Chapter 10 Where it all began
*Village of Iron – Gates*
Zoro, Naruto, and Jiraiya follow Mifune as they come up before the gigantic gates that lead to the village proper. The guards quickly come to attention at the sight of an approaching Mifune.
"Sir! Welcome back." The heavily armored guard said. He looks at the group that's accompanying the leader of the village.
"Another one? Sir you found it necessary to meet this one personally." The groups from the leaf look on in confusion at the statement.
"Hey Mifune…" Jiraiya started to say when then the huge gates creaked as they began to open.
"And don't let us see you here again." A guard said as they tossed someone out of the village face first into the snow.
"Tch…" The ejected figure said as he pushed himself up from the snow. Naruto and Zoro looked in amazement at the figure that looked exactly like Zoro. Jiraiya walked over to "Zoro" and placed his hands in front of him. Uttering no words he dispelled the illusion around the fake revealing a man wearing the grass symbol on his forehead protector.
"Heh. Like I needed that disguise anyway." The grass ninja said as he disappeared into the snowy landscape.
Jiraiya looked at Mifune. "This is why huh."
Mifune nodded as he ushered them into the village. "It started after your village hosted the last chunin exams. The leaf isn't known for great swordsman, so the Mizukage came here and asked us if we had supplied the leaf with this Roronoa Zoro thus removing our neutral stance. I told then No but then I made a serious mistake when I said that I'd enjoy the chance to train him. That is when steady stream of fakes began."
Zoro looked around the militaristic town. People would stare at him then whisper to themselves.
"So how have you been sorting through the fakes?" Jiraiya asked.
"It's well known that Zoro sucks at ninjitsu of all sorts." A new voice said. Mifune shook his head as a girl walked up to them. She looked around the same age as Naruto and Zoro. Her light blue hair tied in to two ponytail held in place by a black hairband. She wore a black chain mail dress with a red sash.
"The cloud's report said he has a hard time just standing on water, but his swordsmanship was great so we fight them and make them use their ninja skills." She stood before the group with her hands on her hips.
Jiraiya nodded "Great way to weed out the fakes."
The blue haired girl smiled "Yeah yeah! And it's great practice!"
"Hikari…" Mifune said as he placed his face in his hand.
"Uwah… another one?" Hikari said as she walked up to Zoro. She got right in his face then looked over a Naruto.
"Ha brought a friend to try to reinforce your 'story'?" Naruto ground his teeth.
"Hey he's the real thing!" Naruto yelled after he saw that Zoro wasn't going to respond to the brazen girl.
"Ha like we haven't heard that before!" She said in a condescending tone.
Mifune walked over to Hikari and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'd like you to meet my granddaughter and student. Hikari you finished that grass ninja real fast. How did you do it?"
"I never got a chance to let loose. One well-placed thrust caused him to kawarimi."
"So you're ready for another?" Mifune asked. Hikari's smile got brighter. She didn't utter a word and just cracked her knuckles.
"This little girl? She stands no chance." Naruto said.
Hikari's smile grew wider. "Ha haha hahahaha!"
Zoro's face contorted to a scowl as he watched the girl laugh.
"Oh this is gonna be fun! Follow me!" She said as she grabbed Zoro by the arm and pulled him away.
Mifune let out a sigh. "Follow me…"
*Village of Iron – Arena*
Mifune and Jiraiya stood on the stone floor of the arena as Naruto joined the increasing number of spectators in the stands.
"Two in one day it seems. I thought they started to limit the number of "Zoros" they let into the village." One boy said to his friend.
"Yeah, supposedly this one is special. That white haired guy is one of the leaf's sanin. That guy might be the real thing." The friend responded.
"Really…. We'll see Hikari will expose him soon enough."
Mifune looked over at Jiraiya as he listened in on the crowd. "You don't have to be down here." He said. "I'm just officiating this match."
