That evening, to welcome Xia Nuo and the others, Isshin Dojo held a grand feast.
Nami and Nojiko were still thinking about the food they wanted to eat. While Zeff was preparing the ingredients, they had already scampered into the kitchen to make their requests.
Zeff burst into laughter and grandly waved his hand, agreeing to satisfy them all.
This immediately provoked the dissatisfaction of two kitchen helpers who had only recently woken up.
"We're all about the same age! Why do the two of us have to wash and chop vegetables here while they get to make their own requests?"
Moss Head and Curly Brow cast aside their past grievances and joined forces in an angry strike.
"Because they're honored guests, you idiots!"
Zeff gave them both a sound thrashing. In the end, that stirring and heroic strike lasted barely a minute before being declared over amid their screams.
Meanwhile, on Xia Nuo's side.
Since he still hadn't seen Kuina or Junichi, he couldn't help asking Koshiro about them.
Only then did he learn that after a year of arduous training, Kuina—already exceptionally talented—had made tremendous progress in swordsmanship. A few days earlier, brimming with confidence, she had gone to Asagiri Island to participate in this year's Kendo Tournament.
She had apparently sworn to take over from Lord Xianuo and claim this year's championship.
As for Junichi, he trained in hellish fashion day and night, but his rate of growth still couldn't match Kuina's or Zoro's. Those two juniors, several years younger than him, had gradually surpassed him.
After agonizing over it for several days, he had finally made up his mind half a year ago to go out to sea and temper himself as a bounty hunter.
Koshiro was somewhat worried about it, but Xia Nuo was rather