The Green Haired Swordsman

"Zoro, did you really have to offend this guy?" Nami asked, wringing her hands nervously. "Can't you apologize already and avoid a fight?"

Usopp took a step back, intimidated by the angry samurai and his friend with an intimidating height. "I don't like the looks of this! We should get out of here while we still can!"

Zoro kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, remaining calm and collected. "Relax, Nami. It's just a duel. I'm not afraid of a little fight."

"Ha! That's the spirit!" Ryuza exclaimed, grinning at Zoro. "Let's get started then."

"Hold on a second," Zoro said, raising an eyebrow. "You're challenging me to a duel because our sword sheathes touched? That's a pretty old-fashioned tradition, not many people follow it these days."

Ryuza narrowed his eyes at Zoro's words, glancing down at the three swords at his waist. "You're a swordsman too, I see. Then you should know better than to dismiss the honor of a fellow swordsman."

"Ryuza-san, m-maybe we should just let this one go," Yamato interjected, placing a hand on Ryuza's shoulder.

But Ryuza was already too fired up to back down. "I won't let this insult go unpunished," he declared, drawing his own sword.

Zoro grinned, unsheathing one of his own swords. "Finally, some action. I've been itching for a good fight."

Ryuza unsheathed his sword, and Zoro's eyes were drawn to the impressive katana. The sunlight glinted off the steel, revealing its well-crafted and well-maintained state. And yet there was something strange about the blade. Its darkened color steel gave it an unusual and also more threatening appearance than an average blade.

Zoro was not completely sure, but for a moment, he could feel a strange power resonating from the sword. It was clear to him that this was not a blade to be taken lightly.

Nami stepped forward nervously, trying to smooth over the situation. "Our friend here is so sorry for offending you," she said with a forced laugh. "He was injured in an earlier fight, so he probably limped and accidentally bumped into you!"

Usopp chimed in with a nervous laugh of his own. "Yeah, that's right! His leg was cut up pretty badly!" he lied. "About 50 men came running at us, but we were lucky to have beaten them all! It's just too bad our friend here gained a few wounds, right Zoro? Haha!"

Yamato's interest was piqued by the mention of the fight. "50 men?" she repeated, her eyes sparkling.

Nami glared at Usopp before laughing again and nodding her head. "Yeah, haha! 50 men! It was super tough! So again, we're sorry to have offended you, right Zoro?"

Zoro's lips curled into a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of a duel. He didn't say a word, but his body language spoke volumes. He reached down and pulled a black bandanna from his left bicep, the fabric soft and worn from years of use. He wrapped it tightly around his head, the cloth clinging to his sweat-dampened hair. His eyes, now shaded by the bandanna, took on a fierce glint.

Zoro's lips curled into a dangerous grin as he faced Ryuza, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Without a word, he drew two of his three swords and began twirling them in the air. The black bandanna he tied around his head seemed to intensify the aura of danger that surrounded him.

"Fine then. If it's a duel you want..." Zoro said, taking a step forward and lowering his stance. "Then let's do this. Remember, you asked for this."

Ryuza's heart raced as he watched Zoro's confident movements. He could tell that this was not going to be an easy fight. But he refused to back down, not when his honor was on the line.

With a deep breath, Ryuza charged forward, his sword held tightly in his hand. Zoro met him head-on, their swords clashing with a resounding clang. The sound echoed through the deck restaurant, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Nami and Usopp retreated to a safe distance, watching with nervous excitement as the two swordsmen battled it out. Yamato watched with worry, but also complete confidence in Ryuza. Meanwhile, Carne could only hope that the restaurant would survive the fight unscathed.

The two swords clashed, causing a loud metallic ring to echo throughout the restaurant. Ryuza quickly retreated, anticipating Zoro's next move. But the green-haired swordsman was already in action, swinging his two blades in unison. Ryuza deflected the first attack, but barely managed to dodge the second by leaping backwards.