"I have to keep an eye out on Zoro." Jiraiya said as Hikari and Zoro entered the arena from opposite sides. "As much faith as you have in you granddaughter, Zoro has a problem pulling his punches."
"Come on fake. Let's get this started. I want to finish before my afternoon training session." Hikari said as she walked over to a weapon rack and grabbed a lance. She twirled it around like the weapon was a baton before dropping into an attack stance.
Zoro drew out the Shusui.
"Eh one sword?" Hikari said. "Most start out with two." She said as she rushed the green haired swordsman. She unleashes a barrage of thrust at Zoro who simply back stepped away from the sporadic thrust.
Zoro eyed the girl. Her face still bore a smile but her eyes had that killer edge to them. Her boastful attitude seemed to not be for show she was a skill fighter as well. Zoro felt then his back hit the wall of the arena.
"It's over!" Hikari said as she drew back the lance and thrust the weapon. She looked at the supposed Santoryu Master face. No sign of worry or stress. Zoro simply parried the hard thrust with the Shusui causing her to lose her balance. Zoro took the time to bring his sword down on her. Hikari quickly steadied herself and planted her foot into his stomach sending him back into the wall and caused the sword to zoom past her face barely missing. Hikari's eyes widened. The strike missed her but the force behind it… She had no time to think about it as Zoro side slashed at her.
She tried to block the blow with her lance but the weapon was no match for the power of Zoro and his Shusui. It cut through the metal pole end of the lance like a hot knife through butter. Not letting this discourage her she attacked with the split lance. Zoro parried her blows from her broken weapon and once again attacked her. Hikari contorted her body to dodge the strike and didn't attempt to block with the broken weapon. She jumped backwards and threw one end of the lance at Zoro. He deflected the attack with his sword only to reveal the part with the lance's head coming at him at a high speed. Zoro quickly ducked the attack. When he looked back all he could see was Hikari's dress wavering as she mad dashed to a weapons rack. Zoro chased after her wanting to end this battle quickly. Hikari reached the rack and this time grabbed to lances. She turned to greet the swordsman.
"Sanjuroku Pound Ho!" Zoro yelled.
Hikari hastily sidestepped the attack it destroyed the very spot where she was. The remaining stone floor tiles had a distinct damage to it.
"Ha he used a justu! He's another ninja masquerading as Zoro!" Someone from the crowd yelled.
Zoro's eye twitched in annoyance but before he could voice anything.
"Shut up!" Hikari yelled as she held her two lances.
"Hmm she noticed. That wasn't a jutsu. It was like he simply cut the air." Mifune said to Jiraiya. Jiraiya looked at the old swordsman who had a smile on his face. Zoro quietly observed the blue haired girl. Her stance had changed to accommodate the second lance. Then without warning, she shot at him way faster than she had the last time. Zoro readied his sword. She unleashed a multitude of blows trying to keep Zoro out of his range and stray within hers. Zoro began to read her attacks and began to weave in closer on the girl. She smiled and pulled one of her lances farther back.
"Shunjinken!" She yelled as the lance blurred from his vision. Zoro barely had time to sidestep the attack. He felt the attack graze his side. He didn't have time to react to the pain as her second lance came screaming towards his head. Zoro deflected the attack. Hikari planted her other lance into the ground and used the force behind Zoro's blow to spin behind him and sent the lance towards his back.
"Tch…" She said as her blow was met by two crossed swords. She jumped back to get out of Zoro's range.
'I've haven't had this much fun in a while!' Hikari thought as she eyed Zoro. She let a giggle escape her lips. Zoro raised an eyebrow at the sound. She looked at him her smile more sinister. Zoro prepared himself as the girl shot towards him. Hikari swept low with one of her lances. Zoro jumped over the attack.
"Maguma!" Zoro yelled coming down on. She blocked the attack with her lances. They both warped behind the force of the attack. She attacked the still airborne Zoro.
"Senkoureppa!" She yelled as all Zoro saw was a flurry of flashing lights coming at him. To her surprise, Zoro either blocked or dodged most of the blows.
