Zoro and Sanji

The Shimotsuki Family truly produces talented people, and this craftsmanship too?

Xianuo was a little surprised. He lowered his body, preparing to tap the wooden leg to test its feel. Just as he squatted down, he met the eyes of a certain brat with blond hair and curly eyebrows.

"Xian... Brother Xianuo!"

Sanji was a little nervous, stammering, "Thank you! That old geezer told me everything. If you hadn't arrived in time, the two of us would have starved to death on that deserted island!"

What a cute voice... is there a Chopper hidden inside?

"I didn't do that much," Xianuo said with a smile, ruffling the little guy's head. "You have to thank Uncle Zeff more for being able to survive."

"I know."

Sanji nodded vigorously.

He only understood the situation after waking up in the infirmary this morning. He immediately hugged Zeff's severed leg and cried his heart out.

Zeff, however, still laughed and comforted him, saying how could he stand by and watch a kid with a shared dream starve to death. This made him cry even louder, and he only recovered before leaving.

"Uncle Zeff."

Xianuo pinched the wooden leg, looked up, and asked, "It seems like your daily activities aren't affected, but what about combat? Can you still use those kicks from before?"

"Eh?" Zeff was stunned. "Benefactor, you... you know my past identity?"

"I do," Xianuo said, clapping his hands and standing up. "Captain of the Cook Pirates, Red-Foot Zeff, quite famous in the East Blue."

In fact, he was more than just famous. Zeff could return from the Grand Line in one piece after a year of adventuring. Returning to the East Blue made him a hidden BOSS-level threat.

He had also seen Zeff's wanted poster in the newspaper: 50,000,000 Belly. In the East Blue, that was practically unmatched.

"Then why are you still so calm? I'm a pirate, shouldn't you be scared?"

"Are you the kind of person who repays kindness with enmity?" Xianuo looked at him strangely. "If not, why should I be afraid?"

Pirates indeed had a terrible reputation among the public.

However, as a transmigrator who knew the plot, he naturally wouldn't foolishly divide people by faction and condemn them outright.

In this turbulent Great Pirate Era, one couldn't be as strict with people using the moral standards of their past modern society. He had good impressions of people on both the Marines and pirate sides, and Zeff was undoubtedly one of them.

"This..." Zeff was stunned for a moment, suddenly realizing that this benefactor who had saved him wasn't a simple character either.

He looked around again.

Koshiro was still smiling, as if Xianuo's words had no effect on him.

So none of them are ordinary people... Zeff couldn't help but burst into laughter. The subtle restraint he had felt earlier completely dissipated.

"As for my kicks, I can barely use them, but their power is greatly reduced!"

Zeff said heartily, "With the little skill I have left, I can't survive in the Grand Line anymore, so I can't be a pirate anymore. But that's fine too. At my age, it's time to rest."

Yet, Xianuo could still see a hint of dejection in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "What are your plans now?"

"That... I'm not sure."

Zeff looked at the kids training energetically in the dojo and suddenly said, "Say, Mr. Koshiro, are you still short a cook at your dojo?"

"Hm?"

Koshiro was a little surprised and shook his head. "Where would I find the money to hire a cook? Kuina and I used to take turns cooking. It's only in the last few years, with more and more children learning swordsmanship, that we've had the old lady next door help out."

"How about letting me give it a try?"

Zeff chuckled. "Since everyone hasn't had breakfast yet, let me show you what I can do!"

"You're still recovering, this isn't appropriate..."

Koshiro subconsciously wanted to dissuade him, but Zeff waved his hand and strode towards the kitchen. After entering, his loud voice could be heard again: "Curly-eyebrow brat! Come help out!"

"Coming!"

Sanji's eyes lit up, and he rushed over.

What is this? How can we let a guest who's still injured cook? Koshiro helplessly put a hand to his forehead and glanced at the dojo. He instructed:

"Kuina, Zoro, the two of you go help out too."

"Yes, Father."

Kuina nodded, put down her bamboo sword, and expressionlessly grabbed the ear of a certain little green-haired brat who was struggling and yelling, "I don't want to!" as she walked towards the kitchen.

In the kitchen.

Zoro was angrily chopping onions with a kitchen knife, his expression as if someone owed him 5,000,000 Belly.

What is this!

To interrupt my training and make me come here to do chores!

"Your name is Zoro, right!"

A blond little head suddenly appeared beside him, enthusiastic and friendly. "Nice to meet you, I'm Sanji. I've worked as a professional chef in the galley of a passenger ship. You can ask me if there's anything you don't know."

"You can ask me if there's anything you don't know~~"

Zoro repeated in a sarcastic tone, "There are too many things I don't know how to do. After all, not everyone likes to spend all day in a place like this."

"I like it a lot." Sanji scratched his head and smiled brightly. "Cooking is one of the most interesting things in the world, don't you think? Oh, right—"

He pointed to the onion, which was in a sorry state after Zoro's "treatment."

"There's a technique to cutting onions too. First, remove the root and stem ends, then cut it in half horizontally and turn it over. This makes it easier to..."

"Shut up!"

Zoro turned his head and roared impatiently, "I don't want to hear this nonsense! Also, why is it that every time you speak, I feel like crying!"

"That's because of the onion, not me..."

Sanji looked speechless, watching Zoro tear up. "Um, you can actually breathe through your mouth, and you can put a bowl of water next to the cutting board while you cut..."

"Still don't want to hear it!"

Zoro snarled, baring his teeth. "Are you a man? Or are you just a girl who recently got a short haircut? How can a man know so much about this stuff instead of diligently practicing his swordsmanship!"

"Huh?"

Sanji's eyes widened, and he got angry too. "Who are you calling a girl? Someone who can't even cut an onion properly, aren't you afraid of accidentally cutting yourself when you swing your sword?"

"You're proud of being able to cut an onion? I hate onions the most! They're all round and circular, just like your eyebrows, they make me sick just looking at them!"

"What did you say! You green-haired plant person who can't even tell salt from sugar in the kitchen!"

"You sissy whose spatula moves ten times slower than my sword!"

"You single-celled organism who thinks with his muscles!"

The two brats' faces were practically touching, completely oblivious to a dangerous figure gradually approaching them from behind.

"You two brats..."

Zeff gritted his teeth, grabbing one ear of each of them. "If you argue in my kitchen again, I'll chop you both into pieces and make you today's special! Do you hear me!"

Thump!

One minute later.

Zoro and Sanji were honestly kneeling at the sink in a dogeza (prostration) position, washing vegetables. Large bumps had swollen on both their heads, wisps of smoke slowly rising from them.