' the Haki that provided Bardock with several new, incredibly valuable tactical ideas.
With the academic discussion concluded, Bardock eagerly proposed a friendly sparring match. Koushirou, equally curious about Bardock's strength, readily agreed.
However, Koushirou politely requested they delay the match for a short while until his most promising student, Zoro, returned to the dojo. Koushirou specifically wanted the stubborn boy to witness a true, high-level clash to broaden his horizons.
So, they waited. And waited. And waited.
According to Koushirou's daily schedule, Zoro should have returned from his errands hours ago.
"With all due respect," Enel drawled, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms impatiently. "Is your so-called 'promising student' literally too stupid to find his way back to his own dojo?"
To Enel's utter bewilderment, both Koushirou and Kuina stared at him in absolute shock.
"H-How did you know?!" Kuina gasped.
"Huh?" The rest of Bardock's crew exchanged incredibly confused glances. Shimotsuki Village was incredibly small and possessed a painfully simple layout. How could anyone possibly get lost here?
"My apologies," Koushirou sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "My student... possesses an exceptionally poor sense of direction. No, 'poor' is a massive understatement. He has absolutely no sense of direction whatsoever. Even if he is actively walking directly behind someone who is guiding him, if you take your eyes off him for a single second, he will somehow manage to get completely lost."
Hearing this, the crew's curiosity instantly piqued. They all desperately wanted to meet this legendary, logic-defying idiot.
"Robin," Bardock sighed, shaking his head. "Do me a favor and use your Devil Fruit to locate him and guide him back here. Look for a kid with bright green hair."
If he sent Enel to fetch Zoro, Enel would undoubtedly find him instantly with Mantra. But the moment Enel tried to lead him back, Zoro would inevitably get lost again, infuriating Enel, which would likely result in Enel simply electrocuting the boy and dragging his unconscious body back by the ankles. To avoid a diplomatic incident, Robin's gentle approach was significantly safer.
Robin smiled, crossing her arms and activating her Flower-Flower Fruit.
A few minutes later, Robin's usually composed expression morphed into one of absolute, profound bewilderment. She looked as if she were witnessing an impossible violation of the laws of physics.
Even with Robin sprouting eyes and pointing hands explicitly on the walls directly in front of him, Zoro STILL managed to consistently turn in the exact opposite direction. At first, Robin genuinely suspected the boy was doing it on purpose just to spite her. It took several infuriating minutes of constant correction for her to fully comprehend the terrifying truth: Roronoa Zoro was a geographical anomaly. He was truly, hopelessly lost.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of agonizing micro-management, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway. With Robin's exhaustive assistance, Zoro had finally managed to return to the dojo.