A New Encounter

It had been more than a year since Luffy began his intense training.

His Observation Haki had advanced significantly—he could now see 10 seconds into the future, hear the voice of all things, and feel people's emotions.

His Armament Haki had also reached new heights; he could coat both his arms and weapons with Conqueror's Haki and had mastered Ryou, the technique of internal destruction.

His Conqueror's Haki had advanced considerably, and he had imitated and mastered swordsmanship from all the greatest swordsmen in One Piece, as well as those from various anime and games.

Luffy had also perfected the staff combat techniques he'd picked up after discovering his Monkey King abilities.

His Sharingan had evolved to the Mangekyou stage, unlocking powerful techniques like Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Kamui. However, his Jougan abilities had yet to manifest, and Gojo's Infinity remained locked for now.

On this particular day, Luffy found himself sitting near the shore, bamboo fishing rod in hand, contemplating the possibility of catching a Seaking.

The gentle lapping of the waves and the warm sun overhead lulled him into a state of relaxation. Before he knew it, Luffy drifted off to sleep.

A sudden voice jolted him awake. "Hey! Do you know how to get to Goa Kingdom?"

Luffy rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked up at the green-haired young man standing before him.

The stranger, about 17 years old, had messy, moss-colored hair and a stern, focused expression. His muscular frame was wrapped in a simple white shirt and black pants, with a green haramaki (belt) tied around his waist. Strapped to his side were three katana, each worn but carefully maintained.

Luffy recognized him immediately—this was Roronoa Zoro, the future greatest swordsman. He couldn't help but wonder how the hell he had ended up here.

"Who are you, and why do you need to go there?" Luffy asked, pretending not to know him, his tone casual yet laced with genuine curiosity. He tilted his head, taking in the serious demeanor of the swordsman.

The swordsman unfolded his arms and glanced at Luffy with a serious look. "Roronoa Zoro," he said firmly. "I've got business to settle, and I don't have time to waste." His voice was as sharp as his blades

Luffy's gaze shifted to the three swords at Zoro's side. "Are you a swordsman?"

Zoro nodded. "Yeah, I am."

Luffy grinned widely. "Then you must have a dream, right? Every great swordsman has a dream, What's yours?"

Zoro hesitated for a moment, his serious expression faltering as he considered the question. "My dream is to become the world's strongest swordsman," he replied, his voice resolute.

Luffy burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the air. "That's a big dream!"

Zoro raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing at all," Luffy replied, his grin unwavering. "I've got a dream too, and I can't help but think it's fate that we met today."

Zoro's frown deepened, suspicion creeping into his voice. "What do you mean by that?"

Luffy leaned in slightly, his excitement palpable. "You want to become the world's strongest swordsman, right? That means you'll eventually have to defeat Dracule Mihawk. But if I'm being honest..." He paused for emphasis, letting the weight of his words sink in. "You're way too weak right now."

Zoro's eyes narrowed in anger. "What do you mean by that?"

Luffy stood up, still holding the bamboo rod. "I mean, you're like a kid trying to fight a man. You're not there yet."

Zoro's frustration was building. "You think I'm weak?" he growled.

Luffy nodded, his voice calm and unbothered. "Yeah. Want me to prove it? Use your swords and attack me."

Zoro hesitated, eyeing Luffy skeptically. "You sure about that? You've got a blindfold over your eyes."

Luffy smirked, standing tall. "Don't worry. You're weak."

That was the last straw. Zoro, his pride wounded, unsheathed his swords. "Fine, you asked for it."

He lunged at Luffy, his swords flashing in the sunlight. But Luffy, using his advanced Observation Haki, effortlessly dodged each strike without even raising his hand.

Zoro swung again and again, but each blow missed its mark by mere inches. Luffy remained calm, dodging with the smallest movements, as if it was child's play.

This went on for 15 minutes, with Zoro growing more and more frustrated as Luffy dodged every attack. Sweat dripped down Zoro's forehead as he panted, his frustration palpable.

"Is this all you've got?" Luffy asked, sounding almost bored.

Zoro gritted his teeth, his temper flaring. He steadied his grip on his swords. "You're going down! Onigiri!"

Zoro charged with his signature three-sword technique. Just as he drew closer, Luffy, still holding his bamboo fishing rod, countered with a powerful swing, using the move made famous by Roger and Shanks—Divine Departure.

With a swift and powerful swing of the bamboo rod, Luffy unleashed a devastating slash that sent Zoro hurtling backward, crashing through several trees as if they were mere saplings. The force of the impact reverberated through the forest, shaking the ground and scattering leaves into the air.

Zoro finally came to a stop, groaning as he lay sprawled on the ground, momentarily stunned by the overwhelming power of Luffy's unexpected attack. His mind raced, grappling with the realization that he had underestimated this seemingly carefree young man.

Luffy stood tall, a confident grin on his face. "See what I mean? You've still got a long way to go."

Zoro groaned as he struggled to his feet, his body aching from the impact. More than the pain, his pride took the biggest hit.

Slowly, he limped back to where Luffy sat by the shore, fishing rod in hand, as if nothing had happened. As Zoro approached, Luffy didn't even glance up at him.

"How does it feel?" Luffy asked, his voice calm. "That's the difference between you and the monsters you want to defeat."

Zoro paused, still catching his breath, and absorbed Luffy's words. He knew he was right—there was an enormous gap between him and Mihawk.

He had always felt it, but experiencing it firsthand in such a brutal way was a harsh reminder of how far he had to go.

After a long silence, Luffy broke the stillness. "Join my crew."

Zoro blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "What crew?"

Luffy stood up and stretched, a carefree smile lighting up his face. "My pirate crew! I'm going to become the Pirate King. When I turn 17, I'll set sail, and I want you with me."

Zoro frowned, processing the implications. "Pirate King?"

"Yeah!" Luffy's enthusiasm was infectious. "And you're going to be part of my crew. We'll turn this world upside down together!" He locked eyes with Zoro, determination shining through. "I'll train you, and I'll make you strong enough to take on Mihawk."

Zoro studied Luffy for a moment, his mind racing. This guy was serious. After the beating he had just taken, Zoro knew Luffy was no ordinary person—he was on another level entirely. The idea of being trained by someone who believed in his dream was undeniably tempting.

But Zoro wasn't one to make decisions lightly. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm going to be the Pirate King, and I need the world's strongest swordsman by my side," Luffy replied, his confidence unwavering.

Zoro stared at Luffy for a moment longer, then let out a small laugh. "You're crazy."

"Maybe," Luffy said, grinning wider. "But it's going to be fun!"

Zoro's gaze softened, a glimmer of intrigue sparking within him. He had always chased strength, but the prospect of adventure with someone as spirited as Luffy was something new. "All right," he said, a newfound resolve in his voice. "I'll consider it."

Luffy beamed, and for the first time, Zoro felt the weight of his dreams shift. The road ahead might be difficult, but with Luffy's offer, it was one he was willing to take.