"Oi, Sensei", he greeted and was flooded with a sad sense of nostalgia when he reached the dojo.

"Where have you been, Zoro?", he asked worried.

"I overdid my training a bit yesterday", he replied honestly.

Koshiro's eyebrows shot up, that wasn't a sentence he had ever uttered before. But it wasn't his fault that his child body couldn't keep up with him yet.

"Well, I'm glad to hear you're learning about the importance of resting. Without enough rest you will burnout and exhaust your body over time."

"Yeah, Sensei", Zoro muttered.

"Now let's embrace this and let me teach you another lesson."

Koshiro led him into the backyard of the dojo.

"I know you're training hard to be able to cut anything, but the strongest swordsmen in the world can cut anything and nothing with the same blade. They can protect what they want to protect and only cut what they want to cut."

Zoro swallowed heavily. He remembered that lesson, it was different back then, but weighed even heavier now, even though he knew he could cut steel.

The strongest swordsmen can protect what you want to protect, Zoro thought and decided, no matter when he defeated Mihawk, he would not call himself a strong swordsman if he couldn't help his crew achieve their dreams.

"Here, let me show you", Koshiro said, and took out a piece of paper. He swung his sword and didn't cut it, once again.

"Let me try."

Koshiro handed him the paper. In a similar motion as his master, Zoro threw it in the air and took out his sword. He closed his eyes and focused on the Breath of all Things, with his Observation Haki. In a swift motion with his sword, he also didn't cut the paper.

Koshiro looked very surprised. "You have grown a lot as a swordsman lately."

Zoro just stared at the paper and thought bitterly, If only that had helped protect my crew.

"Come, let's go eat something, the evening is starting to set in", Koshiro said, stopping Zoro's train of thoughts, "After that you should rest."

The next day, Zoro went back to the dojo early in the morning to do his katas. The familiar motions quickly helped him get into a sort of meditative headspace. The motions of even his strongest attacks were second nature, even though he was sure he wasn't strong enough to effectively use then yet.

Soon the other students started poring into the room.

"Damn, Zoro, your bladework has become a lot smoother!", someone yelled, snapping Zoro out of his focus.

"Why are you surprised?", someone else chimed in, "He's training every day like a maniac."

Zoro just rolled his eyes. This was nothing.

Koshiro had come in with the other students and watched the scene curiously.

"Why don't we test how strong I've become? I want to fight everyone who thinks is a match for me", Zoro said grinning.

In the end, Zoro felt a bit bad for everyone. It had taken him about five minutes to decimate all the adult fighters. Damn, what a difference more efficient movements and Haki made.

"Master, you know that I came here challenging the dojo, and said I would stay to learn until I beat the strongest person there. The only one left is you."

He knew that was not fair to say, he was still not over Kuina's death, even if it felt like it happened a life time ago for him, but he also knew that Koshiro wouldn't let him go. He was still a child for fuck sake.

Koshiro gave him a long look. "We should probably take this outside to not damage the dojo."

When they reached an area that was large enough, with no obstacles, both of them got their swords ready, while the others took seats a bit farther away to watch.

Zoro heard some laughter and supposed that they thought he was truly overconfident how.

The truth was, he really hoped he wasn't underestimating his old Mater. He never fought him before, but he was fairly certain that he knew at least Observation Haki, and Armament wasn't such a stretch either.

Without much hesitation Zoro went in for a first attack, to gauge his masters abilities. His master easily blocked it and forces Zoro backwards.

Koshiro used Zoro's backwards motion to go in with a slash himself, but Zoro doges easily by using his Observation Haki.

"Two-swords-style: Nigiri", said Zoro and went back to attacking himself. Koshiro was able to parry this as well.

Not wanting to be on the defensive, Zoro quickly went for another attack, this time using his Two-sword-style: Dai Gekken, a fencing technique, that was ideal for close range attacks.

