**NOTICE: Just a heads-up, there will be some changes to the character names. Thanks for understanding!
-Kongtai to Kouta
-Koshiro to Koushiro
Seeing the green-haired brat standing in the middle of the dojo, facing off against Kuina, Kouta couldn't help but burst into laughter.
This kid was too adorable, thinking more swords meant more power, and as he spoke, the bamboo sword clamped between his teeth slipped and fell.
So this is Zoro? Man, he was really cute as a kid. Must've been fun to bully him!
"Hahaha…"
Everyone nearby turned to stare at Kouta, confused by his sudden outburst.
Zoro scowled at the sound of laughter, eyes wide as he turned to glare at Kouta.
His instincts told him, that guy was laughing at him.
"Hey! You with the silver hair!"
Kouta looked around and pointed to himself. "You talking to me?"
"Yes, you. Don't look around like an idiot. What's so funny? Looking for a fight?"
Kouta waved his hands innocently. "Carry on, don't mind me, I just remembered something funny." He covered his mouth, shoulders trembling. Anyone with eyes could tell he was holding back laughter.
Zoro gritted his teeth. That silver-haired guy was laughing at him. Fine, once he was done with this girl, he'd show him who was boss.
Koushiro sighed and shot a look at Kouta, adjusting his glasses. "All right. Let's begin. Bow to the altar."
Kuina and Zoro turned to face the altar and bowed respectfully.
Kuina threw a disdainful glance at the green-haired brat across from her, then gripped the hilt of her sword with both hands and slashed forward in a swift motion.
She was fast. Zoro didn't even have time to parry. He barely managed to raise his bamboo sword above his head in a cross-guard.
Smack!
He'd just blocked the first strike when a second, even heavier blow came crashing down, sending him flying. His bamboo swords clattered to the floor.
"Damn it…"
He sprang up, grabbed two swords from the ground, and took a side stance, one hand forward, one behind—assuming a dual-sword grip.
Kuina looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Have you trained in two-sword style before?"
"Of course not! Today's my first time holding a bamboo sword!" Zoro shouted, eyes locked on her.
Damn it! I'm strong! I'll get even stronger! How could I lose to a girl like this?!
With a yell, he charged forward, swords raised.
"Ah…"
Kuina met his charge with calm precision. She stepped forward, lifted her sword, and brought it down in a single, fluid strike.
"Step-in Slash."
She was so fast, Zoro didn't even have time to react. The sword landed squarely on his forehead.
Smack!
The sharp crack echoed beyond the dojo walls. Zoro's eyes rolled back as he collapsed.
On the sidelines, Sausage Lips, Buzzcut, and Chubby Glasses all stared in stunned silence.
"Yikes… that had to hurt," Buzzcut Aluo recoiled, wincing with sympathy, cold sweat dripping down his face like he'd felt that blow himself.
"Why didn't he dodge?!" Sausage Lips A Tao frowned, puzzled.
The senior student acting as referee quickly announced, "Point scored. Match over."
Kuina looked down coldly at the fallen Zoro. "This kid's like a wild animal. All brawn, no brain."
"Hey, Kuina," Koushiro said with a helpless expression.
"He's clearly an amateur, trying to pull off a dual-sword style? You're ten years too early for that," Kuina sneered.
Suddenly, Kouta teleported to Kuina's side, casually patting her head. "That's enough, Kuina."
"There it is! Kouta's teleport!"
"Yeah! It's so cool every time!"
One second he'd been on the other side—now he was standing beside Kuina. Glasses-boy Ahua jumped in excitement and ran toward the center of the dojo. The others followed curiously.
As soon as Kuina saw Kouta, her face lit up with a smile.
In the five years they'd spent together, she'd grown deeply reliant on him. Though he was just a year older, he always acted mature—like an adult. He was both like a big brother, and someone to admire and chase after.
"Kouta, that kid doesn't know anything. He just charges in without thinking."
Kouta chuckled, looking down at her. "You'll see soon enough how persistent he is. You'll have a headache dealing with him later."
He turned toward the collapsed Zoro, crouched down, and lightly tapped Zoro's forehead with his index and middle fingers, speaking in an overly dramatic tone:
"Young man, give it your all. One day, you'll catch up to Kuina."
Then he stood up and smiled at Koushiro. "Master, this new junior disciple has potential!"
"Shut up! Don't go making assumptions! I'll beat you both someday!" Zoro shouted from the floor, full of indignation.
How had that silver-haired guy just appeared out of nowhere? And when he touched him earlier, his whole body had frozen, what kind of power was that? Damn it! Just you wait!
Kuina peeked out from behind Kouta's back and said coldly to Zoro, "So? Want to go again?"
Zoro forced himself upright, trembling. He brushed the dust from his clothes and shouted, "A loss is a loss!"
