Deep within the forest…
The overlapping canopy filtered the sunlight into scattered fragments.
In this almost eternal twilight…
Two figures moved so quickly that only afterimages remained.
The battle between the ninja and the swordsman had reached its fiercest stage.
Sanosuke struck.
His ninja blade traced a bizarre arc through the air.
Zoro stomped his right foot against the ground.
His body twisted at an impossible angle.
Wado Ichimonji barely managed to intercept the attack.
Sparks burst from the clashing steel.
Several landed on his face, burning his skin.
“You’ve survived under my blade for this long…”
Sanosuke leaped backward, widening the distance.
His voice was as cold as ice.
“…Impressive.”
Zoro breathed heavily.
His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from muscles pushed beyond their limits.
Sweat mixed with blood trickled down his forehead and into his eyes, stinging them.
He had already been fighting this damned ninja…
In this damned forest…
For over twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes.
For a duel between masters…
It felt like an entire century.
“You’re not bad yourself…”
Zoro spat out a mouthful of blood.
It wasn’t praise.
Ever since becoming a bounty hunter…
He hadn’t met anyone capable of surviving even ten of his moves.
But this ninja was different.
Sanosuke was like a living shadow.
Every time Zoro thought he’d cornered him…
He slipped through the tiniest opening between his blades.
Then attacked again…
From an angle no one would ever expect.
What shocked Zoro even more…
Was the rhythm of the battle.
Sanosuke controlled everything.
Fast and slow.
Attack and defense.
Appearing and disappearing.
Every transition…
Was as precise as clockwork.
“But your breathing has become uneven.”
Sanosuke suddenly spoke.
Zoro’s pupils contracted.
Now.
Sanosuke moved.
Not with the ghostlike stealth he’d been using all this time…
But in a violent, straightforward charge.
A kunai in each hand.
His ninja sword clenched between his teeth.
He had actually copied Zoro’s three-sword stance.
“Ninja Art—Shadow Fang Triple Flash!”
Three streaks of cold light erupted simultaneously.
They sealed every possible escape route.
Zoro roared.
His three swords met them head-on.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Three deafening collisions rang out almost at once.
The shriek of tearing air shook countless leaves from the trees.
This time…
Sanosuke didn’t retreat after a single strike.
Instead…
He threw his entire weight forward.
His kunai and ninja blade locked tightly against Zoro’s three swords.
The duel became a contest of raw strength.
Steel scraped against steel.
Sparks flew endlessly.
From only inches away…
Zoro looked directly into Sanosuke’s eyes.
They were terrifyingly calm.
No anger.
No excitement.
Even his killing intent was so faint it was almost imperceptible.
This guy…
Does he treat fighting as nothing more than work?
While the two battled fiercely…
Another figure quietly stood among the branches above.
Watching with obvious interest.
It was Norton.
He had arrived some time ago.
But hadn’t interfered.
“Green hair…”
“Three Sword Style…”
“…That couldn’t be Zoro, could it?”
He hadn’t expected to find such an unexpected prize in a place like this.
His mood immediately brightened.
As the Straw Hat Pirates’ future first mate…
Zoro was famous for both his strength and unwavering character.
Norton had no intention of letting someone like that slip away.
He intended to build his own nation.
People like Zoro were exactly what he needed.
The battle continued below.
From Norton’s perspective…
There wouldn’t be a winner for several more hours.
They were simply too evenly matched.
Sanosuke possessed superior speed.
Zoro held the advantage in strength.
The reason Sanosuke currently maintained a slight edge…
Was largely because of the forest’s darkness.
If they fought under broad daylight…
His stealth techniques wouldn’t be nearly as effective.
As the stalemate dragged on…
Norton finally decided it was enough.
“Sanosuke.”
“That’s enough.”
The moment he spoke…
He dropped from the trees.
Landing directly between the two fighters.
Sanosuke froze briefly.
Then immediately sheathed his sword.
“Yes, my lord.”
“You too.”
Norton looked at Zoro.
“Stop.”
Zoro frowned.
He coldly examined the silver-haired young man before him.
Around his own age.
Tall.
Exceptionally handsome.
“…And who the hell are you?”
“If you don’t leave before I lose my temper…”
“I won’t mind adding another corpse beneath my swords.”
Having his fight interrupted…
Had thoroughly irritated him.
To Zoro…
Norton didn’t possess the aura of a powerful fighter.
Aside from being ridiculously handsome…
He looked completely ordinary.
“My name is Norton.”
He smiled.
“I’m the man who’ll become the King of the World.”
“And you?”
“…King of the World?”
Zoro blinked.
For a split second…
He was genuinely stunned by that ambition.
Then he looked Norton up and down.
“…You?”
“The position barely suits someone of my caliber.”
Norton smiled just as casually.