"Even from that position…" Hikari said as she discarded both of the worn lances. "You're not half bad Zoro."
"So you're admitting I'm the real deal?" Zoro said.
Hikari slightly blushed but quickly regained her composure. "Heh we'll see." She said. "Wait a second." Zoro lowered his stance. She ran back down the runway.
Zoro didn't have to wait long.
"I almost paid for not taking you seriously." Hikari said as she emerged from the back. In one hand she had a three pronged lance that had a point on its base and in the other she held a battle axe. The dress part of her gear had been removed revealing fighting gi.
"From here on out, I'm not going to hold back. If you are the real Zoro then you should start using you're three sword style." Hikari said as she pointed the lance at Zoro.
The green haired swordsman smirked. "You sure?" He asked.
"I was trained by my grandfather, a swordsman with no equal, since I was little. I might prove a little too much for you." Hikari said as she readied herself. This time Zoro rushed Hikari, Shusui and Wado held out at his side. Hikari planted the lance into the ground and used it to vault herself into the air after she let go she gripped the axe with both hands.
"Tenroumetsuga!" She yelled as she brought the axe down. The blow pounded Zoro into the stone forcing the tiles he was standing on the buckle under the blow. Zoro pushed the axe up with no Hikari attached. She was already at her lance preparing for her next attack.
'I see she knows she can't overpower me so using leverage and speed she's trying to out maneuver me…' Zoro thought as Hikari rushed him trusting her lance. Sword and lance clashed sending sparks all around them. Hikari tried to make her way over to the axe but Zoro blocked her every attempt to break away. She had to take a chance. She sloppily thrust her lance at Zoro who simply dodged the telegraphed attack as he dodged he saw Hikari run right past him the opposite side of the attack. The lance bounced off the ground and back into its owners hand as she rushed towards her axe.
"Nezumizan!" Zoro yelled sending the ground projectile towards the axe. Hikari sped up a little at the sound of the attack and barely reached the axe before Zoro's attack reached. She turned to the swordsman with axe and lance in hand.
"Hitasu!" She yelled as a pale purple energy started to flow out of her weapon coarse across her weapon. Zoro's eyes widen. She slashed her axe in the air and the purple energy remained where she slashed.
"Yomiji!" She yelled thrusting her spear sending the arrow of energy straight at Zoro and exploding when it reached him. Hikari scanned the area. She didn't see Zoro so he must had taken the attack head on. There was a cheer coming from the crowd that had formed throughout the match. The planted her spear in the ground.
"Uwah… That was a hard fight… He might be the real thing." Hikari said looking at her grandfather to declare her the victor. All she saw was his piercing gaze looking into the smoke where Zoro had stood. The smoke started to clear and she saw Zoro standing sword in his mouth and one in each hand.
"The Santoryu…." She said as she took her spear in hand. Zoro lowered his head bringing his arm across his chest.
'What is this…?' She thought as she took a more defensive stance.
"Santoryu: Oni Giri!" It was over in the blink of an eye. Everyone stood in shock of what they were seeing. Using his one blade, the Kurosawa, Mifune was pushing back three swords while he held his granddaughter in his other hand. Zoro's eyes widen as they met the piercing gaze of Mifune.
"Ha Jiraiya was right. That strike would have left her in bandages for weeks." He said as he removed his sword and sheathed the long thin blade. Hikari couldn't wrap her mind around what had happened. One second Zoro stood across the stadium from her and the next she was in her grandfather's arms as he held the swordsman back.
"Zoro…" She muttered as the swordsman sheathed his sword and he looked at the girl. "You were playing around with me huh?" She asked as her bangs hid her eyes.
"No." Zoro said to the shock of the girl. "I might be a little more experienced than you but your training showed through in that fight. One wrong move and that last move would have done me in."
"What! More experienced!?" Hikari yelled. "I'm pretty sure I have a year on you." She said as she puffed out her cheeks. Mifune smile at the exchange of the two who just a few minutes ago fought against each with everything they had.
