Kuina

They continued staying in Hina's hometown for a few more days.

A few days later.

His father-in-law, newly promoted and glowing with satisfaction, kept calling him "good son-in-law" as he personally saw them off at the harbor.

"Good son-in-law, come visit again with Hina when you have time."

After spending several days together, Kelly had found that this young man had strength, potential, and, most importantly, treated his daughter well. He was simply the ideal son-in-law.

"Got it, Uncle. You should head back."

There was only one final target left for their journey through the East Blue.

And it was also their most important destination.

Half a month later.

"This is Shimotsuki Village?"

Lin Qi looked at the utterly ordinary little village. It did not look like the sort of place where a master would be hidden.

"Yes, Boss. The map says this is the place," Yosef said with certainty.

"Let's go. To Isshin Dojo."

Dressed in casual clothes, with two long swords at his waist, Lin Qi headed toward Isshin Dojo with Hina and Yosef.

Clack, clack, clack~

Before they even pushed open the main gate, they could hear the continuous impacts of bamboo swords swinging inside.

This was where Zoro's path of swordsmanship had been built upon a solid foundation.

Creak~

The instant the wooden door opened, the sounds of wooden swords striking each other came to an abrupt halt.

Children as young as six or seven and no older than their teens all turned to look at them, curiously observing these outsiders.

"They seem to be from outside. No one like them lives in the nearby villages."

"Wow, their clothes look so nice."

"Tch, you little brat. That big sister is the pretty one."

The children chattered all at once as a little girl stepped out from among them.

She walked up to Lin Qi and bowed. "Hello, I'm Kuina, the daughter of this dojo's master. Who are you looking for?"

"Could you let your father know that I'm here to see him?" Lin Qi reached out, wanting to pat the girl on the head, but she dodged.

He had always liked this girl who refused to admit defeat. It was a pity that fate had played such a cruel trick on her.

"Certainly. Please wait a moment."

"Jeff, serve the guests some tea."

Like a little adult, Kuina did not forget to attend to the guests even as she went to notify her father.

"Thank you." Lin Qi took the tea handed over by the boy and began drinking.

Clack, clack.

The sound of wooden clogs stepping across the floor rang out as a smiling, narrow-eyed man appeared in the dojo.

He first dismissed the children, then looked at Lin Qi warily. "You are no ordinary man, sir. What brings you here?"

"To be honest, I would like to ask to study swordsmanship under you. True swordsmanship," Lin Qi said seriously.

They said every narrow-eyed person was a monster.

Koshiro was one of them.

Do not be fooled by his harmless appearance. He was, at the very least, a Swordsman on the level of an elite Vice Admiral, perhaps even someone who had touched the threshold of an Admiral.

Why was Lin Qi so sure?

Because his name was Shimotsuki Koshiro!

The Shimotsuki Family came from Wano Country.

Present-day Wano Country was ruled by Kaido. It had closed itself off from the outside world, and leaving it was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Yet this man had crossed the New World and the Grand Line alone, carrying Kuina when she was still an infant, all the way to the East Blue.

Such strength was terrifying.

Moreover, Koshiro's father and grandfather had both been extraordinary figures. How could he possibly be ordinary?

His father, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, had forged the Named Swords Wado Ichimonji and the Great Grade Sword Enma.

His grandfather had even forged a Supreme Grade Sword.

Neither Garp nor Zephyr knew swordsmanship.

If Lin Qi wanted to achieve rapid progress in swordsmanship, he needed guidance from a renowned master. Otherwise, how could he compete with those who had practiced the sword for decades since childhood?

Koshiro gave a dry laugh. "You flatter me, sir. I'm merely an ordinary swordsmanship instructor from the East Blue. How could I possibly teach you?"

He had traveled countless miles to the East Blue precisely because he had grown weary of conflict.

Teaching this man would be no different from exposing his own strength. He would not do that.

"Sir, you wouldn't want the Shimotsuki Family's swordsmanship to be buried, would you?"

Koshiro's hand paused as he poured tea. He had not expected this man to have already investigated his identity so thoroughly.

Lin Qi's words struck directly at Koshiro's weak point.

He was an exceedingly old-fashioned man who had always believed that girls could not inherit the family's swordsmanship, that girls would always be inferior to men.

Otherwise, the later tragedy would never have happened.

"Heh heh, Shimotsuki? I don't understand what you mean."

"Sir, why deceive yourself?"

As he spoke, Lin Qi drew Dragon Abyss, adopting the stance of a thug.

Kuina, who had been secretly eavesdropping behind a pillar, looked panicked. Was Father going to fight someone?

Seeing that Koshiro still did not react, Lin Qi slashed out a blade of sword energy.

He had thought Koshiro would expose his strength and block it.

Who would have thought that he would simply watch as the house he had lived in for years was split in two by a sword energy slash over ten meters long?

Little Kuina was thrilled. "Th-This! Is this something swordsmanship can do too?"

Koshiro sighed and simply closed his eyes, refusing to speak any further.

"Hey, hey, hey. Is this old man really a master? I seriously don't buy it," Yosef could not stand it any longer.

If he truly was a master, then he was far too patient.

He could endure more than an old turtle.

"I told you, I'm just an ordinary person. If you want to learn swordsmanship, you've come to the wrong person."

With no other choice, Lin Qi used his ultimate move and yanked Kuina, who had been eavesdropping behind the pillar, out into the open.

"Let me tell you, your name should be Shimotsuki Kuina. As for the so-called Shimotsuki Family..."

Koshiro's eyelids twitched violently.

"Enough! I'll teach you."

"You're willing to teach me now?" Lin Qi obligingly stopped speaking. Little Kuina looked as though she had eaten shit.

Finish what you were saying, damn it. Stopping halfway was such a tease.

"I can tell that you are not a bad person. I hope you will not disgrace the Shimotsuki Sword Style."

Now that he had decided to teach them, Koshiro no longer kept anything hidden.

"Come for class tomorrow."

"Thank you. I'll have someone repair your house." Having achieved his goal, Lin Qi happily left.

Kuina remained behind, deep in thought. "Father, what is the Shimotsuki Family?"

"You are not allowed to ask again. I'll tell you when the time is right. Go practice your swordsmanship."

From the next day onward, Lin Qi and Hina began learning swordsmanship under Koshiro.

And from that day on, Lin Qi had a little tagalong by his side.

Kuina was always asking him about the Shimotsuki Family.

Lin Qi had promised Koshiro not to speak of it again, leaving Kuina as restless as a cat with its paws on her heart.

"Hey, if you can't talk about Shimotsuki, then you can tell me something else, right?"

"Tell me, are there any female great swordsmen in this world?"

"Where are you from? Are there many powerful people there?"

"Jerk, why won't you accept my challenge?"

"Ow! Stop hitting my head all the time! It'll make me stupid!"

The days passed one by one amid Kuina's endless chatter.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

Girls grew quickly. Compared with half a year ago, Kuina had grown half a head taller.

That day.

Lin Qi and Koshiro sat in seiza on the tatami, drinking tea.

"You have great talent. I have nothing left to teach you." Koshiro poured Lin Qi a cup of tea.

"Thank you for taking care of me these past six months," Lin Qi said gratefully.