196. Zoro's Request
"Sir, I've brought him."
Mace saluted Leo and said.
Leo was drinking from a small bottle filled with wine that exuded a particular fragrance.
After he thoroughly savoured the flavour he nodded to Mace, "Bring him in."
Mace went out and came back with a young marine.
The young marine stood straight as a rod and saluted Leo.
"Coby, reporting!"
Leo waved his hand and smiled, "Dispel with the formalities. Ah, that will be all Mace."
Mace nodded and left.
After he was gone Leo stood up, "Come with me."
Both of them left the house and went to the backyard.
"Coby, why did you stop Akainu from killing Ace?"
Leo suddenly asked.
Coby was taken back by the sudden question and hesitated for a moment before replying firmly, "I just want to catch bad guys, that war... isn't the justice I want."
Coby was tailing behind Leo so he didn't see the smile on his face.
When they reached the courtyard Coby was stunned at who he saw and yelled out.
"Zoro-san! What are you doing here?!"
Zoro was practicing with his sword when he heard Coby.
"Oh, Coby, I am training."
"How can you be so carefree?!"
Coby looked around nervously.
Leo patted his shoulder and said, "This guy saw today's paper and suddenly started to train."
Today's paper?
"Ah, Luffy-san!"
A few days after the war Luffy returned to marineford. He simply went there, offered some flowers and left.
When Zoro saw Luffy's picture on the paper he gave up trying to leave and started to train. This kind of surprised Leo.
Coby had no idea what was going on and asked, "Sir, why did you summon me?"
Leo smiled and said, "To confirm something."
His answer confused Coby even more.
Leo put his hand into his jacket and pulled out a strange fruit. It was blue and had thunder patterns on it.
"This is the rumble-rumble fruit. Eat it."
Coby's eyes opened so wide that they almost popped out of his sockets.
"A logia! And it's the rumble-rumble fruit! Sir, this-this...
Leo wiped his smile and said seriously, "I need someone with your justice inside the Navy. Akainu's justice is twisted, Aokiji is doubtful of his own but isn't resolute enough to question it, as for Kisaru, he is lazy and doesn't care about justice, he just follows order."
"You had the courage to step up to Akainu for your justice. You didn't try to capture Zoro when you saw him."
"You have a kind heart and recognise what's right and wrong rather than blindly following orders."
"If you want to realise your dreams, if you want to follow your justice, then you need power."
"Only the strong has a say in this world."
Coby clenched his fist when he heard Leo's final words.
He became a marine to catch bad guys. That war wasn't his justice, catching pirates like Luffy who had immense kindness wasn't his pursuit.
But this was how the world worked.
If he wants to change it, he need strength. After Garp took him in, he trained crazily to pursue the justice in his heart. But he realised how tiny he was when he stood on the battlefield.
He couldn't change a thing.
Coby said nothing. He grabbed the rumble-rumble fruit and stuffed it inside his mouth before swallowing it whole.
Bleh.
He started to vomit after swallowing the fruit.
A few seconds later Coby stopped. A strange power was flowing through his body. It was overbearing and ferocious.
He tried to stand up only to lose control of his body and disperse into tiny arcs of blue lightning.
This?!
"Congratulations. You are officially on the path of a powerhouse."
Leo smiled and said.
Coby bowed in his state again and again to express his gratitude.
"Stay here and try to get a hang of your powers. Once you are done, go to Garp. When it comes to body training there is no one better than him in the Navy."
"Rumble-Rumble fruit is extremely overbearing, only with a strong body can you bring out it's full potential."
Leo said to Coby and left.
However before he could leave the practice field Zoro blocked his path.
"What is it?"
Leo asked.
"Teach me the way of the sword!"
Leo was surprised by the sudden request, "Why?"
Zoro stared at him and said solemnly, "I get the feeling that you are stronger than Hawkeye."
"That's it?"
Zoro nodded, "Teach me. I want to get strong, to have a say in this world."
Using my own words, huh.
Leo didn't immediately agree and said, "I don't teach just anyone."
Zoro got on his knees and bowed, "Teach me, teacher!"
Leo was amused. This guy wasn't as dumb as he thought.
"Alright. Rest today, we will start tomorrow."
Leo walked away.
Zoro clenched his fist, a fire light up in his eyes.
Coby was seriously trying to get a hang of his new found powers. After a while he was able to move his body without changing into lightning.
He once again thanked Leo and left to find Garp.
The day passed.
Leo woke up early. Zoro was already waiting for him in the practice field.
"Very eager, aren't you? Anyway, before we start, show me your sword domain."
Zoro nodded. He picked up his swords and closed his eyes. When he opened them again a faint ripple spread out from him, but it was fluctuating.
Leo shook his head.
"You have a firm will and your basics are extremely solid but, your advanced skills are far from satisfaction."
Zoro asked, "How?"
Leo explained, "Do you know why those top swordmen are called grandmasters? It's because they have understood the very essence of the way of the sword."
"I'll break it down for you. Mastery of sword is divided into four levels. First level, you just pick up a sword and swing it with brute strength with no techniques or discipline."
"Second, you have technique, discipline and brute strength to utilize it."
"Third, you understand the rhythm of nature and form your intent or will. What you want to cut will be cut, what you don't want to cut won't be cut."
"Fourth, you form a domain using your intent or will. The range of your domain will be very small but it will increase with your understanding of the way of the sword."
Zoro listened very carefully. When it came to practising he wasn't dull or dumb, in fact he is very astute.
"You have already understood the rhythm of everything and formed your will. However you just stumbled on it and have no idea on how to train in it."
Leo went on to explain the most basic form of training to get started on mastering the rhythm of everything and to form a domain.
After leaving Zoro to practice Leo went back home.
He had an unexpected guest.
"Garp-san, why the sudden visit?"
Garp was munching on some rice crackers when Leo came in. With crumbles on his beard Garp said, "Just passing by."
"Oh, you are returning to East Blue?"
Garp nodded, "I am taking Coby with me."
Leo understood and smiled, "He is a good one."
Garp suddenly grew silent, after a while he said, "Thank you."
Leo waved his hand and said, "I don't like this side of you, go back to being that silly old man."
Garp raised his head and stared at Leo for a moment before bursting out into a laughter, "Buhahaha, then don't mind me!"
He suddenly went to the kitchen and started to rummage.
Seconds later he returned to the dining table with a handful of plates filled with food.
"Oi! Don't eat everything!"
Leo grabbed a few plates from him and started to fill his stomach as well.
In a while a lot of empty plates filled the table.
Garp was picking his teeth and Leo was drinking some tea when Shinobu walked him. She had a bunch of bags in her hand.
Looking at the table full of empty plates she smiled, "How was it Garp-san?"
Garp gave a thumbs up to Shinobu, "Very delicious. How about this? You join my ship."
Leo picked up an apple on the table and threw it at him and said, "Don't casually try to poach other people's wife."
Garp caught the apple and ate it, "Worth a try."
Shinobu smiled and went to the kitchen and started to clean up.
After resting for a while Garp got up.
"Alright, I won't disturb you any longer."
He has the cheeks to say that after eating all of our food.
Leo grumbled inside.
Before he left Garp said, "I don't know what you are planning but, be careful."
Leo paused for a moment and said, "Just train that kid and mind your own business."
"Buhaha, see ya."