With his feet firmly planted on the ground, Ryuza launched himself forward, aiming for Zoro's chest. But the skilled swordsman was ready, and he swiftly raised his two swords, blocking the tip of Ryuza's blade.

Ryuza jumped back, his heart racing. Zoro was formidable, and his two swords made him even more so. Ryuza knew he had to act fast and find a way to break through Zoro's defense. He narrowed his eyes, focusing all his attention on his opponent.

Zoro's eyes were fixed on Ryuza, his face devoid of emotion. He shuffled his feet, keeping Ryuza in his line of sight. The two circled each other like two predators sizing each other up.

Suddenly, Ryuza charged forward, his sword held high. Zoro was quick to react, blocking Ryuza's attack with ease. The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the air as the two engaged in a fierce battle. Like a deadly whirlwind, Zoro swung his swords in a flurry of strikes. Ryuza defended himself from the attacks, the metal clanging echoing repeatedly.

Ryuza tried to find an opening, but Zoro's defense was impenetrable. Sweat dripped down Ryuza's forehead as he struggled to keep up with Zoro's lightning-fast strikes. He knew he had to come up with a new strategy, or he would surely lose the fight.

Zoro's movements were swift and precise, each swing of his sword targeted towards Ryuza with deadly accuracy. His swords moved like a whirlwind, leaving no room for error. Ryuza had no choice but to defend himself, his eyes locked onto his opponent's every move. He stepped back, blocking each incoming attack with his sword, switching it between his hands repeatedly. Despite his efforts, Zoro was pushing him towards the edge of the ship. Ryuza realized that if he continued to be on the defensive, he'd end up falling into the sea water, or get slashed by one of the blades.

With a quick parry, Ryuza managed to stun Zoro's left arm, but he was quickly following up with the sword in his right arm. Ryuza anticipated this and countered with an expertly executed move, bringing his blade up over his shoulder to block Zoro's attack from cutting his backside.

But Ryuza was not content with just blocking his opponent's attacks. He launched himself forward, using his shoulder to strike Zoro's chest, followed by an elbow to his jaw. Zoro stumbled back, dazed from the unexpected blows.

Not one to waste an opportunity, Ryuza leapt into the air and aimed the tip of his sword towards Zoro's chest. But Zoro was quick to react, leaping over Ryuza and landing on the black railing of the ship behind him. Ryuza's sword plunged into the wooden floor, narrowly missing Zoro's leg.

Their eyes locked onto each other as they regained their composure. It was clear that this was far from over.

Carne's scream echoed across the ship as Ryuza's blade pierced and damaged the deck. Wood fragments scattered everywhere as Ryuza struck the ship again. Carne's fists clenched as he watched the ship sustain more damage.

As Ryuza turned around, he swung his blade with all his might, knowing that Zoro had landed gracefully behind him. Zoro leaped into the air once more, using the black railing as his support. Ryuza's blade sliced through a piece of the railing, sending it falling into the sea.

Frustrated by the constant damage to the ship, Carne let out another angry scream. Zoro clenched his jaw as he descended from the air, swinging his two swords over his head with great force. Ryuza barely had enough time to react, and his blade clashed with Zoro's in a deafening metallic clang.

The impact of the strike sent Ryuza sliding back a few feet. He took a deep breath and twirled his sword, ready to continue the fight. The excitement in his chest was building, and he knew he had to stay focused. He was determined to emerge as the victor of this battle.

Zoro twirled both of his blades, deep in his stance. "Not bad," he said to Ryuza.

Ryuza grinned. "Same to you. You're clearly a skilled swordsman. It's an honor to fight you."

"But I guess you still won't let this duel go?" Zoro asked.

Ryuza stared at him, dumbfounded. Suddenly, he shouted with anger, and nearby seagulls flew away from the noise. "NO!"

"Oh, come on!" Nami shouted from the side, clearly annoyed. "How long are you two gonna keep this up?"

Zoro chuckled. "Heh, well then. Maybe I should start getting more serious." He unsheathed the third blade from its scabbard, holding the two in one hand for a moment before placing the hilt of one of them between his teeth, his other two blades still in his hand.

