Chapter 13 Moss Head
The Expedition Team had once again arrived on the island of Shimotsuki Village and they immediately made their way to Isshin Dojo once again. On their way to the dojo they ran into the old man who was working on the rice fields.
"Oh you're back, we've had a lot of travelers lately it seems." The old villager said stroking his beard. "Have there?" Arch asked with a confused expression. 'Although I know quite a bit about One Piece I am not exactly Oda himself.' Arch thought, continuing to listen to the old man.
"Yes another group of travelers arrived just hours before you." He explained before getting back to plowing the fields. Arch and the rest didn't bother him any longer and went on their way to Isshin Dojo. The entire time Arch was thinking about who the other group could be.
Arriving at the dojo, Arch once again knocked on the door frame. The kids practicing their sword technique immediately looked towards Arch once again, but this time there was a curious green haired boy who had an annoyed expression on his face.
"Whatcha want?" The boy questioned seemingly annoyed by the group's mere presence. 'So that's Zoro huh?' Arch thought stunned for a brief moment. Confused as to the lack of a response Zoro got angrier as he pointed his bamboo sword towards Arch.
"You wanna fight!?" Zoro asked stunning Arch. "Aren't you a bit too mad for a little boy." Arch replied as he shook his head. "What do you mean little boy?" Zoro asked yet another question as he proceeded to get madder and madder at Arch.
"What do you mean, what do you mean little boy? Aren't you like 5 years old? My little brother could slap you around." Arch countered, he was never good at face slapping so he could only resort to the most basic of counter techniques.
"That does it!" Zoro swung his two bamboo swords towards Arch as fast as he could.
"THWACK, THWACK!"
The swords proceeded to make contact with Arch, before breaking on impact. "As I said, you're just a little kid." Arch chuckled as Zoro watched in shock. Arch may be a King now and could be serious at times but he still hadn't lost his drive to bully children from the old Xbox Live days.
'Damn how long ago was that now? Something like 20 years now?' Arch sighed before crouching down and flicking Zoro on the forehead. "Ai." Zoro cried as he clutched his forehead, you could see the point a which Arch had flicked him throbbing red.
"You! I'll defeat you one day." Zoro declared as he stared at Arch. "I am sure you can, maybe when I am delusional and on my death bed otherwise you have no chance, now go back to your training moss head, and this should cover the cost of the swords." Arch said handing him some Beri.
Hearing the words moss head something deep within Zoro immediately got ticked off but he suppressed his rage due to his inability to harm Arch at the moment. "You'll see old man." Zoro replied before walking away.
Arch felt a bit of pain in his heart when he heard that. 'I am only 16 why are you calling me old?' He thought, it seemed Arch's face still needed to thicken a bit.
After this little event Koushiro exited the Dojo. "Ah I see you're back." He smiled as he greeted them. "Well yes we couldn't leave without returning your map after all." Arch replied walking towards the man to hand him the map.
"Thank you very much, I am sorry I can't invite you for tea as I have some guests at the moment." Koushiro said retrieving the map from Arch. "Well that's too bad, but you've got a pretty good disciple in that moss head over there." Arch remarked glancing at Zoro.
"Mhm, he's quite the strong swordsman for his age but he's still not the best one here." Koushiro replied as Arch made an "I see" expression. After which the group of 6 left the dojo, and barely 5 minutes after they left a little boy came running after them.
"You, what's your name!" Zoro shouted locking eyes with Arch. "Where I come from you say your name before asking someone else there's." Arch replied.
"Fine then, I am Roronoa Zoro!"
"My name is Archelaus Tigra."
They said one after the other. "I see, I will defeat you Tigra!" Zoro declared once again, clearly misunderstanding Arch's name. 'This is one of the problems of Tigria.' Arch sighed as he continued walking.
"I'll be waiting for you on the Grand Line." With that the group left Zoro behind his eyes resolute as he stared at Arch. 'The Grand Line.' He thought before heading back to the dojo. 'Two swords aren't strong enough I need three!' Zoro pondered as he went through the bamboo swords.
"Why did you take an East Blue kid so seriously?" Bertram asked looking curiously at Arch. "You'll see one day, that boy is pretty special." Arch answered cryptically, when Arch noticed yet another child blocking their path.
It was a girl, she had short dark blue hair and dark eyes, standing a decent bit taller than Zoro but still at the height of a regular child. "I am Kuina daughter of Shimotsuki Koushiro, my father said you're from the Grand Line take me with you!" The girl said pointing her sword at Arch.
"Hmmm, I'll humor you, sure on 2 conditions. First, if you can get permission from your father, and secondly if you can injure me with one attack, I'll stand at this exact spot." Arch replied with a smile on his face.
'She wouldn't make a bad addition to the Kingdom, she's pretty talented and with Arthur's guidance she can be at quite a high level in a few years. Alas she needs to stay here for at least a year for Zoro's growth.' Arch pondered briefly as he saw a sharp glint flash in Kuina's eyes.
Kuina then took a step forward slashing her downward creating an after image. Seeing this Arch clamped the sword with his his thumb, middle and index finger stopping the blade a centimeter from his head.
"Ha, ha, ha." Kuina breathed out heavily as Arch let go of the sword. "Quite impressive but you still failed, I'll be back in half a year if you can get your father's permission and don't slack on your training I'll bring you to the Grand Line." Arch praised before leaving Kuina behind.
Some things were better left unchanged, after all what would he do if Luffy died and he had to face the World Government and the 4 Emperors by himself, Arch couldn't imagine that. 'Its best to let that brat cause some mayhem.' He thought as they reached their boat.
"You do know the way back right?" Arch asked hopping onto the boat. "Of course I do! I may have messed up before but since then I have evolved becoming a new Bertram, a Super Bertram of sorts!" Bertram assured Arch.
The Expedition Team then set sail to the Calm Belt yet again, but not before Arch noticed a hooded figure on the shore. 'No, it can't be, is that.' Arch thought in shock when the figure disappeared.
"Are you alright?" Ugo questioned seeing Arch's shocked expression. "Don't worry I am fine, I just thought I saw someone." He shook his head before focusing on their journey once again.