Obviously, these two little girls had to possess something extraordinary.
The baby Nami was still nursing, so there was nothing to see yet—but could that girl named Nojiko be some kind of prodigy?
Lafitte pondered this quietly to himself. Tenma didn't bother sensing his thoughts, and thus remained unaware.
In truth, Tenma hadn't originally planned to come here at all. It was only after reading the news and mentally lining it up with Nami's background and the timeline that he'd made a spur-of-the-moment decision.
When it came to Nami, that greedy collector's instinct of Tenma's was definitely at work.
After all, she was one of the two goddesses of the protagonist's crew—possessing top-tier talent in navigation and highly versatile combat techniques.
Most importantly, her instinctive ability to predict the weather purely through bodily sensation was something even a ruthless overlord like Golden Lion Shiki had once dreamed of. Naturally, Tenma wasn't about to let that slip by.
In the ever-changing chaos of naval warfare, such an ability could often be decisive. The Battle of Edd War back then was the best proof.
If he could later obtain a suitable Devil Fruit for Nami, paired with her acute weather perception, he could absolutely cultivate a top-tier powerhouse.
Talented and pleasing to the eye—this was a sure win deal. Of course Tenma was happy to make the trip.
After taking Nami and her "bonus item," Nojiko, aboard, the ship continued sailing. A few days later, it arrived at the next destination—
Shimotsuki Village.
The warship docked at the shore. Tenma led everyone onto the island and headed straight for the Isshin Dojo in the village.
This dojo, built in a remote rural village, didn't rank anywhere notable in the East Blue as a whole, but it was quite well known in the surrounding area.
Standing before the gate bearing the plaque "Isshin Dojo," they could hear childish shouts of exertion coming from the courtyard.
A little girl of about four or five years old was gripping a bamboo sword, meticulously slashing at the air. Sweat trickled down her cheeks.
Hearing footsteps at the entrance, she stopped and looked over warily, then shouted toward the house,
"Father, we have guests!"
Not long after, a middle-aged man with round glasses and a gentle expression lifted the curtain and stepped out.
Tenma looked at the man and got straight to the point.
"You are Shimotsuki Kōshirō, correct? I am Tenma, the current shogun of Wano Country. You should recognize this token."
As he spoke, Tenma flipped his palm and revealed a finely crafted silver medallion.
Engraved upon it was the Shimotsuki family crest. On the front and back were carved the words "Honored Swordsmith" and "Shimotsuki Kōzaburō." It gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
Seeing this silver medallion—identical to one of his father's treasured keepsakes—the wariness in Kōshirō's eyes vanished. He hurriedly invited everyone inside.
After tea was served and formalities completed, Kōshirō finally looked at Tenma, seated in the place of honor, and voiced the doubt in his heart.
"You call yourself the shogun of Wano, but as far as I know, that position has always been inherited by the Kozuki clan."
Tenma lifted his teacup and blew away the foam.
"Wano suffered a great upheaval. Pirates invaded, and the Kozuki clan no longer had a qualified heir. I stepped in to save the country and, with the will of the people, took up the position of shogun."
He set the cup down, his tone calm.
"When you return to Wano, you'll naturally learn the full details."
Hearing this, Kōshirō already understood the man's purpose. Hesitation surfaced on his face.
Seeing this, Tenma continued,
"I don't know why you left your homeland for the East Blue back then, but your father was a national treasure of Wano—a master swordsmith. You carry Shimotsuki blood. Don't you wish to return home, to let fallen leaves return to their roots?"
Then he added casually,
"By the way, is your father not at home?"
At the mention of his father, Kōshirō's expression darkened. He sighed softly.
"My father… passed away three months ago."
Tenma was taken aback.
"Shimotsuki Kōzaburō passed away?!"
In his memory, Zoro had still seen that old man when he was young. Zoro should barely be off milk at this point—how could the old man have died several years earlier than in the original timeline?
