CHAPTER 4: MEMORIES OF KUINA

After That Dual Prime, Zoro and Saga were exhausted, but it only fuels their Spirits to train harder. After all they have seen there is still leveling for them to reach and it won't be easy.

So as they all parted ways going to there fellow homes.

Zoro who is just walking by Prime's side asked "Shouldn't you be going home it's already going late"

Prime replied "Well I'm on my way home right now, I also wanted to ask you that question since you are just following me"

"Huh what do you mean this is my way going home" Zoro replied with an unamused expression on his face.

Prime was shocked hearing this then remembered something-

"No Zoro this is definitely my way home you are the one who's going to wrong way is this how easily you get lost!?" Prime said this quite shocked 'so this is the legendary getting lost sense of direction' Prime said amused to himself.

"WHAATTT!!" Zoro yelled turning back then going another way.

"Wait Zoro I think that's the wrong wa-" but Zoro was already long gone. Prime just stood there looking around "Well he will find his way he always does, I'm not in the mood to go looking for him right now. I'm so tired"

After making it home. Prime final good his long needed rest and as soon as he just finished taking his bath. which he doesn't spend more time in it, he jumped straight to bed.

*****************

The sun peeked over the horizon, casting a warm glow over Shimotsuki Village. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of dew-laden grass and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

On a hill overlooking the dojo, Zoro was already hard at work, sweat glistening on his brow as he lifted weights he had fashioned from stones.

Each grunt accompanied a steady rhythm of his breath as he drove himself further into the grind.

"Ugh! One more!" he shouted into the stillness, a fierce determination etched on his face. The clanking of the stones echoed like a battle cry, but there was a shadow behind his intensity—a flicker of something deeper.

Meanwhile, Saga was darting through the dense underbrush, his dark blue hair whipping behind him like a flag in the wind.

"Faster! Faster!" he muttered to himself, his feet barely touching the ground. He was determined to master his footwork, each leap and twist a step toward becoming a swordsman of unmatched speed.

~Whoosh!~

He laughed, mimicking the sound of wind rushing past. "I'm like a ninja! Zoro won't even see me coming!"

Across the hill, under the shade of a gnarled tree, Prime sat on a rock, his black curls bouncing as he watched his friends. "Come on, Zoro, don't you ever take a break?" he called out breathing heavily, a grin on his face.

Zoro paused, the weight still clutched in his hands. "Breaks are for weaklings, Prime. You want to get stronger, don't you?" He set the weights down with a thud, dusting off his hands as he rose to face Prime, his muscular frame silhouetted against the morning light.

"Of Course" Prime said, scratching his head. "But I'd like to know how to lift those things without turning into a walking boulder."

Saga skidded to a halt, panting as he joined them. "You should learn to be fast instead! Zoro's strong, but I'll outmaneuver him any day!" With a playful jab, he nudged Zoro, who rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smirk.

"Sure, if you can catch me," Zoro shot back, his competitive spirit igniting. "Let's see those legs of yours work, Saga!"

"Ha!" Saga laughed, puffing up his chest. "You're on!"

After a brief spar, they settled down in a patch of grass, catching their breath. Prime's gaze drifted toward the dojo, then back to Zoro, who seemed lost in thought again.

"Hey, Zoro," Prime started cautiously, "do you think we'll ever be as strong as Sensei?"

(A/N: MC Knows he will definitely get stronger than kuina's father but he's just asking to see if but Zoro and Saga has the Will to be dominate and believe in themselves)

Zoro's eyes narrowed as he considered the question. "We'll be stronger," he replied confidently, but his brow furrowed slightly. "But it'll take time. I mean, look how hard he trains."

"Yeah, but he's a grown-up!" Saga exclaimed, flailing his arms. "We're still just kids. We have so much room to grow!"

"Room to grow, huh?" Zoro mused, his voice dropping. "I guess that's true. But growing isn't just about strength."

"What do you mean?" Prime asked, tilting his head.

Zoro hesitated, the weight of memories pressing down on him. "It's about what you carry with you. Like… like Kuina."

The air grew heavy, the laughter fading. Prime and Saga exchanged glances, feeling the shift in mood. They knew Kuina's name had a sharp edge for Zoro, a reminder of a bond lost too soon.

"I still think about her," Zoro admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every day. She should've been here training with us."

He looked away, his gaze lost in the distance. "I want to honor her. To be the best swordsman… for her."

"Zoro, we'll all honor her," Prime said softly, empathy lining his tone. "We're a team, remember? We can push each other, just like she would have."

"What if I'm not strong enough?" Zoro's vulnerability broke through his tough exterior For the First Time, revealing a boy grappling with loss and expectation.

