East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
Thirty-nine years ago, after the legendary Wano Country swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburo forged the famed blade Enma and entrusted it to Kozuki Oden, he led his samurai out to sea. After enduring countless hardships, they finally reached this small island in the East Blue.
After driving off the local bandits and protecting the villagers, Kozaburo fell in love with one of the native women. He settled down here and founded a village bearing his surname.
As time passed, thirty-nine years went by, and Shimotsuki Village had become a renowned peaceful village in the East Blue.
Meanwhile, Kozaburo's son, Shimotsuki Koushirou, had opened the Isshin Dojo here to teach swordsmanship.
By the shore.
"How could this be..."
Zoro hung his head, his tone indescribable.
"Why did I end up at the shore? I was clearly trying to get back to the dojo..."
He turned around and walked back along the road he had come from. Or rather, the road he thought he had come from.
A moment later, when Zoro passed the same house for the fifth time, he finally realized something was wrong.
"This place... I feel like I've been here before, but also like I haven't... Is it an illusion?"
Meanwhile.
The clouds split apart, and a white streak pierced toward the earth like a sword. Dawn fell from the sky. When he was only a few meters from the ground, gravity control slowed his descent, allowing him to land lightly.
He looked around—a typical East Blue village, with low wooden houses, neat dirt roads, and farmland and windmills visible in the distance.
A villager happened to pass by. He was clearly startled when he saw Dawn; someone that tall was rarely seen around here.
Dawn stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"Excuse me, could you