Chapter 3: Three Years

As their training and growth continued, three years quietly passed since Taiyo first began his journey into swordsmithing. By now, he had earned the title of master swordsmith—a recognition not given lightly. Kouzaburou, who had once guided every swing of Taiyo's hammer, found himself with nothing more to teach. Every blade Taiyo forged was of exceptional quality, rivaling the work of seasoned smiths across generations.

However, during this time, Taiyo began noticing changes in Kouzaburou. His once-powerful body was beginning to weaken, his muscles losing their former strength. Concerned, Taiyo took it upon himself to act.

Determined to help, he began diving for sea beasts, knowing they were packed with nutrients. He also delved into the study of medicine—an area he could instinctively understand thanks to the inherited talent of Akiko Yosano, one of the abilities granted to him during his mysterious reincarnation. Combining his knowledge of herbs, anatomy, and energy pathways, Taiyo crafted a potent medicine designed to enhance recovery. The medicine not only promoted muscle regeneration and repair but also subtly increased physical vitality.

After a week of dedicated care—hunting, preparing meals, and administering the medicine, Kouzaburou's condition noticeably improved. His energy returned, his strength no longer in rapid decline. Taiyo's efforts had paid off, reinforcing the deep bond between grandfather and grandson.

The medicine also proved beneficial to Kuina. Having now mastered Water Breathing, she was undergoing intense physical training. The added nutritional support and medicinal boosts accelerated her progress, making her faster, stronger, and more enduring than ever before.

Kuina, now brimming with confidence thanks to her rapid progress and physical growth, began challenging Taiyo to a duel every single day after their training sessions. Though her strength still hadn't caught up to his, her relentless determination and sharp technique made each duel more intense than the last.

Meanwhile, Taiyo, having already achieved the status of Master Swordsmith, found himself with more free time. With his major goals in smithing fulfilled for the time being, he redirected his focus toward perfecting his own sword style. Drawing on everything he had learned, he forged a training nodachi—a practice weapon of such exceptional quality that it already approached the level of a Meito-grade sword.

Yet, despite its craftsmanship, Taiyo considered the blade a failure.

This was because of something Kouzaburou had once taught him: a secret art passed only to the most worthy of smiths—infusing one's will into the blade. By channeling Ryou (the concept of internal Haki flow) into the forging process, a smith could temper the metal with their spirit. The result was a sword that would resonate only with its creator—or with someone strong enough to tame it. This technique gave birth to weapons some feared and revered as Cursed Blades.

But Kouzaburou didn't see them as cursed. He called them "Will of the Sword"—weapons that choose their wielder. These swords were not inherently evil, but rather, deeply personal extensions of their maker's soul. They demanded harmony, strength, and willpower from those who dared to wield them.

Taiyo's training nodachi, though impressive, lacked this essence. It was powerful, refined, and durable—but it didn't carry his will. And so, in his eyes, it was incomplete.

With this realization, Taiyo doubled down on his training, not only as a swordsman but as a swordsmith who would one day forge a blade that could embody his spirit—a blade that would become his legacy.

Over the course of the past three years, Taiyo achieved something that few—if any—humans on the island could claim: he tamed an entire flock of ravens.

It all began with two injured birds he found deep in the forest, their wings broken and feathers matted with blood. Using his knowledge of medicine and his inherited healing ability, Taiyo carefully treated their wounds and fed them daily. In his solitude, he often spoke to the ravens while caring for them—not out of expectation, but simply as a habit carried over from his previous life.

He recalled reading once that ravens were natural mimics, capable of imitating human speech if trained. So, with time and patience, Taiyo began to speak to them with intention—repeating phrases, naming objects, and giving meaning to words. After more than a month of consistent interaction, the two ravens began mimicking his voice with increasing accuracy. Soon after, they started understanding the meaning behind the words.

The two ravens became fiercely loyal to Taiyo. They would bring him items they deemed interesting or useful—shiny stones, discarded tools, herbs, and even berries they had foraged from the forest. More importantly, they began acting as his scouts.

Ravens, being naturally social creatures, soon attracted others. The presence of food, safety, and the commanding aura of Huginn and Muninn—the names Taiyo gave his first two companions, inspired by Odin's legendary ravens—transformed a small group into a flock.

Taiyo extended his care and teachings to the rest. He fed them, observed them, and slowly taught the others to mimic words and understand simple commands. The newcomers, while not as articulate as Huginn and Muninn, understood enough to recognize danger, relay messages, and follow orders.

Eventually, Huginn and Muninn assumed the role of leaders among the ravenflock. The other ravens would report findings, dangers, and changes in the environment to them, and the duo would in turn relay that information directly to Taiyo. With their eyes in the skies and ears in the treetops, Taiyo had unintentionally created a network of spies, granting him awareness over much of the island.

Now, wherever Taiyo walked, the flutter of wings was never far. The presence of intelligent black shadows circling above had become a part of his identity—an unseen extension of his will, his silent sentinels. What had started as an act of compassion had become an advantage beyond anything he could have predicted.

One day, as the sun cast its golden light over the training yard of the Isshin Dojo, a green-haired boy arrived, standing at the entrance with fierce determination in his eyes. Without hesitation or formalities, he announced his purpose:

"I want to learn the way of the sword!"

The boy's name was Roronoa Zoro—a name that, in the distant future, would shake the world as the Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and the man who came closest to surpassing Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman. But today, he was none of those things. He was just a brash, headstrong child with unpolished talent and a stubborn spirit.

Almost immediately after being accepted as a student, Zoro challenged Kuina to a duel, boasting that he would defeat her and prove himself. The match was quick and decisive. Kuina, already trained under Taiyo's guidance and strengthened by years of dedication and disciplined breathing techniques, overwhelmed him effortlessly. Zoro lay flat on his back, bruised and stunned, while Kuina simply offered her hand to help him up.

But instead of being discouraged, Zoro's eyes only burned brighter with resolve.

"I'll beat you one day," he declared through gritted teeth. "Just wait!"

From that moment on, Zoro's training began in earnest. Every defeat fueled his determination. He trained longer than the other students, enduring every hardship without complaint. Rain or shine, he could be found swinging wooden swords, practicing forms, or challenging anyone willing to spar—especially Kuina, whom he considered his greatest rival.

Unknown to him, Taiyo observed quietly from the shadows—watching the boy's unwavering resolve with a mixture of curiosity and familiarity. There was something raw but admirable about Zoro. He reminded Taiyo of himself before awakening to his past life and gaining his so-called "cheats."

Kuina, too, felt something different. Zoro wasn't like the other boys who gave up after a loss. He kept coming back, stronger every time. And though she still beat him every match, the gap was shrinking—slowly, but surely.

And so, in a small dojo at the edge of Shimotsuki Village, the seeds of two legends quietly took root, beginning a rivalry that would one day echo across the seas.