Chapter 26: Shimotsuki Dojo

On the azure sea, a warship cut through the waves. The sea breeze on their faces carried a salty taste.

"Waaahhh! The sea is so big!" Luffy was clinging to the ship's rail, his eyes shining, his military cap blown askew by the sea breeze. He waved his arms and legs, shouting like a monkey with endless energy.

Nami stood beside him, her arms spread out to welcome the wind. Her orange, short hair flew in the wind, her eyes reflecting the blue sky, her smile pure. "Big Brother Roy, the sea breeze feels so comfortable!"

Roy leaned against the mast, smiling as he looked at the two children, his gaze gentle. "Do you like it?"

"I super—like it!" Luffy leaped up and hung onto Roy's back, his arms hooked around his neck, his face full of curiosity. "Roy! Where are we going anyway?"

Roy was helpless from his shaking and lifted him off. "To meet someone who might become your destined right-hand man."

"What's a right-hand man?" Luffy tilted his head, his eyes blinking like a curious squirrel's. "Can you eat it?"

Nami rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips like an adult. "You idiot! A right-hand man is a partner who will adventure and fight with you in the future!"

Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, his grin stretching almost to his ears. "Really?! Will he fight? Can we eat meat together? Can we—"

Roy pressed a hand on his head, which was about to start smoking. "You'll know when we get there."

Near Shimotsuki Village, the sky was getting dark, the clouds reflecting the last rays of the setting sun.

The warship slowly stopped, the Marine flag on its mast fluttering in the sea breeze. Roy stood on the deck, his gaze determined. He ordered the Marines behind him, "You all wait here. No need to dock."

"Yes, Rear Admiral Roy!"

Luffy was jumping with excitement, his fists waving. "Are we going to swim there?!"

Nami was almost scared by his movements and couldn't help but complain, "You idiot! This is the open sea! Are you trying to kill yourself from exhaustion?!"

Luffy scratched his head and grinned foolishly. "Hehe~ Then I'll just swim faster!"

Roy smiled slightly, shook his head, and suddenly placed his hands on the two children's shoulders. "Stop messing around."

"Swish!"

The next second, the three figures flashed like a stream of light, vanishing directly from the deck and instantly appearing on the coast of Shimotsuki Village.

Luffy's eyes widened. He looked left and right, his eyes wide. "Wow! So cool! Again, again!"

Nami's mouth was also slightly open, clearly startled by the sudden teleportation, but she quickly coughed to feign composure. "Hmph... this level... I'll have to learn it in the future too!"

Roy couldn't help but smile, ruffling her soft orange hair. "Alright, as long as you study hard, you definitely will." As he spoke, he looked up at a winding path ahead, at the end of which a quaint wooden dojo was faintly visible.

"Let's go." A glint appeared in his eyes as he said softly, "Target—Shimotsuki Dojo."

The three of them walked slowly along the country path. Wildflowers swayed gently in the breeze, and the occasional sound of a cow mooing came from the fields. It was peaceful and full of pastoral charm. From a distance, a series of neat and powerful shouts came, as if breaking the tranquility—

"Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!"

Luffy jumped up, waving his arms and legs. "Wow! Is someone fighting in there?!"

Nami stood with her hands on her hips and glared at him in exasperation. "You idiot! That's the sound of sword practice!"

A glint appeared in Roy's eyes, and he smiled. "It seems they are very diligent."

Finally, the wooden gate of the Shimotsuki Dojo came into view. The quaint door panel was carved with the two large characters "Shimotsuki," exuding a sense of age. At the entrance, a little boy with green, mossy hair was leaning against the wall, fast asleep. He was holding a wooden sword, and there was even drool at the corner of his mouth, as if he were fighting even in his dreams.

Luffy pointed at him, clutching his stomach and laughing so hard he was bent over. "Hahaha! Roy, Roy, there's a moss-head slacking off and sleeping over there, and he's drooling!"

A slight smile appeared on Roy's lips. Luffy excitedly ran forward, as if discovering a new continent. "Hey! Moss-head, wake up!"

"Gurgle... Kuina... let me sleep for five more minutes..." the moss-head mumbled, turning over. His wooden sword almost fell to the ground.

Luffy frowned and kicked his leg. "Hey, wake up!"

"Huh?!" When he saw three strangers standing in front of him, Zoro jumped up in a flash, holding his wooden sword horizontally in front of his chest in a defensive stance. "Who are you?! What do you want, trespassing in the dojo?!"

