Chapter 6: Two New Owazamono

Another three years had passed since the Revolutionary Army had first arrived on the island. Kuina—who in another timeline should have died the year before—was still alive and thriving. She mastered Moon Breathing, her strength growing in tandem with her technique. Zoro, too, had honed Beast Breathing until he truly embodied the ferocity it represented, and his Three‑Sword Style became more formidable with each practice.

Both Kuina and Zoro made massive strides by sparring not only against each other but also against Taiyo, who himself remained undefeated. Zoro still hadn't notched a victory, and Kuina's win-loss record sat perfectly even. Taiyo, meanwhile, saw the greatest improvement of all. Thousands of duels had refined his fundamentals to absolute precision, and he'd been forging blade after blade of ever‑higher quality, surpassing the craft of many established smiths.

In addition, Taiyo had awakened both Observation Haki and Armament Haki—and even mastered Advanced Armament. With these milestones behind him, he finally felt ready to attempt his Supreme Grade Sword.

Kouzaburou, who'd been saving rare materials directly imported from Wano for his own son before fate intervened, handed the stockpiles over to Taiyo. Though he had originally intended those ores and ingots for his heir-apparent blacksmith, he now entrusted them to Taiyo's skill. But before striking those precious metals into a blade, Taiyo decided first to see how high he could raise his craftsmanship using only standard materials.

Taiyo then shared his decision with Koushirou, Kuina, and Zoro—that he would no longer be able to spar with them for a while.

"Why? Are you leaving the village?" Kuina asked immediately, recalling her brother's long-standing plan to one day leave Shimotsuki Village.

"No, I'll still be here. I just have to enter a period of deep isolation. I won't leave until I'm seventeen—you already know that," Taiyo replied, keeping the full details of his mission to himself.

"Well, can't we at least visit you?" Zoro asked, visibly disappointed at the thought of not sparring with Taiyo anymore.

"No," Taiyo said firmly, "but I'll be back. In the meantime, train hard. I'll be even stronger when I return."

As he spoke, Koushirou and Kouzaburou remained in quiet conversation. They already understood the true nature of Taiyo's decision.

After a few more minutes of discussion, Taiyo took his leave of the dojo and headed straight for Kouzaburou's forge. Wasting no time, he began his work. First, he melted down a large batch of steel, then started hammering and cooling it repeatedly, refining and hardening the metal in preparation for the blade he intended to craft.

After more than two months of tempering, the steel finally reached the level of hardness Taiyo had envisioned. Satisfied, he melted it down one final time and divided the refined metal into two equal portions. One portion he reserved for a special katana he planned to forge for Kuina.

He believed the Wado Ichimonji should remain with the Isshin Dojo, as a legacy, but for Kuina's journey, she needed a blade that reflected her growth and potential.

As he began the forging process, Taiyo channeled Moon Breathing, letting the calm yet relentless rhythm of the technique guide his every movement. For three days and nights, he hammered without rest, shaping the blade in the solitude of the forge. Sparks flew like falling stars as the katana slowly took form.

When it was finally complete, Taiyo named the sword Gekkoken—Sword of Moonlight. The name felt right, as the blade was born from Moon Breathing, forged for the one who had mastered it.

He tested its balance and was pleased to find it incredibly light for its size, perfectly suited to Kuina's form and fighting style. As a final test, he drew it cleanly through the trunk of a thick tree. It sliced through effortlessly, as if the wood were nothing more than air.

Kouzaburou arrived shortly after and carefully inspected the finished katana. His eyes widened in admiration.

"You've done it," he said, his tone almost reverent. "From a professional standpoint, this matches the quality of the blade I forged in my youth. It's on par with the Ō Wazamono—the Great Grade Blades. And you made it from ordinary steel... That's even more impressive."

Taiyo nodded, humbled by the praise but focused.

"I named it Gekkoken, the Sword of Moonlight. I forged it using Moon Breathing, and only someone who has mastered that style will be able to wield it to its fullest. Its edge is unique—it sharpens itself with the blood it draws in battle," Taiyo explained.

Kouzaburou looked at the sword once more, then at Taiyo, and smiled quietly. He knew this wasn't the end—Taiyo still had unfinished work. The rare materials Kouzaburou had gifted him, along with the remaining stock of tempered steel, still awaited their destiny.

Taiyo, having spent three grueling days and nights forging Kuina's blade, finally allowed himself to rest. His body, pushed beyond its limits, collapsed into a well-earned slumber. For seven days straight, he slept like the dead—unmoving, silent, as if in hibernation. Kouzaburou ensured no one disturbed him, understanding that the next swords Taiyo would forge were far more significant.

These next blades were different.

One would be for Zoro—a katana meant to match the untamed spirit of the boy who had embraced Beast Breathing, one who had steadily risen in strength and resolve. It would have to endure the raw, relentless power of the Three-Sword Style. The other would be for Taiyo himself—his life's masterpiece, the beginning of his legend. A blade worthy of a Supreme Grade.

When Taiyo finally awoke, his eyes were clear and sharp. His body, fully recovered, pulsed with renewed energy. As he stood and looked over the forge, the waiting materials gleaming in the dim light, a quiet sense of purpose filled the room.

Without hesitation, Taiyo set to work.

He melted the batch of hardened steel he had tempered alongside Kuina's materials—steel refined over months of dedication. This time, however, he didn't call upon the calm and fluid Moon Breathing. No, this blade was different. For this sword, he used Beast Breathing, channeling its raw, unrelenting ferocity into every strike of his hammer. Sparks danced wildly around him as if the forge itself recognized the primal energy coursing through the room.

Unlike the three days it took to craft the Gekkōken, Taiyo spent only a single day forging this katana. Not out of haste, but mastery. Every strike of the hammer was deliberate. Every moment is timed with precision. He had already learned the optimal temperatures, the rhythms of the fire, and the exact pressure needed to temper and harden the steel to perfection. It was no longer experimentation—it was instinct.

When the blade was finished, he held it to the light, its edge dark and serrated like a beast's claw, its weight perfect for Zoro's aggressive, multi-sword style. He named it:

Kurokiba – Black Fang.

Like Gekkōken, it was an Ō Wazamono—a Great Grade Blade. The edge was so sharp it could cut stone, and the sword itself gave off an almost predatory presence. It was not a blade for the weak. It demanded strength to wield and fed off the user's relentless will to fight.

Having created two Ō Wazamono blades in under a month—an unheard-of feat even among the most legendary blacksmiths—Taiyo knew it was time for the final step.

The next sword… would be his own.

And it would not just be great.

It would be supreme.

A Saijō Ō Wazamono—a Supreme Grade Blade.

One to rival the Shodai Kitetsu… to echo the greatness of Enma and Yoru.

But for this, Taiyo would need more than technique. He would need his soul.

So, after presenting Kurokiba to Kouzaburou for inspection, Taiyo retreated once again—not to rest this time, but to enter a deeper state of focus.

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