Dragging a sailing ship behind them, two young girls swam through the Calm Belt as a form of training, heading straight for Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue.
At the bow of the ship, Domino wore weighted clothing and held up the ship’s cannon, exercising her body in this manner.
Under the leadership of the “grindset expert,” all the sisters on the ship embarked on intense, grueling training.
Their bizarre behavior caused the village children to stop and watch.
“Look, a pirate ship is coming!”
“Look closer, the flag hanging at the bow isn’t a pirate flag.”
“I feel like this ship looks a bit like—the Marines!”
“Look at its flag, it seems to be…
black stockings.”
Amidst the children’s frolicking, the pirate crew composed entirely of four females once again visited this forgotten village.
After docking the ship, they arrived at the only Shimotsuki Dojo in the village.
The man leading the children in swordsmanship practice inside the dojo saw that the newcomers were four females.
“Are you also here to look for Roronoa Zoro?”
Domino saw that the man speaking was of a similar age to her, and didn’t seem to be the target of this trip—Genzo.
“No!
We are here to look for the owner of this dojo.”
“You mean Master Genzo?
He’s in the backyard of the dojo, I’ll go call him right away.”
“No need, besides, I also need to find someone in that direction!”
Without looking back, she turned towards the backyard of the dojo.
Passing a small stream and a bridge, they arrived at the Shimotsuki Village public cemetery, where they saw a bespectacled man paying respects before a tombstone.
And the tombstone strikingly read—Shimotsuki Kuina.
Since they decided to dig up the grave, they naturally had to communicate with her father to avoid any lingering resentment from Kuina afterwards.
“I want to resurrect your daughter through a Devil Fruit, turning her into this child’s sword spirit to witness the scenery of this world together.”
As she spoke, she pointed at Rebecca behind her, considering it her utmost sincerity.
Genzo, acting as the father, was stunned for a moment, and immediately fell into deep thought.
“Regardless of what your motives are, her life has come to an end, and interfering with another person’s life after all is not right.”
Domino stepped forward and placed a piece of osmanthus cake on the grave mound.
“Discrimination against women by the world has never stopped.
Even though you are her father, you are no exception to following this habitual thinking.”
Hearing such a statement, Genzo did not get angry, but instead looked at the blonde woman with a look seeking instruction:
“As bodies develop, grow, and gain strength, women ultimately cannot catch up to men, and thus are fated never to become Great Swordmasters.
I suppose this is what you instilled in Kuina, right?”
Domino recalled: [Usually, when watching One Piece, people are just looking for the thrill and wouldn’t notice the finer details.
Kuina’s unwillingness when she cried was precisely the lament of her being born a female here.]
Genzo was extremely shocked, recalling that before his daughter passed away, he indeed had given similar hints.
[But that was a conversation between father and daughter.
The person before me…
could it be a Devil Fruit ability?]
“But what I stated is also a fact.
In this sea that worships strength, women will ultimately only be reduced to supporting roles.”
“I do not deny your point of view.
No matter where you go, the world’s attitude towards women has always been like this.
Over time, they even yearn to be loved by the world.”
“Oh—since you know this, then why still persist stubbornly?”
As he spoke, he still looked at the woman in front of him with a smile.
“The shopping mall shelves in the country I live in are designed according to men’s heights.
Vehicle safety ratings are also calibrated based on men’s body types.
Even the piano keys are custom-made for men.”
“This is normal, after all, countries are all led by men, and usually women are only responsible for…”
“Giving birth, cooking, cleaning, or just being pretty?
Should they also dance a little to please men?”
She rudely interrupted him and questioned him in a stern tone.
Genzo was choked up and speechless for a moment, and quickly apologized:
“I didn’t mean it that way, I just hoped…”
“Hoped that she would give up chasing her dream as a human being early on?
Live a healthy, smooth, and wonderful life arranged by you?
And occasionally recall her childhood dream, suddenly feeling absurd and regretful?”
[The original manga is a product of chauvinism.
When women do not need to depend on men, outwardly they offer envy, but behind their backs there is only defamation and abuse.
Such as Big Mom.]
Genzo, who always wore a smile on his face, put away his usual smile and spoke in an apologetic tone:
“I’m sorry.
The country where the ancestors of Shimotsuki Village lived has always believed in Bushido, and most men are collectively referred to as samurai.”
Domino stepped forward and gently stroked Kuina’s tombstone with her delicate fingers, her tone full of comfort as she spoke:
“Stop crying!
Being a girl is your misfortune, but giving up your dream is your fault, simply because all humans are born equal.”
Domino took the opportunity to guide Genzo, implying that his words of “I’m sorry” next should be spoken to his daughter.
Hearing this, Genzo finally realized his mistake.
He looked at the tombstone with red-rimmed eyes and confessed with a choked voice:
“I’m sorry, Kuina.
Please forgive me for being an incompetent father.
