Kuina and Kuro looked at the still Zoro.
Today, Zoro was going to cut steel.
Kuina had already managed to cut steel and Zoro was about to catch up today.
Facing Zoro was Kuro holding a steel sword.
The two took their stance and rushed toward each other.
With a slice, Zoro had managed to cut Kuro's steel sword.
The three of they smiled and headed off to a restaurant to celebrate.
At the restaurant, they ate their fill as they told each other about their insight into the training.
While they were chatting, a marine came up to the three of them.
The marine looked friendly and tried to speak as friendly as possible.
"Are you three Kuina, Zoro, and Kuro?"
The three of them looked at him.
Kuro immediately knew why a marine was here, but the other two didn't.
"Let me guess, you've heard about three talented swordsmen from this village and wanted to recruit us?"
The marine looked surprised, "Yes how did you know?"
"Well, you're not the first marine to come and try to recruit us. But what you heard from people is hogwash. There's no way three kids like us can take on a group of slavers. It was the civilians that gained up on the slavers after we told them what we saw."
Zoro and Kuina looked at Kuro strangely.
The marine could see how they glanced at Kuro.
Looking back at Kuro, the marine decided to apologize for trusting misinformation.
"I'm very sorry to have believed false rumors, have a pleasant day."
With that, the marine left with a smile.
"What was that about?" Zoro asked.
Kuina too wondered why he lied to the marine.
Kuro got up and motioned them to follow him.
Paying the bill, they left the restaurant.
Following Kuro, they could see that they were stalking the marine.
The marine went to the beach and quickly change his clothes to that of a friendly-looking merchant.
Zoro, Kuro, and Kuina saw him take out what looked like a transponder snail.
"The things we heard were false. Those idiots came up with an excuse so we'll save them. This is the East Blue, they really thought their information could fool us. Can't believe I wasted my time... Alright, I'll be there."
The man turned off his transponder snail and a ship showed up to take him away.
There were a few thoughts running through Kuro's head.
If his sister became famous, would the slavers try to threaten their father to subdue her?
Kuro did not like the thought.
Should he kill all the slavers on the ship or let them go?
Zoro and Kuina looked at Kuro and could see he was thinking so they didn't speak.
If he killed the slavers, their buddies would most likely track it back to this island and problems would arise.
Kuro knew, that he wasn't some protagonist that could simply save his family because of some plot.
Thinking about it, Kuro decided to take a risk he hoped didn't come back to bite him.
He hoped that the slavers only knew them and not his father or completely forget about them.
"Let's go back," Kuro said calmly and got up.
Zoro and Kuina followed after him.
"Kuro, did you think about attacking because there might be slaves on their ship?" Kuina questioned.
Kuro shook his head, "No, I had another worrying thought."
"Can you tell us?" Kuina asked.
Thinking about it, Kuro decided to tell them about all the underhanded means slavers use to get people into slavery.
After listening to him, they knew and understood what Kuro was worried about.
"Father can take care of himself," Kuina stated with confidence.
Although Kuro didn't know where she got the confidence from, he decided to trust her based on how good her observation haki was.
"If they do anything to hurt your old man, I'll slice them up," Zoro stated coldly.
Listening to Zoro's words, the three decided to cheer up and continue to celebrate.
Far away, Koushirou who had heard everything disappeared away.
If there's one thing about slanted eyes people in anime, it's that they know stuff and can be dangerous.
Koushirou wasn't much of a doubter, but he was starting to doubt himself.
His daughter's dream was just too big.
There simply didn't seem to be a way she could ever hope to accomplish her dream.
The world's greatest swordsman, Koushirou knew someone with a title like that would have just too much stacking on them.
Perhaps, maybe Kuro was right.
After all, it wasn't Giants, Fishmens, or Lunarians that ruled the world but humans.
The sun was setting and Kuina and Kuro came home.
When they arrived home, they could see their father.
As always, their father seemed peaceful and benevolent.
"Kuro, Kuina come with me," Koushirou said peacefully.
Kuro and Kuina didn't know why or what but they followed him.
They headed into a room and Koushirou sat down facing the two.