Koshiro narrowly dodged, and Zoro used his moment of disbalance to draw his third sword.

"Three-sword-style: Oni Giri!", the attack connected, but Koshiro managed to block it at the last second.

Both of them were breathing heavily now.

"You truly have made a lot of progress", said Koshiro, "let's see how you handle this."

He gripped his sword tightly: "36 Phoenix Desires!"

Zoro's eyes widened slightly he had a split second to realize, that that was a similar attack to his One-sword-style: 36 Pound Caliber Phoenix, and would create a huge wind blast cannon.

He knew he would have to bring out his big guns to withstand that.

"Nine-Swords-Style: Demon Asura", Zoro gritted his teeth and hoped that he was strong enough to perform his most basic Asura attack or if he needed his Kitetsu to perform it.

For a second, he thought he couldn't use it, but then he felt the aura creating his "other two bodies", and that he was holding nine swords.

Koshiro definitely did not expect his, and his brief moment of shock was all Zoro needed to disarm and overwhelm his master.

"I win", said Zoro smugly. He was certain, that if he hadn't caught his teacher so off guard, he would have had a much harder time, but Koshiro probably wasn't mad about a reminder to never underestimate his opponents.

"Well done", said Koshiro, he tried to be nonchalant about it, but Zoro could feel that he was a bit afraid of what Zoro had just done. He wasn't so sure if it was because of he attack alone or if Zoro's suspicions were true and he always used his Conqueror's Haki with the attack.

"You truly have made a lot of progress recently."

Now Zoro felt a bit like a cheater, and also hoped Koshiro wouldn't ask for an explanation how he basically made miles of progress overnight. He settled for just shrugging as a response.

"Let's get back to the dojo, you all will need to work harder, if you want to catch up", called Koshiro to the group that had been watching.

On the way to the dojo, Zoro notices that the other students were eying him warily and didn't come close. So he ended up walking next to Koshiro on the front of the group.

"I know you have been taking her death the hardest, but, you can't get stuck in 'What could have been's'", Koshiro said suddenly, "and you have been using it well to get stronger."

He gave his master a short nod. If only it was just Kuina's death in his mind.

"I have been thinking, I know there is still a lot more for me to learn, but I want to leave the island."

Koshiro's eyes widened, "So you were serious before?"

"Do you know of any ships that are going to Dawn Island? Maybe even Foosha Village?"

"There aren't any dojos or swordsmasters, as far as I know", his browns were furrowed and he looked Zoro up and down.

"I want to make a stop there and then take my journey from there."

"Zoro, you're a child", Koshiro reminded him, "I know you miss Kuina but that's not a way of dealing with loss. Even if you have now beaten everyone here."

"I can take care of myself", Zoro looked at him seriously with a bit of frustration, "I really can't stay here any longer."

He kept holding eye contact while Koshiro was searching his eyes for anything he could use to convince him of staying.

After about a minute Koshiro closed his eyes. "I can't hold you here, you know that, but I will be worried about you the whole time. You are like a son to me, I can't lose you too."

Zoro gritted his teeth, he hated doing his to his old master, "I'll try to send letters. Please don't stop me."

Koshiro sighed, but seemed less than happy about his, "Make sure you don't break your promise stupidly."

"I won't", promised Zoro sincerely.

"I'll talk to the people on the docks and tell you when the next boat is leaving to go there."

"Thank you, Sensei."

He hated himself for doing this to Koshiro so much. Zoro knew he would be incredibly worried. But contacting Shanks was his priority and Dawn Island was his best chance for that.

He had to wait two weeks before a boat leaving to Foosha village could take him to his destination. He used that time to get in as much physical training as he could, and was only rarely disturbed by others. Not even Koshiro asked him, how he managed his progession. He was very thankful for that, but also felt a pang of gulit towards the students and Koshiro that were avoiding him now, but really needed to get his body stronger again. And for that he couldn't let himself be held back by those feelings.