Chapter 51 : Tashigi, Do You Want A Famous Sword?

At this time, the Merry boarded.

Tashigi slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in a strange room. The layout indicated it was likely a girl's room, but she could see the sea through a round window, which told her she was definitely on a ship.

Gripping her saber, Shigure, from the corner of the room, Tashigi felt a sense of reassurance. She stood up, and after taking a moment to adjust herself, she opened the door.

What greeted her was the sight of the Straw Hat Crew having a lively party on the deck.

"Beautiful Ms. Tashigi, you're awake! Please join us for a meal!" Sanji exclaimed, rushing up with a charming smile and offering an elegant invitation.

Tashigi blinked, slightly bewildered. "Oh, thanks... wait, that's weird!" she realized. "Are you the Straw Hat Crew? You brought me here?!"

Zoro, who was casually sipping a drink, rolled his eyes. "Hey, hey, don't talk nonsense. You were the one who got blown onto the Merry by the wind..."

Tashigi narrowed her eyes, pointing a finger at Zoro, clearly not amused. "Roronoa Zoro! I understand now—it's clear that you coveted my good sword, Shiyu, so you took me captive, didn't you?!"

Zoro's frustration was palpable as he sighed. "I said, do you have persecution paranoia?!"

He wasn't sure what to make of Tashigi. She looked like his old friend Kuina and even sounded like her, but her personality was far more abrasive, and her combat abilities didn't compare to Kuina's. Honestly, he didn't like this "imposter" at all.

Carl, who had been observing the interaction between Zoro and Tashigi, couldn't help but laugh. "Zoro, it seems like you and Tashigi are quite familiar with each other. Is there a story there?"

The moment Carl spoke, Tashigi's sharp gaze locked onto him.

"Pirate Carl, you liar! How dare you deceive me like this!" Tashigi's voice was filled with anger.

Carl raised an eyebrow. "How did I deceive you?"

Sanji, jumping to Tashigi's defense, immediately joined in. "Carl, you b*d! What did you do to Tashigi-chan?!" he demanded, standing protectively beside Tashigi. His sudden action caught everyone by surprise.

The rest of the crew was left speechless by this sudden outburst.

Carl, clearly confused, tried to clear things up. "What do you mean, deceive you?"

Tashigi threw her hands up in exasperation. "You're obviously a pirate, but you pretended to be friendly and approached me like some nice guy. You even told me you weren't lying! I trusted you so much!"

Carl's expression softened as he realized where the confusion came from. "Tashigi, you're misunderstanding. I didn't deceive you. I just saved you from the storm."

But Tashigi wasn't convinced. "Saved me? You kidnapped me, didn't you?!"

Sanji gave Carl a fierce glare, as if ready to jump to Tashigi's defense again. The tension between the group was clear, but Carl couldn't help but chuckle at the chaos unfolding around him.

Carl couldn't help but shake his head, amused and somewhat sympathetic.

This innocent girl really hadn't seen the rougher side of life. She was so naive that a few soft words from a stranger, especially a man, had her worried. It made Carl realize just how sheltered she must be. In the pirate world, this kind of innocence could easily be taken advantage of. If it weren't for him, she might have ended up in a much worse situation. Pirates weren't all as kind as he was.

But Carl wasn't going to explain all that to Tashigi. Let her figure it out on her own, he thought. Sometimes, experiencing things firsthand was the best teacher.

He turned to Luffy, who was busy devouring a giant piece of meat. "Luffy, Tashigi is Marine. What are you going to do?"

Luffy barely looked up from his meal, shrugging casually. "In this case, let her be released on a safe island in the Grand Line. She's a Marine, but she's still a girl. It's not right to put her in danger."

Carl nodded in agreement. "Since the captain said that, then Nami, Tashigi will stay in the same room with you for now, and we'll drop her off on a safe island when we get to the Grand Line."

Nami didn't protest. "It's fine. There are enough old men on this ship, and I'm the only girl. Besides, she doesn't seem so bad. I think we'll get along."

Tashigi, hearing this, relaxed slightly. The Straw Hat Pirates weren't as bad as she expected. She had been nervous when she first woke up, but now she felt a bit better. At least they weren't planning anything hostile. If they were going to drop her off on a safe island, maybe things would be okay.

She ate something with the others, and after some time, she returned to her room to sleep.

