Zoro and Kuina

East Blue - Shimotsuki Village

In a remote area of Shimotsuki village, two silhouettes could be seen exchanging blows as if they were dancing.

they were a young man and a young girl.

The young man was muscular, of an average height with lightly tanned skin, bundled up with a green haramaki over his right hip while carrying three swords.

The young woman was a little tomboyish, She had short, dark blue hair and dark brown eyes. She wore a white sleeveless shirt and green pants, she carry a sword with pure-white hilt with a circular hand-guard. The sheath is painted white and the type of the blade is a straight one. if someone was here, he would gasp in surprise while shouting 'Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 O Wazamono grade swords'

The man with green hair seems to be in a dilemma, because the girl seems to overpower him in every clash, not with strength, solely with skill!

In another area of the village, a man with black hair tied back in a long ponytail. He has a wrinkled face, and wears glasses with circular frames. He wears a gray 'Yukata' and has a beige 'Haori' over it with two crossed swords on the left breast, and along with this man there were a lot of people carrying some boxes 'Food and supplies' under his guidance towards three ships in the dock,

Standing in the sky, Luffy was surprised to see that Koushirou seems to be a part of some organization, but quickly he remembered something! those guys weren't pirates nor were they marines, of course not 'WG' agents nor Underworld, but 'Revolutionaries', because he saw someone familiar among them.

Round eyes, and short curly blond hair, a long black jacket with a buckle on the left sleeve, with a blue shirt and vest, a frilled cravat, and a simple belt holding a pair of loosen light-blue pants with black boots. He also wears a pair of brown gloves and the same top hat with goggles over the band, yes it's Sabo! and he wasn't alone, there was a slim, curvaceous orange hair girl along with him too, Koala. it seems they were discussing about some special mission and that they need some help from Koushirou, but it seems he can't make his mind. well that doesn't matter as I'm here for recruiting!

Vanishing from the azure sky, he appeared near the two young swordsman, and as he continued watching the fight, he couldn't help but reveal a sigh! they were talented, but because of the lack of cultivation manuals, their sword cultivation was a mess, and what they could generate was small 'Sword Qi' and that was an average achievement in the sword cultivation! the problem wasn't that, the young girl has a this overflowing confident bearing, as if she was a sword empress, and the young man took her as the peak, as if he won, he would became the strongest swordsman, but the truth was that she is just a small frog in a well and she was dragging the young man with her.

Luffy couldn't watch any longer.

"Is that swordsmanship?" Asked Luffy in a dull tone.

The two were scared and alarmed, even though they were fighting, they still keep guard while monitoring the surrounding, but this guy just appear near them, and the surprising thing, they didn't even feel his presence, awful than that, he was standing there, at the same time, he was not!

"I asked you, is that swordsmanship?"

"Of course it is, what do you mean?!" said kuina with a frown.

"Really? because for me, it seems you were just waving swords, so I thought you were playing or something, but seeing your serious expression, I couldn't help but wonder, was that really swordsmanship?" said Luffy in a mocking tone.

This time, both of them were pissed off!

"Ho, from your words, it seems that you are also a swordsman?" asked Zoro with an interested tone.

"Well, you can say that I count as one, but it's mainly a 'hobby', it seems you don't believe that you are suck in using swords I presume?"

"What do you mean we are suck?! I never lost a fight in my entire life, even father told me that I was born to be a swordsman, I may not have powerful body as 'men', but my skill is top-notch!" said kuina in a raging tone.

"'Sigh' how about that, the two of you can attack me with your most powerful and exquisite techniques, if you even injure me just a little, even a scratch, I'll take back my words, but if you couldn't even make me serious, each of you will need to listen to one of my command! are you in?"

Even though the bet was a little weird, being insulted as they were not even 'swordsmen' was hard to swallow! so they agreed!

"Where is your sword?" asked Kuina in surprise.

"As I said, you aren't a swordsman, a swordsman don't need a sword, because he is the sword"

Kuina and Zoro were a little skeptical, is that guy crazy, but they didn't care, they attacked him with their most powerful attacks! but they were appalled by his action.

He raised his index finger, and move it in a weird way, and before they could even understand what happened, Zoro swords turned to dust, while Kuina sword was blown away, it seems it wasn't a legendary sword for nothing, even though he was confident that he can destroy it if he give it all.

"Slow, weak! 'sigh' you lack speed, technique and most importantly strength! do you understand now why I said you weren't even count as swordsman!"

Zoro was shivering, but one could see that his eyes were gleaming with excitement, while Kuina was having a breakdown in her confidence and beliefs!

a finger! then those years of training and pain was for nothing!

Seeing that she is about to breakdown. he hurriedly said.

" Well you are strong! for the East Blue though!"

Hearing that she slowly raised her head, while Zoro perked his ears.

"You may not know, but this a backward area, a peaceful place where it's impossible to grow stronger, both of you are talented, but you lack aspirations, little girl you are satisfied as long as you beat the green hair boy, and the green hair boy is satisfied as long as he can beat you, but do you know that in the sea, there are thousands if not hundred thousands that could kill you with a fist or even a finger" Zoro was really a character, the more he heard, the more he grew excited! Kuina was a little down, as she never have thought that she was this narrow-minded!

"There is a man in the sea who is called Mihawk, the strongest swordsman! he is a pirate and he used the sword as a weapon, if you really wants to stand above the peak of this world, your next goal should be taking him down, but that's far away for both of you"

"Why would you telling us that? is that have something to do with the bet earlier" as expected of Kuina

"Yes, I'm a pirate who is looking for strong 'Nakama' to challenge the sea!"

"B-But didn't you say we are weak?!" said Kuina with a hopeful voice.

"Well, you aren't that weak, it's just I am very strong, even 'Mihawk' wouldn't stand a chance, but the reason I looked for you is potential! you may not be strong, but what about 1 year later, 2 or 10 years later!"

"I want to ask you a question, in the sea, are they really that strong?" Asked Zoro with a flame in his eyes.

"Yes they are"

"I am in Captain!"

Kuina was surprised, she finally understand why her father always said that Zoro would surpass her, it's not because he is a 'man', it's because of this special trait, he doesn't fear challenge, he only think of getting stronger.

Kuina clenched her fist while biting her lower lip, she finally made her decision!

"I am in too!"

Luffy couldn't help but smile, he got a bonus! at first when he saw kuina, he was a little surprised, but understand that must be some kind of butterfly effect, or that 'One piece' world is different to the one in the 'canon'.

"I am Monkey D Luffy! welcome to the 'straw hat' Pirates!"

"I am Zoro!"

"Kuina! why is it 'straw hat'?!"

As she asked, Luffy remembered something, he put his hand on the void, and he took a straw hat as he put it above his head while smiling towards the duo.

"How did you do that? are you a devil fruit user in the legends!" said Kuina

"What? what is that?" Zoro was clueless, after all he never left the 'Dojo'.

Luffy only smirked a little, " Go pack your stuffs, Tomorrow we will meet at the Dock!" as he said that he disappeared!

The both of them were surprised, Zoro quickly returned to his excited mode, while Kuina kept pouting, every time she remembered that sly smile, her heart thump madly!