The sea stretched endlessly before them, waves rocking the small ship. Zoro stood at the bow, green hair catching the sunlight, eyes scanning the horizon with a calm intensity. Behind him, Riku struggled to keep the sail steady, excitement and nerves evident in every movement. The rhythmic creaking of the ship and the smell of salt in the air grounded him, but the tension in Riku's posture reminded Zoro that the world beyond the village was unpredictable.
"We're close," Zoro said quietly, voice low but firm. "The village ahead… Luffy and his crew could be anywhere along the coast. Observation first. Don't rush."
Riku's grip on the ropes tightened. "Wait… Luffy? Who is he? Why do you care?"
Zoro glanced at him briefly, expression unreadable, green eyes narrowing slightly. "He's a pirate. But not just any pirate. Strong, unpredictable, dangerous. I know what he will become in the future. His crew… competent, capable, and reckless in ways most people can't anticipate. We may need them. Or we may need to avoid them. Approach cautiously."
Riku's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. "So… you already know what they're like? That's why we don't just barge in?"
Zoro nodded once. "Exactly. We don't make mistakes here. Observation first. Action second. Leave a mark—but not a permanent one. Understand?"
"Yes," Riku replied, swallowing hard, still holding the ropes. "I… I think I understand."
The coastline slowly emerged from the morning mist. A small village hugged the cliffs, with tidy wooden houses, narrow streets, and a few boats tied to the docks. A rowboat moved strangely near the shore, and subtle signs—the way a figure carried themselves, spacing, posture—told Zoro Insight was noticing trained individuals nearby. Straw Hats, likely. Observant, cautious, aware.
Zoro adjusted the rudder slightly, keeping the ship gliding slowly toward the coast. "Every movement matters. Don't let excitement overtake awareness," he murmured.
As they neared the docks, a sudden commotion caught their attention. A small pirate crew—three men, uncoordinated but aggressive—harassed a merchant caravan near the village. One wielded a rusty cutlass, another a broken spear, and the third bellowed threats while swinging a heavy club.
"Perfect," Zoro muttered, voice almost a whisper. "Observation first. Learn what they do before acting."
Riku crouched low, mimicking Zoro's stance. "Got it," he said, eyes darting between the pirates and Zoro.
Zoro stepped from the ship, boots landing silently on the sand. The pirates noticed him immediately, smirking at the lone swordsman. "Who's this?" the leader sneered. "You here to die?"
Zoro tilted his head, green eyes unwavering. "Leave them alone."
The fight began. The leader lunged with his cutlass. Zoro shifted his weight slightly, parrying the strike with the flat of his blade, stepping lightly on the sand. Insight nudged him toward perfect timing and foot placement.
Riku moved hesitantly to block the pirate with the spear, copying Zoro's movements. His strikes were clumsy but guided by Insight. The pirate stumbled under the coordination, leaving himself open. Zoro took advantage, stepping in and tapping the leader's shoulder with precise force, enough to destabilize without injuring seriously.
Zoro's eyes scanned constantly—the dock, the ropes, barrels, uneven planks. He shifted again, using the environment to restrict the pirates' movement, cutting off escape routes while keeping himself and Riku safe. Insight whispered: Middle one overcommits… left is slow… timing off on the right. Every misstep became a teaching moment.
The spear-wielder swung desperately. Zoro pivoted, redirecting momentum, then tapped the man's wrist with the blade, disarming him. The last pirate charged recklessly at Zoro. With a quick sidestep and minimal force, Zoro tripped him over a dock beam. He fell hard into the sand, cursing.
Riku's eyes were wide, heart pounding. "I… I can't believe you do all of that so smoothly!"
Zoro didn't respond. Instead, he whispered, "Control your fear. Anticipate every move. Timing, spacing, weight. Observation first. Action second. Remember that."
From the edge of the village, several figures watched silently. Luffy, along with a small portion of his crew, had noticed the fight, their expressions shifting between surprise and curiosity at the efficiency and calmness of Zoro and Riku.
"You're… good," Luffy said finally, stepping forward with his usual grin. "Who are you?"
Zoro sheathed his sword slowly, green eyes sharp. "A swordsman passing through. Helped your people when it mattered. That's enough for now."
Riku glanced at Zoro, comprehension dawning. "So… that's why we didn't just charge in. You wanted them to see skill and strategy, not just brute force."
Zoro's gaze shifted back toward the horizon. "Exactly. Impression matters. Reputation matters. Today, we've shown we can handle ourselves. But we aren't here to join yet. Mutual benefit only—for now."
Luffy tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Not bad. Calm, smart… but you don't just go around helping everyone, huh?"
Zoro ignored him, observing the crew carefully. Riku, however, already scribbled mental notes, absorbing Zoro's deliberate approach—strength, awareness, and diplomacy balanced together.
As they prepared to board their ship again, Zoro glanced back. Luffy and the others lingered, impressed but cautious. Zoro's reputation—calm, deadly, precise—was already forming.
He spoke quietly to Riku. "Remember this. Observation first. Action second. Always leave an impression, but never overcommit. This is how we survive—and how we grow."
The ship pushed off, slicing through the gentle waves. The open sea stretched endlessly ahead, full of possibilities, dangers, and challenges. Zoro adjusted the rudder, green hair glinting in the sunlight, Insight humming faintly in his mind. Step by step. Observation first. Action second. One day… the Straw Hats will see the swordsman I truly am.
And with that, Zoro and Riku sailed toward the unknown, leaving the village—and a small, cautious alliance—behind.