Chapter 23 - 1 year and Preparation Go

After the success of our first Sea King hunt, it greatly motivated my spirit. Just imagine, we managed to hunt the creature at the top of the food chain in the ocean.

I still remember the surprised expression on Master Koshiro's face when he saw us bringing back more Sea King meat than a few weeks ago.

After learning that the three of us hunted a Sea King, Master Koshiro scolded us for a long time. My ears were burning hot after listening to my master's scolding.

I saw Kuina bowing her head down, and when I glanced at Zoro, I saw him also bowing his head, but I'm pretty sure a balloon came out of his nose. Wait, did that rascal fall asleep?

Honestly, I admired how he could fall asleep at a time like that.

Yes, I understood why Master Koshiro scolded us. It was his way of caring for the three of us. He scolded us because we were careless in our decision-making. But after he calmed down a bit, after being angry for several hours, he told us to be careful.

I smiled upon hearing him say that.

After our first experience hunting Sea Kings, we learned about their behavior patterns, how to attract their attention, and the attacks they made. We realized that understanding the enemy was the key to success in hunting.

As time went on, we became more experienced in hunting Sea Kings. In just two months, I felt confident enough to face small Sea Kings on my own. This skill was also possessed by Kuina and Zoro, who had both made significant progress in hunting Sea Kings.

Hunting Sea Kings had become a combat training for the three of us. We continued to practice and hone our skills in facing tough opponents. Each hunt became an opportunity to improve our abilities and master effective strategies.

In our journey as Sea King hunters, we learned a lot about the power of nature and the life in the ocean. Every time we successfully conquered a Sea King, we felt satisfaction and confidence in our physical and swordsmanship advancements.

....

Slaashh! With a swing of my sword, I cut through a 38-meter Sea King. The slash hit its midsection, tearing a large wound. The Sea King screamed in rage, its attacks becoming more aggressive. Its mouth, filled with bloody fangs, tried to viciously bite me. But my Kenbunshoku Haki was active with full power. I sensed the attack.

Swiftly, I dodged by rolling, seeing an opening in the Sea King's defense. I immediately sliced its neck with a swing of my sword. The slash separated the head from the body of the Sea King, and my fight with this Sea King came to an end.

Kuina and Zoro approached me. Kuina congratulated me on my victory, and Zoro simply nodded with a smile, indicating his approval of my strength.

After defeating the Sea King, I started the process of carefully cutting its flesh. The large and fresh meat would provide abundant food for the village inhabitants. After finishing the task, I thanked Kuina and Zoro for their assistance.

We walked together with the cut Sea King meat towards the Shimotsuki village. During the journey, Kuina couldn't contain her curiosity and asked, "Why are you selling this Sea King meat to the villagers, Coby? Why not keep it or eat it yourself?"

I smiled at Kuina and replied, "I have a special reason, Kuina. Right now, I'm collecting money to buy a boat."

Upon hearing my answer, Kuina furrowed her brow and asked, "Why do you want to buy a boat, Coby?"

"I want to go back to my hometown, Kuina. It's been a long time since I last went there."

I took a deep breath for a moment before continuing my words, "My hometown is a very important place to me. It's been almost three years since I last visited there. I want to see how the island is doing after all this time."

Kuina and Zoro listened attentively. They knew I had a terrifying experience when I was kidnapped by the Black Skull pirates. I had told them and the Dojo disciples about that experience, and they sympathized and expressed concern for the misfortune I had gone through.

However, there was one thing I kept hidden from them. My hometown was the place where I had beautiful memories with my family and the friendly villagers. Those memories were part of the original Coby before I reincarnated as him. I had also seen and felt what he experienced in the past, so it could be said that I also deeply longed for that place and it was my way of expressing gratitude to Coby for allowing me to come to this world.

"I want to go back there to see how things are," I continued with a slightly melancholic tone. "Although my hope may be small, I want to make sure they are okay after my departure. I want to ensure that they are still living peacefully and happily."

Kuina and Zoro looked into my longing eyes. They understood how important it was for me to return to my hometown. Kuina placed her hand on my shoulder with understanding.

"I fully support you, Coby," Kuina said gently. "Your hometown is part of your identity. Go back there and find the peace you've been searching for."

In my heart, I felt grateful for their support. I felt spirited and my determination grew stronger to return to my hometown. Despite the fear and worries, I knew that journey would provide me with answers and the peace I sought.

After going through several months filled with struggles and hard work in hunting Sea Kings, I felt tremendous progress in my swordsmanship skills. Not only that, regularly consuming Sea King meat had an incredible impact on my body.

My body underwent rapid growth, and the results were evident. And what's more, my baby face had started to change and become less cute, and my body transformation had increased, making me more robust and muscular, with a body full of strength. Every sword strike I made was executed with greater speed and power, giving me an advantage in battles.

During my time hunting Sea Kings, I also gained valuable experiences. I learned to understand Sea Kings' attack patterns, find openings to avoid their strikes, and use more advanced sword techniques. All of this contributed to the improvement of my combat abilities.

However, my success and growth didn't come easily. I had to go through rigorous training, face unexpected dangers, and overcome obstacles along the way. I often got injured due to failing to dodge Sea Kings' attacks. But all of it was worth the results I obtained.

With the newfound strength and skills I acquired, I was becoming more prepared to face greater challenges.

Now I'm 8 years old. The time has finally come to continue my journey to my hometown. In one year since I expressed my desire to buy a boat, I managed to gather enough money to fulfill my goal.

That morning, at the small harbor where my boat was docked, I stood with mixed emotions. A small single-masted boat that I purchased through hard work was in front of me. Although simple, the boat represented my struggle to grow stronger after all the training I went through in the past four years at the Isshin Dojo, and it was also the beginning of my small journey in the world I had always dreamed of.

- - - - -

I understand that making Coby go alone at the age of 8 may seem forceful and rash from his world's perspective. However, this step must be taken for Coby's personal growth, and there will be important situations that will occur in the near future.

Moreover, remember, guys, that Coby's current location is the East Blue, where the situation at sea is relatively peaceful. Even if there are pirates, they are not overly strong. And keep in mind that Coby now have Kenbunshoku Haki and possesses combat strength to fight against small Sea Kings.