Chapter 26: Shimotsuki Dojo
On the open sea, the warship cut through the waves, the wind carrying the sharp tang of salt.
"Waaaaah! The ocean is huuuuge!"
Luffy was hanging over the ship's railing, his eyes sparkling, his hat knocked sideways by the wind. He was waving his arms and legs, shouting like a monkey with limitless energy.
Nami stood next to him, her arms spread wide, her short orange hair flying in the wind. "Big Bro Roy, the sea breeze feels amazing!"
Roy leaned against the mast, smiling at the two kids, his gaze soft. "You like it?"
"I loooove it!"
Luffy suddenly jumped, launching himself onto Roy's back and hooking his arms around his neck. "Roy! Where are we going?!"
Roy sighed, grabbing him and lifting him off. "We're going to meet someone who... might just become your fated right-hand man."
"What's a 'right-hand man'?" Luffy tilted his head, his eyes wide. "Can you eat it?"
Nami rolled her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and said, "You idiot! A right-hand man is a partner! Someone who'll adventure with you and fight with you!"
Luffy's eyes lit up, his grin splitting his face. "For real?! Can he fight? Will he eat meat with me? Can he—"
Roy put a hand on his head, cutting him off. "You'll see when we get there."
Near Shimotsuki Village, the sun was beginning to set.
The warship slowly came to a stop, its Marine flag snapping in the breeze.
Roy stood on the deck. "You all wait here," he ordered the sailors. "Don't approach the shore."
"Sir, yes, sir! Rear Admiral Roy!"
Luffy was hopping with excitement. "Are we gonna swim?!"
Nami shot him a look. "You moron! This is the open sea! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Luffy just scratched his head. "Shishishi~ Then I'll just swim really fast!"
Roy just shook his head and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Settle down."
"FWOOSH!"
The next second, the three of them vanished from the deck and reappeared instantly on the shores of Shimotsuki Village.
Luffy's eyes went wide as he looked around. "Whoa! So cool! Do it again, do it again!"
Nami's mouth was open, too, but she quickly tried to look unfazed, giving a small cough. "Hmph... well... I'm gonna learn how to do that, too!"
Roy chuckled and ruffled her orange hair. "I'm sure you will, Nami, as long as you study hard."
He looked up at a small path winding up a hill, where a traditional dojo was visible.
"Let's go," he said, his eyes sharp. "Target: Shimotsuki Dojo."
The three of them walked up the quiet country path.
From a distance, a sharp, unified shout broke the silence—
"He! Ha! He! Ha!"
Luffy jumped. "Whoa! Are they fighting in there?!"
Nami, hands on her hips, glared at him. "That's sword practice, you idiot!"
Roy smiled. "Sounds like they're working hard."
Finally, the wooden gates of the Shimotsuki Dojo came into view. At the entrance, a kid with a head of green hair was leaning against the wall, fast asleep, clutching a wooden sword.
Luffy pointed, laughing. "Hahaha! Roy, look! A Marimo-head is slacking off! He's even drooling!"
Roy's mouth twitched. Luffy, excited, ran right up to him. "Hey! Marimo-head! Wake up!"
"Grmbl... Kuina... just five more minutes..." the green-haired boy mumbled.
Luffy frowned and kicked his leg. "Hey, wake up!"
"Huh?!"
Seeing three strangers in front of him, Zoro shot to his feet, holding his wooden sword defensively. "Who are you?! What are you doing at our dojo?!"
Roy held up a hand. "Roronoa Zoro, right?"
Zoro blinked. "How do you know my name?"
Luffy stepped forward, grinning and holding out his hand. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! The man who's gonna be a Marine Admiral!"
Zoro stared, his eyes moving from Luffy's small arm to his hat. "A Marine? A little kid? What is this, some kind of circus?"
Nami crossed her arms, looking him up and down. "So you're the 'right-hand man' Roy-bro was talking about? You don't look like much."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Zoro instantly bristled, a vein popping on his forehead. "I'll cut you down!"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Let's fight!"
"Huh?! You too?!"
Just as Zoro was about to raise his sword, Roy put a hand on his shoulder. "Both of you, calm down."
The two kids just "hmph'd" and stepped back.
Just then, the dojo door slid open, and a young girl with short dark hair walked out, a towel in her hand.
"Zoro! You're slacking off again... huh?"
Her eyes landed on Roy, and she paused. "You're... a Marine?"
Roy smiled and nodded politely. "Pardon the intrusion. We're here to see Mr. Koushirou."
Kuina stared for a second, then quickly composed herself and bowed. "Please wait. I'll go get my father."
As she turned, she glanced at Luffy and Zoro, who were now just glaring at each other, and muttered, "What's with all the weirdos today...?"
Nami just watched them, her arms crossed. "A couple of idiots."
Inside the dojo, the scent of tea filled the air.
Koushirou sat, pouring a cup for Roy. "I never expected the Marine's 'Monster Rookie' to visit my humble dojo. This is quite an honor."
Roy took the cup, his gaze calm. "The sword style of the Shimotsuki clan is famous, even in the East Blue. I had to pay a visit."
Koushirou's eyes flashed behind his glasses, but his smile didn't waver. "The Shimotsuki clan is a thing of the past. We are just a simple country dojo."
Roy took a sip of tea. "And yet, your daughter, Kuina, has extraordinary talent. Her skill is far beyond her peers."
Koushirou's smile faded slightly. "You're too kind. But... because of her physical limitations, a girl can never become the world's greatest swordsman."
Outside, the sound of Luffy and Zoro's arguing grew louder.
"Let's fight, Marimo!"
"Who's a Marimo?! Eat this!"
"BAM! THWACK!"
Koushirou sighed. "My apologies."
Roy didn't respond. He just stared at Koushirou and suddenly asked, "Mr. Koushirou, do you believe in fate?"
"Fate?"
Roy's gaze was sharp as a blade. "For example... a girl who has trained her entire life... who dies by accidentally falling down the stairs in her own home."
Clack.
The teacup in Koushirou's hand trembled, spilling hot tea onto his hand. His gentle smile vanished, replaced by a profound, chilling seriousness.
"...How do you know that?" His voice was low, almost threatening.
Roy didn't answer directly. "Is following a so-called 'fate' really more important than your daughter's life?"
The air in the tea room was solid.
Koushirou was silent for a long time. When he finally set his cup down, his knuckles were white.
"Rear Admiral Roy, what are you trying to say?"
Roy looked him in the eye. "I want to make a deal."
"A deal?"
"Let Zoro and Kuina train under me. In the future, they will become swordsmen who change the world."
Roy paused, his voice deep. "And your daughter, Kuina... won't have to meet that tragic fate."
Koushirou's pupils shrank.
Outside, the wind rustled through the bamboo.
Finally, Koushirou let out a long sigh, as if he had aged ten years in a second. "...I need time to think."
Roy nodded. "Of course."
He stood and walked to the door, but stopped. Without turning around, he said, "Fate can be changed. But you only get one chance."
Koushirou stared at his back, silent.
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