Kuro and Kuina sat down waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Kuina, Kuro, I believe the two of you have grown enough to inherit our family legacy."
Both Kuro and Kuina's eyes went wide.
"What!?" Was all that came out of Kuina.
"Oh," Kuro smiled excitedly.
Koushirou took out a book and handed it to Kuro.
"This book contains your grandfather's experience in blacksmithing, use it to further your dream."
Kuro took the book with awe and held it like a precious treasure.
Kuina was very happy for him.
"Kuina," Koushirou said sweetly and Kuina turned her attention to him.
Koushirou took Wado Ichimonji from a stand and handed it to her.
Kuina accepted it happily but was unsure how to feel.
"Take it and strive for your dream. I wish the best for you."
It was then, Koushirou and Kuro could see a teardrop from Kuina's eyes.
For once in his life, Koushirou genuinely lost his smile for a moment due to the loss of seeing his daughter cry for the second time in her life.
Kuina place Wado Ichimonji down and hugged her dad.
Koushirou became more at loss but soon regained his smile in understanding and hugged her back.
Kuro too decided to join in on the hug.
For once in Kuina's life, her dream was acknowledged by her dad and that made her happier than inheriting Wado Ichimonji.
With his grandfather's experience, Kuro quickly finished Zoro's sword after three years.
The sword was at most great grade and Kuro decided to name it Sutenresu.
He at first wanted to name it another thing but Zoro and the sword probably won't be happy about the cringe name.
"Zoro, it's done."
With great amounts of energy and excitement, Zoro came into the forge along with a happy Kuina.
Kuro handed Zoro the sword.
"Its name is Sutenresu, take care of it, this bad boy almost gave me back pain for the rest of my rest."
Zoro took the sword out of its black sheath and smiled.
He could see that it was a very good sword.
Its black stainless sharp steel seemed to want to cut something.
"Thank you Kuro, I promise to take great care of it."
Zoro then turned to Kuina.
"Don't expect me to lose this time."
Kuina grinned at Zoro's confidence, "Bring it on."
The two went outside the forge and Kuro followed after them.
In a forest, Zoro and Kuina took their stance.
Kuro started the countdown.
"Are you ready, kids?"
Kuina and Zoro yelled with confidence.
"Aye aye, Captain!"
"I can't hear you!" Kuro yelled.
"Aye aye, Captain!"
With the ritual done, Zoro and Kuina attacked each other.
"Three Sword Style," Zoro gritted.
"Sharp Slash," Kuina said with a calm grin.
Their sword clashed and Kuro could see that Kuina was being slightly pushed back.
However, that didn't seem to make Zoro happy as Kuina seemed to plan on playing the stamina game.
In every of his battle against Kuina, he had never won the stamina game as she would simply weaken his attack while conserving her energy.
While he was using his full energy and getting tired, Kuina was simply relaxing.
Knowing and not wanting to play the stamina game with Kuina, Zoro decided to go all out.
It was all or nothing.
Kuro stood standing silently as he watched Zoro gave it his all.
He could see that Zoro's armament haki was slightly better than Kuina but that was it, Kuina observation haki was just way better.
Zoro was too balanced with observation and armament while Kuina simply focused too much on observation in order to improve her swordsmanship.
From what Kuro could see, in a real battle, Zoro would lose to Kuina.
The best way for Zoro to even the playing field would be to have a wat better sword technique or a way better armament haki than Kuina.
Unfortunately for Zoro, while Kuina has the sword technique heritage, Zoro was basically the first pioneer of the three sword style.
As Zoro kept giving his all to Kuina, although he knew he wouldn't be able to win, he at least wanted to make her sweat.
Facing his constant ferocious attacks, a sweat soon formed on Kuina's head and she decided that was the best time to end it.
"Dragon's Wraith!" Kuina yelled.
"Ashura!" Zoro yelled.
Kuro rushed in to stop them as they were in the heat of the moment and weren't holding back.
Kuina and Zoro looked pissed wondering who interrupted them.
They saw a smiling slanted eyes Kuro and realized their mistake.
"Sorry I let the heat of battle get to me," Kuina stated.
"Me too," Zoro stated.
Kuro sighed, he was starting to get more worried for these two battle maniacs.
