What Shimotsuki Koshiro had said was true.
After all, there were different kinds of geniuses.
Though Dunn had only been at the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village for a month, the talent he had shown had already left Shimotsuki Koshiro astonished.
That was why he had given that answer.
"Finding a sword style that suits me?"
Dunn murmured softly, a ball of flame appearing in his mind.
The Flame-Flame Fruit was the strongest power he had mastered so far, so it was only natural that he thought of fire.
Then a thin old man, wreathed in flames, appeared in his mind.
A temperature comparable to the sun. If he fought at full power for too long, he could even destroy an entire world.
He had never slacked off in developing his Devil Fruit, and had tried to use everything he knew to create some powerful moves.
Perhaps he could give it a try.
Dunn's eyes lit up.
No man could resist a cool and powerful technique.
"It seems you already have an idea. But before that, I'll teach you my principles of swordsmanship. This is how I understand the sword; you can use it as a reference."
Shimotsuki Koshiro had been watching Dunn closely. Seeing his expression, he smiled as he spoke.
"No problem. I do have a few ideas, though they'll be difficult. Still, I'm willing to give them a try."
Dunn felt no need to rush. He was willing to spend time experimenting.
"You mustn't neglect your basic sword training. From now on, practice on your own each morning. In the afternoon, I'll guide you in Haki and swordsmanship."
After speaking, Shimotsuki Koshiro studied Dunn for a moment, then got up and walked to the wall. He pulled at something, and the wall slid aside, revealing row upon row of sword racks.
"You can pick a sword. I don't recommend that beginners use a real blade, but you're different."
Dunn didn't hesitate. He stood and began choosing.
They all looked well made.
Dunn knew that Shimotsuki Koshiro's father, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, was a master swordsmith from Wano Country. Enma, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, had been forged by him.
Dunn picked up each sword in turn. At last, he chose one that was longer, wider, and heavier than the others.
Dunn was now over six feet tall, yet the sword was even longer than he was.
Shimotsuki Koshiro looked surprised when Dunn returned carrying the exceptionally long sword, but said nothing.
Once the door had closed behind them, the two sat down again.
Shimotsuki Koshiro glanced at the sword beside Dunn and sighed with feeling.
"My father made all these swords, but he hasn't forged one in a long time. You can give yours a name. Perhaps one day it'll become a true Black Blade and make a name for itself across the seas."
"A Black Blade?"
Dunn asked in surprise.
He knew what a Black Blade was, and that its wielder forged it through training. It seemed to have something to do with Haki.
"A Black Blade is a form a sword can take. After its wielder has carried it through countless battles and coated it with Haki countless times, the sword's very nature changes.
"Its material becomes much tougher—so tough that it can be called unbreakable."
Apparently growing more animated, Shimotsuki Koshiro looked Dunn straight in the eye.
"And now, Hawkeye, who has just become the world's greatest Great Swordsman, wields Yoru, a Black Blade."
He had expected Dunn to react when he said that.
But when Dunn heard the name Yoru, his expression barely changed.
"Don't you want to become the strongest swordsman in the world?"
Shimotsuki Koshiro asked with a chuckle.
"I don't have that ambition right now. I'm still a long way from that Great Swordsman."
Dunn shook his head. "My goal has always been to live peacefully in this world. If that Great Swordsman ever gets in my way, perhaps someone else will take his title."
Hearing Dunn calmly say that the world's greatest swordsman might be replaced, Shimotsuki Koshiro burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Good! I'd love to see that day. After all, I've had a hand in teaching your swordsmanship, so I'd be proud to have played a part."
"Besides, I'm not even a swordsman yet. Isn't it a bit early for us to be talking about this?"
Dunn looked at the laughing Shimotsuki Koshiro with exasperation.
"I believe you have the talent."
"All right. Thank you for believing in me, but I'd like to learn Observation Haki first."
"Very well!"
Though Shimotsuki Koshiro didn't know why Dunn wanted to learn Observation Haki first, he didn't refuse.
"I'll take my leave, then."
Dunn got up, picked up the sword beside him, and left.
Shimotsuki Koshiro watched him go. A long while later, a short old man slowly emerged.
"He knew I was here. He may have already awakened Observation Haki; he just can't use it freely yet."
The old man, holding a long-stemmed pipe, sat where Dunn had been.
"What do you think, Father?"
"If even you can't see through him, then there's no way an old man like me can. I understand him even less."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo shook his head.
Though he was a master swordsmith and knew some swordsmanship, his skill with the sword was no match for his son's.
"Still, perhaps he really can forge a Black Blade. I didn't expect him to choose that one."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo sighed as he thought of the sword Dunn had taken.
"That sword is no worse than a Great Grade Sword. It's just that I'd run out of strength by the time I forged it, so the work was rough. And it's heavy."
The sword Dunn had taken was indeed more than ten times heavier than an ordinary sword.
"He has unusual talent. That weight is nothing to him."
Shimotsuki Koshiro knew how strong Dunn was.
Or rather, Dunn's strength was proportional to his appetite.
"Mm. Focus on teaching him. He may not stay here for long."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo rose and started for the door. After taking a few steps, he turned back and looked at Shimotsuki Koshiro with his cloudy old eyes.
"And Zoro!" He paused, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. "Zoro inherited his swordsmanship talent from his grandfather and father—and even from that Dragon-Slaying Swordsman. Make sure you teach him well."
"Understood!"
Having been born in Wano Country, Shimotsuki Koshiro also firmly believed in things like bloodlines.
Several Great Swordsmen had appeared in Zoro's family line, so Zoro surely had the same potential.
Dunn had indeed sensed that someone was nearby during his conversation with Shimotsuki Koshiro, though they had stayed out of sight.
But he didn't look into it.
He only needed to take care of his own business.
After returning to his room, Dunn drew the sword in his hand.
Its dull sheen wasn't very bright. Wave-like patterns covered the entire blade. It was much thicker than an ordinary sword, yet its edge was no less sharp.
Holding the hilt, he raised the sword across his chest. A flicker of flame appeared in Dunn's hand and spread along the blade. In an instant, fire engulfed it completely.
But at the moment, the flames were only for show.
Before you continue