Kōshirō didn't notice Tenma's momentary shock and spoke with quiet sorrow.
"Until his final moments, my father wished to return to our homeland. Back then, he left because his forging had reached a bottleneck. He swore to create a blade surpassing his peak before returning…"
Tenma silently lamented. He had originally hoped to bring this divine craftsman back to elevate Wano's forging standards. Now, that was no longer possible.
It seemed that until his death, Kōzaburō had still failed to forge the Supreme Grade Sword beyond the Great Grade.
"Master Kōzaburō was truly admirable. His unfulfilled wish is a great loss to Wano," Tenma said.
Then his gaze sharpened, locking onto Kōshirō.
"Setting aside your father's last wish, the real reason you hesitate to leave… is because you can't bear to part with this dojo, isn't it?"
Kōshirō nodded honestly.
'Isshin' was my father's philosophy. I don't possess his talent in swordsmithing. All I can do is pass on that philosophy through swordsmanship."
"What kind of problem is that?" Tenma laughed.
"If you want to pass on your ideals, wouldn't opening a dojo in Wano be even better? I can promise you, in the name of the shogun, that you'll have a dojo and resources a hundred times better than this."
Tenma understood perfectly well—Kōshirō's hesitation boiled down to one thing: poverty.
Living poor in the countryside for so long, he feared that returning home would leave him unable to even afford a storefront. It was that simple, and that real.
Kōshirō looked puzzled.
"I don't understand why Your Excellency is so persistent. As I said, I don't know how to forge swords."
Tenma raised two fingers.
"Two reasons. First, you are Shimotsuki Kōzaburō's son. Even if you've drifted overseas, you are still a citizen of Wano."
"Second—and most importantly—I value your swordsmanship. I am a swordsman myself. From the moment I saw you, I could sense the powerful sword intent within you."
"I want you to return not because of your father, but because of you. With a great swordsman like you teaching, the next generation of Wano's warriors will grow even stronger."
Top-tier swordsmen often shared a special resonance. Tenma wasn't just recruiting talent—he was also indulging his own desire.
In the original story, this seemingly mild-mannered dojo master could casually demonstrate the profound realm of 'cutting steel when one wishes, yet failing to cut even paper when one does not.' Fighting him would absolutely benefit Tenma.
Hearing this, Kōshirō knew that further refusal would only seem pretentious. He straightened and said solemnly,
"Since you've said this much, I have two requests."
"Speak."
"First, I wish to bring my family and disciples with me to Wano."
"No problem. As long as they're willing. There are plenty of empty rooms on the ship."
Tenma nodded. This was Shimotsuki Village after all—not everyone here was from Wano. Bringing loved ones made perfect sense.
Relief appeared on Kōshirō's face. Then he made his second request.
"Second, I wish to exchange a few moves with Shogun Tenma. Win or lose, I'll return with you."
Tenma smiled.
"That's exactly what I was hoping for."
Both swordmasters felt their hands itch. There was no faster way to improve than testing one's understanding through real combat.
The dojo's training yard was far too small for two great swordsmen.
They moved to the wilderness outside the village. As distance opened between them, the air itself seemed to solidify.
Two invisible auras surged skyward, like two massive mountains colliding in the void—the manifestation of momentum itself.
In terms of pure swordsmanship alone—excluding Haki and Devil Fruits—Kōshirō's calm, ocean-deep sword aura actually faintly suppressed Tenma's.
Truly worthy of a max-level boss hiding in the beginner village.
"Then, Shogun—please excuse my offense!"
Kōshirō slowly drew Wado Ichimonji, his eyes turning razor-sharp.
Before his words even faded, his presence exploded, crashing down on Tenma like a collapsing mountain.
Tenma dared not be careless. He drew Shidarezura in a reverse grip and slashed.
Hummm—!
With that single strike, the surrounding air was violently evacuated, forming a vacuum zone that howled straight toward his opponent.
