"Stop messing around, Luffy!" The captain shouted anxiously, grabbing a nearby sailor as he passed.
"Quick! Get this kid somewhere safe!" And with that, the captain rushed off to handle other matters.
The sailor blinked in confusion, then bent down, trying to scoop Luffy up.
Luffy quickly leapt back.
Like hell he was going to be treated like a child, even if he was one.
"Big bro, don't worry about me! I know where to go." Without waiting for a response, Luffy dashed off at full speed.
"This is it, jackpot time! The open sea really is the best place to grow stronger." He cracked his knuckles, ready to go all out in a battle against the pirate crew.
…But fate had other plans.
Under the captain's clever leadership, the merchant ship managed to shake off the pursuing pirates.
Luffy let out a long groan of frustration.
"This is not the story I wanted."
As the pirate ship carrying a whole boatload of potential EXP faded into the distance, Luffy stood at the stern, nearly in tears.
"Luffy, you're still here?"
The relieved captain, now inspecting the ship for any damage, spotted Luffy standing there, his small hands gripping the railing, eyes fixed on the horizon.
His eyes looked just a little watery.
The captain gently patted him on the back.
"It's okay. We're safe now. No need to be afraid."
The rising sun behind them cast a soft light, the image of a kind hand and a pouty child forming a quiet, beautiful scene.
And so, after a few peaceful days at sea, the ship finally docked at Shimotsuki Village.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
"Luffy, do you remember where your home is?"
The captain pointed toward the residential district and asked with concern.
"Don't worry, Captain. Thanks for bringing me all the way here." Luffy gave a casual wave and walked straight into the village without another word.
Once in town, he spotted a fruit vendor who looked about ready to doze off.
Luffy approached. "Excuse me, mister. Do you know the way to the Isshin Dojo?"
The vendor jerked upright, startled by the sudden voice.
"Huh? Wha, what did you say?"
Hidden behind piles of fruit, Luffy stood on his tiptoes and waved.
"Down here!"
Sigh… Being short really is a tragedy.
Finally noticing him, the vendor let out an awkward laugh.
"Hey there, little guy. Looking for something? Want to buy some fruit?"
"I'm actually looking for directions to the Isshin Dojo."
"Ah, the Isshin Dojo, huh? Impressive. Lots of kids train there, but you're definitely the smallest I've seen ask about it." He pointed down the main road.
"Just follow that path straight through the village. About two kilometers out, you'll find it."
Luffy thanked him and headed down the road.
He wasn't in a hurry, because in his heart, he already knew the answer.
Zoro was two years older than him, and in the original story, Kuina's death happened when Zoro was around six or seven.
Maybe he wouldn't be able to change anything.
But Luffy believed: Just because you know the outcome doesn't mean you should do nothing.
That's why he came to Shimotsuki Village.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Inside the dojo, in the middle of the training grounds…
A green-haired boy was training hard.
Weights were tied to both arms and legs, and he clenched a rope in his teeth, its other end tied to a heavy stone.
Even under the strain, he kept squatting, sweat pouring from his body, but his eyes showed no signs of stopping.
Over an hour later, the boy finally paused to rest.
That's when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
A younger student in a white gi ran in, panting heavily.
"Zoro-senpai! Something's wrong! Some kid is here to challenge the dojo!"
Zoro blinked.
"A challenger? Is he good with a sword?"
"Not at all! He just picked up a blade and started swinging. But… he's crazy strong! He's taken down a bunch of our seniors!"
"Alright. Let's go see for ourselves." Zoro quickly gathered his training gear and headed for the main hall.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Inside the dojo…
Luffy calmly deflected a wooden sword, then flicked his wrist, pinning his own blade gently against his opponent's neck.
"Thanks for the match." He withdrew his sword and gave a small bow.
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause rang out.
Koushirou, the dojo master, stepped forward, smiling with praise.
"A prodigy, truly. A young hero among us."
Luffy turned, saw who it was, and immediately bowed politely.
After all, Koushirou wasn't just any swordsman, he was a true master.
Not like the carefree Shanks. Koushirou was the old-school, disciplined kind.
Best to show some proper respect.
"You're too kind, sir. I just happen to be a bit sturdier than most."
Koushirou smiled at the display of manners and nodded.
"To achieve such skill and strength at your age with a normal human body… You're only the second I've ever seen."
Luffy thought to himself:
Second? Then the first must've been Zoro. Guess Koushirou doesn't count Kuina…
He glanced around, wondering if Kuina would appear.
If she did, he was planning to stay here for a while.
"Second?" Luffy asked aloud, feigning confusion and curiosity.
Luffy's Theater: Now Showing.
Koushirou explained,
"My top student. I just sent someone to get him, he should be here any moment."
"I'm looking forward to meeting him," Luffy said, this time sincerely.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
A short while later…
Koushirou's eyes shifted subtly, he stood up from his seat.
Luffy didn't notice anything at first… until, several seconds later, he finally heard footsteps approaching.
"No wonder they call him a master swordsman," Luffy thought.
"Whether it's enhanced hearing or Observation Haki, it's impressive."
Zoro burst through the doors.
"Sensei! Where's the challenger?!" He called out, voice loud and confident.
In the past, Kuina had always handled these sorts of matters. Now that she was gone, Zoro had taken on her role.
Koushirou frowned.
"Zoro! Compose yourself. Don't be so brash."
Luffy smiled.
"It's alright, Master Koushirou."
Then he turned to Zoro.
"So you're Zoro, huh? Want to have a match?"
Zoro eyed the tiny figure in front of him and the way he awkwardly held his sword.
He couldn't help but feel a little… insulted.
He reached over to a rack, pulled out three wooden swords, and said in a strange, gruff tone:
"Alright then, let me teach you a lesson!"
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