7 Chapter 7: Kuina and Zoro.

Recognising who it was, Itsuki slightly frown when he saw Zoro as he knew that Zoro's appearance meant that Kuina will die soon according to the story although he still didn't know if Kuina would even saw him as a rival because of his existence. In the original series Kuina grew self-conceited as there is no one in similar age as her who can rival her together with the fact that she can even defeat adults in the plot.

But now due to him motivating Kuina to grow stronger in order to catch up to him and thus making her even more stronger, albeit she was still arrogant to others and she have no mercy in dealing with anyone but she would still help them or at least treat their injuries. Itsuki also didn't know if Zoro can catch up to her if Zoro still made her, Kuina who had trained hard for years as his goal.

Upon seeing Zoro, Itsuki did not see him as a great guy, who was so badass, cool or even powerful as all he can saw was an idiot standing in front of the entrance looking so arrogant and stupid in spite of the fact that Zoro was his favorite character in the series as he always admired his loyalty to his captain and also his strength where he could cut enormous things in half but that is in the future.

Itsuki also knew that Zoro's appearance indeed had nothing to do with Kuina's unexpected death and her death was all due to an unforeseen misfortune so he did not think badly of Zoro just seeing the brat as an idiot. Besides he was not that worried but instead was calm in and out as he was prepared for it long time ago to avoid the accident and made many preparations for Kuina's nearing death, one of those plans were to made her wear a helmet every time so even if she fell on the stair ,slip while running/walking or even something heavy hit her head, her brain won't get damage. Hence Itsuki decided that he will just go with the flow for now and let time decides and only interferes when needed.

As Itsuki mind was racing thinking of many things in a brief moment, "Why don't you fight this fellow here? " Koushiro suddenly said bringing him back to reality, he look at his Uncle and Zoro then asked himself 'Wait... wasn't it supposed to be Kuina to fight Zoro? How did it turn to be me?'

"Uncle don't you know that the best swordsman doesn't fear the second best? He fears the worst swordsman as he can't predict what an idiot would do!" Itsuki replied with a quote he remembers in his last life while this words does not connect to the topic but it does make sense, right? After all, there are some things that can beat smartness, strategy and foresight and that is stupidity! Someone who have never held a sword in their life tended to do things that an expert won't even do and think.

"Ohhh? Do tell me what does that mean? " Koushirou asked him curiously while he casually replied " It simply means that I don't fight idiots so why don't Kuina fight him instead, Uncle? "

Truthfully, Itsuki just made an excuse as he had no interest in fighting Zoro and there is clearly no benefits in fighting him because the current Zoro before him wasn't a real swordsman yet and had never held a sword, in short he was just a brat so even if he fights him now, he can beat him just by simply waving his shinai down to his head, however that wasn't the only reason why he didn't want to fight him.

If he beat Zoro, then Zoro wouldn't saw Kuina as his goal and work hard in order to defeat her albeit he can be Zoro's new goal but that was too bothersome and he was to lazy to deal with that, he already has a battle maniac sister and if Zoro added into it where would his peaceful and comfortable life go?

Itsuki always love to train alone peacefully in the forest so he can enjoy the nature quietly, hears the birds sings, the rustling sounds of small animals scurrying under the thick grasses, leaves and branches , and the constant sound of breezes that whistle through trees and leaves, that kind of feelings and scenery ... made him feel so alive and free. Could he even spend his days like that or his days would even be the same as it used to before when two brats will eventually disturb his training and ruin it?

Although Itsuki was aware of the true reason why Koushiro choose him to fight Zoro was solely because the other kids were not the brat's opponent as even though Zoro didn't know swordsmanship or even how to swing his sword properly yet, he can still overpower his opponent with only his brute strength even so he still decided to let Kuina fight for him instead so if Zoro saw her as his rival after she defeated him then Kuina will get his new opponent while Zoro will go after her and Itsuki will get his peaceful life, two birds in one stone, don't you think? Or three?

Zoro who have heard his words immediately got furious and angrily yelled at him. " Hey! Who are you calling idiot!?" Hearing him yelling, Itsuki smirked and pointed his index finger at Zoro. "You. "

Koushirou who was watching and listening to their bickering look at Itsuki strangely then lectured him. "It's not nice call someone an idiot when you'd just met them Itsuki."

Itsuki can only nod his head helplessly and stopped teasing Zoro any further. His uncle then let Kuina to fight the brat since Itsuki didn't want to fight him.

"Huh? " Zoro gazed at Kuina and as soon as he seen her and noticed that his opponent is a girl, it immediately made him feel like he was being underestimated and insulted, first Itsuki called him an idiot and now they want him to fight a girl. " What?! You're not gonna fight me?! " He looked at Itsuki and Koushirou fiercely and shouted at them.

"Even though Kuina is a girl, she's even stronger than the adults in the dojo. I'm not a parents that brags about his daughter ..." Koushirou answered him calmly.

"I see, fine then " Zoro replied but he was still slightly angry.

"Then, please come inside. " After Koushirou invited him to come inside the dojo, he turned around and walked in while Zoro, Kuina and Itsuki followed.

The students were of course curious of who was challenging the dojo as it's been a while since the dojo was challenged, so they all sat cross-legged to the sides hoping to witness a great match but after they saw it was a kid, they were somewhat dissapointed at first however they also wanted to know why this kid was so determined and confident.

Koushirou and Zoro was now currently standing in front of a barrel where the bamboo swords are stored, waiting for Zoro to pick his weapon.

