Stepping onto Shimotsuki Island, Leno asked for directions and walked straight toward the Shimotsuki Dojo.
He looked at his surroundings as he walked, deep in thought.
'Right now, Koushirou is the dojo master, and he's also a Great Swordmaster. I have to make up for my weakness in swordsmanship on this trip.'
'Hmm?' As he walked, Leno saw a green-haired boy on a path through the woods, walking with his head down toward the coast.
'Is that him?'
"Hey, kid, how do you get to the Shimotsuki Dojo?" Leno asked, walking up to him.
The green-haired boy turned back in surprise. "What are you going to the dojo for?"
"What do you think? What do you go to a dojo for? To learn swordsmanship, of course," Leno said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, then come with me. I was just heading back," the green-haired boy said, turning his head and continuing to walk.
"Do you also train at the dojo? How long have you been training? Are there a lot of people there? Is the master strong?" Leno pestered him with questions.
"You're so annoying! You'll find out when we get there," the green-haired boy said impatiently.
After walking for a bit, Leno felt that something was off. 'Isn't this the path to the port?'
"Hey, kid, do you really train at the dojo? You're not lying to me, are you?" Leno teased.
"Idiot! Of course I train there!" the green-haired boy angrily retorted.
"Then how do you not know the way? This is the path to the port."
The green-haired boy froze, his face turning red.
He turned and started walking back.
"Follow me. I was just taking you on a tour."
After walking for a while, the person in front suddenly smoothly turned off the path.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"You're going the wrong way again."
'My God, this is too much,' Leno complained in his heart.
'Did this guy's brain cells all get taken up by swordsmanship?'
"Zoro, Zoro, you're lost again! I've been waiting for you forever!" A clear female voice suddenly rang out.
'As expected, he's a true directions idiot!'
A short-haired girl walked up to them, about 1.7 meters tall and looking elegant.
'So this must be Kuina.'
"Huh? Who are you?" Kuina noticed Leno.
"Oh, I came to learn swordsmanship, and I'm currently going in circles because a certain road idiot is leading the way," Leno said, teasingly.
*Pfft.* "Zoro, you're really brave to let Zoro lead the way," Kuina said with a chuckle.
"You idiot, what are you saying? I was just… just…" Zoro tried to argue.
"Yeah, yeah, you were just taking me on a tour."
"Come with me. I'll take you to the dojo," Kuina said, walking ahead.
"Are you a beginner or do you have a foundation in swordsmanship?" Kuina asked as they walked.
"I'm already a Swordmaster," Leno replied.
Kuina stopped and turned back to ask, "Are you here to challenge us?"
"You've misunderstood. I've always practiced on my own, and reaching Swordmaster is my limit. So I came to the dojo to learn true swordsmanship."
Kuina looked at Leno for a moment, then turned and continued walking.
"How old are you?" Kuina continued to ask.
"Thirteen."
Kuina suddenly turned around and stared intently at Leno. "Are you really thirteen?"
"As real as it gets," Leno shrugged.
After confirming his age, Kuina silently turned away and kept walking. Leno sensed her spirit had suddenly deflated.
Leno knew why Kuina was like this, but he couldn't say anything right now. He could only wait to guide her later.
"Hey, you green-haired moss-head! What are you doing turning off the path? There's a limit to how big of a road idiot you can be! We're walking in front, and you're following behind, and you still go the wrong way?!" Leno was speechless.
He now had a clear understanding of Zoro's road-idiot tendencies.
"You'll get used to it," Kuina said, also amused by the scene.
Kuina led Leno to Koushirou and explained his situation.
After understanding, Koushirou looked at Leno, was silent for a moment, and then said, "You truly are a gifted child. I see you have a strong physique, so you must train a lot."
"That's right, Master Koushirou. After reaching Swordmaster, I have no way to progress. I have no clue how to become a Great Swordmaster."
"To break through to Great Swordmaster, you must forge your own path. For now, you should train alongside the others to further solidify your foundation. In this process, you will slowly search for your own path to becoming a Great Swordmaster."
"Don't be impatient. Focus on swordsmanship and let your heart follow the path of the sword," Koushirou said.
"As for tuition…"
*Thud!* Leno placed a large box on the floor.
"Here is 100 million Berries. Please accept it, Master Koushirou."
"This… This is far too much," Koushirou said, a little shocked.
Kuina was also astonished by the Berries in the box. She had never seen so much money before.
"It's fine, Master Koushirou. I have a lot of money. Just take this for now. I have more if it's not enough," Leno said generously.
This made both Koushirou and Kuina look at him with a different kind of surprise.
"Alright. Let Kuina take you to your living quarters. Your training begins tomorrow."
In the days that followed, Leno settled down and focused on his swordsmanship, training the fundamentals with the other apprentices.
During this time, Kuina guided him on the basics. Although Leno was already a Swordmaster, his fighting style was the rough, wild one he had picked up from fighting Sea Kings and pirates.
In the dojo, Leno's aura slowly changed. His wild temperament became more restrained, and a sharp edge was born.
Unknowingly, he had been at the dojo for almost a year. Leno's swordsmanship had greatly improved. Although he was still a Swordmaster, his skill was now on a completely different level.
Tonight, a full moon hung high in the sky. Leno lay on the roof, watching Zoro and Kuina spar.
*Clang!*
Kuina's single sword knocked Zoro's two swords away.
"Damn it! My 2001st challenge, a failure! If two swords don't work, I'll use three!" Zoro said, exasperated.
Kuina stood quietly, looking up at the bright moon, and said softly, "Zoro, in the past year, as my body has grown, our fights have become more and more difficult for me."
"Kuina, I'll surpass you very soon!" Zoro yelled.
"It's just as my father says. Women are naturally not as strong as men. I can feel my body…" As she spoke, Kuina's right hand gripped her increasingly full left breast.
"Zoro, my body's growth has slowed down. You'll surpass me very soon." Kuina's eyes were filled with tears and a deep sense of bitterness.
"Women are naturally weaker than men. Women can't become Great Swordmasters. Women just can't beat men," Kuina mumbled to herself.
"What are you talking about? Kuina, I haven't beaten you once so far, and you're saying women are weaker than men?" Zoro said indignantly.
"You don't understand, Zoro," Kuina said, clutching her body angrily.
"Why… why am I a woman? This body… this body…" Kuina's choked sobs echoed through the night sky, filled with deep resentment and despair.
Late at night, in the hills behind the dojo, Kuina sat quietly, clutching her sword and looking up at the distant moon, as if looking at her dream of the pinnacle of swordsmanship, which would forever be out of reach.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
"Actually, women are not weaker than men. In the Marines, there is a female Great Swordmaster. In the New World, there is a female great pirate who is one of the Four Emperors, standing at the very top of the sea," Leno's voice said, as he approached.
Kuina suddenly stood up and turned around quickly. "Leno, is what you're saying true?!"
Leno's words were like a ray of light piercing the darkness in her heart.
"But… but my body…" Kuina said, still feeling unwilling.
"You know about Devil Fruits, right? If you eat a Devil Fruit, you can improve your physical body. By constantly training your body, you'll become stronger and stronger," Leno said, trying to persuade her.
Kuina lowered her head and remained silent.
"I'm looking for my own path. So, Kuina, where is your path?" Leno gazed at Kuina.
"Think it over. When you've decided, come find me!"
--