Isshin Dojo.
Back courtyard.
Splash… splash…
The sound of flowing water echoed softly from the small pond, clear and calming, washing away the noise and agitation of the outside world.
The air here was peaceful.
Serene.
A place where worldly distractions seemed to fall away.
Koushirou sat cross-legged on the wooden deck, his eyes half-closed as he gazed at the elderly man seated by the edge of the pond. His tone was respectful, but the excitement in his voice couldn't be concealed.
"Father, our dojo… has produced a terrifying genius. A true genius."
The old man sitting by the water's edge was—
Shimotsuki Kozaburo.
Koushirou's father.
A master swordsmith whose skill was renowned in the past.
Among the twenty-one Great Grade Swords, the famous blade Wado Ichimonji was one of his works.
No one would have imagined—
That such a famed swordsmith would one day retire in a tiny village in East Blue like Shimotsuki Village.
"To hear you call someone a genius… there aren't many who can earn that from you," Kozaburo chuckled. "And if I recall correctly…"
"You're the one who always said there was no such thing as 'innate genius'—only those who trained hard enough to look like geniuses in others' eyes."
Though in his eighties, Kozaburo's complexion was still ruddy and healthy. He let out a hearty laugh, his eyes full of curiosity as he glanced at his son.
No one knew Koushirou's standards better than he did.
Even Kuina was only barely acknowledged as a "genius" in Koushirou's view.
So just what kind of person—
Could make Koushirou call him a "terrifying genius"?
That alone piqued Kozaburo's interest.
"Father, I've started to rethink my old berryefs," Koushirou said quietly. "I have to admit… there truly are those who can achieve, in half an hour, what others can't reach in years of grueling training."
"And I've seen it with my own eyes."
"If I told you who it was, you might not even berryeve me. This unbelievable genius is… the very same Ryukawa we both once agreed was completely average."
Koushirou let out a soft sigh.
Truly—
The world was unpredictable.
Nothing was set in stone from the beginning.
Just like Ryukawa.
Who would have thought that the boy they once labeled "mediocre"…
Would suddenly transform into an astonishing late-blooming prodigy?
"Ryukawa? That kid… I remember him," Kozaburo mused. "A bit wooden in personality. His sword talent wasn't terrible, but nothing impressive either. To be frank, he was… ordinary."
"So you're telling me that kid is the one you're calling a genius of that caliber?"
Kozaburo's expression turned strange.
Was this a joke?
He remembered Ryukawa clearly.
And the word that came to mind was—
Mediocre.
And now that same "mediocre" junior was being called a peerless genius by his own son?
If he hadn't heard it from Koushirou himself, he would've thought someone was pulling his leg.
"It's absolutely true."
Koushirou's tone was firm.
"Father, I can even say this: things that Zoro cannot achieve, things Kuina cannot do… if it's him, I berryeve he can."
"In fact, I think that one day… he might be the one to return to our homeland in our stead—and resolve the turmoil there."
Kozaburo's brows rose.
"You're placing that much hope on this boy? You'd better think clearly about how difficult that is."
Homeland.
Their homeland—
Where was it?
The homeland of the Shimotsuki clan could only be—
The legendary Wano Country.
Yes.
Their homeland was that Wano Country.
"No," Koushirou shook his head gently. "Father, you haven't truly seen it. You can't understand what it feels like unless you've watched his growth with your own eyes."
"When you do… you'll realize something."
"Compared to him, we're like a different species entirely."
"His talent for the sword—there's no one in my memory that can be compared to him."
"Zoro and Kuina are both advancing toward the goal of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. But frankly… that path is incredibly steep. I don't think their chances are particularly high."
"But if it's Ryukawa…"
"That's different. For some reason, I have this irrational confidence—this blind trust—that…"
"Ryukawa will be able to do it."
That was how deeply shaken Koushirou had been by Ryukawa.
So much so—
That his long-held berryefs were beginning to crumble.
As Koushirou spoke, Kozaburo's expression gradually became serious. His heart stirred with a mix of doubt and anticipation.
From the way Koushirou described him, Kozaburo found it difficult to even imagine what kind of monstrous talent this boy must possess.
This was the first time.
The first time Koushirou had ever spoken of someone with such absolute confidence.
Huff…
Kozaburo exhaled slowly, adjusting his mood, then smiled faintly.
"In that case, I really must see him with my own eyes. I want to know what kind of 'genius' could make you place so much hope on him."
Until he saw Ryukawa, he wouldn't pass judgment.
But given how highly Koushirou praised him—
He had to see this so-called prodigy for himself.
"I've watched Zoro's efforts over the years," Koushirou continued. "Because of that, I know better than anyone how terrifying it is that Ryukawa surpassed all of that with just half an hour of swinging his sword."
"Just thirty minutes—"
"To casually overtake several years of doubled effort."
Even now, every time he thought back to what he'd seen in the dojo that day, the memory made his heart churn like waves crashing against the shore.
With his temperament, it was rare for anything to shake him this much.
He'd seen many sword geniuses before.
But none of them—
Not a single one—
Could be placed on the same level as Ryukawa.
In Koushirou's eyes—
There were two types of geniuses.
One was the "traditional genius," like Kuina.
The other—
Was Ryukawa.
A completely different kind of monster.
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