"So… so amazing! Is that Father's true strength…?"
Kuina stared, stunned.
Because of the earlier gust, she and the others had been blown some distance back. On top of that, Koushirou had deliberately kept his voice low while speaking with El, so neither she nor Zoro heard what was said.
All they saw was this:
El stopped attacking.The two spoke briefly.Then El rushed forward again—
And in the very next second, Koushirou casually cut El's sword in half.
They weren't sure if it was just their imagination, but for a fleeting instant, it looked like Koushirou's blade had changed color.
"Nii-san, are you alright?!"
Unlike Zoro, who could only shout in shock, Carina and Nami immediately ran over as soon as El sheathed the broken sword. Both had worried looks on their faces.
Kuina also stepped forward almost without thinking, stopping just behind the two girls. She watched El closely.
He wasn't discouraged.
Instead, his eyes were bright, his expression satisfied.
"I'm fine."
Taking advantage of his greater height, El gave Carina and Nami each a reassuring pat on the head, then nodded slightly toward Kuina.
After that, he turned back to Koushirou and bowed deeply.
"Senior, thank you very much for your guidance today. But… next time I come here, I promise I won't lose this badly."
As he said this, El lifted his head, his expression serious, as if making a solemn vow.
"I'll be looking forward to that day," Koushirou replied with a gentle smile.
"Then, we'll be taking our leave."
El turned, took Carina and Nami with him, and walked past Kuina toward the exit.
As he passed her, he clearly felt the girl's body suddenly tense up.
El smiled inwardly.
It seemed his trip to Shimotsuki Village really had paid off.
The reason Kuina had frozen like that, of course, didn't escape El's heart-reading Observation Haki.
Which was why he had absolute confidence that he could change her fate.
If anything, he suspected he wouldn't even need to take the initiative—
She would bring herself to him.
Sure enough…
Not long after the trio left the dojo grounds, Zoro ran up to Koushirou, excitedly asking about the duel he'd just seen.
At the same time, Kuina suddenly turned around and jogged in the direction El and the others had gone.
Watching his daughter's retreating back, Koushirou's half-closed eyes flashed with a sharp, knowing glint.
"…Wait a moment!"
Outside the dojo, El was planning to find an inn with Carina and Nami and stay in the village for a few days.
Just as the three of them were discussing where to go, a shout came from behind them.
They turned and saw Kuina running toward them from afar.
Whether from the run or from something else, her face was flushed, and when she finally stopped in front of them, her voice carried a faint tremor.
"Um… are you leaving here right away?"
"Yes. Why?"
El smiled slightly and lied without blinking.
Hearing that, panic flashed across Kuina's face.
"A-Are you going to continue adventuring on the sea?" she blurted.
"Of course."
El nodded without hiding anything.
"Actually, we're bounty hunters. While searching for our targets, we stop by famous dojos in the East Blue so I can challenge them and improve my swordsmanship."
"Hunting and challenging… That's how you get stronger…?"
Kuina's clear eyes shone.
Then, as if she had finally gathered all her courage, she spoke, still trembling a little:
"T-Then… can I… join you?"
"...Are you sure?"
El looked at her with a doubtful expression.
"You're still very young. Will Senior really allow you to go out to sea?"
"I'll convince my father!"
Now that her feelings were out, Kuina's usual decisiveness returned.
She met his gaze seriously.
"Please give me a chance. Let me go to sea with you."
"We'll be staying here tonight."
El gave Kuina a long, searching look, then turned away with Nami and Carina.
As he walked past her, he left just one line:
"We'll leave from the harbor at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."
"I'll definitely be there!"
Kuina shouted firmly toward their backs.
Dusk settled over Isshin Dojo's courtyard.
Once again, Kuina ended Zoro's daily challenge by knocking him sprawling onto the ground.
"That's 1,887 losses, Zoro."
Breathing a bit heavily, Kuina gave a small, almost teasing sneer.
"Give it up. You can't beat me."
"Hateful!"
Zoro jumped back to his feet, grabbed the two bamboo swords, and glared at her.
"Just you wait, Kuina! Next time I'll definitely win!"
Then he turned and ran out of the dojo, heading for his secret training spot.
As she watched his back disappear from view, Kuina's smile slowly faded, a faint shadow clouding her face.
She might have won—but the pressure weighing on her had only grown heavier.
In just a few short years, Zoro had gone from a complete novice to the point where he was nipping at her heels.
Meanwhile, her own growth had slowed.
From the moment she first defeated Zoro, her improvement had never again felt as dramatic as his.
If she stayed like this, with Zoro's talent—and the advantage of being male—he would eventually surpass her.
"I'm sorry, Zoro… That might have been our last match."
Kuina murmured to herself.
Night fell.
In the dojo's meditation room, lit only by faint lamps, Koushirou sat on a cushion, eyes half-closed.
Kuina knelt before him, a sword resting on her lap.
"…Is that your final decision?" Koushirou asked, his usual gentle tone replaced by a rare seriousness.
"Yes, Father."
Kuina looked straight at him, matching his seriousness.
"I want to join their group. I want to go on an adventure with them, challenge dojos and swordsmen all over the world, and prove to you… that even a girl can become the number one swordsman in the world."
"But you understand, don't you? The outside world is dangerous. It's full of deception…"
If Kuina had asked to go to sea alone, Koushirou would have refused without hesitation.
But today, he had seen El's true strength and potential.
Eight years old—and already a Master Swordsman who could wield Flying Slashes.On top of that, he had awakened Observation Haki. From his movements and physique, Koushirou was almost certain that one day El would also awaken Armament Haki.
With that body and swordsmanship, El's strength would already stand out even in the first half of the Grand Line.
In the East Blue, as long as they didn't encounter low-key monsters or direct disciples of powerful figures, very few people could be El's match.
So when Kuina said she wanted to follow El to sea, Koushirou didn't reject her immediately.
Of course, as a father, he still had to warn her.
Even under the protection of a monster, the sea was never safe.
Kuina's determination didn't waver in the slightest.
"If I fail, then that only proves I'm nothing special to begin with," she answered.
"…Since that's your choice, then go."
As descendants of the Dragon Slayer, the Shimotsuki clan carried a warrior's spirit in their blood.
Even though he was worried, Koushirou stayed composed and nodded, accepting Kuina's decision.
"Thank you, Father…!"
Kuina hadn't expected him to say yes.
She'd been sure he would refuse outright, maybe even scold her.
She had already made up her mind that if he denied her, she would write a farewell letter, leave it in her room, and secretly run off to meet El and the others at the harbor.
But now—
With her father's approval—
Kuina's chest swelled with a joy so strong it almost hurt.
If not for her strict self-control, she might have burst into tears on the spot.
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