A Brat Comes to Challenge the Dojo

The philosophy of Isshin Dojo was to train the basics until the body remembered them. After Kuina finished teaching the swordsmanship forms, Mu Yu no longer received one-on-one instruction.

In truth, Kuina had little left to teach him. The exercise she practiced most herself was still the basic Suburi.

Study a thousand swords before recognizing weapons; play a thousand tunes before understanding music.

When someone immersed themselves in a discipline long enough, or reached a sufficiently profound realm, they would develop a unique insight into it.

After his physique and swordsmanship reached LV3, Koshiro immediately sensed something different when Mu Yu gripped a Bamboo Sword.

The steadiness, calmness, and familiarity with which Mu Yu held the Bamboo Sword were not the posture of a beginner.

What a genius!

If Koshiro had not secretly kept an eye on Mu Yu's progress ever since he entered the dojo, he might have suspected that Mu Yu was a swordsman who had trained for years.

Anything becomes frightening when you give it your complete focus!

Instinctively, Koshiro credited it to Complete Concentration.

Koshiro had seen true super-geniuses before. Ordinary people simply could not understand the world of geniuses.

One genius in particular had left such a deep impression on him that he still could not forget.

That person had practically been a born swordsman. He had never touched a sword before, yet after the key points were explained just a little, he grasped everything instantly.

If Koshiro had not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would have thought it was some absurd tale.

And Mu Yu was undoubtedly a true genius as well!

Koshiro looked forward to it even more.

Since this was a large class, he naturally had to consider all the students. After five hundred Suburi swings, Koshiro called a halt.

"Next, we'll have sparring practice!"

The brats who had just been celebrating their escape from the miserable Suburi practice immediately scrunched their faces up like bitter melons.

Sparring practice...

At the sight of Kuina sitting perfectly upright in formal seiza, every brat shrank back, terrified that Koshiro would call their name.

"Mu Yu!"

Mu Yu was surprised. He had not expected to be the first one called.

However, his swordsmanship had just reached LV3, and he was eager to test himself. A match was exactly what he wanted.

"Yes, Master."

Mu Yu immediately picked up a Bamboo Sword and stood.

Unlike Mu Yu, the brats all secretly sighed in relief. They rejoiced inwardly at their luck while furtively giving Mu Yu sympathetic looks.

They were not afraid of sparring, as long as they did not have to face Kuina.

But by tradition, one participant in the first sparring match was always Kuina, the strongest.

Kuina was rather taken aback. Why had Father called Mu Yu's name?

Hadn't Mu Yu only joined the dojo?

Could Father believe that Mu Yu was qualified to fight her?!

At that thought, Kuina did not even realize that her little fists had clenched tightly.

Mu Yu had only been apprenticed for three days...

Kuina's heart was in turmoil, yet she inexplicably recalled Mu Yu's utterly focused eyes. A flicker of unease even rose within her.

Boys... is this what boys are like?!

Just then, however, a voice suddenly rang out from outside.

"Anyone here? I came to Challenge a Dojo! Send out your strongest guy so we can settle this in a match!"

Judging by the voice, the speaker was not very old.

But the words stunned all the dojo disciples present, including the Instructor.

Everyone there knew exactly what it meant to "Challenge a Dojo"!

Of course, one person was different: Mu Yu.

Hearing that familiar voice, Mu Yu could not help raising an eyebrow.

Zoro... was he about to see the living, breathing Zoro?

For some reason, he was a little excited!

Challenging a dojo was no trivial matter. As the master of the dojo, Koshiro immediately rose and headed outside.

The disciples stretched their necks as long as giraffes, all peering toward the doorway.

There stood a dirty-shirted child with green hair, his fists clenched and his stance radiating utter defiance. His face was arrogantly smug.

While the other children looked curious, Mu Yu was somewhat speechless.

Brat Zoro looked far too full of himself like this!

That high-and-mighty, overbearing manner gave people an overwhelming urge to punch him.

All he could say was that anime and reality really were worlds apart.

Yet Koshiro was not angry about the challenge. Instead, he burst into laughter.