BOOM!
The two forces detonated midair. A violent shockwave swept outward, ripping up the turf within dozens of meters and exposing bare earth.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the next instant, two afterimages vanished from where they stood. Ear-splitting sonic booms rang out.
Across the wilderness, blurred figures crossed and collided again and again. The ground shattered into spiderweb-like cracks.
The onlookers were dazzled, unable to tell who was who. All they could hear was the rapid, relentless clang of steel, like a raging storm.
"Father… is actually this strong?"
Young Kuina clutched her wooden sword, staring blankly at the battle. Though she couldn't grasp the techniques, the suffocating pressure made her realize for the first time just how terrifying her father truly was.
The exchange grew faster and faster. Neither used Armament Haki, nor Conqueror's coating. This was a pure duel of swordsmanship.
BOOM!
Another violent clash. Cyan sword light exploded outward, the gale making it impossible to open one's eyes.
Amid this high-intensity exchange, Tenma felt himself enter a strange, wondrous state.
The flow of sword momentum.
The condensation of sword qi.
The transformation of sword techniques.
Everything became crystal clear—natural, like breathing.
It felt as though a shackle had been broken. The sword in his hand was no longer a weapon, but an extension of his body.
Facing Kōshirō's tricky attacks, Tenma no longer needed to think. His body instinctively executed perfect blocks and counters.
"It seems Shogun Tenma has also stepped into that 'state,'"
Kōshirō exclaimed in admiration.
Tenma halted, savoring the sensation.
"State?"
Kōshirō sheathed his blade and explained,
"It's a condition where one's body and sword become completely one. Everything is under control. A few years ago, I entered it by chance. In that moment, I struck with a sharp blade—yet failed to harm even a sheet of thin paper."
It sounded unbelievable, but for swordsmen who had grasped the Breath of All Things, it was the supreme realm.
Tenma suddenly understood. This was exactly how he felt now—
As if Shidarezura could cleave steel if he wished, or become softer than cotton if he so desired.
"Unfortunately, I can only maintain that state briefly. Far less enduring than you," Kōshirō said enviously.
He had trained for over thirty years for a single moment of enlightenment. The young man before him, far younger than himself, possessed a talent that stirred pure jealousy.
Tenma pondered silently—and then his body slowly rose into the air.
Looking down upon the turbulent sea in the distance, he used no Haki at all. Relying solely on that profound sensation, he casually swung his sword into the void.
SHHH—!
A sword qi of unparalleled brilliance burst forth, expanding with the wind into a white arc hundreds of meters long, carrying an intent that tore at all things as it slashed toward the ocean.
RUMBLE—!!!
After a world-shaking roar, everything fell silent.
Before the stunned eyes of all present, the sea was split in two.
A bottomless chasm stretched across the surface. Walls of seawater towered on both sides, refusing to close for a long time.
One sword—the sea was severed.
Stars practically spilled from Yamato's and Maria Fang's eyes as they jumped excitedly atop a boulder.
Only Kuina gripped her wooden sword with whitening knuckles, a fire never before seen blazing in her eyes.
"The victor is clear. As expected of Wano's shogun."
Kōshirō watched Tenma descend and shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I never imagined you could even fly. I'm completely convinced."
He was honestly a little sour—superb swordsmanship and flight. How was anyone supposed to fight that?
Tenma sheathed his blade and smiled lightly.
"If you've followed the news, you should have heard the title 'Flying Admiral.' That's me."
"This battle benefited me greatly. Kōshirō, your strength surpasses my expectations. Wano needs you. The future generation of samurai—I leave them to you."
Hearing these heartfelt words, the homesickness in Kōshirō's heart still lingered, but more than that, he was moved by Tenma's reverence for the sword.
The wrinkles on his ever-gentle face seemed to relax, hope shining in his eyes.
"Since you've said this much… I find myself truly eager to see that legendary land of warriors—Wano."
