c2: "Female Tyrannosaurus!"
"Dongze!"
"I really envy Chlorella's talent!"
To be honest, Zoro's brilliance in the future eventually becoming the right-hand man of Monkey D. Luffy and one of the strongest swordsmen in the world can't be attributed solely to his unyielding spirit and relentless drive. While those traits are essential, there's no ignoring his innate talent.
To be recognized and taught by two legendary swordsmen first Koshiro of Shimotsuki Village and later Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman is no coincidence. It's a testament to the fact that Roronoa Zoro's potential shines bright even across the vast sea filled with monsters and warriors.
These two mentors aren't ordinary. Koshiro is the master of Isshin Dojo and a descendant of the Shimotsuki Clan of Wano, a closed-off country famed for birthing sword masters. Mihawk, on the other hand, stands at the peak of swordsmanship, feared across the Grand Line. For them to acknowledge and nurture Zoro speaks volumes his talent isn't just rare; it's monumental.
Dongze sighed as he looked at the young girl before him. In his opinion, Kuina the girl who had consistently defeated Zoro in their youth was no less talented. In fact, in terms of precision, discipline, and understanding of swordsmanship fundamentals, she was arguably ahead.
Too bad… she never got the chance to grow up.
Over the years training at the Isshin Dojo, Dongze had spent enough time with Koshiro to understand his calm, philosophical nature. He wasn't the kind of man to casually belittle someone based on gender. So Dongze often wondered why Koshiro seemed so deliberate in discouraging Kuina's ambitions.
But perhaps it wasn't discrimination. Maybe it was protection.
A true swordsman's path is painted in blood victory or death, no in-between. Even in the "safest" sea the East Blue—there were dangers: pirates, bounty hunters, corrupt Marines, and even agents of the Revolutionary Army. Dongze, who himself had chosen to lay low in this corner of the world, understood the peril. How could a father rest easy watching his daughter step into such chaos?
Of course, that was only his guess.
Kuina helped Dongze up, his arm draped over her shoulder, and the two began slowly making their way back toward the Isshin Dojo.
Midway through the walk, Dongze grimaced, his mouth twitching as a bolt of pain lanced through his ribs. Kuina, noticing his expression, asked softly:
"Hey… Dongze, are you really okay?"
Dongze gingerly touched his side and winced. "Two broken ribs, I'd say. Gotta lie low for at least ten days or two weeks—though in this world of monsters, maybe even half a year!"
Hearing that, Kuina's face flushed slightly. The situation had been dire; she hadn't held back. She was strong so strong, in fact, that she could overpower grown men in the village. Her slender frame hid startling force, and that kick had landed squarely.
To think Dongze had taken the full brunt of it…
They paused for a moment, glancing subconsciously toward the training field beside the path.
There, a green-haired boy stood shirtless, drenched in sweat, wielding a bamboo sword in each hand, attacking a wooden stake with merciless precision.
"1005… 1006… 1007…"
Beside him sat two large stone blocks, likely used for endurance training. Carved numbers revealed their weight heavy enough to make Dongze's eye twitch.
He muttered under his breath, cursing in frustration: "I swear… I must've bought a cursed watch last year!"
"This guy isn't human… he's gotta be livestock in disguise!"
Of course, the green-haired demon was Zoro. Despite Kuina and Dongze passing nearby, his movements didn't falter. In fact, his attacks grew more aggressive, his arms blurring with speed and power. It was as if the wooden post was Kuina herself the one opponent who'd consistently suppressed him. As for Dongze? Zoro didn't even spare a glance.
After all, Dongze had never once bested him in a formal spar.
Zoro didn't bother to pay more attention to people he deemed weaker than himself. Although Dongze's training efforts were just as intense, Zoro firmly believed that the other boy would never be able to match his own pace.
But what Zoro didn't know was that Dongze had recently awakened something akin to a bug an ability that defied the limits of ordinary training.
There's an old saying: "After parting for just three days, a scholar must be viewed with new eyes." It's not without reason.
When Dongze would later face the man who stood as Luffy's right-hand the fearsome swordsman Roronoa Zoro his gaze would be calm, composed, and unwavering.
After an entire afternoon of experimentation and internal trials, Dongze had developed a basic understanding of the mysterious power now in his possession. And with that knowledge came confidence: the firm belief that, armed with this ability, he could not only catch up but surpass even the brightest stars and carve his name at the top of the world.
The hardest part of growth isn't mere persistence; it's continuing forward despite seeing no clear future no path ahead. It's walking blind and alone. But now, Dongze's path was lit. There was no more confusion, only a simple mantra: persevere, persevere, persevere.
Seeing a subtle flicker of envy pass through Kuina's eyes, Dongze let out a faint sigh.
"Kuina… talent like that green-haired monster's is something you're born with. Envying it won't change anything."
"Do you think that just by being jealous of how fast he grows stronger, the heavens will suddenly gift us the same monstrous physique?"
Dongze's words struck deep, and Kuina's gaze dimmed slightly. He wasn't wrong. No matter how much she envied Zoro, she couldn't simply acquire the same physical potential.
Noticing her brief silence, Dongze added, with a firm tone, "Since we can't change our natural gifts, the only path left is to work harder than anyone else. Maybe that's the only way we'll ever stand out in a world like this."
"Besides," he continued, "I don't think your talent is any weaker than his. Sure, strength builds more slowly in girls, but who ever said swordsmanship is only about brute strength?"
"The way I see it, Zoro's working so hard right now for one reason: to beat you. That alone proves how much he sees you as a wall he needs to climb. So don't get discouraged now not when you're the one driving him."
"Hmph! Got it! You think I'm the kind of girl who gives up just because of that green algae head?"
Hearing her words, Zoro just meters away paused mid-strike.
"…Not bad."
The corner of his mouth twitched upward, but he didn't stop. Instead, he resumed his brutal training with renewed intensity, pushing himself into another round of seemingly self-destructive reps.
Dongze's words had been aimed at encouraging Kuina, but in doing so, he had inadvertently stoked Zoro's fire. The green-haired boy now saw in Kuina not just a rival but someone to surpass at all costs. Dongze, although usually dismissed by Zoro, had proven himself useful at least in pushing Kuina forward.
Yet Zoro could not have predicted that the same Dongze he looked down on now would one day become his benchmark. The one he would chase. The future is ever-changing unpredictable.
"Hey! You still with me, Kuina?" Dongze asked, noticing her momentary daze.
"…Yeah…"
"What are you yelling for? I'm not deaf," she replied irritably.
Then, standing on her toes, Kuina reached out and pressed down on Dongze's head, rubbing it vigorously. As she finished, she brushed away the small handful of loose hair she'd plucked in the process nonchalantly flicking it to the side while slyly glancing over to catch Zoro's reaction from the corner of her eye.
Watching the playful scene, the corner of Zoro's eye twitched.
With a quiet snort, he muttered to himself, "Damn… this female Tyrannosaurus…"
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