"This is… an Armament Haki training method?!"
El's eyes lit up.
Good.
The notebook Koushirou had given him wasn't just any random diary—it was a Haki training manual.
And not a basic one, either.
Inside, it recorded not only the conditions and methods for awakening and training Armament Haki, but also its advanced applications—what Wano Country called "Emission" and "Internal Destruction."
El had expected that a gift from a Master Swordsman wouldn't be something ordinary.
But he hadn't expected this level of generosity.
As one of the most mysterious and powerful nations in the world, Wano Country had developed its own Haki system, just like Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt.
The Kuja tribe called Haki the "spirit of the Nine Snakes."
In Wano, Haki was known as Ryuo (Ryou).
The very fact that they had names for Haki showed how deeply they'd researched it.
And it wasn't just in theory.
Both Amazon Lily and Wano Country had created their own systems for awakening and training Haki—something many people in the world never achieved even once in their lifetime.
In those two lands, most young warriors possessed at least one form of Haki.
From that alone, El could tell:
Koushirou's gift was enormous.
"Hmm?"
As El flipped through the pages on Armament Haki, something slipped loose from between them.
A folded letter.
He pulled it free, opened it, and skimmed the contents.
"I see…"
By the time he finished, a hint of surprise had surfaced on his face.
So that's why Koushirou had been willing to give such a precious manual.
The letter was simple but sincere: he was entrusting Kuina's future to El—asking him to protect her, help her awaken Haki, and even guide her toward mastering its advanced forms.
"Armament Haki training method? What's that?"
Kuina had no idea what was written inside.
Hearing the phrase, she tilted her head and looked at El, curiosity clear in her eyes.
"It's a power that every swordsman aiming for the top must eventually master," El replied as he closed the notebook and tucked the letter away.
"Once you've fully understood the Breath of All Things—what people call 'cutting steel'—I'll personally teach you."
He met her gaze and added with a small, encouraging smile:
"From now on, you'll train with me every day. With your talent, I believe you'll grasp the Breath of All Things soon."
"I think so too!"
Kuina answered without hesitation, her expression firm.
The reason she had left her hometown, her dojo, her family, and followed a boy she'd barely known for a day wasn't just for adventure or to see the world.
It was, above all, to challenge El.
Just like Zoro, who had grown stronger through more than a thousand defeats against her—
Kuina now intended to grow by repeatedly challenging him.
She would imitate Zoro's path:
Fight. Lose. Learn. Repeat.Climb by using defeat as a stepping stone.
Just about two hours after the four of them had left Shimotsuki Village—
"What?! Kuina went to sea?!"
In the dojo, Zoro—drenched in sweat from his morning training—froze when Koushirou calmly told him the news.
She had… left?
She had gone to sea with that silver-haired boy?
Zoro felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him.
His whole body went rigid.
"When? Why? Why didn't she tell me?" he demanded, staring at Koushirou, eyes going red.
"In order to reach the highest realm of swordsmanship, she chose the most difficult path."
Koushirou looked at his most valued disciple and spoke seriously.
"Kuina has El to protect her, which is why I allowed her to be willful this once."
"But you, Zoro—you are not allowed to imitate Kuina."
"Before you turn seventeen, I will not permit you to go to sea alone."
"B-But…"
Zoro's voice broke.
The goal he'd been chasing—the rival he'd sworn to surpass—had suddenly vanished from his everyday life.
He didn't even know how to describe the feeling tearing through his chest.
"Before Kuina left, she asked me to give you a message."
Koushirou continued, his gaze softening.
"She said she's looking forward to meeting you on the sea one day—and having your 1,888th duel there."
"…"
Zoro wiped at his eyes, forcing back his tears.
"I get it. I won't fall behind her," he muttered. "I'll train until I surpass her. I'll go to sea one day, find Kuina again, fulfill our promise, and… and become the world's strongest swordsman before she does!"
Seeing his disciple's spirit reignite, Koushirou finally smiled in relief.
By now, El had been at sea for a little over a month—
And without realizing it, he'd already created a storm of butterfly effects in this world.
First, he recruited Nami early.That alone meant the future Straw Hat Pirates were going to lose their "guardian angel" of navigation on the seas.
Second, he changed Kuina's fate.
At the same time, he altered Zoro's dream.
Originally, Zoro's dream was simple and straightforward:
Become the world's strongest swordsman and make his name known across the world.
Now, that dream had shifted.
He still wanted to be the strongest swordsman—
But first, he wanted to find Kuina on the open sea, fulfill their promised 1,888th duel, and reach the top before she did.
Of course…
El knew nothing about any of this.
And even if he did, he wouldn't be too bothered.
With three world-favored talents, El was the chosen son of this era.
In ten years, even if he hadn't fully developed all three of his gifts, his strength would definitely be enough to protect himself in any sea.
When you could survive anything the world threw at you, you didn't have to fear being swept up as a pawn in someone else's story.
Even if Luffy set sail, stirred up the entire world order—shaking Mary Geoise, the Revolutionary Army, Marine Headquarters, the Four Emperors, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Even if the Great Pirate Era burned hotter than ever—
El would not be a piece on the board.
He would be a player.
And these ten years were his accumulation period—the time to grow, sharpen his sword, and complete his foundation.
"Nii-san, where are we going next?"
On the tiny sailboat drifting across the calm sea:
Carina sat in the cabin, flipping through a magazine.
Kuina was seated at the small table, writing seriously—likely training notes or her own diary.
El sat across from them, reading through the Armament Haki manual again.
Nami, who had just finished checking their course, leaned on the table and asked.
"Next…" El closed the notebook and rested his chin on one hand, looking at the three girls.
"Let's head to Loguetown."
"Loguetown?" Nami repeated.
"I want to buy a sword," El said. "And while we're there… I want to get a new ship."
"Change ships?"
Nami blinked in surprise.
Carina looked up from her magazine as well.
"Yes."
El nodded.
"Our crew went from three people to four, and this little boat is getting cramped."
"So it's time for a new one."
If he hadn't recruited Kuina, El had originally planned to wait until they were about to enter the Grand Line before upgrading ships—picking one that could withstand the bizarre weather and sea currents ahead.
But Kuina changed that plan.
She wasn't like the others.
She'd be turning eleven in a few months.
There was no way she could keep sharing a single bed in a tiny cabin with three other people forever.
On top of that, she still hadn't fully grasped the Breath of All Things yet.
She needed space to practice swordsmanship every day—to train her body, swing her blade, and push her physical strength toward the level required to awaken Armament Haki.
Which meant—
Their first big stop was set.
Loguetown.The city of beginnings and endings—and their next step toward the future.
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