"Ok, I believe you, you're Roronoa Zoro and saying that you're now my number one rival!" Hikari declared once again pointing her spear at him.
"Huh!" Zoro said dumbfounded.
Mifune walked over to Jiraiya as the two began to argue. "So much potential in those two." Jiraiya said to Mifune who nodded.
"Yeah. I have but one more question."
"What you still don't believe he's the real deal?" Jiraiya said as his shoulders sank.
"Oh no. I knew he was the real deal from the beginning. I just wanted to get a gage of his abilities. Is it true that he defeated Orochimaru?" Mifune asked.
Jiraiya flinched internally. "Why would you say that? He's barely a chunin." The toad hermit said. Mifune handed him a folder with the clouds symbol on it. And in bold red characters, Fought Akatsuki member Kisame and defeated missing nin Orochimaru, subject is extremely dangerous.
'Danzo's intel is old.' Jiraiya thought. Mifune looked at Jiraiya's face and got his answer.
"I see." The old samurai said as he looked over at Zoro, Naruto, and Hikari discussing something. "He lied to my granddaughter. He took it easy on her."
Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah the boy still hasn't showed you everything he's got." Jiraiya said as his thoughts when to Zoro's mysterious Ashura technique. Before he could say anything else the two older warriors saw Zoro coming over with Naruto and Hikari in tow. Mifune stared as Zoro stood right across from him. Zoro placed his swords on the ground dropped to his knees and placed his head on the ground.
"Mifune! Train me in the ways of the swordsman!" Zoro declared. Mifune didn't quickly answer. He waved his hand and the arena began to empty.
Jiraiya dragged Naruto away.
"What are you doing! I want to see this!" The orange ninja declared as he struggled. "Come on Naruto." Jiraiya said as they left the grounds leaving only Mifune and a still bowing Zoro.
"You want me to train you? We've just met?" Mifune said. Zoro was quiet. "You the person who fought one of the seven swordsmen of the mist and defeated a Sanin are asking me for training?" Zoro clenched down on the ground.
"You remind me of someone." Zoro finally said. "The best swordsman from where I was from. He also stopped my Oni Giri technique with only a letter opener when I first set off on my journey. Fighting your student made me wonder what I could do with your training. I have people here and back home that I want to protect. I don't know if I'm ever going to go back there, but if I do I want to be fully capable." He said raising his head.
"Zoro, go say your goodbyes to your friends for the leaf. Our training session begins this afternoon." Zoro smiled unable to hide his joy.
*Village of Iron – Gates.*
"So this is where we part ways." Jiraiya said as he put his hand on Zoro's shoulder. "Make sure you hide this, you're officially neutral till your training is done." Jiraiya said tapping the band around his arm. He looked at this student. Naruto didn't have a said look in his eye he had a look of determination. He has been quiet ever since he had dragged him out of the arena.
"Zoro… I just want you to know that you're my brother." Naruto said as he flashed a quick smile before returning to the look of determination. "But you know my goal, to save Sasuke."
Zoro didn't say a word.
"Kakashi told me how you felt about Sasuke, that you intend on killing him if you see him again. Right now I know I can't hold a candle to you, but that's more motivation for me. After this training I'll be able to defeat you!" Naruto said pointing his fist at Zoro.
"You know that I'm not going to just stand around and let you catch up with me." Zoro said.
"I know!" Naruto yelled. "I'm just going to train harder and harder till I surpass you, then I'll be able to stop you and save Sasuke!" Zoro was taken back. He was serious about surpassing him. "Next time we meet, I'll be able to stand next to you in power!" Naruto said extending his hand which Zoro quickly took.
"I'm going to hold you to that." The two broke their handshake and turned towards their intended training area. Both determined not to let the other one become the stronger.
*One month Later- Village of Iron."