Koushiro approached, smiling gently. "Clean and honest. I like that."
"Fine! I'll join your dojo! Got a problem with that?!" Zoro yelled.
"None at all," Koushiro said, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Zoro turned to glare at Kuina. "I'll train like crazy, train till I drop! One day, I'll beat you!"
Then he looked up at Kouta.
"And you, Silver Hair, you'd better be ready! After I beat her, I'm coming for you next. You'd better remember that!"
"Is he stupid or something? He can't even beat Kuina and he's already mouthing off to Kouta?" Aluo said to the others in disbelief.
Koushiro beamed at Zoro. "Hmm… he's got spirit."
Kouta found Zoro's brashness adorable and couldn't help but pinch his cheek. "Kawaii. But from now on, you gotta call me 'Senior'—or even 'Big Brother,' haha!"
Despite muttering, "So scary," Kouta had a smug grin on his face.
"What's your name?" he asked, even though he already knew. He just wanted to tease him.
Zoro had noticed he could move this time, unlike before. He quickly swatted Kouta's hand away and glared defiantly.
"Don't treat me like a kid! My name is Roronoa Zoro! Remember it!"
"Hm… I'll just call you Little Zo."
"Stop calling me a kid!!" Zoro screamed, on the verge of a breakdown.
If he wasn't still recovering, he would've charged over and slashed that smug face, being handsome doesn't mean I won't hit you!
"Kouta, let's go train already. We've wasted enough time," Kuina said behind him, tsundere tone fully activated.
Turning to see her nearly fuming, Kouta casually placed his hands behind his head and strolled toward the back courtyard.
"Alright, alright… Let's go. Our little Kuina's getting jealous~"
Kuina hurried after him, blushing slightly as she looked away. "Who's jealous?! I just think it's a waste of time, that's all."
At the door, Kouta paused and turned to look at Zoro.
"Hey, Zoro."
Hearing Kouta's voice, Zoro looked up, puzzled. "What?"
"If you really want to get strong fast, then come with me."
With that, Kouta turned and walked out the back door. Just thinking about getting to train (bully) Zoro made him feel refreshed.
Kuina glanced back and shot Zoro a cold look before quickly following Kouta.
Back in the dojo, the kids erupted.
"You lucky dog! You get to train with Kouta?!" A Tao exclaimed, shocked.
Zoro looked around, confused. "Is that silver-haired guy really that strong?"
Ahua adjusted his glasses and said excitedly, "Of course! When Kouta first joined, it only took a few days for him to beat everyone—except Master."
A Tao jumped in, "Kuina's been training under Kouta for just about a year, and she was already able to beat the adults in the dojo. It's been almost four years now! Who knows how strong they are now?"
They all looked at Zoro with envy.
Until now, only Kuina had ever trained with Kouta. How did this green-haired brat get the honor?
They knew it wasn't because they lacked effort but because they lacked talent. But this little brat, did he really have what it took?
"All right, all right! What are you all standing around for? Back to training!" Koushiro walked over, clapping his hands.
"It's not that Kouta doesn't want to train you," he added. "His methods require talent—and without it, you wouldn't survive them."
"Yes, Master!"
They quickly scrambled to pick up their bamboo swords and resumed practice.
Are those two really that strong? Zoro clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination.
"Hey, old man!" he called out to Koushiro. "Now that I've joined, what techniques are you going to teach me?"
Koushiro's eyebrow twitched at the "old man," and he gave Zoro a whack on the head.
"From now on, call me 'Master,' got it?"
"Ow, ow, ow!!" Zoro crouched down, clutching his head. His earlier bruises still hurt!
When he saw Koushiro raise his hand again, he quickly shouted, "Yes, Master!"
Satisfied, Koushiro retracted his hand and looked down at him. "I'll teach you the fundamentals of swordsmanship. But for training—you'll be with Kouta. Don't let his age fool you. He's only eleven, but he's already on another level."
"Really… that strong?" Zoro mumbled.
"Mm. Very strong."
Koushiro's eyes gleamed with a far-off memory.
That boy… is a real monster.
He wasn't even sure if Kouta's power came from a Devil Fruit. But he could touch seawater with no problem. Strange.
And his physical growth over the past few years—frighteningly fast. Who knew how far he could go?
He looked down at Zoro. This one's a monster too. With this determination and physique, it'll be hard not to grow strong. Especially with Kouta around.
Koushiro smiled and shook his head. Two monsters. Both my disciples.
"Go find Kouta," he said, glancing at Zoro with a meaningful look.
Zoro paused, then picked up his bamboo swords, eyes filled with fire, and ran toward the back yard.
Damn it! Let's see what kind of training you've got. If it doesn't make me strong—I'll cut you down myself!
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!