The next morning, Tashigi woke up early. She expected Nami to be around, but she found the room empty. As she stepped out of the cabin, she heard noises from the deck.

When she opened the door, she saw the Straw Hat Crew already up and moving—doing their morning exercises.

"No wonder they're so strong," Tashigi thought, eyes widening in awe. "They train this hard... As a Marine, I can't fall behind."

She quickly found a spot to practice swinging her sword, silently pushing herself to train harder.

The Straw Hat Crew noticed her, but they didn't comment. They were focused on their own intense routines.

Tashigi soon found out what true monster training was.

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were doing tens of thousands of push-ups without stopping. Afterward, Luffy and Sanji defied gravity and used the Moonwalk technique to run several kilometers through the sky. Meanwhile, Zoro swung his sword tens of thousands of times without even breaking a sweat.

And then, there was the rest of the crew. Nami, Usopp, and Jango weren't doing quite as intense a workout, but it was still an amount that only monsters could endure.

Tashigi couldn't help but stare. She'd never seen anything like it. Their stamina and discipline were beyond anything she could imagine. She was used to Marine training, but this was something else.

"If I want to be as strong as them," she thought to herself, "I'm going to have to push myself just as hard."

She focused on her sword training, determined not to fall behind. It was clear that the Straw Hats were more than just pirates—they were a group of warriors, each one stronger than the last.

Carl watched Tashigi's movements, his brow furrowing in mild frustration. She had potential, but she wasn't pushing herself enough. Every swing of her sword lacked the necessary speed and power to make a real impact. "Is this really all you've got?" Carl thought to himself, his disappointment growing.

Tashigi's attacks were basic, lacking in technique and finesse. She was following a set pattern, predictable and easy to read. "She's far too reliant on form over power," Carl concluded.

He stepped back slightly, still holding Shigure casually in one hand, while Tashigi panted from the effort of her attacks.

"You're not even close," Carl said with a mild tone of criticism. "If you're serious about becoming strong enough to hold your own, you need to learn to adapt, to use more than just basic swordsmanship. You need to build your instincts—think on your feet."

Tashigi, determined to prove herself, tightened her grip on Shigure. "I will get better," she muttered under her breath, her eyes burning with resolve.

Carl nodded, impressed with her determination, but he knew that determination alone wouldn't be enough. "Okay," he said, stepping forward again. "Let's change things up. This is a test of your real capabilities now. No more holding back."

Tashigi raised her sword, and Carl was quick to respond, flicking Shigure upward and knocking her blade aside effortlessly. He moved with ease, his experience showing through with every fluid motion.

"Focus," Carl said, his voice now sharp, "Think about your position. Stop relying on pure strength. Adapt. Attack and defend in harmony."

Tashigi's movements began to improve, albeit slowly. She started to incorporate more flexibility into her strikes, blending offense and defense in a more fluid manner. Her timing was still off, and she wasn't as fast as Carl, but she could feel the difference in the way her body moved.

As she swung her sword again, Carl was able to dodge with ease, but this time, she didn't immediately follow up with a predictable strike. She hesitated for a moment, adjusting her stance, before launching into another series of attacks. She wasn't just trying to overpower him; she was testing him, trying to find his weak spots.

Carl smiled slightly. "There we go," he murmured, nodding in approval. "You're learning. That's the right way to fight. But you still need more speed and precision."

The Straw Hat Crew, who had been watching the sparring match, began whispering among themselves. Luffy leaned over to Zoro with a grin.

"I think Tashigi's gonna be pretty strong soon, huh?" Luffy said, munching on another piece of meat.

Zoro took a swig from his flask, shrugging. "She's definitely got spirit. But Carl's got way more experience. It'll take time before she catches up to him."

Meanwhile, Sanji couldn't help but smirk, watching Tashigi's growing determination. "I bet if she's trained like this, she might even be able to give me a run for my money."

Carl didn't let Tashigi rest for long. "Keep going," he said, his voice more commanding now. "I won't go easy on you just because you're Marine. If you want that famous sword, you'll need to earn it. Now show me what you've got."

Tashigi, now drenched in sweat, nodded with resolve. She was no longer just swinging blindly. She was adjusting her attacks, thinking critically about every move she made. Carl had planted the seed, and now, Tashigi was starting to understand what it truly meant to push herself beyond her limits.

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