Tashigi

Loguetown - Ipponmatsu Weapons Shop

Zoro pushed open the shop door, several newly bought swords slung over his shoulder, and was about to leave.

Just then--

"Bang--!"

"Ah!"

A figure rushed into his sturdy chest, and the person fell to the ground with a "thud" onto the wooden floor by the door.

"Hey, are you alright?!" Zoro instinctively bent down, supporting her shoulder with one hand and picking up her Glasses that had fallen to the ground with the other.

"I'm so sorry!" The girl blushed and waved her hands repeatedly. "I wasn't watching where I was going... I'm really sorry!"

She took the Glasses, quickly put them on, and looked up—

Their eyes met.

Zoro froze completely.

The girl in front of me had neat short hair, delicate features, and a hint of stubbornness and heroism in her eyes.

Especially that calm expression, which almost instantly evoked a deeply buried figure in his mind.

--That was the girl he had chased countless times during his childhood.

"Kuina?!"

Zoro blurted out instinctively, looking completely bewildered, "Didn't you go to buy supplies? Why is your hair shorter again??"

The girl paused, tilting her head, her eyes filled with confusion. "... Kuina? Who's that?"

She was about to speak again when she suddenly caught a glimpse of the sword at Zoro's waist out of the corner of her eye—

Three knives, neatly hung at an angle, their scabbards bearing mottled wear marks, clearly indicating frequent battles.

I recognized two of them at a glance, especially the Black Blade that gleamed with an eerie light!

"Wow!!"

The girl's eyes lit up instantly, completely forgetting she was still sitting on the ground. She threw herself at him, pointing excitedly at Shusui: "This... this... this is Shusui?! The legendary Black Blade?!"

"And this one is... the Sandai Kitetsu, right?!"

"Your sword combination is just too amazing!!"

Zoro stared at her as her face drew closer, his eye twitching slightly. "... Kuina, what on earth are you up to?"

The girl paused again upon hearing the name, then finally realized what she was doing. She quickly stood up, dusted off her pants, and earnestly corrected him, "My name is Tashigi, you've mistaken me for someone else!"

"... ha???"

Zoro froze, took a half step back, and looked the girl up and down.

Short, dark blue hair; a cool, aloof demeanor; stubborn eyes; and that scholarly air about him behind his Glasses—

"You're not Kuina?... But you look so much like her?!"

Tashigi, however, was completely captivated by his sword, her eyes shining. "Sir! Are you a swordsman? May I take a closer look at your sword?!"

Zoro's lips twitched. "... Didn't you just trip and fall? How come you're suddenly so energetic?"

Tashigi paused for a moment, then realized her earlier embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she hurriedly straightened herself, bowing deeply as she stood ramrod straight. "I'm so sorry, I was just too excited!"

"I am Chief Petty Officer Tashigi, Loguetown Branch Commander of the Navy. Nice to meet you!!"

Zoro frowned, his face full of complicated emotions. "Navy... and he's just a Chief Petty Officer?"

"But this personality... it's nothing like Kuina's aloof type..."

He sighed, pulled Shusui from his waist, and handed it to her. "Alright, you can look, but don't touch it."

Tashigi carefully took the sword with both hands, and the moment her palms touched the scabbard, she almost burst into tears.

"It really is Shusui...!! One of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, a legendary National Treasure- level Black Blade that was lost in Wano Country!"

"Being able to observe it up close is the happiest thing that has happened to me this year!!"

She muttered to herself, describing the blade's texture, balance, and craftsmanship, looking every bit the professional researcher.

Zoro's head was throbbing. "Were you sent by the Navy to research swords, or to fight?"

Tashigi looked up, her eyes filled with respect and excitement. "Wait... you... you're Roronoa Zoro, right?!"

"That Marine Headquarters Colonel captain who slew the Supernovas wanted criminal Marine Headquarters the Sabaody Archipelago, and is known as the most ruthless New Generation swordsman in the Headquarters?!"

Zoro scratched his head. "Ah... that kind of thing... it's nothing."

"The newspapers are all making things up."

Tashigi almost spun around on the spot. "It's you!! I... I'm so lucky! To meet you in person in my hometown--"

"Please, you absolutely must have a match with me!!"

Zoro: "... Huh??"

"I'm serious!"

She straightened her back, her eyes shining with determination. "To spar with a top swordsman is my lifelong dream!"

In front of the Ipponmatsu Weapons Shop in Loguetown

The sun was shining brightly, and the streets were bustling with activity.

Right in the small square in front of the weapon shop, a sudden sword duel was attracting a crowd of onlookers.

"Clang--!"

The Yubashiri and the Shigure collided in the air, creating a crisp, metallic echo!

Sparks flew, like tiny shooting stars streaking across the distance between them in the afternoon sunlight.

Tashigi gripped the hilt of her sword tightly with both hands, her posture steady but slightly strained, beads of sweat trickling down her forehead, her breathing a little rapid.

"So strong... Are these the elite swordsmen of the Marine Headquarters?"

She gritted her teeth and persevered, but her eyes shone with an increasingly determined light.

On the other side, Zoro held a sword in hand, his movements seemingly casual, yet so precise they were despair-inducing.

He didn't use his full strength; he simply used the Yubashiri One Sword Style to firmly suppress Tashigi's attacks.

"Good basic skills."

After speaking, he flicked his wrist, and the blade crashed down like a collapsing mountain!

"Bang!"

The powerful force pierced through the blade and instantly shattered Shigure, causing Tashigi to stagger backward, her steps slipping and nearly causing her to fall.

Zoro flicked his sword lightly, sheathing it with practiced ease, and said calmly, "Let's end it here."

Tashigi straightened up, panting, her eyes filled with excitement and respect. "You... defeated me so easily with just a sword..."

The surrounding crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Tashigi Chief Petty Officer is already very strong!

"She's amazing to be able to spar with Marine Headquarters swordsman!"

"We'll definitely win next time!!"

Clearly, Tashigi is very popular in Loguetown.

The supportive voices around her made her lower her head and smile shyly, her ears turning red.

Zoro scratched his head, looking uncomfortable. "Hey, you..."

He had barely finished speaking when a furious roar suddenly came from behind him—

"So--long--!"

"Bang!"

A sharp rap on the back of his head landed squarely!

"What are you doing?!"

Zoro turned around, clutching his head, and cried out in frustration, "What's wrong with Kuina?! She asked me to spar!! I didn't even want to agree!!"

Kuina was carrying several bags of supplies, her face full of anger. It was clear that as soon as she returned, she saw a large group of people surrounding the entrance of the weapon shop, and Zoro was fighting with them as if he were bullying a little girl!

"Don't you think your posture, when viewed from behind, looks like you're bullying someone—"

She was halfway through her sentence when she finally saw the girl standing opposite Zoro clearly—

Similar build and temperament, both with neatly cut short hair, wearing red-rimmed Glasses and naval uniforms... standing upright with serious expressions.

"..."

Kuina was stunned.

Tashigi, on the other hand, widened her eyes the moment she saw Kuina, frozen in place as if looking in a mirror.

The two locked eyes, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"This person... looks just like me..." they both murmured to themselves at the same time.

Zoro stood in the middle, looking around blankly.

Then, he slapped his forehead and blurted out:

"You two aren't twins, are you?!"

Kuina: "..."

Tashigi: "..."

The next second, the two turned their heads simultaneously and roared:

"How is that possible?!"