Kuraigana Island.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sounds of clashing blades rang through the ruins by the shore.
A man with short green hair darted through a group of sword-wielding baboons, a dagger in his hand flashing coldly from time to time.
The man was, of course, Zoro, who had become Hawkeye's apprentice.
Hawkeye had said that his prolonged reliance on techniques and Haki had led him to neglect basic swordsmanship and physical arts.
As the saying went, the greatest truths were the simplest. Once one's strength reached a certain level, the limits of one's potential were no longer determined solely by the strength of one's Haki or the flashiness of one's techniques.
Instead, it came back to the simplest, most unadorned basic training.
Looking at the dagger in his hand, which now resembled a saw, Zoro gave a wry smile. "Why does it feel like I'm back at Isshin Dojo?"
As he spoke, he raised his head again. "I wonder what Master's doing now, and whether there are any new disciples."
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
The baboon at the front, wielding a large blade, roared furiously.
They were already trying so hard, so why couldn't they land a hit on this Moss Head?
Then he waved his hand. "Roar, roar, roar!"
The disorganized baboons all nodded at once.
Zoro frowned at the sight, a bad feeling rising within him.
Without giving him any time to think, two baboons attacked him from either side.
Clang, clang!
He blocked the two baboons' attacks, only for a gleaming slash to appear overhead.
He stamped hard against the ground, sliding backward at high speed.
Boom!
The slash struck the ground with a tremendous crash, carving a deep trench into it.
Before Zoro could regain his footing, the leading baboon appeared before him with its blade