Saga leaned forward, his dark blue hair falling into his eyes. "You are strong! You've got that monster strength, and you're training harder than anyone I know. Kuina would be proud of you, Zoro!"

"Yeah, she would," Prime added, nodding vigorously. "And we're here with you. You're not alone in this."

Zoro sighed, the tension easing slightly. "Thanks, guys. I just… I want to be able to protect what's important to me. I don't want to feel this way again."

The three boys fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of their shared understanding binding them closer.

"Let's go train," Zoro finally said, his resolve returning. "I want to show you both how to build strength. You can't rely on speed alone, Saga."

"Fine, but I'll still zip around you like a lightning bolt!" Saga shot back, his competitive spirit reigniting.

They moved into the training area behind the dojo, where the air was alive with the sounds of clashing swords and exerted breaths.

As they began their exercises, Zoro took the lead, demonstrating techniques with a precision that spoke of his relentless pursuit of excellence.

"Focus on your stance," he instructed, his voice steady. "You need to ground yourself."

Saga nodded, trying to balance himself, but his footwork faltered. "Like this?"

"No, like this," Zoro corrected, moving behind him to adjust his posture. The closeness sent a jolt through Saga, but he swallowed the feeling. "You're too stiff. Relax. You gotta feel the ground beneath you."

"Zoro's right," Prime chimed in, watching closely. "You've got to flow with your movements. It's like… like water!"

Saga laughed, attempting to mimic the fluidity Prime described. "Water? I'm gonna be a raging river, then!"

"More like a babbling brook," Zoro teased, unable to hide his grin.

Hours passed as they trained, the sun climbing higher in the sky. Zoro pushed them, but he also relented, guiding them through exercises that built their strength and honed their skills.

They laughed and shouted, the playful banter interspersed with serious instruction.

Eventually, fatigue settled in, and they collapsed onto the grass, chests heaving.

"Man, I can't feel my legs!" Saga groaned, flopping back dramatically. "I'm officially a puddle!"

"Puddles don't get stronger," Zoro retorted, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Get up, you baby! We're not done yet!"

"Zoro, you're a beast!" Prime exclaimed, his admiration evident. "I don't know how you keep going."

"It's because I have something to fight for," Zoro replied, his expression turning serious again. "Every rep, every swing… it's all for Kuina. I don't want to let her down. I Will Be The Strongest Swordsman In The World."

"Then let's keep training!" Prime said, bolstering the group's spirits. "We'll train harder, together!"

"Together," Saga echoed, his voice filled with determination as he pushed himself up.

Zoro nodded, a flicker of pride lighting his eyes.

"Alright, one more round! And this time, I want to see some real effort!"

The boys launched into another set of exercises, the laughter returning with each challenge they faced.

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Zoro found himself wandering toward the small, secluded graveyard near Kuina's resting place.

The grass was soft beneath his feet as he approached the simple stone marker, the memories flooding back—her laughter, her strength, the dreams they had shared.

With a sigh, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small flask of sake. "I'm still training, Kuina," he murmured, pouring a small amount on the ground before her grave.

"I won't forget you, I Will Make Our house Dream Come True."

He settled down against the cool stone, the weight of his swords resting beside him. The tranquility of the moment wrapped around him, and he closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the world lift just a little.

"Zoro?" a soft voice broke through the stillness.

He opened his eyes to find Prime standing a few feet away, his expression cautious but sincere. "I just wanted to check on you. You okay?"

Zoro glanced back at the grave, then met Prime's gaze. "Yeah. Just remembering her."

"I thought so," Prime said, moving closer. "You really care about her, don't you?"

"She was my Best friend and rival" Zoro replied, his voice steady. "And I let her down once. I won't do it again."

Prime nodded, understanding the weight of those words. "You're not letting her down. You're becoming stronger for her. That's what she'd want."

Zoro looked back at the grave, the flicker of hope igniting in his heart. "You think so?"

"I know so," Prime affirmed, stepping beside him. "And you know you have Me and Saga we'll always be here for you, Zoro. Like family."

The two boys shared a quiet moment, the bond between them deepening as they sat in solidarity.

As the stars began to twinkle overhead, Zoro felt a spark of determination. He would push forward, not just for himself, but for the family they were building together—a family that included Kuina, who would always be a part of his journey.

"Let's go," Zoro finally said, rising to his feet. "We have a lot more training to do."

With a renewed sense of purpose, they left the graveyard, the weight of the past no longer a burden but a guiding light.

They were on a path to greatness, and together, they would honor Kuina's memory, forging ahead into the unknown future.

(A/N: Just got to do a great bonding moment like this for Zoro to have the same conviction like the original were he was willing to sacrifice everything for Saga now he will also do that for Prime)