Before Leaving, a Battle! The Kids' Confusion

Just as the news of Doflamingo becoming a Shichibukai had been reported, another invited Shichibukai also put to sea.

Jinbe, Knight of the Sea and successor to the Sun Pirates, had also been invited to become a Shichibukai.

The two might have set out one after the other, but the Marines may have announced it at the same time—or perhaps the news had simply not gotten out before.

Dunn looked at the newspapers laid out side by side in front of him, propping his chin on one hand, his gaze somewhat distant.

Kuina and Zoro, each a year older, crept up behind Dunn.

"Take this!"

The two struck together. Without even turning around, Dunn reached back with his left hand and rapped them twice.

"Ow!"

Both cried out in pain.

Dunn's Armament Haki knuckle raps quickly raised huge bumps on their foreheads.

The two gazed at Dunn with tears in their eyes.

It wasn't that he'd hit them hard enough to make them cry.

It was just that Dunn's hits really, really hurt, and they couldn't help it.

"I've taught you this, haven't I? Don't shout when you attack. That just puts your opponent on guard."

Dunn spoke calmly without turning around, his eyes never leaving the newspaper.

"But I'm a swordsman! I'm going to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Zoro clutched his forehead and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Kuina hugged her forehead and gazed at Dunn with tear-filled eyes.

"So that's why you came up with a whole bunch of flashy attack names?"

Zoro's retort made Dunn turn around, a warm smile on his face.

But when Zoro saw Dunn's smile, he instinctively retreated several steps, watching him warily.

Sure enough, the knuckle rap came right on cue.

Before Zoro could react at all, Dunn's finger had already rapped the forehead between his hands.

Thud!

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

Zoro winced in pain, but his expression remained stubborn.

"Looks like I'll have to teach you to respect your senior."

Dunn pressed his knuckles together, making them crack sharply.

Zoro swallowed and quietly shifted his feet backward.

"I'm the senior!"

After retreating a couple of steps, Zoro seemed to decide he was at a safe distance. He lifted his chin slightly to retort, but kept his eyes fixed on Dunn's fingers.

Hm?

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

Zoro's reflexes still weren't enough to evade Dunn, but he really had dodged.

Dunn withdrew his hand and sat back down.

All his hard work lately hadn't been in vain.

Then Dunn looked at Kuina.

"I didn't talk back to you!" Sensing Dunn's gaze on her, Kuina instinctively took half a step back. Then she sensed danger and leaned her head back.

The knuckle rap grazed her nose as it landed on her forehead.

Her nose stung, and Kuina's vision blurred.

Tears veiled her sight.

Hm, it was taking shape.

Dunn nodded in satisfaction, looking the two of them over.

Aside from those born with powerful Observation Haki, awakening it at eleven or twelve should count as a talent.

Of course, his own contribution couldn't be overlooked.

Armament Haki made his attacks hurt a lot more.

"I'm leaving."

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

The two, both clutching their heads and streaming tears, stiffened when they heard Dunn.

"Are you running away? I still haven't beaten you."

Zoro raised his voice.

Under normal circumstances, if he spoke to Dunn like that, Dunn definitely wouldn't let him off. Zoro knew that, of course, so he braced himself.

But this time, Dunn turned to look at him and shook his head.

"I'll make time to come back and see you. Or maybe we'll meet somewhere else on the sea someday."

Dunn said with a smile.

"Why? Didn't you say before that you still needed to get a lot stronger?"

Kuina forgot all about crying and stared at the two shiny bumps on her forehead as she asked, her voice a little urgent.

She had heard from her father that Dunn would leave Shimotsuki Village, but this was so sudden.

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

"I'm going to rescue someone."

Dunn said lightly.

"Huh?"

Zoro and Kuina both froze.

Rescue someone?

The two of them simultaneously imagined that Dunn had a terribly tragic past: his family had been kidnapped, and he'd come to Shimotsuki Village to improve himself before fighting his way back to save them.

"Is it your family?" Kuina asked.

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

"Hm?" Dunn looked at the two kids' expressions.

"Did you misunderstand something? The person I'm rescuing is a stranger."

Dunn stroked his chin and thought it over before saying.

"Huh? A stranger?"

The two were baffled again, unable to figure out what Dunn was up to.

"Why?" Zoro asked, confused.

"There's no why. I just want to save them, so I'm going to. Why does everything need a reason?"

Dunn shook his head.

With that, Dunn waved and walked past them, leaving the two staring at each other.

Before long, Dunn and Koushiro sat facing each other.

"So you're leaving?"

Koushiro looked at Dunn. He also felt that Dunn's departure was rather abrupt.

"Yeah. I've learned what I needed to learn, but I won't stop trying to get stronger. Before I leave, though, let's have a real fight."

As Dunn spoke, his expression grew earnest.

"Master Koushiro!"

He called out. Koushiro's expression stiffened, and he looked at Dunn in surprise.

Dunn had always called him "Master."

Dunn knew, too, that Koushiro's guidance over the past few months had long since exceeded the value of nine million Belly.

Or rather, having a top swordsman train him for so long was beyond measure.

And Dunn had even awakened Observation Haki and Armament Haki here.

He wasn't the sort to take all that for granted.

"Good!"

Koushiro fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

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

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

"Why?"

Zoro asked.

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

Dunn curled his lip, looking dismissive.

Zoro's forehead instantly bulged with veins, and he glared at Dunn.

But when he noticed Dunn's gaze fall on his forehead, Zoro swallowed and reined in his expression.

Not worth provoking him!

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

Koushiro turned and spoke to them, then looked at Dunn.

"Then, now?"

"Good!" Dunn stood and left. A moment later, he returned carrying his long sword, Flame, and left with Koushiro.

Kuina and Zoro watched them go and only snapped out of it once the two had disappeared from view.

"Where is Dunn going, anyway?"

Kuina said reluctantly.

"Who knows? He's going to save a stranger, and he doesn't even have a reason. He just wants to save them, so he does. What a self-indulgent guy!"

Zoro folded his arms, putting on a grown-up air.