Kuraigana Island.
Clang, clang, clang, metal rang out from the shattered ruins by the coast.
A green‑haired swordsman moved through a pack of sword‑wielding baboons, his dagger flashing cold and precise.
This was Zoro, now Hawkeye's student.
Hawkeye had told him that relying too much on flashy techniques and Haki had made him forget basics, the true core of swordsmanship. No matter how strong one became, the roots of strength were found in simple fundamentals.
Zoro looked down at the battered dagger in his hand, blade nicked and worn, and forced a wry smile, it felt like being back at Isshin Dojo again.
He raised his head, eyes distant, wondering how his master and the others were doing, and whether any new disciples were training there.
Roar, roar, roar.
The lead baboon, large sword raised, bellowed in fury, frustrated that despite all their efforts they couldn't land a blow on the green‑haired fighter before them.
Then it waved a massive hand, calling to the others.
The baboons instantly complied, nodding in chaotic agreement.
Zoro's brow creased, a bad feeling forming in his gut.
Before he could react, two baboons charged him from both sides.
Clang, clang.
Zoro blocked their strikes, and in a burst of motion a bright slash appeared overhead.
He braced with a heavy step, sliding back abruptly.
Bang.
The blade smashed into the ground, carving a deep gully into the earth.
Before Zoro could regain his balance, the lead baboon was in front of him, sword raised again.
Zoro lifted his dagger to block, but—
Clang.
The blade struck, and the dagger shattered into fragments.
Just then, a massive force of compressed air, shaped like a giant bear paw, shot toward the ruins.
Zoro felt danger in his bones, kicked the attacking baboon in the chest, and leapt back sharply.
That burst of power caused all the baboons to scatter as the enormous force slammed into the ground.
A bear paw‑shaped crater formed, and at its center lay a small pink‑haired girl.
Alive.
Zoro watched in confusion. She had clearly been in that sphere of force just moments ago, so how was she here now?
Inside the nearby castle, Hawkeye's eyes narrowed as he sensed something.
"Is Kuma behind this?" he murmured, deciding instantly, "Leave it to Roronoa Zoro."
Back outside, Zoro sat to one side, staring at the girl.
"Still alive then. How did she get here?" he mused.
Could it be a Devil Fruit ability?
His thoughts were interrupted by a small cough.
"Cough, cough!"
The girl stirred, slowly sitting up, her face twisted with anger.
"That hateful long‑nosed pirate! That hateful Bartholomew Kuma!"
Then, tears, streaming down her cheeks.
"Moriah‑sama, where are you, where am I, Kuma, it's so dark, I'm scared!"
Zoro blinked, confused and annoyed.
Is this woman even sane?
He called out, "Hey, what's your name, and how did you get here?"
The girl turned her head, saw the green‑haired man all worn and terrifying, and shrieked.
"Ah! A ghost!"
Zoro instantly snapped back, "Shut up, you're the ghost!"
That just made her cry louder.
"Wuwuwu, you're bullying me, Kuma come protect me!"
Her sobbing was relentless, and Zoro, who had zero patience for weeping girls, ground his teeth.
"Do whatever you want, I'm going back to training."
He started to walk off.
The girl huffed, "Hmph, what a heartless man."
She tried to stand but crumpled back to the ground, her strength gone from days without food or water, and injuries from Thriller Bark still fresh.
Bang.
"Ouch!"
Zoro paused, sensing her weakness strongly with his Observation Haki.
He wasn't the kind to just watch someone die, but dealing with women was something else entirely.
With a heavy sigh he turned back.
The girl looked startled, before Zoro scooped her up onto his shoulder.
"What are you doing? Put me down, you're bullying me again!" she shouted, cheeks flushed with indignation.
It was obvious this was her first close contact with a man, and she tried to struggle, but was too weak.
Her tiny fists thudded against Zoro's back as she shouted, "Put me down! Put me down!"
Her yelling was so loud Zoro snapped, "Shut up!"
Suddenly she quieted.
"You want to go to that castle, right? You're going the wrong way."
Zoro stopped, his face reddening, and turned another direction.
"No, left, this way!"
Zoro turned right.
"You're going the wrong way, not this way not this way!"
No matter how she instructed him, Zoro only walked in circles.
The girl thought, if you weren't carrying me, I might've crawled to that castle by now. You must be directionally challenged, can't tell left from right, front from back?
Zoro just slapped his forehead and grumbled, "Shut up."
After endless circling, they finally reached the castle.
Hawkeye, apron tied neatly, looked up and asked, "Why are you back so early today?"
Zoro didn't answer, he simply laid the girl onto the sofa.
Hawkeye glanced at her and nodded.
"Oh, isn't this the Princess Ghost from Moriah's ship?"
The girl, Perona, looked up and froze.
"You… you are Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, just like Moriah‑sama!"
Hawkeye looked curious, "How did you end up here? And where is your captain?"
Perona drooped, "Mo… Moriah‑sama was defeated by Straw Hat Luffy."
"And then how did you get here?"
"I… I was sent flying here by Bartholomew Kuma."
Zoro finally realized her identity, she was a former member of a Shichibukai ship.
Seeing her weak and pale, he only said, "Go make some food, I'm hungry."
Hawkeye just stared.
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