Mifune stood over a heavily breathing Zoro. When it came to just straight swordsmanship Zoro learned what Mifune had to teach easily, but when it came to manipulating his flames using his villages sabre technique Zoro tired quicker than normal.
"Again Zoro." Mifune said. Zoro struggled to get to his feet. He tightened his grip on his nameless sword, a quick flicker traveled across the blade.
"Sanjuroku Pound Ho!" Zoro yelled. It hit the target dead on causing it to burst into a brilliant blue flame.
"Now focus. This is all your attack. What is a weapon if you can't control it." Mifune said as he watched the flame start to spread.
Zoro began to focus on the flame and slowly it die away.
"Good. But you think an opponent would give you this time?" Mifune asked.
"Why would I want to stop it on an opponent?" Zoro asked as he dropped to a knee.
"Your flame is like a wildfire. It starts at one point only to quickly spread to the next flammable object. What would happen if you accidentally hit a non-combatant or an ally?" Mifune asked.
Zoro mind quickly went back to his fight against Sasuke when a downed Naruto made him have to change the scene.
"Again." Mifune said.
Zoro once again stood tall and faced his target. Once again a spark traveled down the blade. Yet unlike last time Zoro never got a chance to attack, the blade fractured under the stress. Zoro looked at the broken blade that Tenten made specifically for him as Mifune picked up and examined a piece of the blade.
"Lasted longer than I thought it would." Mifune said. "It was not as well made as your Wado or Shusui but the maker is on the right track."
Zoro nodded and returned what was left of the blade to its sheathe.
"Ok switch swords and lets continue. We have another hour of training to go." Zoro drew the Wado and continued his training.
*Next day*
Hikari and Zoro stood side by side one side with a wooden staff while the other stood with two wooden swords and opposite to them stood Mifune with one wooden sword, both Zoro and Hikari where covered with bruises from Mifune's attacks. Mifune looked to the side.
"Ok well end here today." Mifune said as he planted the wooden blade into the ground. Hikari let out a heavy sigh.
"Hey moron!" She yelled at Zoro. "Your last attack nearly took me out! We were supposed to work together!"
"Yeah well your wild swings kept me from getting close as I wanted to get!" Zoro retorted.
Hikari took her staff and smashed it into Zoro's foot.
"Ok you want to go!" Zoro said. She didn't say anything in response just twirled her staff and prepared for an attack.
"Stop it you two!" Mifune yelled causing them to flinch.
"I wish we could go through one session without you two going at each other's throat. Now come." He turned and began to walk away.
Zoro and Hikari followed behind him quietly throwing insults at each other.
"As much as I hate to slow down your training, it wouldn't be fair to Zoro if we did real time training and he had only two swords." Mifune said.
"So while I continue Hikari's training, I've invited smiths from throughout the village to bring you there strongest and best made weapon. Stay here until you find a weapon that suits you." Mifune said as he took Hikari and left Zoro to his decision.
*Hours later*
"He probably picked a sword and got lost on his way back." Hikari jest as she followed her grandfather.
Mifune chuckled, there was that possibility. The two of them began to worry after Zoro never showed up to their session. It wouldn't be the first time Zoro's bad sense of direction had made him miss part of a session. That was the main reason he asked the smiths to come to him instead of the other way around. As they approached where they left the green haired swordsman they saw that the place was still crawling with smiths.
"What's going on?" Mifune asked one of them.
"That kid is the pickiest guy I've ever seen." The smith said. "He's gone through most of the weapons in town and hasn't thought twice about any of them."
"Idiot…" Hikari said as another smith came up to Mifune. Hikari noticed her grandfather's hand go straight to the hilt of his sword.
"Mifune, I've come to collect on a debt." The smith said with no hint of respect in his voice.
"Hey, you're talking to your leader!" Hikari said taking offence to the blatant disrespect this guy had shown.
Mifune placed his hand on her shoulder. "Go check on Zoro, I'll take care of this." He said. Hikari glanced at the smith again before going to check on Zoro.
"I should cut you down where you stand." Mifune said.
