Tashigi's Challenge!

Loguetown Marine Branch Training Ground

Sunlight streamed onto the empty Training Ground, the sand was slightly warm, and a tense, imminent atmosphere filled the air.

Upon hearing that Tashigi had challenged "Marine Headquarters' Female Swordmaster" Kuina, the marines in the branch gathered around early on, and even the sentries by the windows peeked out to watch the excitement.

In the center of the arena, Kuina and Tashigi faced off from a distance.

One person stood calm and composed, long hair tied up, sword energy as cold as frost;

One man had a resolute gaze, Glasses reflected a sharp, cold light in the sunlight.

"Miss Tashigi is working so hard today..."

"She's usually so gentle..."

"Women can be quite cool when they get serious."

Sanji, standing on the sidelines, was beaming with excitement, his hands cupping his cheeks and his eyes shining. "They're both so beautiful! And their figures... uh... how come they look so alike?! Are they the Twin Swords Sisters?!"

A dull thud!

Sanji took a heavy punch to the head, and his head slammed into the railing in front of him.

"Shut your lecherous eyes!" Zoro frowned and withdrew his fist, his tone utterly merciless.

"Moss Head!! You want to fight?!" Sanji jumped up, roaring as he prepared to retaliate.

"Come on! Who's afraid of who?!" Zoro raised his voice and went straight to meet him.

The two immediately began to wrestle, exchanging blows and kicks without holding back, as if another street brawl had broken out next to the Training Ground.

Usopp, looking utterly dejected, held up his "tactical toolkit" and tried to break up the fight. "Hey, hey, hey! Stop fighting... Isn't this a sword-fighting arena?!"

But as soon as his small body approached, he was accidentally kicked back to his original spot, rolling three times on the sand, wailing, "I... I didn't come here to fight!!"

The marines watching were already having a blast, with some even placing bets: "I bet the Moss Head will break through first!" and "No, no, no, the curly-browed kid is definitely going to get beaten up!"

Just as the Training Ground was about to turn into a "path of Shura," a soft cough suddenly rang out:

"Cough."

Roy stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, and a soft cough, though not loud, instantly silenced the atmosphere like a stabilizing force.

The next second--

Sanji and Zoro snapped to attention as if electrocuted, their movements perfectly synchronized, their expressions serious, and they hadn't even brushed the dust off their clothes yet.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Usopp lay on the ground and silently held up a small wooden sign that read "Harmony is precious".

Roy glanced at them, a smirk playing on his lips.

"If you don't want me to give you extra training right now, then watch carefully." His tone was casual, but his gaze was menacing.

"Yes!!"

The two spoke in unison, and the room immediately fell silent, as if it were a classroom.

A faint light shone through the high walls onto the sand, and the air in the arena seemed to freeze.

Tashigi held "Shigure" in her hand, her body lowered, adopting a standard, orthodox swordsman's stance, her hair on her forehead fluttering slightly in the wind.

Her eyes were resolute as she whispered, "Senior Kuina, I hope you will give it your all!"

Kuina smiled and nodded, slowly drawing the "Wado Ichimonji". The blade reflected a cold light like the surface of water, and the sound of the wind around it trembled like music.

"Don't worry," she said calmly, yet with a hint of sharpness, "I don't like to go easy on people."

--The next second!

"Whoosh--!"

Almost the instant the words were spoken, two figures shot out simultaneously!

"Clang--!"

The first metallic clang ripped through the air, crisp yet deafening, startling the onlookers into taking a half-step back.

"Here we go!!"

Sanji and Usopp gasped in surprise, their eyes widening like saucers.

"How... how did they move?! I couldn't see anything at all!!" Usopp's lips trembled. "My eyes are practically shooting fire!"

"You're nearsighted," Sanji suddenly added, his eyes fixed on the arena.

Tashigi's swordsmanship was sharp and decisive, her movements swift as the wind, each strike accompanied by a whooshing sound as she pressed towards Kuina like a storm.

She held nothing back, showcasing her true strength as a naval elite!

