Zoro looked around as he was being led by four other ninjas to his row boat. The path that they had taken took them right though the thick trees that covered the land of fire. That was another thing that Zoro did not understand- naming a place full of trees after fire…it was inviting trouble if you asked him. Zoro saw that they were approaching the small canal that lead though the land of fire and went off into Wave. He saw the row boat and there was nothing remarkable about it, although it looked like it could fit three people.
Zoro watched the other nin's disappear after he was dropped off and frowned slightly. Zoro shrugged his shoulders as he climbed into the boat and grabbed both paddles. The wood was rough and poorly made, but he knew that it was a façade as they were hollow and hide a ANBU blade in each of them. Zoro started to paddle his way towards the land of Wave, watching as the water swirled around each paddle-stroke. Zoro knew that each time he paddled, his strength would increase little by little.
Zoro had been paddling nonstop for several hours…and it showed. His shirt had long since been abandoned and his body was covered in sweat. Nearing the shore, Zoro pushed his boat against the land and tied it down carefully. He stretched and rolled his shoulders while considering his surroundings. Zoro saw a good tree and walked over to it…he did not pack supplies as he considered this to be training…to live with-out aid…that was true training. Zoro closed his eyes as he rested his back against the tree. Tomorrow he had another day of hard rowing.
Zoro was jerked awake when he felt something enter his clearing. He quickly turned his head in the direction from which he knew the thing had approached. It was a huge brown bear, lumbering into the clearing, his head weaving from side to side. Zoro locked eyes with the great beast. Zoro and the bear stared each other down, each trying to intimidate their opposition. Finally, the great bear turned his massive head away from Zoro- not wanting conflict with the strange human.
Zoro watched the bear head towards the water to get a drink. It seemed that the danger had past. Zoro quickly surveyed the rest of the clearing, then turned his attention back to the bear. He carefully studied the bear as it had it's drink and left- leaving the swordsmen alone in the clearing once more. Zoro looked up and saw that he was lucky enough to have chosen a fruit tree to nap under. He half-smiled as he heard his stomach roar. He was more hungry then he had originally thought.
Zoro looked for the closest branch to leap up and grab a fruit when he heard the rapid patter of small feet coming closer. Peering closer, he heard a thunderous roar from a bear- perhaps the same one from before. Zoro watched as a little kid came running out of the bushes, screaming his head off as the bear he saw earlier was chasing him. Zoro could not tell if it was a boy or girl, but he had to stop the bear. "Hey, kid- over here!" Zoro shouted as he put his father's sword into his mouth.
The kid saw Zoro and instantly ran behind the swordsman as the man drew his other swords. The bear saw the strange swordsmen blocking it from its lunch. This time the bear roared a challenge to the swordsmen, hoping to scare off the man in front of him. That only caused the swordsmen's eyes to flash red, telling the bear that if they fought it would be a fight to the death…no in-betweens. The bear paused briefly, then stood on it's hind legs and roared loudly before charging the swordsman. Zoro braced himself and moved his two swords to the opposite shoulder, Zoro's teeth bit down harder on the sword in his mouth before he too charged at the bear. The bear swung it's massive claw at Zoro's chest, hoping to disembowel his opponent before any harm could be done. Zoro spun, unleashing his blades and cutting diagonally across the Bear's offending paw. The massive limb fell uselessly to the side of the bear, who was now roaring in agony at it's bleeding stump of an arm. But, Zoro was not done yet and he quickly leapt into the air, spinning as he did trying to sever the bear's head as well.
The bear's instincts saved it as it drew it's massive maw back and avoided the fatal blow. Zoro landed, but his back was to the bear and it took advantage by lunging at Zoro's right shoulder. Zoro let out a yell of pain as the bear's teeth bit down, breaking the bones in his shoulder. Zoro did not let the pain distract him from the fight as he flipped the sword in his left hand to a reverse grip and stabbed with all his might into the bear's broad chest. Zoro's strike hit home and the bear loosened his grip on Zoro's shoulder to let out a bellowing call of pain, giving Zoro the opening he needed. Zoro spun with speed that no one his age should have as he used the sword in his mouth to cut off the bear's lower jaw and severe the connection between the bear's skull and spine.
The young child watched as the man who had saved the child's life fell to one knee. Seeing that his/her savior was in danger (and with the bear lying dead to one side), the young child ran over to Zoro's side. "Don't worry I will get help!" the child yelled as he ran off towards his/her home in the forest.
Zoro grimaced as darkness fell all around him, but then he felt pain again and somehow found himself on a ship's deck in the middle of the ocean. Zoro looked around but could only see a large white screen on the mast. Zoro watched as the screen showed an older version of himself standing next to several shadowed figures. Zoro heard a thunderous voice. "A glimpse of one's future is here…but you must leave now!" Zoro frowned as everything went back to black.
"Hey, he is waking up!" Zoro heard a child yell. He recognized the voice as the one he had saved from the bear. Gingerly, Zoro sat up and opened his eyes to see the child and his father standing there.
"So kid, what's the name of my son's savior?" the man asked. The man had a brown beard and a round belly. He was wearing fishermen's clothes.
"Roronoa, Zoro." Zoro said not noticing the look of fear that flashed across the pair's faces.
"Excuse me, Mr. Zoro." the father said as he led his son out of the room. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING BRINING THE DEVIL RORONOA ZORO INTO A PIRATE'S HOME!" The man yelled at his son.
"Dad, I do not know who he was." the child exclaimed.
"Okay, don't panic. Just hide all of my pirate stuff." the man said hoping that in his weakened state Zoro would not figure it out.
I know it is short, but here is chapter three. Please review.
