Kuina froze at her father's stern expression.
It was the first time she had ever seen Koushirou so serious.
She didn't realize that what weighed on him now was fear—the fear of losing his only daughter.
Seeing this, Don glanced once more at Wado Ichimonji, then turned away.
If Kuina lived, would Zoro still beg for that blade one day, to inherit her will?
Within the range of his Observation Haki, Don could sense Zoro training furiously.
The boy gripped two ropes, each tied to heavy stones, while clenching a dumbbell between his teeth to strain his jaw and neck.
"Not bad," Don muttered.
He stepped into the courtyard, bent his knees, and leapt onto the rooftop.
Laying En beside him, he reclined, squinting up at the blazing sun, both Observation and Armament Haki flowing freely.
"Time to grow stronger. Koushirou shouldn't hold back in teaching me."
He closed his eyes with that thought.
In the days that followed, Kuina seemed like a different person.
Even when Don was around before, she had often carried the weight of hidden worries. But now, her demeanor brightened—she finally seemed like the lively eleven-year-old girl she truly was.
Zoro, puzzled by her change, said nothing. He preferred to measure himself against her directly.
Then, a few days later, Don opened his eyes to see Zoro standing before him, his gaze locked with unshakable resolve, three swords at his side.
"You defeated Kuina?" Don asked without looking up.
"She conceded. From here on, you're my target."
Zoro's voice was steady, his eyes burning.
Don turned his head toward where Kuina sat.
"Mm. I admitted defeat," she said with a mischievous smile.
"So you've tossed this trouble onto me?" Don asked dryly.
"That's not my problem!" Kuina shook her head quickly, then looked back at Zoro. "My goal is still the same—to become the world's greatest swordswoman."
She said no more, sitting down with her chin propped on her hands, ready to watch the fight unfold.
"I'm no trouble, Don. Accept my challenge!" Zoro demanded, his eyes wide, anticipation radiating from him.
"…Fine, fine," Don sighed. He lifted a hand to stop Zoro as the boy rushed forward. "But wait. I haven't even begun today's training yet."
Zoro stumbled, nearly tripping headlong into the dirt. Steadying himself, he blinked in disbelief.
Footsteps approached.
Koushirou arrived, sword in hand, entirely unsurprised by the scene.
"This island isn't fit for battle. The boat is at the pier. There's a small island nearby—uninhabited."
With that, he turned and headed for the docks. Don followed without hesitation.
Kuina rose immediately to trail them, while Zoro, baffled, was driven by curiosity to join.
The island wasn't far—barely half an hour's row from Shimotsuki Village.
"Master Koushirou!" Zoro blurted once they docked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Kuina, Zoro—you two will remain on the boat. Do not approach," Koushirou instructed firmly.
The training Don was about to undergo was live combat, just as promised. From now on, this would be a daily ritual.
Don's anticipation stirred at the thought.
Casting a glance back at the quiet children, Don bent his knees and leapt.
The sheer force of his jump made the small boat pitch violently, showing just how much power he had pressed into the deck beneath his feet.
Zoro swallowed hard. For the first time, he wondered if challenging Don had been nothing more than asking for a beating.
The island was small and barren, its rocky surface gleaming with seawater stains, not a blade of grass in sight.
Don landed, eyes shifting toward Koushirou as the man touched down nearby.
"From here on, you'll attempt to learn my swordsmanship."
Koushirou's tone was calm, but his words were weighty.
"Though the techniques you develop yourself will always suit you best, broadening your knowledge is no bad thing."
Don nodded without objection. To learn from many schools was wisdom in itself.
"The style I practice comes from my father—the Shimotsuki family's inherited swordsmanship. It emphasizes the art of the slash. By regulating one's breath and releasing a shout, the power of a cut can be greatly magnified."
He drew his blade, explaining as he spoke.
"For example—like this."
With both hands gripping tightly, Koushirou shifted into stance. In the blink of an eye, he was before Don, sword raised high, cleaving down in a heavy strike.
"Hah!"
The slash tore through the air, his voice resounding with it.
Clang!
Don's blade rose in time, yet the force sent him flying back.
Adjusting midair, he landed—only for Koushirou to press in again with another slash, his shout booming.
Don's lips curled into a grin. He raised his blade in both hands, angling upward.
Clang!
Metal shrieked against metal. Don's legs bent, the ground beneath him cracking under the strain.
"What incredible strength!" Koushirou muttered as he leapt back, using the recoil to stabilize himself.
He had long known Don's breakthroughs far surpassed ordinary limits. But even now, having used seventy percent of his strength, he had gained no advantage. Koushirou knew he wasn't among the top combatants of the sea, but decades of hard training had honed his swordsmanship.
Yet this boy…
Of course, neither side was using anything beyond physical power and swordsmanship.
"My turn!"
Don ignored the astonishment in his teacher's voice. His legs coiled, the ground shattering as he launched forward like a cannon.
His right hand swung his sword in a horizontal slash.
The moment their weapons collided, Don felt it—the way Koushirou's blade pulled, diverting the force, unraveling his strength.
Don chuckled, drawing back mid-strike, then swung again.
This time, the blow sent Koushirou flying. He spun several times through the air before crashing down.
"Crude. That was nothing but a rough display of brute strength," Koushirou scowled, exasperated.
"But it works," Don answered with a laugh.
"You'll meet opponents far stronger than you on these seas," Koushirou warned grimly. "Giants. Monsters who make your strength meaningless. Will you rely on brute force against them all?"
"This is only day one," Don grinned. "I just wanted to show you I'm not hopeless."
"…Showing me your strength?"
Koushirou blinked, realization dawning.
So that was it—Don was telling him to stop holding back.
If that was the case, his expression hardened, danger flickering in his eyes.
It seemed Don had underestimated him.