Ryuza watched in confusion as Zoro prepared himself. Nami shook her head in disbelief. "You guys are insane," she muttered.

"He's….he's using three swords?!" Yamato gasped in shock, her eyes wide as she witnessed Zoro wielding three swords with ease.

The blades glinted in the sunlight, and Zoro's stance was so low that it seemed like he was a coiled spring ready to strike. Even more impressive was the fact that the sword in his mouth didn't slip at all, as if he was holding it with his own hand.

Ryuza was equally amazed and excited. He had heard of legendary samurai and swordsmen who wielded unconventional styles and techniques, but he had never seen one in action until now. He tightened his grip on his sword, a fierce grin spreading across his face.

"If you're ready to fight seriously, so am I!" he declared, his eyes locked on Zoro.

"Get ready," Zoro muttered, his gaze fixed on Ryuza.

With battle cries ringing in the air, the two swordsmen charged towards each other once again, eager to continue their duel. But just as they were about to clash, the cook known as Carne rushed in between them, holding out his hands to stop them.

"STOP!" he demanded with righteous anger.

Zoro came to a sudden halt, his confusion evident in his expression. Ryuza, however, was less graceful and stumbled forward, falling flat on his face. As he picked himself up, he saw Carne breathing heavily with rage.

"Your little duel ends here!" Carne exclaimed, gesturing towards the damaged deck and railing. "You've caused enough damage to our restaurant, and I have half a mind to charge you even more than what you owe us!"

"GYAH! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" Ryuza bowed repeatedly.

"I told you that you should have let it go!" Yamato shouted angrily, crossing her arms. "Gee, you're so stubborn!"

Ryuza continued to bow repeatedly, apologizing for the damage he had caused to the ship. Yamato walked over to him and continued to scold him for being so stubborn and not listening to her earlier advice. Ryuza quickly sheathed his blade, knowing that it was dishonorable to upset the cooks who had saved him and Yamato from starvation. He also doubted that he had the money to pay for the damages if they had decided to charge him for it.

Zoro, still holding one of his blades in his mouth, muttered in disbelief as Ryuza ended the duel. "Wait, you're done?"

"Yes, that was an excellent duel. We will call it a draw!" Ryuza bowed his head.

"All that for a draw?" Nami mumbled, staring at the scene dumbfounded.

Usopp whispered in agreement, "We should just be glad it's over."

Zoro let out a deep sigh and sheathed all three of his blades. Although the duel was over, he couldn't help but wonder who would have emerged as the victor if it had continued. He was irritated that he had wasted his time on a duel that only ended in a draw. Plus, now he was even more famished than before.

Suddenly the doors to the restaurant burst open and Lieutenant Fullbody stumbled out. His face was bloody and his shirt was a mess, completely different than how he entered earlier. He moved with haste, as if wanting to get away from something, or someone as quickly as possible.

"Ah! A customer!" said Carne, allowing his professional attitude to return. "I hope you enjoyed the meal-"

"Get out of my way! This place is a nightmare!" screamed Fullbody, shoving the cook out of the way. "Waiters that beat up their customers, cooks that are always trying to tear each other to pieces! Just what kind of restaurant is this? I want nothing more to do with this crazy place!"

The marine lieutenant rushed to the edge of the deck and began screaming for the marine ship docked a few distances away to come and get him. Ryuza stared at him curiously, noticing the blood on his face. His eyes drifted back over to the inside of the restaurant. Just what exactly happened there?

※

"Yep! Everything is still here!" exclaimed Yamato, holding a sack in front of her.

After the duel had come to an abrupt end, Ryuza and Yamato had decided to check if the bag that held their remaining loot was still safe. Although Ryuza couldn't help but eye Zoro as he and his allies walked into the restaurant. Zoro was certainly eyeing him back. Neither of them was satisfied with how the duel ended.