Back then, not only did I not give you support, but I instead followed convention to suppress you for being a girl…”
Genzo, whose words reached this point, could no longer control his emotions.
He rested his head on Kuina’s tombstone and sobbed with regret several times…
Seeing that the timing was ripe: “This girl named Rebecca has consumed the Summoning Fruit and also wants to become a Great Swordmaster to protect the people of her country.”
The implication in her words was: do you agree to let Kuina travel with her?
Hearing this reason, Genzo recalled the plight of Wano Country and could empathize to some extent.
Harboring guilt towards his daughter and the desire to apologize in person, he nodded heavily in agreement.
Rebecca stepped forward at the right time, activated her own fruit ability, and summoned Kuina’s soul to merge into the Devil Fruit within her body.
Kuina, who appeared through the fruit’s ability, took the initiative to step forward and support her sobbing father.
After many years, Genzo saw his long-sought daughter once again and gently hugged his 11-year-old daughter:
“I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry!
I’m not a competent father who failed to take good care of you.
Knowing you had a dream in your heart, not only did I not encourage you, but I even ridiculed you…”
“It’s alright, Dad.
Every day you come here to visit, I can feel to some extent the companionship-style happiness you wanted to give me.”
Genzo, who had cried to the point of emotional collapse, comforted her in a repentant tone:
“Girls should also have their own dreams.
Only on the road of chasing your dreams will you feel moments of happiness.”
The emotions of the father and daughter were already brought to their peak!
Right at this moment, the background music “The Youth” began to play:
“I am still that youth of the past,
Without a single trace of change.
Time is merely a test,
The belief planted in my heart has not diminished in the slightest.
The youth before my eyes still has that original face,
Facing no matter how many dangers and hardships, he never retreats…”
Domino thought to herself: [This no-signal phone that traveled through time and space with me finally has some use!]
Genzo and his daughter appeared very tactful, only confiding in each other before the tombstone, after all, it concerned Kuina’s choice.
They had no choice but to hold the banquet in the cemetery, knowing well that Kuina had not yet agreed to join her weird “pirate crew.”
Unlike the all-meat banquets of men, the women’s banquet mainly featured various seafood, or fruits and vegetables, while the staple food was spicy xiangguo paired with red wine.
Listening to the tune “Sunshine Girl” chosen by Domino, drinking with the Marine-like pirates until they were completely drunk.
This made the spirit-form Kuina very happy.
Of course she understood the purpose of the other party’s trip:
“Thank you all for helping me resolve the years-long estrangement with my father.”
“Hahaha, it’s nothing, just a casual thing for Big Sister!”
Domino, holding a glass of red wine, appeared very casual, but she knew the main point was coming!
“And thank you even more for not using the power of resurrection to coerce me into joining your team.”
“Hahaha, then I’d need to have a protagonist halo, or rather a great woman sentiment, to always think of forcing things!”
After all, Domino knew deeply: [Facing someone with extraordinary talent, making them convinced from the bottom of their heart is far superior to combining benevolence and severity.]
Kuina then threw out a test for Rebecca: “Swords are weapons of murder, and swordsmanship is nothing more than a euphemism for the art of killing.
No matter how much words embellish it, this fact cannot be changed.”
She thought to herself: [Since we are going to merge into one, I must figure out that sword intent in her heart.]
Rebecca straightened her posture and responded gently: “Compared to saying swords are weapons of murder, I care more about the wielder’s true intent, which I believe is the key.
It can be a sword of redemption, or a sword of seeking the Dao, and the blade in your hand may not necessarily be my sword.”
She thought to herself: [No matter what, I must express my feelings and never force the other party to accept my views, after all, my own talent is mediocre.]
Then she spoke in a firm and powerful tone: “Yet decisions are easily made between life and death.
Since I am already a ghost, then I am the embodiment of evil.”
Rebecca’s tone in reply appeared very gentle: “Then you shall eradicate evil, and I shall defend the benevolence of the heart.
Why don’t we try together the Sword Dao of your and my life and death.”
Kuina changed her previous stern tone, knelt on one knee towards Rebecca, and recited with heartfelt conviction:
“From this moment on, as a samurai, I will not ask about right or wrong.
Wherever your sword blade points, that is where I will be invincible.”
After speaking, she lowered her head to show the samurai’s intent of loyalty.
Rebecca also understood tacitly, stood up at the right moment, drew her long sword, and placed it on Kuina’s shoulder:
“I demand of you with a pure body: protect the weak in this world, fear neither power nor class, and defend the justice of the innocent.”
The oath and loyalty between the young girls made Domino feel immensely thrilled to her core.
Her ideological enlightenment over the past few days finally received feedback at this moment.
[Although Big Sister herself has mediocre aptitude and is not some ruthless Captain, she couldn’t help it—the crew members Big Sister chose are ferocious!]
….