Tsukasa Yuu boarded the Shadow, and the sea breeze caressed his cheeks, cold and sharp.
He gazed at the distant horizon, already planning his first destination.
"System, open the map navigation."
"Go to Shimotsuki Village."
Shimotsuki Village housed an untapped regret and a key future member of his Shadow Legion.
Tsukasa Yuu's ship needed a great swordsman who could rival Zoro in the future.
The first person he thought of was the sword prodigy, Kuina, who had bested Zoro in their youth!
"Kuina..." he murmured softly in the darkness.
"I wonder what you would have looked like at your peak?"
...
After some time at sea, the Shadow finally arrived at Shimotsuki Village.
This peaceful little fishing village was nestled among the mountains, and at the end of the small path at the village's entrance stood the Isshin Dojo.
It was founded by a swordsman and swordsmith from the Wano Country, named Shimotsuki Kozaburo; both the high-quality swords Enma and Wado Ichimonji were his masterpieces.
The sword originally belonged to Kuina; after her death, Zoro took it and vowed to become the greatest swordsman in the world with it.
The Shimotsuki and Kozuki families were originally the two great swordsmith families of the Wano Country, but for some unknown reason, Shimotsuki Kozaburo left Wano with a group of people over fifty years ago and settled here.
The wooden door of the Isshin Dojo creaked open under the morning light, and Genzo's hand, wiping his glasses, suddenly stopped.
The disciples in the room all turned to look, and for a moment, total silence reigned.
Shimotsuki Genzo sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, teaching his disciples, and slightly furrowed his brow as he looked at the uninvited guest.
The young man before him was shrouded in intertwined black shadow, clearly indicating he was a Devil Fruit user.
His appearance, covered in dark shadows, did not seem like that of a good person.
"Um... I want to borrow Kuina's Shadow."
Tsukasa Yuu was direct, his gaze like a knife.
These straightforward words dropped like a bomb in a calm lake, causing monstrous waves.
The disciples stared in astonishment at the black-clad man before them, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Genzo's pupils suddenly contracted, and the glasses in his hand trembled slightly.
"W-what did you say?"
Shimotsuki Genzo exclaimed, a glimmer of doubt and anger passing in his eyes, as if he had heard the most absurd thing in the world.
"I said, I want Kuina's Shadow."
Tsukasa Yuu repeated, his tone even firmer.
"I know she's been dead for years, but I need her Shadow. I want to take her out to sea with me!"
Shimotsuki Genzo stood up, grabbing the bamboo sword beside him, a faint hint of killing intent rising.
"Are you here to humiliate our Shimotsuki family? Kuina has been at peace for many years; with such a direct and presumptuous request, do you really think I won't draw my sword to cut you down?"
Tsukasa Yuu tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes undisturbed.
"If you truly understood her, I dare say she was destined to be someone who couldn't cross the 'fatal boundary.' I can also tell you that her Shadow has not yet disappeared, and her talent should not be buried. And my ability can help her achieve her dream of becoming the greatest."
"Get out."
Genzo's voice was stern, his usually gentle face now covered in frost.
The atmosphere in the dojo was on the brink of exploding, but Tsukasa Yuu simply turned his gaze away, turned, and left without any further retort.
However, his Shadow instantly spread like wings.
Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts; this substantial dark energy seemed like it could engulf them in the next second, but it vanished as quickly as it dissipated...
Outside the door, Tsukasa Yuu stood at the entrance of the dojo, his silhouette like an immovable reef, nobody could ignore his presence.
Time passed in that silence, minute by minute, and he had no intention of leaving.
A day went by, and Shimotsuki Genzo finally opened the dojo door, looking coldly at Tsukasa Yuu, who stood his ground.
"You are terrifyingly persistent, but that does not mean I will accept your absurd request."
Another day passed, and Tsukasa Yuu still stood in front of the dojo, without sleep.
Genzo observed him, his confusion deepening.
Why was this young man so adamant about Kuina's Shadow?
Finally, Genzo stepped out.
"What is your name?"
"Tsukasa Yuu," he replied indifferently.
"If you can defeat me in swordsmanship, I will grant your request."
Tsukasa Yuu accepted without hesitation; he knew his current swordsmanship was far from matching Genzo's.
It was well-known that squint-eyed characters were terribly strong, and Genzo was one of them.
"But before that, you must learn swordsmanship."
"I can teach you!"
"Alright then."
...
Tsukasa Yuu stayed at the dojo and began a long swordsmanship training.
Every day before dawn, he stood by the old well, wielding his sword three thousand times.
When night fell, he trained against his numerous Shadow Soldiers under the moonlight.
Until one snowy night, where he cut through falling snowflakes.
Not by cutting with a Shadow blade, but by the wind pressure created by his wooden sword.
Three days later, Tsukasa Yuu stood before Genzo, the backyard filled with countless broken wooden swords.
He felt that the time had come.
"Please enlighten me."
Genzo nodded and drew his wooden sword.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sword light and Shadows intertwined, and two silhouettes moved swiftly in the dojo.
Although Tsukasa Yuu's swordsmanship was not as refined as Genzo's, he did not collapse immediately, thanks to several days of relentless practice day and night and his understanding of Genzo's swordsmanship.
Finally, the two wooden swords broke simultaneously!
Genzo's glasses split into four pieces, and Tsukasa Yuu's sleeve turned into tatters.
The breaking of the wooden swords meant they could not continue the fight, and it was a contest of pure swordsmanship; Tsukasa Yuu had not used any of his Shadow Fruit powers.
Genzo looked at Tsukasa Yuu, a complex emotion passing in his eyes.
He never expected that in just a few days, the young man before him could fully grasp the essence of swordsmanship; such talent was simply...
Terrifying!
"You have won," he said, sheathing his sword.
"But her Shadow may not want to leave with you."
Then, Genzo led Tsukasa Yuu to Kuina's grave.
On the tombstone, Kuina's name shone particularly under the sunlight; by calculations, she had been dead for nearly twelve years.
Tsukasa Yuu reached out, palm facing the tombstone, activating his Shadow Fruit ability to extract the Shadows.
"Rise up!"
"First extraction of the target Shadow failed!"
Tsukasa Yuu frowned, extraction failure?
Could it be that even as a young girl, Kuina's combat ranking exceeded B?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Even with extraordinary talent, a young Kuina would at best be rank C; her lack of physical strength and combat experience simply could not reach rank B.
"Rise up!"
"Second extraction of the target Shadow failed! There is only one chance left; if it fails again, it cannot be retried!"
Damn... would all this effort be in vain if this continues?
Was it really as Genzo said, that Kuina does not want to leave this place?
Or is there no one under this tombstone?
Tsukasa Yuu was not ready to give up.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered the scene of Ygritte's Shadow extraction in Solo Leveling, which was also in this situation.
He understood; at this stage, he still had to use his words!
Although he was not good at it, he had to try!
"Ahem..."
"Ah, I heard that Zoro has already set sail, and he keeps saying he wants to become the greatest swordsman in the world..."
"Your father said that a female swordsman could not become the greatest; have you accepted that?"
"Zoro, whom you have defeated countless times, continues to grow stronger, while you can only stay here. Are you satisfied with that?"
"Rise up!"
This time, there was finally movement on the tombstone!
A faint Shadow slowly emerged, gradually solidifying, and eventually transformed into the appearance of a young girl.
The girl had short dark hair, delicate features, and a pair of eyes full of vitality. She stood there quietly, like an elf who had slept for many years.
"Kuina..."
Genzo looked at the Shadow before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions, never thinking he would see his daughter again...
Suddenly, the girl opened her eyes.