After their sumptuous lunch and a brief rest, Gustave's group continued exploring Shimotsuki Village with Kuina and Zoro as their guides. Fortune smiled upon them during their woodland walk when they encountered a massive wild boar that foolishly decided to challenge their group.
The confrontation was laughably one-sided. Gustave dispatched the overconfident animal with just a few precise strikes, leaving them with an unexpected bounty.
"Well, this is certainly a stroke of luck!" Gustave grinned as he examined their prize—a hefty boar weighing well over two hundred pounds. "Dinner has literally delivered itself to our doorstep!"
With such a substantial ingredient to process properly, the group decided to return to the dojo rather than attempt field preparation.
Given the boar's size and the strong gamey odor typical of wild male pigs, Gustave opted for a whole-roast preparation. This traditional method would not only feed their expanded group but also minimize the meat's natural muskiness through long, slow cooking over aromatic wood.
As Gustave began his preparation work, Kuina positioned herself nearby, watching his every movement with intense concentration.
"Kuina," Gustave asked while trimming the meat, "why aren't you joining the others in the training yard? Zoro and Luffy are probably getting into all sorts of mischief."
The question seemed to extinguish something bright in Kuina's eyes. Her shoulders sagged slightly as she replied with obvious sadness:
"Father says that no matter how much a girl practices, she can never become truly strong. I might be able to defeat Zoro now, but once he grows up..." She trailed off, unable to finish the painful thought.
Her words carried deep frustration and resignation. When your own father—the person who should believe in you most—declares your dreams impossible, where do you turn for hope?
"So you're ready to give up?" Gustave asked gently, setting down his knife to give her his full attention.
"I... I don't know," Kuina whispered, her confusion evident.
"Tell me something, Kuina. When your father told you girls can't become strong, did you simply accept his word? Have you ever seen the world beyond this village? Because I can assure you—there are incredibly powerful women out there."
A spark of hope flickered in her eyes. "Really?"
"Absolutely," Gustave said with conviction. "For instance, Charlotte Linlin leads one of the most feared pirate crews in the world—the Big Mom Pirates. She's so formidable that even Marine Admirals would think twice about facing her alone."
He continued, "And in the Marine itself, there's Gion—known as Momousagi—who's currently being considered for Admiral rank. She's a master swordswoman whose skills are legendary throughout the Grand Line."
While Gustave wasn't entirely certain of Gion's current rank, he knew she would eventually reach that level. Sometimes hope required a small leap of faith.
"Is that really true?" Kuina's voice grew stronger, life returning to her expression.
"Would I lie to you about something so important?" Gustave smiled warmly. "If you doubt me, ask any merchant or traveler who's journeyed to the Grand Line. When you're older, you can see these remarkable women for yourself. Gender has never determined strength—only dedication and will."
He knelt to meet her eyes directly. "Kuina, girls can absolutely become powerful. Don't let anyone—even family—convince you otherwise."
"I understand now," she said firmly, bowing respectfully. "Thank you so much, Gustave-san!"
With renewed purpose, Kuina ran toward the training ground, her stride more confident than it had been in months.
"Another good deed for the day," Gustave murmured contentedly, returning to his preparation while humming a cheerful tune.
The wild boar required hours of careful attention, but by evening, the results were spectacular. The massive roast emerged from its cooking fire perfectly golden and aromatic, its gamey flavors transformed into something rich and savory.
"Perfect timing for a feast under the stars," Gustave announced as darkness settled over the village.
He dispatched Luffy and Zoro to gather their audience—one to inform Koshiro, the other to invite the dojo's live-in students. Soon, a cheerful bonfire crackled in the training yard's center, with the magnificent roast as its centerpiece.
Seven or eight young swordsmen lived full-time at the dojo, bringing their total gathering to about a dozen people. Even after processing, the roasted boar weighed over one hundred seventy pounds—far more than a normal group could consume. Fortunately, Gustave's crew possessed appetites that matched their extraordinary abilities.
"Looks like we're short on tableware," Ace observed as they distributed plates and utensils.
"I've brought everything from the kitchen," Gustave said, noting two students still empty-handed. "Perhaps we should borrow from the villagers?"
"Don't worry about it!" Kuina called out cheerfully. "There's more upstairs. I'll fetch it right away!"
Thanks to their earlier conversation, Kuina radiated energy and enthusiasm that surprised everyone who knew her recent melancholy.
"What's gotten into Kuina today?" Koshiro murmured, puzzled by his daughter's transformation. "I haven't seen her so spirited in ages."
"I spoke with her about the outside world," Gustave explained quietly. "Mentioned some of the remarkable women making their mark beyond these shores."
"Ah," Koshiro nodded with understanding—and perhaps a touch of guilt. "I see."
Their conversation was shattered by a terrified scream from the main hall, followed by the sickening sound of something heavy hitting the floor.
"KUINA!" Koshiro's anguished cry echoed as he sprinted toward the building.
Gustave's blood ran cold. He knew this scene from the stories—Kuina's tragic fall that had driven Zoro to pursue his impossible dream. But this time, he was here to change fate itself.
"TOM!" Gustave roared.
Only the cartoon cat's impossible abilities could save her at this point.
When they reached the main hall, they found Koshiro cradling his daughter's motionless form, a spreading pool of crimson stark against the wooden floor.
"Koshiro-san, let Tom examine her!" Gustave grabbed the distraught father's shoulders. "Tom is a doctor—he can help!"
"But when I found her, she wasn't breathing," Koshiro sobbed. "She was already gone when I arrived."
"NO!" Zoro's voice cracked with desperation. "Kuina can't die! She promised me today that we'd both grow stronger together!"
"There's no time for grief!" Gustave said firmly, lifting Kuina from her father's arms and placing her before Tom. "Work your magic, my friend."
Tom immediately produced a stethoscope from nowhere and began his examination. Within seconds, an entire medical kit materialized around him—tools and equipment that shouldn't exist but somehow did.
The cat began what could only be described as cartoon surgery, his movements following no medical logic but possessing an undeniable effectiveness. Minutes crawled by like hours as everyone held their breath.
Then Kuina's fingers twitched.
Her eyelids fluttered open.
"KUINA!" Koshiro and Zoro shouted simultaneously, hardly daring to believe their eyes.
"Wait," Gustave cautioned, restraining them both. "She's still very weak. Let Tom finish his work before you approach."
The two fell silent, afraid to disturb the miraculous recovery.
Tom wrapped Kuina's head in pristine bandages, then somehow produced an IV drip that he carefully inserted into her arm. As the healing fluids began flowing, Kuina's eyes closed again—but this time in peaceful sleep rather than unconsciousness.
Standing upright, Tom began an elaborate series of gestures that Gustave interpreted with growing relief.
"She's going to be fine," Gustave announced to the anxious watchers. "Tom says she needs to rest for a couple of days while the IV works, but she'll make a complete recovery."
Koshiro collapsed to his knees, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Kuina," he whispered, "I promise I'll never try to stop your dreams again. I'm so sorry, my dear daughter."
Zoro wiped his own eyes, overcome with relief and renewed determination. His greatest rival—and dearest friend—would live to challenge him another day.
As they maintained their vigil around the sleeping girl, Gustave reflected on the evening's dramatic turn. Sometimes the smallest conversations could change everything. Kuina would live to pursue her dreams, Zoro would have his eternal rival, and a father had learned to believe in his daughter's strength.
The roasted boar still waited by the bonfire, but somehow food seemed less important than the miracle they'd just witnessed. Some feasts were meant to be celebrations of life itself.