"So you came to Challenge a Dojo. That's been rare lately!"

"Hmph!"

Zoro crossed his arms and said proudly, "Don't underestimate me just because I'm a kid. I'm unbeatable in the neighboring village!"

"Very well, then. We'll accept your challenge," Koshiro said with a smile.

Zoro said, "If I win, I take your signboard."

Koshiro asked, "And if you lose?"

"Lose? If I lose, then I'll join your dojo!"

Hahahaha!

Koshiro laughed again, thoroughly amused by Zoro. "Then it's settled. In that case—"

Hearing Koshiro's words, Mu Yu instinctively looked toward Kuina.

Next would be the start of Kuina's year-long, creative beatdown of little Zoro!

But that also meant that Kuina, the little Senior Disciple Sister who had personally taught him swordsmanship, had at most one year left to live.

People rarely died in the world of One Piece, but Kuina's death was beyond ridiculous.

Kuina, who was strong enough to defeat adults, had gone looking for a whetstone, fallen from a small loft, and died.

That plot-induced death was far too forced!

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Mu Yu took a deep breath. No matter what, he did not want Kuina to die so confusedly.

According to the story, Kuina won 2,001 matches against Zoro before being forcibly killed off by the plot.

Could he turn everything around at the source?

Still, Mu Yu felt a little awkward. What if he accepted this match, beat Zoro 2,001 times, and then the Will of Heaven set its sights on him instead?

Plot-induced deaths were no joke!

The moment he imagined Zoro later biting his sword, crying as he vowed to become stronger for both their sakes, Mu Yu could not help shuddering.

Can't afford to provoke him! Can't afford to provoke him! Can't afford to provoke him!

"Mu Yu."

"Mu Yu?"

"Mu! Yu!"

Only when he heard the snot-nosed Little Baldy from the dojo shouting his name did he snap back to his senses.

Little Baldy was frantic. "What are you thinking about? Master called you!"

"Oh, right!"

Mu Yu squeezed through the crowd of brats blocking the doorway, but his mind was still muddled.

He had not even voiced his desire to take Kuina's place and fight Zoro. Why had Master Koshiro chosen him directly?

That made no sense!

Master Koshiro was really bold. Faced with someone challenging the dojo, he actually called on a newbie who had only been here for three days.

Or had Master already seen through his strength?

Mu Yu liked Zoro a great deal. Zoro had once been one of his idols!

He had even cosplayed as Zoro during club activities.

Still, Mu Yu felt no psychological pressure about beating up his idol.

If Kuina was a glass flower that shattered at the slightest touch—

Then Zoro was crabgrass. Toss him anywhere on the ground, and he would take root, sprout, and thrive.

Getting beaten up? No big deal!

He would just consider it helping Zoro grow!

But at this delicate moment... Mu Yu was inexplicably scared.

The moment Zoro saw Mu Yu emerge, he exploded.

Waving his little arms around, he snapped angrily, "What? You're not going to be my opponent?"

Seeing Moss Head's smug expression, broad-minded Mu Yu decided not to stoop to the level of a little brat.

Koshiro laughed heartily. "Mu Yu is a genius. He's very strong!"

A genius?!

Hearing Koshiro's evaluation of Mu Yu, Kuina could not help clenching her little hands. A surge of unwillingness rose from the depths of her heart.

She had spent far too long with her father. Kuina could sense that he was... happy!

It was an expression he had never shown when facing her.

Mu Yu was stunned too. He had not expected Master Koshiro to give him such an assessment.

Sure enough, gold was gold. No matter how hard it tried to hide its brilliance, it could never completely conceal its dazzling glow.

As for the other little brats, all they could do was envy him.

Koshiro was always smiling and had almost never lost his temper, but they had never heard him praise a disciple like this before.

Zoro eyed Mu Yu suspiciously once, twice, three times, before reluctantly saying—

"I get it!"

Koshiro said, "Then please come inside."

PS: Please recommend and save the novel! It feels like no one is reading it, and I'm nervous as hell. Sob, sob, sob!