Roy raised his hand to show he was harmless and smiled. "Roronoa Zoro, right?"

Zoro was taken aback. "How do you know my name?"

Luffy came closer and held out his hand with a grin. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! The man who will become the Fleet Admiral!"

Zoro was stunned, his gaze sweeping from Luffy's small arm to the military cap on his head. "A Marine? A kid? What a strange combination."

Nami crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. "So you're the 'right-hand man' Brother Roy was talking about? You don't look like much."

"Huh?!" Zoro instantly flared up, a vein popping on his forehead. "What did you say?! Do you want me to cut you down with one slash?!"

Luffy's eyes lit up, and he immediately clenched his fists. "Alright, alright! Let's fight!"

"Huh? You too?!" Just as Zoro was about to raise his sword, Roy pressed down on his shoulder. "You two, be quiet."

The two little ones snorted in unison and obediently stepped aside.

Just then, the dojo gate creaked open, and a short-haired girl walked out. She was holding a towel to wipe her sweat, clearly having just finished a round of practice, with fine beads of sweat still on her forehead.

"Zoro! You're slacking off again... huh?" The girl's gaze fell on Roy, and she was slightly taken aback. "Are you... a Marine?"

Roy smiled slightly and nodded politely. "Sorry to disturb you. We'd like to visit Mr. Koushirou."

Kuina was taken aback for a moment, then she sheathed the sharpness of a sword-practicing girl and bowed politely. "Please wait a moment. I'll go inform my father." As she turned, she couldn't help but glance back at Zoro and Luffy, muttering to herself, "Why are there so many weird people today..."

Luffy and Zoro were glaring at each other like two little wolf cubs, neither willing to back down. Nami watched the show with her arms crossed. "They really are two idiots."

Roy smiled softly and thought to himself, "These kids..."

Inside the dojo, the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Koushirou knelt in the center of the tea room, pouring a cup of clear tea for Roy, and said with a gentle smile, "I never expected the legendary new star of the Marines to grace my humble home. It's truly an honor."

Roy took the teacup, his fingertips gently rubbing the rim, his gaze calm yet deep. "The swordsmanship of the Shimotsuki clan is famous in the East Blue. I came specially to visit."

A glint appeared in Koushirou's eyes behind his glasses, his smile unwavering. "The Shimotsuki clan has long since fallen. Now it's just a country dojo, not worth mentioning."

Roy took a light sip of tea and slowly put down the cup. "But your daughter, Kuina, has extraordinary talent. Her swordsmanship far surpasses that of her peers."

Koushirou's smile faded slightly. "You flatter me. Unfortunately, due to a girl's physical limitations, she can never become the world's number one."

From outside the door came the sound of Luffy and Zoro arguing—

"Let's duel, moss-head!"

"You're the moss-head! Take this!"

"Bang! Smack! Thud!"

Koushirou shook his head helplessly. "Please excuse them."

Roy didn't respond, but just quietly watched Koushirou. He suddenly spoke, "Mr. Koushirou, do you believe in fate?"

Koushirou was slightly taken aback. "Fate?"

Roy's gaze was as sharp as a blade. "For example... a girl who has practiced martial arts for years accidentally dying from falling down the stairs at home because of a carelessly dropped sword."

"Clack!" The teacup in Koushirou's hand trembled violently, and tea spilled out. His expression instantly froze, the gentle smile completely gone, replaced by an unprecedented gravity. "...How could you know about that?" His voice was low, with a faint hint of chill.

Roy didn't answer directly, but asked instead, "Is following so-called fate really more important than your own daughter's life?"

The air in the tea room seemed to freeze. Koushirou was silent for a long time, finally slowly putting down the teacup, his fingertips turning slightly white. He looked up, his expression complex. "Rear Admiral Roy, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Roy looked directly into his eyes. "I want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"Let Zoro and Kuina train with me. In the future, they will become swordsmen who will change the world." Roy paused, his tone deep. "And your daughter, Kuina, will not have to repeat the tragedy of her fate."

Koushirou's pupils constricted suddenly. Outside the window, the wind blew through the bamboo forest, rustling. After a long while, Koushirou let out a long sigh, as if he had aged a great deal in an instant. "...I need time to think."

Roy nodded. "Of course." He stood up and walked to the door, but stopped, his back to Koushirou. "Fate can be changed, but there is only one chance."

Koushirou watched his back, silent.

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