It wasn't hard to grasp what Hawkeye meant. With those techniques, Zoro could easily dominate the Grand Line.
But to Zoro, such praise wasn't nearly enough.
He wanted his name to echo across the heavens.
"You can't even cut the air yet? And as for cutting through steel—you haven't even touched that realm, have you?"
"You've got talent, no doubt. But why haven't you grasped the basics?"
"You're still too young. Train longer. Only then will the New World be ready to bear the weight of your name."
Hawkeye's words cut as sharply as his sword. Brutal. Honest.
In truth, the Straw Hat Pirates were, in a way, unlucky.
When it comes down to it, age is strength.
The older you are, the longer you've trained, the more battles you've fought, the deeper your experience.
Take Kaido—fifty-nine years old. One of the Four Emperors.
Not exactly ancient. In fact, he's in his prime. Still in peak condition, without the signs of age or injury dragging him down.
From the Rocks era to the age of Roger, Kaido has survived and thrived. His strength isn't a rumor. It's fact.
And yet, Luffy—nineteen years old—defeated him.
Bridging a forty-year gap with grit, training… and a little bit of cheat-code luck.
And what about Kaido's top brass?
King is forty-seven. Queen is fifty-six.
Both are seasoned veterans.
And yet, Zoro and Sanji—just twenty-one—defeated them head-on.
This was the new era surpassing the old. These young fighters weren't just skilled—they were monsters in human form.
The veterans of the Beasts Pirates had the edge in training, strength, and experience.
But they were leapfrogged by a new generation.
You couldn't help but feel these young pirates were cheating.
Among the Straw Hats, the three strongest fighters—Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji—were indisputable geniuses.
How else could they achieve something so absurd?
So when the genius swordsman Zoro stood before Hawkeye, the greatest swordsman in the world couldn't help but feel a flash of recognition.
Looking at Zoro was like staring at a younger version of himself.
Now in his forties, Mihawk saw in Zoro the promise of something terrifyingly great.
With time—and training—this boy could become something even he would struggle to contain.
Mihawk casually deflected another of Zoro's blows with a short sword, barely frowning.
Zoro's Lightning Release Chakra Mode had already begun to fade.
He simply didn't have the chakra reserves to maintain it for long.
Worse, the backlash had begun.
His body screamed in pain. Muscles tensed and trembled under the strain.
Power like this came at a cost.
You couldn't just flood your body with lightning and expect no consequences.
Zoro grit his teeth, chest heaving, body aching.
But Mihawk still hadn't drawn his black blade.
The humiliation stung.
Zoro glanced at Naruto. Then at Luffy.
He gritted his teeth harder, blood boiling with frustration and resolve.
Then, he did something that shocked even Naruto.
"Eight Gates… OPEN!"
Zoro had secretly mastered the Eight Gates Released Formation.
Naruto blinked, visibly stunned.
Of course, he'd said before that the Eight Gates wasn't some super-secret technique.
At its core, it was about forcefully unlocking the body's chakra pathways—stimulating the tenketsu through sheer will and precise control.
Even muscle-brained guys like Might Guy and Lee had managed to master it.
So really, it wasn't surprising that Zoro—after overhearing Naruto explaining it to Luffy—would quietly study it and pull it off.
Still, there was a key difference.
Luffy's rubber body was perfectly suited to withstand the Eight Gates' brutal strain.
Zoro? He was all flesh and blood.
"Aaaah!!"
Zoro's roar tore through the air as power surged through every muscle fiber.
He reopened Lightning Release Chakra Mode, this time with the first Gate activated.
It wasn't much—but it was enough to recharge his chakra and push his body past its limits again.
Mihawk's eyes sharpened, finally impressed.
"Interesting… You've tapped into a technique that wrings out every drop of strength from the body."
"And your eyes…" Mihawk's voice lowered, amused. "They've finally got the fire I wanted to see."
"Very well. Now you are worthy—of me drawing my sword."
Hawkeye gripped his black blade tightly, ready to engage.
"You're the challenger. Show me what you've got," he said, his gaze turning razor-sharp.
"Three-Sword Style: Secret Technique—Three Thousand Worlds!"
Zoro exploded forward with a whirlwind of slashes—his speed amplified by the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his strength enhanced by the power of the Eight Gates.
Both swordsmen struck at the same moment. In that single clash, the outcome was decided.
Hawkeye frowned. A shallow cut marred the brim of his hat.
Meanwhile, blood burst from Zoro's body, his three blades dropping to one as he stumbled.
Zoro turned, facing away from Hawkeye. He didn't need to look—he already knew.
He had lost.
Hawkeye calmly raised a hand to touch the scratch on his hat. The mark was noticeable, a testament to Zoro's potential.
"Incredible, young man. Your future is limitless. But what's this?" he asked, as Zoro slowly knelt.
"A wound on the back… is a swordsman's shame."
Those classic words fell from Zoro's lips, firm despite his failing strength.
Moved by that resolve, Hawkeye swung again.
Zoro collapsed onto the frozen ground, unconscious.
"Zoro!!" Luffy shouted, rage boiling over as he prepared to charge Hawkeye.
"Hold on. He's not dead," Naruto said, stepping in front of Luffy. "This was his choice. He faced it head-on and accepted it."
"I'll take care of him. Don't worry."
Luffy hesitated but trusted Naruto's words.
Sanji, meanwhile, stood frozen, stunned by what he had just seen.
Why would that moss-head throw himself into a fight he couldn't win? Wasn't he afraid of death?
They were clearly outmatched… and yet, he still chose to fight.
Was this what it meant to truly chase your dream?
Sanji clenched his fists as he stared at the fallen swordsman.
Could he ever have that kind of conviction?
A surge of heat stirred in his chest. He didn't have the answer—but he wanted to find it.
"What a man of character," said Zeff with admiration. "He's bound to make a name for himself across the world."
Naruto appeared beside Zoro, his palms glowing with healing chakra. Within seconds, Zoro's injuries began to mend.
Zoro blinked, groggy and confused.
"I didn't expect you to secretly learn the Eight Gates Formation. You've got some hidden talent, kid," Naruto said, grinning.
"Now it's my turn. You take a break."
"The real fight's about to begin. Keep your eyes open—and learn."
With that, Naruto tossed Zoro gently aside, then stepped forward to face Hawkeye.
...
TN:
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