Shirou's Thirty Million Avatars

Of course, the former used a double-edged sword—a real sword.

As for the latter, what they used was also called a sword, but it was actually a Tachi.

Still, this was a world where swords and blades weren't clearly distinguished, so lumping them together wasn't a problem.

"Was that sword slash just now yours?" Kuina asked again.

Shirou looked at her, puzzled, then followed her gaze to the thin crack and suddenly realized.

That wasn't a sword slash. It was probably just the residual force from his finger cutting through the air while fighting Dragon.

"Any casualties?"

"Shouldn't be. That direction's forest and fields. It's late now, so no one would be running around there."

"Good."

So that slash really was her doing! Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked about casualties.

With that thought, Kuina raised her bamboo sword and said seriously:

"Can you spar with me? I want to see what true swordsmanship looks like."

"Brave of you, but the gap between us is too big. You won't see anything," Shirou warned.

"It's fine!" Kuina shook her head slightly. "I want to know how far I am from being the world's greatest."

"I see. Go ahead, then."

"Ha!"

Kuina swung her bamboo sword in a clean chop.

"No good. Women are naturally weaker than men physically. This straightforward style doesn't suit you."

Shirou extended his right index finger, pressing it against the tip of the bamboo sword, and shook his head slightly.

Adding his middle finger, he clamped the blade between them. With a slight twist of force, the bamboo sword flew out of her hand.

Shirou caught the hilt, faced the sea, and gave a light swing.

In an instant! The sea split in two, forming two massive waterfalls.

Kuina stared at the sea in shock. After waiting a few seconds and seeing no sign of it recovering, she couldn't help asking:

"Um... how long until the sea recovers?"

"About five or six minutes."

"How far are you from the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

"If I said I was the world's greatest, would you believe me?"

"I would!"

Kuina nodded very seriously.

So this was the standard for the world's greatest—splitting the sea with a sword and keeping it from recovering for five minutes.

No, it wasn't just that. She'd looked so casual the whole time; maybe she hadn't even used her full strength.

"Before, I always doubted whether I, as a woman, could ever become the World's Greatest Swordsman."

"But now that I have a role model like you, I'll train like crazy and catch up to you as fast as I can."

"Someday, I'll challenge you with equal strength!"

Uh...

Shirou was speechless. He suddenly felt a bit awkward about admitting he was male.

"Sorry, you might have misunderstood. I'm male."

As he spoke, Shirou canceled his mimicry and reverted to his original eight-year-old form.

"Huh...?"

Kuina stared at him, dumbfounded, circling around him once. Flustered, she asked:

"You... you're a boy?"

"Sorry to disappoint you."

"Judging by your looks, you're about my age. Are all boys from the outside world this strong?"

"No, people are different."

"So... girls really can't become the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

Kuina sighed in disappointment, staring blankly at the sea, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Shirou shook his head slightly and said very seriously:

"I don't know if a girl can become the World's Greatest Swordsman, but I do know a surefire way to become one."

"No matter who uses this method, they can become the world's greatest swordsman."

Kuina's eyes lit up. She quickly turned to look at him with anticipation.

"What method?"

"Before that, I have a question for you. What is a sword?" Shirou mused.

Kuina thought it over, then ventured, "A sword is a combat technique, an extension of fists and feet."

"Not wrong, but not right either!" Shirou smiled faintly. "A sword is a weapon, a tool for killing. Keep challenging swordsmen stronger than yourself, agonize over ways to defeat them, and grow stronger step by step. As long as you never give up, in a few years, you'll be the World's Greatest Swordsman."

In that instant, Kuina saw clearly.

All her life, in the dojo, she had defeated one trainee after another who was stronger than her.

But lately, her progress had slowed, while Zoro was improving rapidly, closing the gap between them.

Faced with this, she had begun to doubt her own resolve, once again pondering the question, "Can a girl become the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

In truth, objectively speaking, her earlier rapid progress came because all the dojo disciples were stronger than her.

Defeating one powerful opponent after another was the only way to keep advancing.

Now, without strong opponents or goals, sparring all day with Zoro, who was weaker than her.

Unknowingly, she had become just like those former opponents.

"I understand! I'm going to sea."

Shirou was taken aback. What kind of mental journey had led to this conclusion?

"How do you plan to go to sea?"

"Father will never agree, so I'll use my allowance to buy a small boat and set out alone."

"Uh... if you do that, you'll probably end up as fish food pretty soon."

An eight- or nine-year-old girl rowing out to sea alone—even with decent swordsmanship, she couldn't handle a random Sea King or a small Pirate crew.

Besides, a navigator was essential for sailing, and Shirou doubted she had any navigation knowledge.

"No problem! I won't die before I become the World's Greatest Swordsman." Kuina said seriously.

"Don't say such baseless things. Not everyone has the luck of a rubber man."

Shirou sighed lightly, studying Kuina again.

That resolute look in her eyes didn't seem like a whim or a sudden impulse.

Even if he stopped her now, he couldn't stop her forever.

"I'm traveling through the East Blue, and my ship isn't far from here. Want to come with me?"

"Okay."

"When do you plan to leave? I'll have the ship pick you up."

"I'll go pack my clothes and leave tonight."

"Not saying goodbye to your family?"

"No need. A letter is enough."

Because her father would never agree.

Chapter 66: The Best Rivals Are Everywhere

Section 67: Chapter 66: The Best Rivals Are Everywhere

Morning, Isshin Dojo, Shimotsuki Village.

"Kuina! I challenge you..."

Before he finished, Zoro stopped short, staring in shock at the dojo.

Kuina, always the first to train, was conspicuously absent.

"Daruma, where's Kuina?"

"Don't know. Kuina didn't show up today."

"What's going on? Is Kuina sick?"

Zoro glanced around, picked up a bamboo sword, and began his daily swing practice.

After some time, Koshiro entered the dojo and started instructing the disciples in swordsmanship.

He was much later than usual.

When he came near, Zoro quickly set down his bamboo sword and asked, "Where's Kuina? Why didn't she come today?"

"Kuina won't be coming anymore."

"What? What happened to her? Did she..."

"Kuina left a letter and went to sea."

As he spoke, Koshiro took a letter from his robe and handed it to Zoro.

There was only one line on the paper:

Father, I've set sail. I'll come back to see you once I become the World's Greatest Swordsman.

Zoro stared at the letter in his hand and fell silent.

He really wanted to say that he, too, would set sail.

But he knew full well that he couldn't leave yet—first, because he lacked the strength, and second, because he had no ship to sail on.

"I'm going to train."

Seeing Zoro swing his sword with even greater intensity, Koshiro let out a quiet sigh.

Last night, not long after Revolutionary Army leader Dragon had left the dock, Kuina followed suit, leaving behind a letter.

From that, Koshiro judged that Kuina had left with Dragon.

Though joining the Revolutionary Army was dangerous, with Dragon looking after her, it probably wouldn't be too much of a problem.

Still, for her to challenge the World's Greatest Swordsman as a woman—that was undoubtedly an even harder and more uncertain path.

Kuina... is this your choice?

"Your guidance, please, Saint Saragni."

On the deck, Kuina gripped a fine-grade sword gifted by Shirou with both hands, staring at him solemnly.

Around them, the CP0 members watched the scene with extreme tension.

"I'm not skilled in swordsmanship, and the gap in our strength is too wide. Even if you spar with me, you won't gain much."

Shirou's mind stirred, and a slender double-edged ice sword materialized in his right hand.

"But you're stronger than me. So, your guidance, please." Kuina said seriously.