Sitting in front of Yamato on their small and damaged boat, Ryuza gazed into the bag with her. The bag contained only a few diamonds and some golden coins, all they could recover from the rest of the loot that had been stolen by the pirates.

"Good. I guess we only take a certain amount out and give it to the cooks as payment," Ryuza said, unsure of how much the remaining treasure was worth.

"We aren't planning on giving them all of it, are we?" asked Yamato, her cheeks puffing in displeasure.

"Of course not. We still need the rest to repair our ship. The amount we give them should be an honorable amount," replied Ryuza before looking back into the bag. "Alright, let's tie it up and place it back under the seat. We'll relax here for a little while longer, then set sail."

"Right. But…which direction are we sailing?" asked Yamato, tying the bag and placing it under the seat.

"That…is another good question…one that I cannot answer right now," Ryuza admitted.

After checking their belongings, the two returned to the restaurant. Ryuza returned to his seat and his thoughts. He needed to think of their next move. They couldn't set sail in a random direction and risk moving further away from their destination.

Ryuza and Yamato had set their sights on the Grand Line as their first destination. They had heard from others that it was home to some of the most dangerous individuals to ever roam the seas, and they knew they would have to face these foes to get stronger.

Just as Ryuza was about to share his thoughts with Yamato, he realized she wasn't in her seat. Panicked, he searched the restaurant until he spotted her approaching the table where the green-haired swordsman and his companions sat.

"Man, the food here is great!" voiced Usopp, twirling his fork around a piece of meat. "I've never tasted food like this back in my village!"

"Yeah, for being a restaurant in the middle of the ocean, this food isn't half bad." added Nami, taking a sip of wine from her glass. "And the wine here is great! It's been so long since I've tasted a flavor like this!"

Zoro simply grunted then belched. He smiled, showing signs that he was clearly enjoying the food. As he patted his stomach, he said, "Beats waiting outside in the sun all day."

Usopp was mid-bite, raving about the restaurant's delicious food, when a tall shadow suddenly fell over him. He looked up to see Yamato towering over him, an unnaturally wide smile on her face. Startled, he dropped his fork and the meat fell back onto his plate.

Nami, sensing the tension in the air, set down her drink uneasily. Zoro narrowed his eyes, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as he took notice of the large studded kanabo mace strapped to Yamato's back. He knew the weapon could inflict serious blunt damage on anyone unlucky enough to be hit by it.

Yamato's eyes widened with interest as she stood near the table. "Hey! Excuse me! You said you and your friends defeated 50 men, right? Is that really true?" she asked.

Usopp blinked rapidly before puffing out his chest. "Y-yeah! That's right! Me and my crew took on 50 pirates!" he boasted. "It was tough, but they were no match for my superior skill and intellect!"

Nami rolled her eyes at Usopp's exaggerated tale. "Your crew?" she muttered under her breath.

"Wow, that's incredible! It must have been a real tough fight!" exclaimed Yamato, getting more excited by the second. "If it was pirates, I bet their captain was tough!"

"Yeah, he was!" Usopp laughed, getting caught up in his own story. "He was a real freak show! You might even know him by reputation! His name was Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates! He was a dangerous fighter, but no match for me!"

Zoro rolled his eyes at Usopp's embellished story. "You mean no match for Luffy…" he muttered under his breath.

Yamato's excitement continued to grow. "Whoa…you three took out an entire crew? Just the three of you?" she exclaimed in amazement.

Meanwhile, Ryuza listened intently to the conversation from his table. His eyes wandered over to the trio and he was impressed to hear that they had managed to defeat an entire pirate crew and their captain. Fifty men, no less. Whoever they were, they must have been extremely skilled. And not only that, but they must have known their way around the seas.

"H-hey! Wait a minute!" Ryuza shouted.

The young samurai rushed over to the table with haste, tripping over his own feet in the process and stumbling forward. He nearly cleared the entire table of food if Zoro, Usopp, and Nami hadn't lifted their plates and drinks when the white tablecloth slid away from him grabbing onto it in an attempt to break his fall.

