Side Story: Various Factions (4)

East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.

"Teacher, teacher~ Is the person mentioned above really someone who came from this dojo?! The legendary World's Greatest Swordsman!"

In a dojo where swordsmanship is practiced, a group of kids, holding the latest newspapers, noisily rushed to the side of a kind-looking middle-aged man who was sitting in a daze.

The news in the newspaper seemed unbelievable to anyone, yet it made perfect sense:

Roronoa Zoro, the former First Mate of the Pirate King "Pirate Hunter," engaged in an epic battle with Hawkeye Mihawk on Kuraigana Island that lasted three days and three nights.

Ultimately, they won by a very narrow margin.

The title of the World's Greatest Swordsman has changed hands once again after Hawk Eyes's reign of power for over a decade.

The title of "Pirate Hunter" is over; Roronoa Zoro has officially become the new "World's Greatest Swordsman".

"Zoro... he did spend a lot of time in this dojo when he was a kid, it really brings back memories~"

The owner Shimotsuki Kōshirō, pushed up his glasses, his already small eyes narrowing as he unconsciously looked into the room, the lenses seemingly shimmering in the sunlight.

His thoughts flew very far away at that moment.

"Teacher, could you teach us how to become as strong as that person? We want to become such powerful Swordsman too!"

Among a group of children holding wooden swords, a boy spoke up, looking at Koichiro with eager eyes.

"This... is too much to ask of him. I never taught him how to become the world's greatest Swordsman; he did it all on his own..."

The man snapped out of his daze and answered with a smile, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

"Surpassing these World's Strongest swords is not as simple as you think."

Suddenly, a magnetic and rugged voice rang out from the direction of the doorway.

"Zoro?! What brings you back...?"

Koichiro was a little stunned. He thought that after realizing his dream, the other person would become a marine like the "Pirate King".

"I left here, so it's only natural for me to come back now, isn't it?"

Zoro smiled, carrying a gourd of wine in his hand, and walked straight toward the group.

"It's the World's Greatest Swordsman in person!"

After a moment of stunned silence, the children erupted in a frenzy, running towards the man.

But Zoro did not stop and walked through them.

As he passed by Koichiro, he bowed respectfully to him and entered the house without lingering.

He skillfully found two bowls somewhere, placed them on a table, looked at the girl in the photo in front of him, and filled them with wine.

"It would be disrespectful to refuse the title of world number one."

After placing the Wado Ichimonji, which had been his companion for many years, behind the bowl opposite him, Zoro muttered to himself as he drank one of the bowls of sake, a contented smile spreading across his face.

"Teacher, what's wrong with him...?"

Most of the children didn't know Zoro's childhood story, so they all focused their attention on Koichiro.

"Wado Ichimonji... don't you need it anymore?"

He didn't respond to the boys' questions, but instead looked at Zoro was walking out slowly.

"Now, no matter what kind of knife it is, it can be an unparalleled swift knife in my hands. This knife should be returned to its rightful owner."

It's impossible for Zoro not to have feelings for the sword after all these years of companionship, but Zoro feels that it has completed its mission by accompanying him on this journey.

Are you planning to stay this time?

"I've already fulfilled my promise. It would be quite boring to run around alone like this from now on."

As Zoro raised his gourd and poured sake into his mouth, he sat down next to Koichiro and looked at the children who were trying to appear calm.

Just like the Roger Pirates back then, the Straw Hat Pirates disbanded not long after Luffy became the Pirate King.

Zoro has now fulfilled his dream of setting sail and has no intention of wandering westward anymore.

"Zoro- senpai! Can I do it too...? I... want to become the greatest Swordsman in the world! With a woman's body!"

At this moment, the only kid in the crowd who had been keeping his head down and wasn't as excited as the others suddenly shouted out loud, as if he had used all his strength.

After shouting, her whole body trembled, whether from fear or embarrassment, her face was flushed red.

But her gaze remained fixed on Zoro, filled with expectation, but even more so with determination and resentment.

A hush fell over the scene, and the boys seemed to be holding their breath, afraid to breathe too loudly.

All eyes were on Zoro.

Whether or not it can be done is not up to me to decide.

Zoro looked at the girl in front of him, his thoughts somewhat dazed.

"Sizzle~"

Without warning, Zoro drew his sword.

The twin swords were planted upside down in the ground, and Armament Haki instantly covered the blades, with black and red lightning coiling around them.

Immediately, the boys present collapsed one after another. In the blink of an eye, only the girl remained, struggling to stay upright, but she was also covered in sweat and nearly dizzy.

"Zoro! You..."

Koichiro slapped his forehead, wondering what he wanted to do by finding a former disciple.

"Aren't you doing a great job?"

Zoro asked the girl a question in return.

The blade is imbued with top-tier Conqueror's Haki, almost all of Haki is concentrated on the blade.

Even just that sliver of Conqueror's Haki that leaked out was something a mere brat couldn't withstand, but the girl in front of her held on.

"Whether you are a man or a woman, don't complain about the physical differences. There is more than one path to swordsmanship."

"If you want to surpass these three swords, if you want to surpass me, then face your identity as a woman with dignity and walk your own path of swordsmanship!"

Zoro exuded a powerful aura, as if he had brought a gust of wind, and his eyes were filled with seriousness.

"I understand... I will definitely surpass you!"

The girl, brimming with confidence from who knows where, puffed out her cheeks and shouted in response, then turned and ran away quickly.

Her steps were light, as if she had untied some knot in her heart.

"She looks a lot like Kuina..."

Koichiro watched her departing figure, a hint of something in his eyes.

"That's absolutely true!"

Zoro smiled, as if he had let go of something as well.

A gentle breeze suddenly blew by and brushed against his face.

It was as if he had broken free of his shackles, and time had turned back more than ten years, reaching out to the girl at that critical moment.

"I'll be waiting for you right here in the strongest position."