Three-Sword Style Zoro

After sailing through the night, the warship arrived at the docks of Shimotsuki Village the next morning.

Mo Xingchen left the soldiers behind to guard the warship and brought only Bogard ashore, heading toward Isshin Dojo. Along the way, he spotted a little boy with green moss-like hair, clutching two wooden swords as he ran toward the harbor with his head down.

Well, well, wasn't this the future Emperor's right-hand man, a Devil Fruit User of the Naming Fruit, the renowned Three-Sword Style Zoro!

"Hey, kid!"

Mo Xingchen called out to Zoro.

"What? If you've got something to say, hurry up! I'm going to be late!"

Zoro stopped and looked at the two of them anxiously.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's an Isshin Dojo training uniform, right? Why are you running toward the harbor when you should be heading to the dojo for training?"

"Damn it! Did I take the wrong road again?!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zoro turned right and prepared to run.

"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that direction wrong too? Forget it. You're already late anyway, so come with us. We happen to be going to Isshin Dojo too."

Zoro walked over dubiously and carefully sized up the two men. Seeing that both carried swords, he asked:

"You're swordsmen! Are you going to the dojo to challenge my master?"

"I'm not. He is."

Mo Xingchen smiled, ruffled Zoro's crew cut, and pointed at Bogard.

Guys, who gets it? I'm in the world of One Piece, rubbing Big Zoro's head! If this were one of those Zoro fangirls, she'd probably squeal like a pig.

But what Mo Xingchen had never expected was that Zoro's terrible sense of direction could be this absurd! Back when he watched the anime, he had only found it funny. But when, in reality, you had to correct him seven or eight times over such a short stretch of road—and if you looked away for even a moment, he could somehow wander off who knew where—the frustration was enough to drive anyone mad.

In the end, Bogard simply carried him over. Otherwise, reaching the dojo before dark would have counted as walking in a straight line.

When the three finally arrived at the dojo, they had not even had time to greet anyone before a clear shout rang out: "Let Zoro go!"

Mo Xingchen and Bogard, who were standing there, along with Zoro dangling in the air, all turned toward the voice. A girl with short black hair cut to her ears stood there, holding a wooden sword pointed directly at Bogard.

The instant Zoro recognized her, his face turned as red as a monkey's butt. His limbs flailed wildly in the air as he loudly explained:

"I wasn't captured after losing! I got lost, and they were coming to the dojo anyway, so they gave me a lift!"

Hearing Zoro's explanation, the little girl lowered her wooden sword and said disdainfully:

"Hmph, shouldn't a brat who can't even beat me be captured after losing?"

"Ah! Put me down! Put me down! Kuina! I challenge you!"

The moment Zoro heard Kuina's mockery, he completely snapped and began shouting furiously in midair.

At that moment, the people in the dojo also heard the commotion outside. Koshiro came out to take a look and cried out in surprise:

"Mr. Mo!"

"Hey, Koshiro. Long time no see!"

Mo Xingchen replied with a smile and a wave. Koshiro warmly led the two into the reception room. After personally brewing them tea, he introduced the two children.

"Mr. Mo, this is my daughter, Kuina. You met her when she was little. And this is my disciple, Roronoa Zoro. He is a child with great talent for swordsmanship. What do you think of these two children?"

The two children knelt side by side. Hearing their father and master introduce them, then noticing Mo Xingchen turn to look at them, they quickly puffed out their chests.

"Hmm, one female swordsman brave enough to draw her sword, and one muddleheaded little swordsman who gets lost."

Kuina looked proud when she heard Mo Xingchen praise her, while Zoro looked thoroughly unconvinced. But seeing how respectfully his master treated Mo Xingchen, he did not argue on the spot.

"Hahahahaha, Zoro really was born with a poor sense of direction."

"Hahahaha, this kid is so adorable. In my opinion, it's not that he lacks a sense of direction—he has absolutely none at all. He even took wrong turns while we were walking here."

"Hahaha, then let them spar. Please give them some guidance."

"Sure."

Kuina and Zoro rose and went out into the courtyard, facing each other. After a brief exchange, Kuina won the match cleanly and decisively with her refined swordsmanship.

A delighted Kuina and an unwilling Zoro returned to the room and knelt side by side, waiting for Mo Xingchen's guidance.

"Kuina, you have exceptional talent in swordsmanship. Your understanding of sword techniques is spot-on, and your mastery of them is already very high. For someone your age, you deserve to be called a genius.

"But remember not to become arrogant or complacent. As you grow older, most girls will naturally be weaker than boys. So you must strengthen your body and develop a deeper understanding of swordsmanship if you wish to keep winning.

"Your father has very high hopes for you. Work hard toward becoming a Great Swordsman, young lady!"

"Yes!"

After hearing Mo Xingchen's assessment and advice, as well as her father's expectations for her, Kuina answered with burning determination in her eyes.

Mo Xingchen then turned to look at the dejected Zoro and said with a smile:

"Zoro, first of all, your perseverance is admirable. Anyone can clearly feel your dedication to swordsmanship. Many children your age do not possess that, and even some adult swordsmen may not have it. So that is very good! I hope you can keep it up.

"Of course, you still have many shortcomings. Remember this! Always keep a cool head in battle. A duel of swordsmanship is not decided by brute force alone. Everything around you can become a factor in determining victory. Think during battle and look for the enemy's openings. Anger will often only make you lose your judgment.

"Then there is physical training and your understanding of sword techniques. I hope that while you learn to overpower ten foes with one strike, you can also learn to use Four Ounces to Deflect a Thousand Pounds. Keep it up, young man!"

"Thank you!"

After Mo Xingchen had carefully pointed out both his strengths and weaknesses, Zoro bowed in thanks with complete sincerity.

Koshiro listened from the side as Mo Xingchen guided the two children and nodded repeatedly. He realized that he was still far behind Mo Xingchen. Sometimes he knew what the problem was, but did not know how to explain it, or how to make children understand what he wanted to convey.

"Mr. Mo, how about letting these two children accompany you to train?"

Kuina and Zoro both looked hopeful at those words. From Koshiro's attitude, they could tell that this gentle man before them was likely an incredibly skilled swordsman.

"I'm afraid that won't work. My patrol area has been reassigned to the first half of the Grand Line. You know that the pirates there are still too much for them at this stage. I can guarantee their lives, but then they would not gain the benefits of real combat training."

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