"Hey! Watch it!" Nami yelled angrily.

Once Ryuza stood back up, he planted his hand onto the table and stared at the three with fierce eyes.

"You three took on an entire pirate crew and their captain! You all must be fierce warriors, right?" he asked excitedly. "Do you guys come from the grand line?"

Zoro raised a brow at the swordsman he had just engaged in a duel with earlier. His attitude was completely different than when he had "offended" him by accidentally touching his sheathe. He had expected Ryuza to continue to seek blood in the name of "honor." He didn't expect him to let it go this quickly, as if nothing had happened.

"No, we're not from the grand line," answered Zoro, raising an eyebrow.

"Although we do plan on heading there, just as soon as our captain handles the situation he's gotten himself into." Usopp added.

Yamato furrowed her brow in confusion as she looked at Usopp. "Huh? Captain? I thought you were the captain. The way you told the story made it seem like you were the leader."

Usopp laughed nervously. "U-uh...I am! I mean, only when the real captain isn't around. When he's gone, I take charge and lead us out of trouble, haha!"

Nami shook her head incredulously, unable to fathom how anyone could fall for Usopp's tall tales.

Yamato and Ryuza, however, seemed convinced. "Oh, that makes sense!" Yamato exclaimed, crossing her arms and nodding in agreement.

Ryuza chimed in, making the same motion. "Yep, makes sense to me."

Nami suppressed a scream, biting her tongue instead and taking a long sip of her wine.

Zoro noticed Yamato and Ryuza's interest in the grand line. "Hey, the way you asked that question made it seem like you two are trying to go to the grand line too. Is that right?"

Ryuza beamed with pride. "Yeah, we are! We set sail from our home a few weeks ago."

But then his face fell. "It's just... hasn't been going exactly to plan."

Nami's curiosity was piqued. "What happened?"

Ryuza fidgeted where he stood, his eyes fixed on the table. He could feel Yamato's penetrating stare on him, reminding him of his mistake. "We were exploring an island when a group of pirates we ran into stole most of our money and supplies." he finally confessed.

Usopp leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Pirates? You guys seem pretty tough though. They must have been really strong to take you guys down."

Ryuza's smile faltered, and he nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Actually, they weren't that strong."

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Ryuza's anxiety mounted as the strangers looked at him expectantly. He laughed weakly, feeling like a trapped animal. The weight of Yamato's gaze was almost unbearable, making him want to crawl under the table and disappear.

※

When Ryuza and Yamato first set sail, they were instructed to sail north since the island they lived on was in the East Blue. The villagers who supported them gave them a hefty sum of supplies and money, as well as a small boat to begin their adventure. Ryuza was thankful for their support and missed many of them dearly, especially a few key people in his life.

At the beginning of their adventure, things were looking up. They sailed north and even ventured through a few islands and towns. Yamato was excited about exploring new places. However, the problem began when they decided to explore an island they came across on their way towards the Grand Line.

The island seemed normal with a variety of greenery and tall palm trees. Ryuza and Yamato were eager to explore, having heard from a variety of sailors that some islands held untold riches and treasures waiting to be taken. As they explored the island, they came across all sorts of new forms of animals and vegetation.

One animal that Ryuza could not easily forget was a creature that held so much rage in its body that it lashed out at them. It resembled a rhinoceros, but had a much longer tail, was striped, and much more impressive in size. It ran on all 4 limbs and had a sharp horn on the front of its face. Battling the creature was a tough task at first. It charged at them with incredible speed, most likely planning on either trampling them under its feet or piercing them with its horn.

Ryuza and Yamato made quick work of the angry beast. Yamato displayed her incredible strength by bashing her mace into the wild animal's face mid-charge. Ryuza could have sworn its eyes had actually widened in shock when the animal was sent flying into the air.

Despite their success in defeating the creature, their troubles were far from over.

