15. Luffy VS Zoro

"Come! Look here!"

"1, 2, 3... cheese~!"

Click!

As the flash went off, a perfectly framed photo emerged.

The background was the flower bed to the right of the main entrance of the Marine base building. Standing in front of the flower bed were four young people. Three boys beamed with wide, hopeful smiles, brimming with excitement for the future, while the girl in the middle had an expression as blank as a fish out of water.

It perfectly captured what it meant: the joys and sorrows between people are not always the same.

"The photo turned out great! Brother Marine, you're pretty talented at this!"

After receiving the photo, Red carefully examined it, then sincerely praised the Marine who had been roped into taking it.

"Let me see! Let me see!"

Luffy, unable to contain his excitement, flopped onto Red's shoulder, craning his neck to look at the picture from over his head.

"Wow! It's really good! But…" Luffy squinted. "Nami's smile isn't very clear—what a shame."

"Nami, don't you like to smile?"

Luffy tilted his head, still resting on Red, and looked curiously at Nami, who stood off to the side.

"Smile? Haha…" Nami twitched the corner of her mouth awkwardly.

Doesn't she like to smile?

Ruined. Absolutely ruined.

They'd just defeated the Marine captain and looted the Marine base. It was certain they'd be plastered on wanted posters soon. Yet here they were, actively drawing attention to themselves and even leaving photo evidence behind with the Marines!

Her life was over.

How was she supposed to gather 100 million berries to free Cocoyashi Village from Arlong if she got caught by the Marines first?

With a weak sigh, Nami looked up and saw the three of them crowding around the photo, their faces glowing with satisfaction.

At that moment, she understood...

There was already an unbridgeable divide between her and them.

After a few minutes of playful banter, Red carefully tucked the photo away.

Unexpectedly, the simple act of taking the picture had sparked an interest in photography. He'd already decided to get his hands on a Den Den Mushi camera as soon as possible to document their adventures on the seas.

"Alright, picture time is over," Red said with a smile. "Now it's time to get back to business!"

He grabbed Luffy and Zoro, leading them back to the empty training ground. Turning to Zoro, he smirked and said, "A heads-up for you, Zoro."

"This time, I'm letting Luffy go all out, so you'd better be ready."

Zoro's eyes lit up with a fierce gleam, one hand gripping the white hilt of Wado Ichimonji. Feeling the energy of his sword, he smirked back.

"Don't underestimate me, Vice-Captain. I admit you're strong, but you're not going to scare me that easily."

"Haha," Red chuckled softly. "Underestimate you? You'll see soon enough."

With a cryptic smile, he turned to Luffy, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Go test the swordsman I picked for you," he said, grinning. "I think you'll be satisfied."

"Oh, and remember—this time, use your full strength. No holding back."

"Forget about Gear Second," Red added firmly. "No need to wreck your body for a spar. Go straight to Gear Third to give Zoro a proper challenge!"

"Shishishi, I can't wait!" Luffy stretched his arms, an eager grin spreading across his face.

In no time, the two of them moved to the center of the field, ready to face off.

Meanwhile, Red led Nami to the far edge of the Marine base, leaving her utterly baffled.

"It's just a sparring match. Do we really need to stand this far away?"

She squinted at Luffy and Zoro, now barely the size of her finger in the distance, and turned to Red in confusion.

Red looked at her with the exasperation of someone addressing the hopelessly naive.

"Far?" he echoed with a sigh. "I'm just making sure we're out of range of the aftershocks."

He leaned against the wall and added, "If anything unexpected happens, stay behind me."

"I might not be the strongest fighter, but I can still keep you safe."

"Oh," Nami murmured absentmindedly, nodding without really understanding why.

She couldn't fathom why Red, who had effortlessly defeated Captain Morgan in an instant, claimed he wasn't much of a fighter.

As they spoke, the clash between Luffy and Zoro in the middle of the playground had already begun.

Zoro tied his bandana tightly around his head, settling into his iconic Santoryu stance, fully prepared. Luffy, ever straightforward, waited just long enough for Zoro to ready himself before launching into his usual routine.

Soru + Devil Fruit ability!

Whoosh!

In a blink, Luffy disappeared, leaving an afterimage in his place. His speed was staggering, too quick for the untrained eye to follow.

But…

"Even if I can't see you clearly," Zoro growled, his instincts sharp as ever, "I'm no fool to be taken down so easily!"

With a low grunt, Zoro whirled around like a predator sensing its prey, catching sight of Luffy mid-attack as he charged forward with his fist cocked back.

Peng!

Clang!

The clash rang out like a thunderstrike as Luffy's punch slammed into the array of Zoro's three swords. Sparks scattered through the air as Zoro's feet dug trenches into the dirt, plowing back three meters before coming to a halt.

Through gritted teeth, Zoro bit down on Wado Ichimonji in his mouth and smirked.

"Not bad. It's not as hard to handle as I thought!"

Luffy laughed in return, his grin wide with excitement. "As expected of the guy Red picked!"

"But next time," Luffy added, crouching slightly, "I'll take it up a notch!"

"Bring it on!" Zoro shot back, his eyes burning with determination. The hum of his blades filled the air, crackling with his fighting spirit.

In an instant, Luffy disappeared again, vanishing into a blur of speed.

But this time, Zoro took the initiative.

"Santoryu: Oni Giri!"

Unfortunately for Zoro, Luffy's training under Red had taken him far beyond the limits of the East Blue. With blinding speed, Luffy darted around Zoro's attack, slipping past his defenses and landing a clean punch to his torso.

Boom!

Zoro was sent hurtling like a meteor, slamming into the wall of the Marine base with explosive force.

The already crumbling wall gave way, collapsing entirely and burying Zoro in the rubble.

Red, watching from the sidelines, smiled calmly at the stunned Nami.

"See? Told you this wasn't safe." He chuckled lightly, gesturing to the wall. "Good thing Zoro went the other way."

"Wait, what!?" Nami grabbed Red's arm in panic. "Isn't this just sparring? Do they really need to go this far!?"

The sheer intensity of the fight far exceeded the battle Red had with Morgan earlier. No wonder he'd said he wasn't much of a fighter.

"Relax, Nami," Red said with an easy grin. "Don't underestimate Zoro. No one weak gets to join the Straw Hat Pirates."

He gave her a knowing look before adding, "That includes you."

"Me!?" Nami blinked, startled. She had no idea why Red suddenly dragged her into this, but for some reason, his words put her at ease.

As if on cue, a messy figure emerged from the wreckage of the collapsed wall.

Zoro stood, battered but unbroken, his swords still firmly in hand.

"You're still standing!?" Luffy exclaimed, genuinely surprised. The last punch had been thrown with everything he had—no holding back.

But seeing Zoro rise again only made Luffy's grin stretch wider.

"You're incredible!" Luffy laughed, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "This is getting more fun!"

In a flash, Luffy darted forward, his speed even greater than before.

"Oi! You two!" Red yelled after them, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Don't go destroying anything outside! There are residents out there, you know!"

Zoro's brow furrowed, and a fierce, determined glint shone in his eyes. Luffy's growing speed made it clear: if Zoro didn't go all out, he'd be left completely behind.

He tightened his grip on his blades, gritting his teeth.

"I can't let myself hold back anymore," Zoro muttered under his breath.

The pressure to prove himself—to fight as an equal to Luffy—surged through him.

"This guy really is a monster," Zoro thought fleetingly, before the sight of Luffy's incoming fist yanked him back to the moment.

"So this… this is the world of the strong, huh?"

With a deep breath, Zoro raised his swords, summoning every ounce of strength he had.

"Santoryu Ougi: Sanzen Sekai!"