The Paths of the Young Men

Loguetown Marine Branch Training Ground

"Boom--!"

The moment Zoro unleashed his three swords simultaneously, an oppressive aura that seemed to Sky Splitter swept across the Training Ground, and a sword intent as tangible as reality crushed down upon them!

Before the blade was even drawn, the wind had already shattered!

The marines watching held their breath, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, and even the air seemed to grow heavy.

"This... this is the Marine Headquarters ' 'Three-Sword Style'?" a branch soldier murmured.

Tashigi gently gripped the sword hilt, her expression slightly changing. "As expected of Zoro- senpai's sword intent..."

Kuina gently rubbed her forehead and sighed helplessly, "That guy... he's messing around again."

Sanji, however, showed no fear, his eyes burning brightly, his Blond Hair fluttering slightly in his fighting spirit.

He took a deep breath, stomped his foot, and scattered gravel everywhere!

His figure shot out like a golden thread, closing the distance in an instant, his right leg transforming into a blade that pierced the air!

"Neck Meat!"

This kick was delivered with a tricky angle and tremendous force, accompanied by a whistling sound as it went straight for Zoro's head!

"Clang--!"

Zoro didn't move; he simply raised his Right Hand, and the Sandai Kitetsu his face!

The collision of metal and bone produced a deafening roar!

"Bang!!"

Sanji's kick hit its target instantly, but it felt like he had kicked a rock covered in steel!

"Wh... what?!"

Sanji's eyes widened instantly, and his lips twitched violently. "What... is that covered on this guy's sword?!"

Zoro's lips curled into a cold smile, a faint golden glint in his eyes. "Is that all the strength you've got?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sandai Kitetsu trembled slightly.

"Bang!!"

Sanji thrown through the air as if he had been hit by a mountain, tumbling and crashing to the ground, sliding several meters away and kicking up a cloud of dust!

"Sanji!!"

Usopp was so frightened he almost dropped his slingshot and turned to run away!

"Waaaah! This isn't a battle! This is an execution!!" But the next second, he gritted his teeth and turned to draw his bow.

"I can't abandon my teammates!!"

"Special Smoke Bomb!!"

"Bang! Bang!!"

Three shots fired in quick succession! Dense smoke instantly enveloped the area in front of the Training Ground!

"Well done, long nose!!"

Sanji, enduring the excruciating pain, leaped up and, using the smoke as cover, charged out once more!

"Flank Meat!!"

His figure moved like a shadow, leaping and tumbling along the ground, aiming a powerful kick at Zoro's waist!

But--

"Whoosh--!"

Before the smoke had even cleared, Zoro's figure seemed to vanish into thin air!

"Wh... what?!"

"Wasn't this guy under a smoke screen?! How can he still see clearly...?"

"Too slow."

"Bang--!"

With a fierce sweep of the back of his blade, Sanji sent flying without even uttering a sound, crashing heavily to the ground and smashing through three wooden stakes before finally coming to a stop!

"Sanji!!"

Usopp was nearly in tears as he pulled back his slingshot. "Brother Zoro... can you calm down?!"

"Special chili bomb!! I'm going to make you cry from the spiciness!! I'm going all out!!"

"Bang--!"

Smoke exploded, billowing red chili powder filled the entire venue, choking even the marines watching and causing them to cover their mouths and noses!

"Cough cough!! My eyes!!"

"Aaaaaah, my nose is going to be ruined!!"

Amidst the thick smoke, only the sound of footsteps could be heard, as if hellwalkers were slowly approaching.

Usopp, crying, pulled back his slingshot to its fullest extent. "One more shot!! T--"

"Whoosh--!"

A flash of light sliced through the spicy smoke!

Click.

Usopp's slingshot was split in two and fell to the ground.

"Ughhh!!"

He crouched down, burying his face in his hands, tears and snot streaming down his face. "I was wrong! Don't kill me! I'm just a child!!"

In the thick fog, Zoro's figure slowly appeared, bathed in a faint light, his three swords sheathed, his expression like that of a grim reaper after cutting down grass.

"It's over."

Sanji lay in the distance, struggling to sit up, clutching his chest and panting, gritting his teeth and growling, "Damn it... you bastard, Moss Head..."

I'll catch up with you eventually!

Zoro grinned, his tone indifferent. "Let's start by seeing if you can block one of my swords."

Usopp collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from his head, clutching the wreckage of his slingshot and weeping bitterly. "My special slingshot!!"

Roy on the sidelines nodded slightly, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

"Good."

Having the courage to face an opponent far stronger than oneself... that's already a qualification.

Sanji rubbed his numb calves, glaring at Zoro's three swords, which were already sheathed.

"Hey, Moss Head!"

He spoke up, unwilling to give up, "What was that black stuff on your knife just now? When I kicked it, it felt like I kicked an iron pillar!"

Zoro glanced at him sideways, but still explained, "That's Armament Haki."

"Haki? What's that?" Sanji frowned.

Zoro crossed his arms and continued, "Haki is divided into three types— 'Armament Haki,' which can harden the body or weapons;

'Observation Haki' allows one to sense the surrounding atmosphere and predict enemy movements;

'Conqueror's Haki'... um, not everyone can Awakening that.

He paused, his eyes sharp. "I just used Armament Haki to cover the blade; your strength is no match for it."

"Tsk." Sanji clicked his tongue, his gaze still stubborn. "This thing sounds pretty unfair..."

Usopp, who had long forgotten about the broken slingshot, squatted down and carefully took out his notebook, frantically writing and muttering to himself:

"Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki... they all sound incredibly powerful!"

If this could be used in conjunction with a slingshot, wouldn't it increase the launching power several times over?! Wow...!

On the sidelines, Smoker, Cigar dangling from his lips, walked over to Roy, gazing at the vibrant scene on the Training Ground.

Tashigi was excitedly discussing the details of each move in their exchange with Kuina. The two were getting more and more engrossed in their conversation and were already demonstrating the moves to each other.

Sanji and Usopp kept asking Zoro, "How do we start Haki training?" and "Is there a quick way to get the hang of it?"

Although Zoro looked disgusted, he still explained it to the two of them earnestly.

Smoker sighed, his tone complicated. "Somehow... none of the kids you've gathered around seem like troublemakers."

"Speaking of which, where are Ace and Luffy? Don't you always keep them with you? It's rare to see them."

"Hahaha," Roy chuckled, casually leaning back in his chair. "Luffy, I've sent him to the G-3 Branch for an internship."

Smoker's face immediately darkened. "Are you crazy? Isn't that Vice Admiral Garp's territory?"

"Exactly." Roy smiled meaningfully, "Fighting fire with fire, you know."

Smoker's lips twitched. "You're really heartless..."

"As for Ace..." he said, his tone becoming slightly more somber, "His mindset underwent a significant change after the battle with Whitebeard."

He realized that if he always stayed by my side, he would never truly grow up independently.

So he volunteered to join Sakazuki's crew, and now he's part of a temporary team with Enel and Law, tasked with hunting down notorious Pirates on the New World front.

"The New World is in complete chaos right now, full of crazy Pirates trying to rise to power. It'll be a good opportunity for them to practice their skills."

Smoker imagined the scene— Sakazuki + Enel + Ace + Law...

"..."

Smoker remained silent for three seconds, his face gradually turning pale.

He seemed to see an unnamed Pirate crew sailing in some corner of the New World, raising their Pirate flag, only to be crushed into nothingness by flames, lightning, and spatial manipulation in the next second.

"... Oh shit."

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath, his fingers trembled uncontrollably, and he almost dropped his Cigar.

"How desperate must it have been to encounter those Pirates..."