After their encounter with the creature, Ryuza and Yamato ventured deeper into the island and stumbled upon a group of people. The group was friendly and welcoming, with their leader expressing how they were in search of a treasure chest buried at a certain location on the island. The thought of finding a chest full of gold and riches excited Ryuza and Yamato, but the leader proposed a deal. He offered to split the loot with them if they protected him and his crew from the wild animals that roamed the island.

In their eagerness to obtain a share of the treasure, Ryuza and Yamato agreed to the terms without much thought. They followed the group deeper into the island and were attacked by numerous types of animals. Ryuza skillfully wielded his sword, cutting down a few of the beasts while Yamato kept the larger creatures at bay with her mace.

After facing the challenges of the island, the search for the treasure chest came to an end when the group's leader ordered his men to dig in a clearing. To Ryuza and Yamato's delight, the chest was discovered, and upon opening it, a large amount of golden treasure shone back at them. Coins, gems, diamonds, and chalices filled the chest.

Even though the search was relatively short, Ryuza was elated to be a part of it. As he had heard many stories of famous pirate crews and groups searching for lost treasure and riches, being among that group felt amazing. However, he knew not one of the people that he and Yamato had protected, making him feel slightly uneasy about the whole situation. He decided to ignore his feeling, and simply bask in the current excitement.

Experienced seafarers know that one of the most important rules of survival is to never trust strangers. Those who fail to heed this warning find themselves in dire situations at least half the time. Unfortunately, Ryuza's obliviousness led him to make a grave mistake.

"So you said you'll split the loot with us, right?" Ryuza asked the leader of the group.

"Of course," the man replied, laughing. "We'll just place your portion in this bag. No need to overexert yourselves. My men can take the loot over to your ship. Which way is it?"

Ryuza eagerly pointed out the direction of their small boat, while Yamato remained suspicious. She didn't like the way the men carrying their portion of the loot were whispering amongst themselves. She warned Ryuza in private, but Ryuza told her that they had little to worry about. After all, they had just assisted them with finding treasure. It would have been extremely dishonorable to deceive someone who helped you.

The leader then asked them about their destination, and when Ryuza mentioned they were heading for the Grand Line, the man simply smiled and nodded his head. He asked even more questions, but Ryuza should have known he was just stalling for time.

When he was satisfied, the group thanked Ryuza and Yamato for their assistance and made off with the chest. Ryuza felt a sense of accomplishment, even if it was only a short adventure, but his mood quickly changed when he and Yamato returned to their boat.

"Hurry up and scrap it so we can get back to the ship!" One pirate said impatiently.

"I'm trying! Just a few more holes and this thing won't be able to go out to sea," A second pirate replied, realizing that their boat had been sabotaged.

The two crew members entrusted with taking Ryuza and Yamato's share of the loot back to their boat were discovered to be scheming against them. They had maliciously tampered with the boat, leaving the pair stranded on the island without any means of escape. Furious, Ryuza confronted them and the situation quickly escalated into a fight. Although Ryuza was able to defeat the two liars with only two swings of his blade , the damage to the boat was already done, and all of their supplies and food were gone.

Ryuza stormed through the island in a rage, with Yamato in tow. She shared his anger and was determined to catch the group who had stolen from them before they could escape. However, by the time they reached the shore, the deceitful crew had already sailed away, laughing and taunting Ryuza and Yamato from their deck.

Yamato was so frustrated that she was on the verge of jumping into the water and swimming after them. But the exertion would have weakened her, and Ryuza knew it. Instead, he angrily leapt into the sea and attempted to pursue the escaping ship. But the powerful waves crashing into the shore repeatedly sent him tumbling back onto the sand.

It was evident that the group was a dishonorable gang of pirates. Ryuza was filled with shame and anger at himself for being too trusting, and now they were stranded with barely any supplies, except for a small amount of loot.

※

"So, let me get this straight," Nami said incredulously, her eyes wide. "You trusted a group of complete strangers with the location of your boat?"

There was a weight to her words, a sense of disbelief and disappointment that was not lost on Ryuza, who scowled and crossed his arms in response.

"Yes, but they didn't give any indication that they would betray us!" he defended himself, though his voice lacked conviction.

