Chapter 74: The Twelve Zodiacs of Shimotsuki Village, Hai Zhu
Chapter 74: The Twelve Zodiacs of Shimotsuki Village, Hai Zhu
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, open ground outside the village.
"Shing!"
The sound of a sword being drawn rang out.
"Slash! Slash! Slash!"
The sounds of slashes echoed.
A huge rock suspended in the air was neatly cut into four sections by the swordsman standing before it.
But what was peculiar was that, even though it was cut into four sections,
the swordsman actually only made a single strike—his two hands each held a sword, and he bit another sword in his mouth.
The swordsman had green hair, a white top with a green bellyband, a bandana tied to his left arm, and three golden earrings in his left ear.
It was a unique appearance, rare even across the vast seas.
"He's too strong!"
"As expected of Big Brother Zoro's Three Sword Style!"
"I want to learn the Three Sword Style too, someday!"
"He's practically a monster! Big Brother Zoro might become even stronger than the Dojo Master in the future!"
And by the swordsman's side, a group of children were cheering him on.
They were all wearing uniform dojo uniforms, and on the left side of their chests were emblems of two crossed swords.
"Heh."
After hearing their words, Zoro sheathed his three swords, listened to the clamor of his junior disciples beside him, and revealed a faint smile.
He did not deny the children's words about "being stronger than the Dojo Master."
Although the other party was his martial arts mentor, the person he respected the most.
But—
"If I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman, I'll have to surpass everyone."
His hand unconsciously touched the second of his three swords at his waist, the one with the white guard, and his eyes gleamed with determination.
That was his promise with his deceased friend.
"But Big Brother Zoro, you're going to set sail soon, aren't you?"
At this moment, a child asked curiously.
"Hmm—six years have already passed since then. It's time to test my sword."
Zoro nodded.
"What do you plan to do after setting sail?"
"A bounty hunter, I guess. If I search the whole world for strong opponents to fight, it should make my sword stronger."
Zoro's words held a hint of anticipation.
After so many years of arduous sword training, finally having the chance to put it to use, anyone would be looking forward to it.
"Searching the whole world for strong opponents? Good! Wasn't it just a while ago that some Pirates came here to plunder?"
"That's right! Didn't that group of Pirates say they'd come back before the Dojo Master drove them away? After Big Brother Zoro sets sail, he should just go find them first and chop them all down!"
Hearing such words, some children were filled with admiration.
But some also expressed doubt.
Of course, they weren't doubting Zoro's swordsmanship, but rather—
"Bounty hunter... if it's you, Big Brother Zoro, you'll definitely get lost, won't you?"
"Definitely!"
"Absolutely! He might not find his way back for many years, who knows."
Hearing this, Zoro's eyes instantly widened. "Ha?! What are you brats saying?! How could I possibly... Hmm?!"
He stopped abruptly, mid-sentence. His expression had turned somewhat serious.
Because at this moment, he could see—at the far end of the road on the other side of the village, a person had appeared.
Zoro could vaguely make out the other party's appearance from a distance.
It seemed to be a tall man, wearing a top hat on his head, and on his face was a distinctive boar mask.
"This guy..."
Zoro's expression became somewhat serious.
Shimotsuki Village was not a very large village, and outsiders were rare.
Moreover, Zoro's swordsman's intuition told him—that man... was not like an ordinary passerby.
"You guys stay here, don't move."
And so, after Zoro said a word to the children behind him, he leaped over the broken rock in front of him and walked towards that man.
"Hey, a new face. Not from around here, are you?"
He grinned at the man and said.
"..."
Then he noticed that, although it was for a very short time, the other party seemed to have paused for a moment after seeing him.
This made Zoro even more suspicious—could this guy be an accomplice of that group of Pirates who were driven away earlier?
"What the young man said is correct; this is indeed my first visit to your esteemed village."
The man wearing the boar mask spoke in a refined manner. "I came here to discuss a business deal."
"Discuss business?"
Zoro grinned, "Where do you want to talk? I'm familiar with the village, maybe I can take you there."
"It's a place called Isshin Dojo. I've made an appointment with the owner there, Mr. Shimotsuki Kozaburo, to discuss business."
"Shing!"
As Hai Zhu's words reached this point, Zoro had already bent down and drawn his sword.
"Sorry about this, Pirate."
He had almost confirmed his judgment: "I don't remember Master having any business deals with anyone. Two Sword Style: Back Eagle Wave!"
He drew his sword, then suddenly slashed out.
However, a closer look would reveal—what he swung out with was the blunt side of the blade.
It was clear that although he already believed the other party was a Pirate, he still had no intention of recklessly attacking someone before confirming it.
But—
"Clink!"
The blunt side of the blade easily struck the man's neck.
Zoro confirmed that he had struck the opponent, and he had put all his strength into the blow.
But the other party did not fall.
No, to be precise—he didn't even feel the slightest tremor from the opponent.
"Young man, this isn't very good."
The next moment, he saw the calm eyes beneath the opponent's mask.
"If people who come to discuss business casually resort to violence, then business won't be easy to do."
"Also, I just heard you say something about finding strong opponents to fight—that's a good idea, but—"
He gently extended his hand and lightly flicked Zoro's forehead.
"There are many monsters on this vast sea. If you just draw your sword against anyone you see, you'll die."
"Boom!"
A huge force instantly erupted. Zoro felt as if he hadn't been struck by a mere finger, but rather hit by some weapon imbued with immense power.
He was instantly sent flying backward.
But—
"There's no way I'd fall like this..."
In mid-air, he forcibly maintained consciousness, then violently stood up again.
"Clang!"
At the same time as he landed, his hands had already moved to his two remaining swords.
"Haha..."
His forehead was already completely bruised, but he didn't care in the slightest.
He didn't know what had just happened, nor how the opponent's casual flick could possess such immense power.
But he at least knew one thing.
The other party seemed very strong.
Then—
"Perfect. I'll use you to test my swords then."
He simultaneously drew all three swords, biting one in his mouth.
"Three Sword Style..."
But just as he was about to attack again, a hand pressed onto his shoulder.
"Zoro, stop."
That familiar voice made Zoro unconsciously stop.
He turned his head, and indeed saw a familiar figure—a man wearing a grey kimono, round glasses, and looking very gentle.
"Master?"
That was his master, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the master of Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village.
"Greetings, sir, it's been a while. My apologies—my disciple is a bit reckless. Thank you for showing him mercy."
Koushiro, however, didn't pay attention to Zoro, but looked towards the man wearing the boar mask and said softly.
"...Huh?"
As these words came out, Zoro was also stunned.
Then he immediately reacted—the other party was actually someone his master knew!
"No, no, no..."
But then, Zoro realized something seemed off.
Because at this moment, Koushiro's expression was clearly much more serious than usual—no, to be precise, this was the first time Zoro had seen Koushiro so serious.
It was clear he might know the other party, but they definitely weren't friends.
And at this moment...
"It's nothing, Mr. Koushiro."
The man wearing the boar mask, however, said elegantly. "I came to discuss business, not to cause trouble."
Saying this, he smiled and took off his top hat: "Allow me to introduce myself."
"I am 'Hai Zhu,' a blacksmith."
(end of chapter)