A homeland that haunted his dreams.
A sacred land of dragon-slaying legends.
The ultimate sanctuary in every swordsman's heart.
Kōshirō rubbed the hilt at his waist, secretly wondering—
If he could exchange blades with Wano's finest, perhaps his long-stagnant swordsmanship might yet see a second spring.
Once he had made his decision, Kōshirō wasted no time. He returned to the dojo that held half a lifetime of memories and began preparations to depart.
Tenma and the others didn't linger. Leaving a few hands behind to help pack, they led the main group back to the colossal ship anchored at the port to wait.
There wasn't much of value—just spare clothes and a few well-maintained bamboo swords.
Kōshirō stood alone in the now-empty dojo, fingers brushing the weathered wooden doorframe, his gaze lingering on every inch of the floor, eyes full of reluctant affection.
But for the sake of pursuing a higher realm of swordsmanship—and for returning home—he took a deep breath, suppressed the ache in his heart, and turned away resolutely.
Behind him followed a determined Kuina, and a green-haired brat still sucking on his fingers.
Under the glow of the setting sun, they headed toward the sea.
The salty sea breeze blew in. Tenma stood atop a reef with his hands behind his back, waves rhythmically lapping at his clothes.
Seeing the rather sparse group behind Kōshirō, Tenma curved his lips playfully.
"So out of this entire dojo, only this single shoot is willing to follow you?"
An awkward smile crossed Kōshirō's face as he spread his hands.
"I talked myself hoarse, but the moment parents heard about going to sea, they shook their heads like rattles. In the end, I had no choice but to refund the tuition."
Then he placed a hand on the head of the two-year-old boy beside him.
"This is the orphan of a deceased old friend—Roronoa Zoro. The child's had a hard life, with no family left in the world."
"I figured leaving him behind would only lead to a dead end. So I'll bring him to Wano. If he has any aptitude, I'll teach him a bit of swordsmanship for self-defense."
"Zoro, huh…"
Tenma nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two porcelain-like children as if it were an X-ray. A glint flashed in his eyes—one only he understood.
"My instincts are rarely wrong. These two little ones will one day become incredible warriors—shaking Wano, even resounding across the entire sea."
This wasn't empty flattery. Knowing the future, Tenma was perfectly clear.
Zoro would one day become a world-shaking monster—peerless swordsmanship, and later even mastering Conqueror's Haki coating. A true emperor's right-hand man at the pinnacle of combat power.
As for Kuina—she perfectly inherited Kōshirō's sword genes. At a young age, she had already crushed Zoro over two thousand times. That talent was practically heaven-fed.
Had fate been kinder, the seat of the greatest female swordsman on the seas would certainly have belonged to her—perhaps even surpassing the current Marine Vice Admiral, Gion.
Kōshirō took Tenma's words as mere reassurance and smiled, shaking his head. The future was uncertain, after all. For now, the children merely seemed a bit sharper than average.
"Um… Shogun Tenma!"
Kuina, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly stepped forward. Her little face flushed red as she gathered all her courage.
"When we get there… may I study swordsmanship under you?"
Earlier, while chatting with the older sisters aboard the ship, Kuina had keenly picked up on something—
This Lord Tenma, revered like a god by everyone, not only possessed unfathomable strength, but often personally instructed his subordinates.
Inheriting her father's dojo was her responsibility—but at only five years old, she already showed astonishing maturity.
She understood clearly: if she wanted to go further on the path of the sword, relying solely on her father might not be enough.
The oppressive presence this man radiated made her instinctively want to draw closer—
to learn.
⭐ Want more? Read chapters early on Patreon ⭐
https://www.patreon.com/VoidInk08
Advance chapters are finished-all that's left is to unlock them.
BONUS CHAPTER SYSTEM 10 reviews → Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones → Bonus Chapter
🔥The stronger your support, the faster the story moves.