“What an ego.”
Zoro snorted.
“Listen carefully.”
“My name is Roronoa Zoro.”
“I’m the man who’s going to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman.”
It really is Zoro.
Inside…
Norton was delighted.
Outwardly… New chapters come out on g.com first.
He remained composed.
“The World’s Greatest Swordsman?”
“Not a bad dream.”
“I’m looking to recruit a powerful swordsman.”
“Interested in joining me?”
“Join you?”
Zoro glanced at Sanosuke.
Who stood respectfully behind Norton like a loyal servant.
Then looked back at Norton.
“Why should I?”
“Simple.”
Norton answered.
“Because I’m stronger than you.”
“Stronger than me?”
Zoro studied him again.
Then slowly shook his head.
“I don’t see it.”
Honestly…
He still thought Sanosuke looked stronger.
What puzzled him more…
Was why someone as powerful as Sanosuke willingly served Norton.
“Why don’t we find out?”
Norton smiled.
“I’ll throw one punch.”
“If you can withstand it…”
“You win.”
“Don’t insult me.”
Zoro frowned.
Norton didn’t reply.
He simply faced Zoro.
And slowly…
Threw a punch.
It was unbelievably slow.
As though he were lazily extending his fist.
Painfully slow.
Yet…
To Zoro…
It felt like an entire mountain was descending upon him.
In that instant…
Every hair on his body stood on end.
It felt as though the whole world were collapsing toward him.
As if…
The next second…
He would be crushed into dust.
The overwhelming pressure stole his breath.
Time itself seemed to slow.
His mind became completely blank.
Nothing remained…
Except pure shock.
The fist approached…
Inch by inch.
Yet Zoro couldn’t even dodge.
His body had completely stopped obeying him.
Frozen.
Helpless.
Finally…
The fist stopped.
Less than an inch from his face.
Norton slowly withdrew it.
“…Looks like I win.”
The instant his fist retreated…
The suffocating pressure vanished.
Zoro didn’t feel frustrated.
He wasn’t disappointed.
Only shocked.
And exhilarated.
He had assumed Norton was merely an unusually handsome young man.
Instead…
He was even stronger than Sanosuke.
Sanosuke had already pushed him to his limits.
Yet Norton…
Was on an entirely different level.
Zoro had never seen anyone this powerful.
“…Norton.”
Fire ignited within his eyes.
“I challenge you.”
Norton raised an eyebrow.
“Challenge me?”
Even after witnessing that pressure…
Zoro’s fighting spirit hadn’t weakened in the slightest.
Even enormous Sea Kings instinctively fled whenever Norton truly released the intent behind his punches.
He knew this from experience.
For the past two years…
Whenever he practiced near the coast…
Every sea beast and bird within miles instinctively kept their distance.
“That’s right.”
Zoro repeated firmly.
“I challenge you.”
“You know you’ll lose.”
Norton smiled.
“And you’re still challenging me?”
“If I’m afraid of losing…”
“I’ll never become stronger.”
Zoro answered without hesitation.
He wasn’t someone unfamiliar with defeat.
He had even once lost to a little girl.
But every defeat…
Had brought him one step closer to the summit.
“…Interesting.”
The corner of Norton’s mouth rose.
“If you wish to challenge my lord…”
Sanosuke instantly stepped forward.
“You’ll have to get past me first.”
At last…
He’d finally found an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty.
Norton was so overwhelmingly powerful…
That Sanosuke often felt almost unnecessary.
Norton gently pushed him aside.
Then looked back at Zoro.
“Come aboard my ship first.”
“Once you’re there…”
“You can challenge me whenever you like.”
“I’ll accept every time.”
He understood exactly what Zoro desired.
Strength.
Constant growth.
The summit.
Now…
He was placing the path toward all of that directly before him.
Just as Nami couldn’t resist glittering treasure…
Zoro couldn’t resist the promise of becoming stronger.
“…Fine.”
Just as expected.
Zoro agreed immediately.
“But.”
He added another condition.
“I keep the freedom to leave whenever I want.”
He refused to be bound.
He had his own dream.
Besides…
He also needed a ship to leave this deserted island.
“Of course.”
Norton nodded.
“You may come and go as you please.”
As long as Zoro stepped aboard…
Norton was confident.
The swordsman would never truly leave.
Because…
Norton’s strength had no limit.
Zoro would never surpass him.
Agreement reached…
The three returned to camp together.
The tiger that had started everything…
Came with them.
At this point…
The reason they’d fought hardly mattered anymore.
They had become friends through battle.
Zoro generously donated the tiger to everyone for dinner.
By evening…
The crew gradually returned from exploring the island.
After confirming everyone was present…
They gathered around a roaring bonfire.
Night completely fell.