Kuina, however, remained as steady as a rock; her moves were simple, but her swordplay was incredibly precise.

Each of her attacks, seemingly effortless, actually blocked the opponent's offensive perfectly;

The blade moved with such fluidity, like ripples on water, without the slightest disorder.

"Clang! Clang! Clang--!"

The two clashed repeatedly, each collision sending sparks flying and making the floor tiles tremble slightly.

Dozens of moves passed in the blink of an eye, and the Training Ground seemed to have become the center of a storm of intertwined sword energy!

Tashigi seized a fleeting opening and unleashed a powerful, semi-circular sword strike forward, attempting to force Kuina to retreat!

"Drink up--!"

Kuina's eyes narrowed, she shifted her feet, sidestepped to deflect the attack, then spun around and swept the blade downwards!

"Whoosh!"

A horizontal slash sliced through the air!

"Bang--!"

"Shigure" was thrown out of his hand, sent flying several meters, and embedded in the fence next to the Training Ground!

Amidst the rising dust, Kuina's "Wado Ichimonji" was already firmly positioned an inch in front of Tashigi's throat. The blade hadn't even touched her, yet the aura it exuded carried a killing intent as fast as lightning!

The entire room fell silent.

Tashigi's eyes widened in shock, sweat trickling down her face. She remained silent for two seconds.

Kuina slowly sheathed her sword in one fluid motion.

"Clang."

She stepped forward, reached out and helped Tashigi up from the sand, her expression gentle yet firm. "I can feel that you're practicing your swordsmanship very seriously."

"Your foundation is solid, and your pace is not off."

Tashigi was taken aback, then gritted her teeth, clenched her fist, and her eyes shone brightly. "I will try my best to catch up with you!"

Even if I lose today, one day I will win in a head-on confrontation!

Kuina smiled slightly, her eyes as clear as a spring. "Then I'll wait."

The two stood side by side, sunlight falling on their silhouettes, and the promise between the swordsmen seemed to be silently made at that moment.

Sanji, kneeling on the ground with his hands behind Training Ground head, was moved to tears. "It's so beautiful... This is... a romantic battle!!"

Zoro rolled his eyes and silently took a step to the side.

"Hey, don't cry like that next to me, it's embarrassing."

Usopp pulled out his notebook and frantically jotted down notes in his "Battle Replay Notes," his face beaming with excitement. "That was incredible! I have to record this battle; maybe it'll become a famous scene in the future!"

Roy stood on the sidelines and gave a barely perceptible nod when he saw Tashigi and Kuina finish their match.

A look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, then he turned to Usopp and Sanji not far away. "You two, why don't you show us something too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Training Ground fell silent.

Usopp froze, as if he hadn't reacted, and slowly pointed to the tip of his nose. "Me???"

Sanji's fighting spirit ignited instantly, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. "Ha, I've been waiting to hear that for a long time!"

He tossed aside his cigarette, a smirk playing on his lips, and stepped forward. "Who are our opponents?"

On the sidelines, Zoro, who had been watching the game with his arms crossed, grinned with a meaningful smile.

"Clang--!"

The three swords were drawn simultaneously, their cold light flashing, their Haki pressing down on the air.

He walked forward step by step, and said in a low voice, "I've been waiting to say those words for a long time too--"

The air suddenly became tense.

Upon seeing this, Usopp froze instantly, his face clearly showing "disaster is imminent," his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, and he frantically took two steps back while clutching his toolbox.

"Ahhh?! Wait, wait a minute! I... I haven't fastened my knee pads yet! I'm not wearing a helmet!! I just washed my hair today, I can't do strenuous exercise!!"

Sanji, however, showed no fear and instead took a step forward with heightened fighting spirit.

"Hey, Moss Head, I've been putting up with you for ages!"

Zoro snorted coldly, the tip of his sword pointing diagonally at the ground, his eyes already filled with "seriousness".

"Then let me see what you're really capable of besides being stubborn."

Roy stood at the edge of the Training Ground, watching the boys' high spirits, a slight smile playing on his lips.