"Hmph, you still owe me Mifune." The smith said. "I don't think you'd tarnish your honor by killing someone who is just collect on a debt."
Mifune tighten the grip on his sword. "What do you want me to do?"
*Late that night - Outside the village*
The full moon filled the cloudless sky as Zoro and Mifune walked through the woods. Zoro had no idea what was going on. He couldn't find a sword that he felt was right for him today.
"Mifune, is this some form of training?" Zoro asked. The old samurai remained silent. As they came into a clearance there was a figure standing under a single tree. As the figure stepped into the light Zoro immediately recognized who it was.
"Itachi!" Zoro said as he immediately drew the Wado and Shusui.
"So we meet again Zoro." Itachi said as he looked at the swordsman.
Zoro glanced back at Mifune who just stood there. "I don't know what is going on but if…" Zoro started to say but Itachi raised his hand.
"No, I've came to talk not fight Zoro." Itachi said. Zoro knew what the Uchiha was capable of. He kept both of his swords in a position to react to any aggression the Uchiha could show.
"I've heard about the little confrontation you had with my brother." Itachi said narrowing his eyes at Zoro. "I was… surprised of the outcome of that fight. There are few people who could successfully counter a matured Sharingan."
Zoro readied himself. 'Is he going to take revenge on me for nearly killing his brother?' Zoro thought.
"But my wayward brother isn't why I'm here to talk to you today." Itachi said. "I have a proposal for you. You have impressed the Akatsuki. Your track record and potential has placed you on a short list. We want you to join us."
Mifune gasped while Zoro remained stoic.
"If you think I'm going to let you turn this kid into a weapon." Mifune said reading himself to strike.
"That's not your decision to make." Itachi said activating his Sharingan causing both Zoro and Mifune to look away.
"So Zoro, I know you're here to train, but Kisame has even agreed to train you in his ways, the seven swordsman way. And with our resources we could make you so much more powerful than you'd be just training here." Itachi said.
Zoro remained silent.
"Zoro… if you take him up…" Mifune said now entertaining the thought that he might have two opponents instead of one.
"No." Zoro said as soon as Mifune finished his thought. "I don't think that I'd get far with Kisame. We'd end up killing each other first day. Anyway you're asking me to betray the leaf, my friends, and I couldn't do that."
Itachi hid a smile under his cloak. 'Zoro, you're the guy I thought you were.' He thought "Ok, One more thing. Here." Itachi held out a shrouded object. Zoro sheathe the Shusui and Wado. He cautiously took the shrouded item from the betrayer. He uncovered the item revealing a sword.
"That blade was forged under the instruction of the first Hokage after his fight with Madara. Powerful seals were placed on this blade to lessen the effects of the Sharingan on the wielder. Before it could be used against us my ancestors took the blade and hid it. Danzo found its location and sent you to find it for him and yet you gave it to me." Zoro unsheathed the blade its solid white blade reflected the moon's light.
"With this we're even." Itachi said. Zoro looked at the blade. It felt right in his hand. He could go all out with this blade against anyone. He placed the blade back into it's sheathe.
"No we're not." Zoro said tossing the blade back to a surprised Itachi. "As much as I hate the potential of the Sharingan, a shortcut against it would make me less of a swordsman." He turned away from Itachi and began to walk back (what he thought was) towards the village leaving Mifune and Itachi alone. Itachi chuckled.
"We're even now, though." Mifune said.
"Yes." Itachi said. "Just a warning. The other members of Akatsuki are also seeking Zoro to give him the offer to join with an order to kill him if he doesn't join." Mifune nodded. And Itachi turned into a murder of crows leaving Mifune alone.
He sighed. "I guess it can't be helped." Mifune said as he went to catch up to Zoro before he got too lost.
