The sea was still foaming from where Kuma's massive body had been launched into it. The waves rolled back against the sand, swallowing the traces of the clash. For a while, only the salty wind and the gulls filled the silence.
Tina stood with her chest heaving, her hand brushing the corner of her mouth where blood still lingered. Her body trembled—not from fear, but from the aftershock of staring death in the eye.
A few breaths ago, she had truly believed her life was over. That massive bear-man's strike would have crushed her bones and left nothing but a corpse on the sand. If Jin hadn't stepped in…
Her fingers tightened against her thigh. She hated it. She hated feeling powerless.
And yet, when she looked at him—his back still half-turned, his hand relaxed from where it had caught Kuma's rampage like it was nothing—her chest tightened with an emotion she couldn't name. Relief. Gratitude. And maybe, the faintest sting of humiliation.
"...You're shaking," Jin said gently. His voice wasn't mocking or condescending. It was almost too kind, and that made it worse. He crouched so that his purple eyes could meet hers, calm as still water, dangerous as the depths beneath. "You did well. Better than most. But you also saw the truth, didn't you?"
Tina bit down on her lip and forced herself to straighten. "That I was a hair away from being split in two? Yes, I noticed."
Jin chuckled softly. "That's one way to put it."
Before she could answer, a drenched, lumbering figure emerged from the sea, water cascading off his fur. Kuma's head hung low, his eyes clearing from the red haze that had clouded them. He looked like a child who had broken something precious.
"...I lost control again," Kuma muttered, his deep voice carrying guilt. He looked toward Tina, who flinched instinctively, though she masked it quickly with a glare. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Tina scoffed and crossed her arms, though her legs still felt weak. "Scare me? You nearly flattened me into the bedrock, you oversized brute."
"Enough," Jin cut in firmly, though his smile softened the sting. He stood between them, his presence steady. "It was a spar, nothing more. If you're alive at the end, you gained experience. And if you're dead, well…" He shrugged. "Then you're just fertilizer for the sand."
Tina stared at him, half-offended, half-reluctantly amused. Only Jin could say something so cold and make it feel… grounding.
Kuma lowered his head again. "Old man… I can't think when the rage comes. My mind goes dark. I don't… I don't want to hurt my family."
Jin's expression flickered, something like memory tightening his jaw. He placed a hand on Kuma's massive arm, unshaken by the muscle and fur. "That's why we'll fix it. Starting today, you're not hunting Sea Kings anymore. You're training here, under control, with weight. The kind that breaks bones if you slip."
Kuma blinked, confused. "Weight?"
"Yeah." Jin grinned. "Steel forged to be useless. Useless except for one thing—it's heavy as hell. I'll strap it to your limbs. You'll move with it, fight with it, breathe with it. You'll learn to think under pressure instead of giving in to the rage. You master that, and not even Haoshoku Haki will be out of reach."
Kuma's eyes widened, awe flashing behind them. "...I'll do it."
Tina's brow furrowed. She had never seen such raw loyalty in a man-beast's eyes. Kuma, terrifying in his power, was listening to Jin like a disciple before his master. It was absurd. And yet… she couldn't mock it. Because part of her envied it.
Later, back at the Windmill Bar's courtyard, the tension shifted.
"Makino," Jin called as he pushed open the back door. "Prepare a room for Tina. I'll move into the sword shed out back."
"What?" Tina's head snapped up immediately. "No, absolutely not. I can stay in the shed. I'm used to rough quarters."
But Makino just smiled knowingly, wiping her hands on her apron. "Cold night winds will stiffen your muscles, Tina-san. You've already strained them enough. Jin's being considerate. Accept it."
Jin winked. "See? Even she agrees. I'm not the type to make a guest sleep like a dog."
Tina flushed faintly, biting back a retort. He said it so casually, yet there was no doubt he meant it. She opened her mouth, but words failed her, and she turned away.
Kuina entered just in time to see this scene. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed as she leaned against the doorway, her blade resting against her shoulder. "Tch. Spoiled already. She loses one spar and gets rewarded with a private room."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"
"Hardly," Kuina snapped back, but her ears burned red. "I just don't like freeloaders."
Tina's lip curled. "Freeloader? You think I asked to be dragged here?"
The two girls locked eyes, sparks crackling between them. Kuma shifted uncomfortably behind Jin, whispering, "Uh, Boss… should I… stop them?"
"No," Jin said easily, folding his arms with a smirk. "This is healthy. Sharp blades need to clash to stay honed."
Makino sighed softly, though her lips curved in a faint smile. Boys would never change, she thought.
Night fell.
Jin sat with his crew beneath the old oak tree in the courtyard. Kuma on his boulder, Kuina sharpening her blade, Tina sitting stiff-backed but listening, and Makino pouring fruit wine for herself.
Jin leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across them. "Alright. Today was a lesson. Not about victory or loss. About truths."
He pointed first at Kuina. "You—what did you see in Tina's ability?"
Kuina didn't hesitate. "Cages. Walls. Strong, but brittle. A single clean strike would break them."
"Exactly." Jin turned to Kuma. "And you?"
Kuma scratched the back of his head. "She was fast. Smarter than I expected. If she'd been stronger, she could've killed me."
Jin nodded. "Both right. Devil Fruits are powerful. But every one of them has weaknesses. To the sword. To water. To will. You two need to remember that."
Kuina gave a short nod, though she flicked a glance at Tina with an arrogant tilt of her chin. Tina bristled but kept silent, her pride wounded enough for one day.
Then Jin's gaze softened as he looked at Kuma. "And you. Your rage is your greatest weapon—and your greatest flaw. Until you learn to stay conscious inside it, you're a danger to yourself and everyone else. So tomorrow, weights. No Sea Kings. No shortcuts."
Kuma lowered his head but nodded firmly. "Yes, Boss."
Silence lingered, broken only by the chirp of night crickets. Jin leaned back, eyes on the stars above. For a moment, the mercenary mask slipped, and a rare tenderness touched his voice.
"You all did well today. Every scar, every mistake—that's currency you pay forward for tomorrow. Don't waste it."
The courtyard was quiet, each of them digesting his words. Even Tina, though she would never admit it aloud, felt a knot in her chest loosen slightly. His voice carried something she hadn't heard in the Marines in a long time: sincerity.
Makino rose, collecting the empty cups. "That's enough for tonight. You'll need rest if you're going to keep up with Jin's madness."
As the group dispersed, Tina lingered behind. She looked at Jin, who was still watching the stars.
"Why?" she asked softly. "Why are you trying so hard to pull me in? You don't even know if I'll stay."
Jin's smile was faint, almost weary. "Because I see myself in you. Someone who's lost too much. Someone who needs a reason not to drown."
The words struck her harder than Kuma's fist ever could. She swallowed, unable to form a reply.
He stood, brushing the dirt from his hands. "Think on it. No rush. You'll find your answer in time."
And with that, Jin walked into the shadows of the shed, leaving Tina staring after him, her heart in turmoil.
The storm hadn't arrived yet. But Jin knew.
Between the weight training, the tension among his crew, and the whispers of the Marines circling Windmill Village—
The calm was ending.
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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