"If only you had listened to me in the first place!" Yamato interjected, her frustration palpable as she punched Ryuza's shoulder.

Usopp, curious as ever, chimed in with a question. "But if your boat was damaged, how did you manage to get off the island?"

Ryuza sighed heavily before explaining, "We had to get creative. We hunted and cooked what little food we could find and set sail as soon as we could, but the damage to the boat slowed us down. We drifted for days and ran out of food, but eventually stumbled upon this ship, discovering later that it was actually a restaurant.."

Zoro, the stoic swordsman, leaned back in his seat and spoke up. "It sounds like you let your guard down and paid the price for it."

Ryuza bristled at the criticism but quickly regained his composure. "It was a temporary lapse in judgment. We've learned from our mistake and are ready to continue our journey to the grand line."

Nami raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in her voice. "You two are going to take on the grand line alone, with no sense of direction or plan?"

Yamato nodded, her fists on her hips and a fierce determination in her eyes. "Yes. It's all part of our plan to become stronger. The grand line is full of powerful people and unexplored islands, and we want to experience it all."

Nami shook her head skeptically. "Well, good luck with that. You're going to need it."

Despite the obvious tone in Nami's voice, the two nodded proudly. Nami covered her face with her palm and shook her head. How many more amateurs did she have to deal with? But she quickly refocused her attention and asked a question that came to her mind.

"So that portion of the loot those thieves gave you, did you use up all of it?" Nami asked.

"No, thankfully we have a moderate portion left," Ryuza replied matter-of-factly. "We've been keeping it hidden on our boat so we can pay the restaurant for allowing us to stay here for a few days."

Nami nodded her head and gave a smile of understanding. As she looked out the window, she couldn't help but feel amused by their situation. An idea crossed her mind, but she showed no other signs of it.

"Wait, you guys have been here for more than a day?" Usopp asked in surprise.

"Unfortunately, yes. But looking back, it was the best decision," Ryuza said. "It gave us enough time to recover after nearly starving to death."

"And it wasn't as bad as you think," Yamato added. "One of the cooks here has been kind enough to give us free meals for the past two days."

"Huh? A restaurant giving out free meals?" Zoro asked, incredulous. "Maybe we should have pretended to be starving when we first arrived."

"Wow, they gave you two free meals for two days?" Nami's eyes widened in surprise as she questioned Ryuza.

"Not me, it was for Yamato," Ryuza clarified before pointing towards her.

"One of the cooks must have seen how desperate we were and offered to help," Yamato explained with a smile. "He seemed like a man with a strong sense of honor, unable to turn away those in need."

Nami studied Yamato for a moment before understanding dawned on her. She guessed that the cook's actions were due to a sense of honor and perhaps something else that she could exploit.

"Can you describe this cook to me?" Nami asked, intrigued.

"Yeah, he had blonde hair, a black suit, and a unique eyebrow style," Yamato replied.

Nami nodded thoughtfully. "Good to know, thanks," she said with a smile, already formulating a plan in her mind.

Hey, who are you two anyway?" asked Zoro, studying Ryuza and Yamato with interest. "Judging by your fighting style when we fought, you're some sort of samurai?"

"Huh? A samurai?" asked Usopp, his eyes widening in surprise.

Ryuza was taken aback by Zoro's question, but a smile immediately grew on his face. He considered himself a samurai since a young age, but people often viewed him as an average swordsman. As did his mentor, much to his frustration.

Samurai were a rare sight on the high seas, save for a few legendary ones whose names were known throughout many lands, towns, and villages. They were known for their skills with the sword, discipline, and honor. Stories of them had only been told to those who studied the way of the sword or to children who wanted to hear a story of a hero before bedtime.

"My name is Ryuza," Ryuza introduced himself proudly. "And yes, I am a samurai. I'm sure you understand why I had to duel you outside."

"Right. I wonder how that duel would have ended if that angry cook hadn't stopped us," Zoro said with a smirk.