*Outskirts - Village of Iron.*
Zoro was surprised that after what had transpired that Mifune didn't take him straight back to the village. When Mifune finally caught up with him all he said was follow him. They had been walking for a short while when they came upon a shrine. Mifune inserted the Kurosawa into a small hole, soon after the doors opened up revealing a small room with a blade in the center. Mifune went into the room and retrieved the blade and handed it to Zoro. The blade had a solid red blade and black hilt and grip.
"The Rettenjo." Mifune said holding the blade. "In the time before our nation was established the hero and eventual first leader of this village wield this blade. They say it started out white but as they slayed all that came to claim our lands, the blade slowly turned its current red. After we had achieved our independence, declared our neutrality, and all the Daimyos finally recognized it, he had this blade was sealed away. He said that no one from our village should wield this blade." Mifune handed the blade to Zoro. The moment he touched it a severe bloodlust crept into him.
"It's like this blade craves conflict." Zoro said.
Mifune nodded. "One of the reasons it was sealed away."
Zoro slashed the sword around to get a feel for it. It was extremely light. Zoro smirked. He placed the sword into the sheathe that Tenten had given him.
"All I ask is that you don't reveal the history of that sword to anyone." Mifune said. "And if you ever prove yourself unworthy of that blade, I'll take it back."
Zoro nodded. The two left the now empty shrine to heading back to the village.
*Two months later*
Zoro sat in the middle of a room. Shrouded people circled Zoro drawing random ritualistic symbols around him.
"Now Zoro, we are going to send you deep into the Three Wolves Mountains." Mifune said as one of the shrouded people started to draw a symbol on his arm
"Once there, you will have 5 hours to complete a trial. The mountains are infested with deadly beast and battle hardened criminals. Once you've either defeated someone worthy of being a challenge or five hours pass you will be brought back."
"Why do I have to do this? You know my skill level." Zoro complained.
"This is something that we all had to do to be recognized as a true warrior of the Iron." Hikari said.
"Yes, after this I'm going to start send you two on missions representing us." Mifune said. "That's why I stressed you to work on your teamwork. These missions are going to be tough and diverse. But we'll talk about it after you are done."
The shrouded people surrounded Zoro. They started to chant various things before slamming their hands into the ground. Then Zoro was surrounded by a bright light and disappeared from the room. Hikari sighed.
"You think he'll find someone as tough as he is? I pretty sure after all that training with you and Zoro I could clean that mountain out by myself." She said muttering a compliment that she would never let her self proclaimed rival hear.
Mifune patted his granddaughter on her head. "That's why I put the time limit on it. He'll just have to fight till the limit." He said.
*With Zoro*
The light died down around Zoro. He rubbed his eyes.
'This place is unnaturally warm.' Zoro thought. He was hearing strange noises. Zoro placed his hand on one of his swords.
"No way!" A voice yelled. "It's one of the Strawhat, Pirate Hunter Zoro!"
'Pirate hunter…' Zoro thought no one in the Iron knew his nickname.
His vision began to return. He saw the familiar uniform of the Marines. He looked around at the strange trees and bubble everywhere. The Marines lowered their guns at Zoro while one grabbed a portable Den-Den Mushi to report. There was no doubt about it. He was back in Sabaody.
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Holy crap that took longer than I thought it would take. I've finished moving and then bam surprise trip to Dallas for the Alabama vs. Michigan game. Well after tomorrow I'll start on the next chapter which I'm excited to get out of draft form! Thanks for your patience.
Info: Hikari's(who will not in any way be nothing more than a friend) basic moves comes from Various "Tales of" games:
Shunjinken= Sonic Thrust
Senkoureppa= Light Spear Cannon
Tenroumetsuga= Divine wolf
while her final move was the final attack of Einst Alfimi from the Super Robot Wars Original Generation games.
And Zoro's new sword name is taken from my favorite non naruto ninja ,Bang Shishigami's Nox Nyctores Hoyoku: Rettenjo or Phoenix Wing: Violent Heavens Above in english.
Well I've been cooped up in my hotel room for a little while so lets see what Dallas has to offer!
~B.O.X~