Guina and Tashigi

"You're really not Tashigi?"

"I am Kuina of the Isshin Dojo, a sword instructor," Kuina replied, frowning as she looked at Miss Nami, who had leaned in close. She was also a bit confused and curious about who this Marine Sergeant Tashigi was.

Why did everyone mistake her for Tashigi?

"Miss Nami, my name isn't Tashigi."

However.

"She just isn't wearing glasses. How can there be two people who look so alike? And strangers, too? Is this some kind of conspiracy by Marine Headquarters?"

Despite Kuina's explanation, Nami still didn't believe her. She stroked her chin, also frowning, and scrutinized Kuina from head to toe with a suspicious tone. "And how did you end up back here? Did you see that Xia Che guy with so many pretty girls around him, plus this beautiful me, and decide to use a honey trap..."

Before she could finish.

"Thwack~"

Xia Che, his face dark, delivered a knuckle rap to Nami's head and said irritably, "I'm just a Rear Admiral who was demoted. I don't have any status, nor have I done anything wrong. Why would Marine Headquarters need to use a honey trap on me?"

"Ouch~ I was just joking."

"She really isn't Sergeant Tashigi," Xia Che said, shaking his head helplessly. He turned his gaze to Kuina, who stood before him.

Unlike Tashigi's checkered shirt and suit pants, Kuina wore a white women's suit shirt on her upper body and fitted capri jeans that stopped just above her knees, revealing her long, fair calves. This further accentuated the graceful and voluptuous figure characteristic of beauties from the sea.

Furthermore, Kuina didn't have the short, loose hair like Tashigi. Instead, she had tied her hair into a single ponytail that barely reached her shoulders. Coupled with the Wado Ichimonji, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, sheathed at her waist, she exuded a clean and capable aura.

A blend of gentleness and heroic spirit.

Xia Che smiled, "I thought you'd come a few days later. I didn't expect you so soon."

After receiving the call from Marine Branch 16, he had rushed over from Cocoyasi Village and indeed found Kuina already there, being mistaken for Tashigi.

He had met Kuina and Robin not long after arriving in the East Blue, when he took Robin to the Isshin Dojo for sword training.

Although he enrolled later than Kuina and Zoro, he had directly become the senior disciple due to his age and strength, so they knew each other.

He was planning to have Kuina teach swordsmanship to the marines at Branch 16.

"Senior Brother Xia Che," Kuina said happily, bowing slightly as she saw that her senior brother hadn't mistaken her for this Tashigi. "Thank you for your guidance."

At that time, she had been stuck in a rut. If it weren't for her senior brother's encouragement, telling her stories of female swordmasters on the sea and making her realize that female swordsmen could also become great swordmasters, she would have likely given up on her dream.

It was then that she vowed not only to become a great swordmaster like her senior brother but also, since her father didn't approve of her, she would no longer seek to inherit the Isshin Dojo. Instead, she planned to open her own Kuina Dojo and poach all the apprentices from the Isshin Dojo.

Then.

She would defeat her father, beat him soundly, and then drive the Isshin Dojo out of business.

"Please take care of me from now on." Saying this, she turned her head and happily said to Robin, who was smiling beside them, "Long time no see, Sister Robin."

"Welcome~" Robin replied with a smile and a nod, glancing Kuina up and down. "You really do look very much like that Marine Sergeant Tashigi."

"See? I told you she looked just like her!" Nami chimed in, hands on her hips. "If she wore glasses, she'd be identical!"

"Tashigi?"

Hearing the name again, Kuina became very curious. She also wanted to meet this Marine Sergeant Tashigi. She turned to look at her senior brother Xia Che, about to ask something.

"Oh, right~" Xia Che seemed to remember something and looked at Kuina. "Where's that kid Zoro? Why didn't he come with you?"

Since they were meeting anyway... to boost his performance, he naturally wanted to bring them all together.

"Zoro?"

Hearing her senior brother Xia Che's words, Kuina's face faltered. She blinked her clear eyes, then frowned. "He's not here yet?"

"He's already set sail?"

"He got his father's permission a year before me. Even though that guy didn't even beat me, my father allowed him to set sail, but he still wouldn't agree to let me go."

"..."

However.

Upon hearing Kuina's words, Xia Che fell silent. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he asked, "He... set sail by himself?"

"Yes, why?"

"It's nothing~"

Xia Che covered his face.

He had planned to have that kid Zoro come work with them too, but now... he was probably lost somewhere.

He looked up again at Kuina, who seemed a bit downcast after mentioning her father's approval of Zoro but not her.

Xia Che smiled and reached out, patting Kuina's head like when she was little. "Don't worry, when you open your dojo, senior brother will definitely support you. We'll steal all your dad's apprentices together, drive the Isshin Dojo out of business, and make him angry for looking down on Kuina."

As he spoke.

Hearing her senior brother's words, the initially dejected Kuina let out a chuckle. She looked at Xia Che in front of her, puffed out her cheeks, and said happily, "Senior brother, I've grown up!"

Honestly, he was still patting her head.

Then, her delicate face became resolute again, and she said indignantly, "I'll beat up that old man then!"

"That's right, let's beat them up!" Xia Che nodded with a smile, looking at Guina who had just arrived today, and said, "Then, let your senior brother take you around and get familiar with the place first!"

However.

"Later," Guina refused, looking earnestly at Xia Che. "I have something more important to do right now."

"???"

Before the confused Xia Che could even ask what it was.

He saw.

Guina's slender, fair right hand directly gripped the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. She then raised her head, a serious expression on her face, "Let Guina see if Senior Brother Xia Che has been slacking off these past few years?"

With that, Wado Ichimonji was already drawn. Holding the hilt with both hands, she assumed the starting stance for Isshin-ryu swordsmanship. Her usually gentle demeanor instantly changed, becoming sharp as if filled with sword light.

"Please guide me, Senior Brother Xia Che!"

Before Xia Che could react, a hint of slyness flashed across her determined face. She blinked and then was the first to launch an attack on Xia Che.