The tiger meat roasted beautifully over the flames.
Fat dripped into the fire. This story is hosted at g.com.
Sizzle…
Its aroma drifted far across the beach.
The cooks brought out vegetables…
Bread…
And even opened a barrel of apple wine.
It had been part of Furning’s personal collection.
She happily contributed it.
Zoro’s appetite shocked everyone.
Within half an hour…
The green-haired swordsman devoured five kilograms of roasted meat.
Three loaves of bread.
Two large plates of salad.
And he was already Chuing through his sixth rack of ribs.
A mountain of bones piled beside him.
One entire barrel of alcohol had already been emptied.
“Were you a starving ghost in your previous life?”
Nami couldn’t help asking.
“Fighting burns calories.”
Zoro answered vaguely.
Then took another huge drink.
Norton merely smiled.
Truthfully…
His own appetite had once been even greater.
But after breaking his Limiter…
He could now control his metabolism with extraordinary precision.
Almost every bit of food became usable energy.
Nowadays…
He could go extremely long periods without eating.
Maintaining only the bare minimum bodily functions.
Furning sat a short distance away.
Gracefully eating her meal.
Her gaze quietly shifted between Zoro…
And Norton.
She could clearly sense it.
This new swordsman was incredibly powerful.
Unlike Sanosuke’s hidden danger…
Zoro radiated overwhelming aggression.
“So…”
Norton casually cut into his steak.
“A group of pirates stole your swords?”
“Mhm.”
Zoro swallowed another mouthful.
“They’re good swords.”
“But more importantly…”
“They stole them while I was blackout drunk.”
“I can’t forgive that.”
Hearing this…
Norton subconsciously glanced toward Nami.
That sounds strangely familiar…
Nami instantly caught the look.
“What was that supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing.”
Norton laughed.
“Eat.”
He stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth with his fork.
Then turned back to Zoro.
“Do you remember which direction they escaped?”
Zoro rubbed his forehead with greasy fingers.
“I don’t understand directions.”
“I only remember they had a single-masted ship.”
“A red skull painted on the stern.”
“The captain was a fat guy using a spiked mace.”
“Three-point-two-million-Berry bounty.”
That chase…
Had ultimately stranded him here.
Norton nodded.
Then looked at Nami.
“Nami.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Leave what to me?!”
She almost exploded.
“You don’t even know which direction they fled!”
“I’m a navigator!”
“Not a god!”
“How am I supposed to magically find them?!”
Norton stood.
He gazed out across the dark ocean.
Then casually pointed.
“…Let’s go that way.”
“What direction is that?”
“That’s northeast.”
Nami answered helplessly.
“Then northeast it is.”
Norton declared confidently.
“We sail tomorrow morning.”
Nami covered her face.
Why are you acting so proud…?
She turned toward Zoro in disbelief.
“Wait…”
“You’re actually trusting him?”
“As long as someone’s leading…”
Zoro shrugged.
“I don’t care whether it’s the right direction.”
“I don’t know directions anyway.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
Everyone exchanged awkward looks.
Sanosuke quietly lowered his head.
Lucky?
That word…
Probably had nothing to do with this ship.
Nami sighed.
In the end…
She still pulled out her charts and compass.
Using the firelight…
She began calculating.
“The current is flowing southwest…”
“Wind speed is moderate…”
“If we’re heading northeast…”
Zoro looked at her.
Then at Norton.
“…Your navigator’s good.”
He said casually.
“Much better than that pirate crew’s.”
“Their navigator couldn’t even tell high tide from low tide.”
Nami blinked.
Then immediately smacked him on the head.
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
“Don’t think a little flattery gets you free food!”
“And navigation costs 100,000 Berries!”
“You greedy woman!”
Zoro clutched the rapidly swelling bump on his head.
Grinding his teeth.
Norton burst into loud laughter.
The familiar scene before him…
Filled him with an oddly nostalgic warmth.
The feast continued.
The pirates sang crude drinking songs.
The cooks and shipwrights competed in drinking contests.
Sanosuke quietly remained within the shadows.
As a ninja…
He never drank.
He always stayed alert.
Furning became tipsy after only a few glasses.
Norton eventually carried her back aboard the White Pearl.
Late that night…
The bonfire slowly dwindled.
Most of the crew had already collapsed drunkenly across the beach.
Zoro slept leaning against a tree.
Still hugging an empty wine barrel.
Norton alone remained awake.
He quietly added a few more logs to the fading fire.
Then…
He heard it.
Very faint footsteps.
Not an animal.
Not the wind.
Someone was deliberately suppressing their movements.
They were coming from the tents.
Slowly heading toward the rocky shoreline.
Norton didn’t move immediately.
He patiently waited until the footsteps had traveled farther away.
Only then…
He silently rose…
And followed.