"Well, it's hard to say," Ryuza said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "You were a very skilled swordsman. Your defense was hard to break through, and you had very good movement to dodge my attacks."

Zoro couldn't help but grin in satisfaction as he took in the compliments. However, his grin soon turned to disbelief as Ryuza continued speaking.

"Though I surely would have bested you in the end." Ryuza said with an oblivious smile.

Zoro's eyes nearly popped out of his skull, and he almost fell out of his seat. Nami and Usopp snickered to themselves, finding the exchange amusing.

"As if! Don't just compliment me and then suddenly say you would win!" Zoro shouted, much to Ryuza's confusion.

Usopp looked up at Yamato, curious to learn more about her. "What about you?" he asked.

Yamato's face lit up with excitement. She placed her fists on her hips and announced, "I am Kozuki Oden!"

The other customers in the restaurant looked over at her in confusion, hearing her voice echo throughout the restaurant as if she had made some sort of legendary declaration.

Ryuza sighed and nudged her to get her attention. "Yamato, not everyone knows who Kozuki Oden is," he whispered.

Embarrassed, Yamato quickly corrected herself. "I mean, my name is Yamato. But I admire Kozuki Oden and want to follow in his footsteps. So, I am also Kozuki Oden…or..I will become him! One day!"

Zoro scratched his head, still confused. "So, which one is it? Kozuki Oden or Yamato?"

Ryuza smiled wryly. "She likes to think of herself as Kozuki Oden, but her real name is Yamato. It's a long story."

Ryuza shook his head at Yamato. She had always considered herself to be the legendary samurai, Kozuki Oden, ever since she was a child. It was a sign of respect and a deep desire to experience the world as he did. Moreover, the story of Kozuki Oden ended with him nearly defeating the ruthless Kaido in combat, until treachery was employed.

Kozuki Oden had lost the battle and was sentenced to be executed by boiling. The execution usually involved the guilty person being submerged in a pot full of burning oil and left to suffer until death. As soon as the person touched the oil, they would scream and cry in pain, begging for mercy.

However, Kozuki Oden did not scream or beg. That is what Ryuza's mentor had told him when sharing the story of the great legendary samurai. The story went on with Oden being placed in a pot full of oil while holding up a wooden board where his followers sat. He willingly sacrificed himself by being boiled alive while keeping his friends unharmed.

Ryuza was amazed by the story when it was told to him, but Yamato had witnessed the event firsthand. She saw with her own eyes the bravery and willpower of Oden. Despite the excruciating pain and agony he must have been in, he refused to allow his subordinates to be hurt.

In the end, the boiling oil could not claim Kozuki Oden's life. So the ruthless monster Kaido finished him off by shooting him in the skull. That part angered Ryuza, especially. What kind of dishonorable monsters would go back on their word and kill a brave man in such a way.

Ryuza felt skeptical about the last part of the story, as both his mentor and Yamato had told him that Oden died with a brazen smile. "How could someone die with a smile?" Ryuza wondered to himself. People usually smile when they find something amusing or joyous. Ryuza wondered what could have caused the great Kozuki Oden to smile in his final moments.

And how can a person possibly die with a smile?

Yamato greatly admired Kozuki Oden and had even taken on his persona at the young age of seven. She tried to open the borders to the land of the samurai, but her father responded with a beating. However, this did not deter her in the slightest. Instead, it fueled her desire to one day take him down and become like the legendary samurai.

"So if you guys are going to the grand line, then you must know what direction to sail, right?" asked Ryuza.

"You guys are going to the grand line too?" A voice suddenly inquired, their voice carrying a flavor of excitement.

Ryuza turned his head toward the direction of the voice and saw the culprit who had fired a cannon at the restaurant. The boy still had his straw hat on his head and smiled widely. Ryuza had yet to realize that this guy might change his and Yamato's life forever.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this second chapter. Please feel free to dm or ask any questions that you may have in the comment/review section. I hope you enjoyed this and hope that I was able to keep your attention!