Battle Before Departure! The Brats' Confusion

Just as the news of Doflamingo becoming a Shichibukai was reported, another invited Shichibukai also set sail.

Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea who inherited the Sun Pirates, was also invited to become a Shichibukai.

The two may have been invited one after the other, but the Navy likely announced them simultaneously, or perhaps the news simply hadn't leaked until now.

Dunn looked at the newspapers laid out side-by-side in front of him, resting his chin on his hand with a dazed look in his eyes.

Kuina and Zoro, who were each a year older, quietly approached from behind Dunn.

"Take this!"

The two struck at the same time, but Dunn didn't even turn his head, simply tapping his left hand toward the back twice.

Ouch!

Both of them let out cries of pain.

Dunn's Armament Haki-infused knuckle raps caused large bumps to rise rapidly on their foreheads.

The two looked at Dunn with teary eyes.

It wasn't that they were crying from sadness.

It was just that Dunn hit really, really hard, and they truly couldn't help it.

"I should have taught you by now: don't shout when you attack. Doing that just puts your opponent on guard."

Dunn didn't turn his head, speaking in a calm tone without taking his eyes off the newspaper.

"I am a swordsman, and I am going to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Zoro clutched his forehead, raising his voice at the top of his lungs.

Kuina held her forehead, looking at Dunn with teary eyes.

"So that's the reason you create a bunch of flashy move names?"

Zoro's retort made Dunn turn his head, a gentle smile on his face.

But upon seeing Dunn's smile, Zoro instinctively took several steps back, looking at Dunn with a guarded expression.

Sure enough, the knuckle rap arrived right on schedule.

Before Zoro could even react, Dunn's finger had already tapped the forehead between Zoro's hands.

Thud!

A hollow, muffled sound rang out, and a bump the size of a bird's egg appeared instantly.

Zoro twitched in pain, but his face still held that stubborn look.

"It seems I need to teach you how to respect your senior."

Dunn pressed his knuckles, producing a crisp cracking sound.

Seeing this, Zoro gulped and quietly shuffled his feet backward.

"I'm the senior!"

It seemed that taking two steps back made Zoro feel he was at a safe distance, so he tilted his head slightly to retort, though his eyes remained glued to Dunn's fingers.

Hm?

Dunn struck again, but this time, Zoro tilted his head slightly.

Zoro's current reflexes weren't enough to evade Dunn, but he had indeed attempted to dodge.

Dunn withdrew his hand and sat back down.

It was worth all the effort he had put in lately.

Dunn then looked at Kuina.

"I didn't argue with you!" Sensing the way Dunn was looking at her, Kuina instinctively took half a step back, then, sensing a dangerous aura, she leaned her head back.

The knuckle rap intended for her forehead grazed the bridge of her nose instead.

Her nose stung, and Kuina's vision blurred.

Tears clouded her sight.

Hmm, the prototype is there.

Dunn nodded in satisfaction, his eyes scanning the two of them.

Aside from those born with powerful Observation Haki, awakening it at eleven or twelve years old should certainly count as being a genius.

Of course, his own contribution was definitely a factor.

The pain from an attack reinforced with Armament Haki was quite high, after all.

"I'm leaving!"

Dunn walked back to the table and picked up the two newspapers.

The two, both clutching their heads and streaming with tears, shuddered upon hearing Dunn's words.

"Are you trying to run away, you guy? I haven't defeated you yet."

Zoro raised his voice and shouted.

Under normal circumstances, if he dared to speak like that, Dunn certainly wouldn't let him off the hook, and Zoro naturally knew this, so he braced himself in high alert.

However, this time, Dunn turned back to look at him and simply shook his head.

"I'll find time to come back and visit, and of course, it's also possible that you and I will meet somewhere else on the sea in the future."

Dunn said with a beaming smile.

"Why? Didn't you say before that you still needed to improve yourself further?"

Kuina couldn't care about her tears anymore; she stared at the two shiny bumps on her forehead and asked, her tone somewhat urgent.

She knew from her father that Dunn would leave Shimotsuki Village, but this was all too sudden.

She had thought Dunn would stay in Shimotsuki Village for a long time.

"To save someone."

Dunn said in a relaxed tone.

"Huh?"

Both Zoro and Kuina were stunned.

Save someone?

Then, the two of them simultaneously imagined that Dunn had an extremely tragic background, where his family members were kidnapped, and he had come to Shimotsuki Village to sharpen his skills before returning to rescue them.

"Is it your family?" This was Kuina's question.

"I'll help you!" Zoro shouted loudly, clenching his fists.

"Hmm?" Dunn looked at the expressions on the two brats.

"Are you two misunderstanding something? The person I'm going to save is a stranger."

Dunn rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and said.

"Huh? A stranger?"

The two were stunned again, unable to figure out what kind of trick Dunn was playing.

"Why?" Zoro asked, puzzled.

"There is no why. I just want to save them, so I'm going to save them. Why would there be so many reasons?"

Dunn shook his head and said.

After speaking, Dunn waved his hand and walked past the two, leaving them to look at each other in confusion.

Not long after, Dunn and Koshiro sat facing each other.

"So, you are leaving?"

Koshiro looked at Dunn, feeling that his departure was somewhat abrupt as well.

"Yes, I've learned what I needed to learn, but I won't give up on improving my strength in the future. However, before I leave, let's have a real fight."

As Dunn spoke, his expression became sincere.

"Master Koshiro!"

He called out, and upon hearing this, Koshiro's expression stiffened, and he looked at Dunn in surprise.

Dunn had always addressed him as the Dojo Master.

And Dunn actually knew that the guidance Koshiro had provided during this time had long since exceeded the value of nine million Beli.

Or rather, having a top-tier Swordsman as a sparring partner for so long was of immeasurable value.

Not to mention that he had awakened his Observation Haki and Armament Haki here.

Dunn was naturally not someone who didn't know how to appreciate a favor.

"Alright!"

Koshiro was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Kuina and Zoro, who had followed them, were just about to speak when Dunn turned his head to look at them.

"I can't take you two this time."

"Why?"

Zoro retorted.

"You guy, why do you have so many questions? You can't even block my finger."

Dunn curled his lip, looking disdainful.

Veins instantly popped out on Zoro's forehead, and he glared fiercely at Dunn.

But noticing Dunn's gaze falling on his forehead, Zoro swallowed hard and reined in his expression.

Can't mess with him, can't mess with him!

"Then go get ready. Kuina, take Zoro to the village and buy some ingredients."

Koshiro turned his head to speak to the two of them, then let his gaze fall upon Dunn.

"So, now?"

"Alright!" Dunn stood up and left. A moment later, he returned carrying the longsword Flame, and departed together with Koshiro.

Kuina and Zoro watched the two leave, only snapping out of their daze once their figures had vanished from sight.

"Where on earth is Dunn going?"

Kuina said, her face full of reluctance.

"Who knows? To go save a stranger without even having a reason—just doing it because he wants to, he's really willful!"

Zoro crossed his arms, looking like a little adult.