"Can I use any of these right? " Zoro asked while Koushirou nodded by making a 'hmm hmm' sounds and said. "As you please."

Zoro spat the leaves in his mouth and smiled broadly, he then picked up multiple shinais to armed himself. Three shinais on each of his hands and another three on his mouth, he literally just pick all the shinais that could fit and in his hand and mouth. Noticing Zoro was ready, Koushiro then said "Then, let's begin!"

"Yes, come and try me." Zoro was still bitting the shinais on his mouth concur.

Koushirou, Kuina and Zoro are now in front of the altar to pay respect to the god by bowing and everytime Zoro bowed, one of the shinai on his mouth would fall off and the students in the dojo couldn't help but think he was an idiot, "Is he stupid? " One of the kid disciple commented.

While the students were wondering why their master accepted the challenge, Itsuki just stood right in the corner watching the scene before him. 'Yeah he is definitely an idiot.' He thought as he shook his head.

By the time they finished saluting each other, Zoro only have one shinai on his mouth but he still look serious even though other kid saw him stupid and Kuina really didn't mind that her opponent is a newbie as she just lost to Itsuki earlier and she wants someone to vent her frustrations.

After saluting to each other, the duel begins. Kuina's and Zoro's positions were quite close unlike her match with Itsuki where they were far from each other. Kuina raise her shinai high above her head, she steps forward as she swung down her shinai towards her opponent but Zoro blocked it with great difficulty. however Kuina didn't care and immediately strikes again with more power than before leaving Zoro unable to do anything to withstand her second attack as his shinais flew out from his grasp and be knocked back.

"Da... Damn!" Zoro gritted his teeth as she stared at Kuina's serene face, he refused to lose and stand up while picking up two shinais that fallen from his grasp and posed them against her.

Koushirou were both impressed and surprised at the same time that this brat is so resilient and determined. If other students except Kuina and Itsuki were to have been in similar situation they would surely give up and admit their defeat straight away.

Kuina was also surprised seeing the stance of Zoro because his current posture was actually a standard form of two sword style, hence she asked out of curiosity. " You... have been thought two-sword techniques? "

"I don't know! " Zoro fiercely answered " Today is the first time I ever held a shinai! "

"The first time ever? " Koushirou said with the smile could still be seen on his face.

Zoro didn't know and care why they are asking him but Itsuki knows why. The very first time he ever held a shinai, he was able to do the pose of two-sword style without a teacher can only be explained by his talents. There is two type of talent in the world, one is talent for something such as profession like swordsmanship and craftsmanship, etc while the other is the talent in situations. The former talent can give you a great start or boost in your career but it can easily be achieved just by training hard and honing their skills their whole life but the latter is entirely different. It is something inborn, something that is given at birth, you can spend countless hours and efforts honing your skills but nothing can replace a person's tendency to act a certain moment of danger.

There are those people who panic and display less than their average level of performance and those who do not lose sight of victory and remained calm or tranquil in any situation thus displaying more than their average and grow more.

Itsuki know that Zoro have both kind of talents otherwise would Zoro even achieved his current achievements in the orginal story ? For example Zoro's battle with Mr. 1 or Daz Bones, he kinda have a breakthrough in his swordsmanship making him able to cut through steels and win.

'As expected from Strawhat's pirate hunter... maybe training Zoro would be worth while.'

As Itsuki was having that kind of thoughts, the match between Kuina and Zoro continued.

After Zoro recover in the last confrontation. 'Damn! I'm strong, and I'll become even more stronger! How... can I lose to this girl?! ' Having that kind of dissatisfied idea in his mind, he charged at Kuina with all his strength and speed. On the other hand Kuina again raises her shinai up, waiting for Zoro to get close in her attack range.

Once Zoro get inside of her range, with the perfect timing she swung her shinai down directly to Zoro's head, The disciples in the dojo could feel the pain from that attack just by watching it and the one who commented earlier said " Why didn't he dodged it? "

"Single blow! Stop! " Koushirou who acts like a referee said.

As Zoro lied in the floor, Kuina place her shinai near his head and looked down at him then said. "This kid is like a boar."

"Hey, Kuina." Koushirou said wanting to lecture Kuina not to mock her opponent but Kuina continued and mockingly said. "Hmph! Wanting to fight Nii-chan as your opponent when you can't even defeat me. A poser like you are ten years too early to wield two swords!"

Zoro fiercely look at Kuina and gritted his teeth ."What?!!! " He said angrily and Kuina heard him then replied "What? Do you want to go for another round? "

"Shit! ... A loss is a loss! " He admitted his defeat as he really can't do anything against Kuina and can only endure her words.

"Good, very straight forward." Koushirou smiled "Then... " But before he could finish his words, Zoro cut it saying "Okay! I'll join this place! Any problems with that? "

"I don't " Koushirou calmly replied.

Kuina turned around planning to walked away but she heard Zoro who was saying "I'll... Continue, continue, continue to train." With the determined look he added " And I will beat you! Remember that! "

Kuina gazed at him and seriously said "That'll never happen."

On the corner, Itsuki watch the scene before him calmly, he was also impressed about Zoro's determination but it still did not change the fact that Zoro is an idiot although it was quite mean for Kuina to said that, Itsuki didn't mind as he knew her personality very well.

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Author's note : It's already September 1 and a week from now is study time... Sigh, can anyone save me from those boring and stressful days?

By the way, should I time skip or just continue slow progress and focus on his training?