The Visiting Practitioners

In front of the Castle gate, a gentle breeze rustled through the broken stone bricks, and Zoro, covered in bandages, could no longer contain himself.

He watched as Kuina managed to get close to Mihawk's sword in the distance, and his blood boiled instantly!

"Mihawk--!"

With a "whoosh," the three swords were drawn simultaneously. Ignoring Chopper's attempts to stop him, Zoro charged forward, shouting, "Let's fight again!!"

Mihawk didn't turn around, his Black Blade "Night" slung over his back.

"The wounded should just lie still."

"Zoro!!" Chopper almost cried as he rushed forward, clinging tightly to Zoro's leg, tears streaming down his face.

"Your wound hasn't healed yet! You'll die if you keep hitting me!!"

Kuina's forehead veins throbbed, and she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Idiot..."

"Whoosh--!"

Just then, the sound of wind breaking came from the sky, and a News Coo flew by, dropping a fresh newspaper.

Kuina reached out and took it; the moment she unfolded it, everyone's attention was drawn to the headline:

"The Navy Annihilates Whitebeard Remnants! The Battle of Sabaody Archipelago Concludes!"

In the accompanying image, Roy stands atop collapsed ruins, with Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Usopp standing tall behind him, the embers of war still burning.

Zoro's eyes widened, his fists cracked, and his blood surged wildly in his chest.

"Has Luffy already been able to fight against monster-level enemies?"

"And I..."

Zoro looked down at his hands, which were wrapped in bandages. "And this is the only place I can heal?!"

He abruptly looked up at Mihawk, his eyes burning like flames. "Hey! Mihawk!!"

"Let's have another match once I'm healed!!"

Mihawk finally turned around, a rare interest flashing in his golden eyes.

"Then get stronger quickly!"

He slowly turned around, his cloak billowing in the wind, "When you're worthy enough for me to take you seriously..."

"I will show you— the World's Strongest sword."

Mihawk stepped through the Castle gates, his final echo reverberating in the square.

Kuina whispered, "That day won't be too far away..."

Seeing that Zoro had finally calmed down, Chopper hurriedly jumped to Kuina's side and skillfully unwrapped the bandages to check the wound.

The little reindeer's eyes widened as he watched the wounds inflicted by the Black Blade heal at a visible speed:

"That recovery speed... Mythical Zoan are really amazing!"

Kuina gently moved her shoulder. "Hmm, it's mostly fine now."

"How come they're both Zoan, but the difference is so huge..." Chopper muttered to himself.

Zoro still held his three swords in his hands, but his expression was no longer as agitated as before.

He slowly looked at Kuina and said in a deep voice, "Hey, Kuina."

Kuina was taken aback. "Huh?"

Zoro smiled. "Since Brother Roy didn't tell us to go back, then we..."

Kuina and Zoro locked eyes, and in that instant, they understood each other's thoughts.

Kuina's lips curled into a slight smile. "Ah, stay here then."

Zoro grinned, revealing his white teeth. "Just what I wanted!"

Inside the Castle hall, the morning mist had not yet dissipated. Mihawk had just changed out of his combat gear and was now wearing a casual shirt, swirling a glass of red wine between his fingers.

"Squeak--"

The old wooden door was pushed open, and Zoro, Kuina, and Chopper walked in together.

Mihawk raised his eyelids, his brow slightly arched. "You?"

Zoro went straight to the point. "We're going to train here."

Kuina stepped forward. "We want to stay here for a while, until we can truly challenge you."

Mihawk initially intended to refuse outright, but then he remembered the letter Roy had sent, and the glass of red wine at his lips paused slightly.

At the end of that crumpled letter, written in barely visible, tiny handwriting:

Consider it a favor I owe you.

Golden Eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He gently set down his wine glass, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness. "Whatever."

"But don't disturb me while I'm drinking."

From that day on, the three of them officially began their temporary residence in Hawk-Eye's Castle.

Zoro wields Bamboo Sword every day, fighting to the death against the entire Baboon army on the island without using Haki.

The Three-Sword Style is constantly honed in actual combat, with each slash carrying an increasingly sharp killing intent.

Under Mihawk's occasional personal guidance, Kuina thoroughly integrated the characteristics of the Mythical Zoan -type Vampire Fruit into her Swordsmanship.

The combination of crimson Will-o'-the-Wisp and Shimotsuki Sword Techniques allows her to steal the life force from her enemies with every strike.

Besides providing medical support to the two, Chopper was also chased all over the mountain by the Baboons on the island. In order to avoid being bullied, Chopper was forced to develop various new combat forms, which unexpectedly greatly increased his combat power.

One night, the fire crackled in the fireplace, casting a warm orange glow into the Castle hall.

Zoro sat cross-legged in a chair, three swords resting across his lap, and looked up thoughtfully at Mihawk:

"Hey, Mihawk, how did you meet Brother Roy?"

Mihawk's hand holding the wine glass paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Kuina and Chopper, who were standing nearby, were also intrigued by the question, and all three pairs of curious eyes turned to Mihawk.

Mihawk slowly set down his glass and sighed softly, "... How did I meet that guy, right?"

Pirate King -style flashback insertion

Four years ago, Kuraigana Island

Mihawk, who had recently moved into the abandoned Castle, was sitting alone at the stone table in the courtyard, a glass of red wine in his hand, his golden eyes as calm as a lake.

As the sun sets, the only sounds on the island are the sea breeze and the calls of Baboons.

Suddenly--

"Whoosh!"

Space distorted, and a young figure suddenly appeared in the center of the courtyard.

"Yo~ This is the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

The young man in the navy uniform, hands in his pockets, looked at Mihawk with a smile, his gaze showing no fear, but even a hint of mockery.

"Those are truly golden pupils, exactly as rumored."

Mihawk frowned slightly, his tone indifferent. "The Navy?"

The young man grinned, his tone casual. "My name is Roy. I've come today specifically to see the 'World's Strongest' sword."

Mihawk, uninterested, got up to leave. "I have no interest in brats who come here to die."

Roy suddenly spoke up, "I fought Red-Hair once."

Mihawk stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, and a rare fighting spirit appeared in his golden eyes.

Roy raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, "What, interested now?"

Mihawk slowly drew his Black Blade, "Night," its blade gleaming coldly in the setting sun. "Fight outside."

Two figures vanished from the courtyard in an instant, followed by a deafening collision that could be heard throughout the entire island.

Returning to the present, Mihawk took another sip of his drink and didn't continue speaking.

Zoro couldn't help but press, "So, in the end... who won?"

Mihawk paused for a moment, glanced at him, and without answering, simply got up and headed for the stairs.

"Sleep."

Zoro: "..."

Kuina rubbed her temples and said helplessly, "Idiot, do you even need to ask?"

Chopper muttered to himself, "Roy definitely won..."

Mihawk paused slightly at the corner of the stairs, muttering to himself:

"That kid... he just likes to play dirty tricks."