Chapter 3: Shimotsuki Village: Koushirou’s Offer

Devil Fruits, often called the treasures of the sea, are said to be the embodiment of the sea devil's power. They grant the user incredible abilities, but they also come with a curse—making the eater unable to swim.

Because of this, seawater and Seastone, which is a solid form of the sea, are used to subdue and capture Devil Fruit users.

Besides their natural abilities, Devil Fruits have a higher level of power known as 'Awakening.'

Awakening isn't something you can achieve just by training. It requires a specific opportunity or catalyst, making it a rare feat to accomplish.

The fact that Takumi, at such a young age, possessed all three forms of Haki was already impressive to Shanks. But now, it seemed the kid also had the powers of a Devil Fruit—likely a powerful Logia-type ability.

And judging by the way Takumi used that power, he wasn't just skilled; he was incredibly strong.

"What a treasure this kid is," Shanks thought. "It's a shame he didn't want to join my crew."

Turning around with a playful flick of his coat, Shanks called out, "Alright, boys, back to the tavern! Let's keep the drinks flowing!"

As the shocked villagers began to regain their senses, Takumi's small boat had already sailed far from the shore.

"What... what just happened? Did that kid really take down the Lord of the Coast?"

"Good grief, how old is he? How did he do that?"

"Unbelievable! He defeated the Lord of the Coast in one move! Who is this kid? Does anyone know?"

"I'm not sure. I think he arrived in the village a few days ago. I thought he was just an ordinary child... Guess I was wrong."

"I remember now! I think I saw him at the tavern. I even laughed at him for trying to drink like an adult... I hope he didn't take it to heart."

Meanwhile, on Takumi's boat...

Sitting calmly, Takumi reflected on the power of his newly acquired Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu, and he was fairly satisfied with its performance.

As for the murmurs of the villagers back on the dock, he could still hear them despite the distance. Not that he cared much.

Takumi opened the system's built-in navigation and set his course for the next destination: Shimotsuki Village.

As dusk approached, he finally spotted the small island where Shimotsuki Village was located.

After docking his boat, Takumi had barely stepped onto the shore when the system's notification rang in his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, Takumi, for arriving at the check-in location: Shimotsuki Village. Progress increased by 10%. Current total progress: 10%. Reward: Cursed Sword Star Fragment, and unlocked skill: Swordsmanship Level 1.]

"Cursed Sword Star Fragment?" Takumi thought, intrigued.

He was familiar with many famous swords, but "Star Fragment" didn't ring a bell.

"Well, let's see what this sword is all about," he mused.

With a mere thought, a seemingly ordinary wooden sword appeared in his hand.

That's right—a wooden sword.

Takumi stared at the handle, where the words "Lake Toya" were engraved.

He was silent for a moment.

He wasn't sure about Star Fragment, but Lake Toya? Now that he recognized—that was the wooden sword carried by Gintoki Sakata, the protagonist of Gintama!

[Ding! System reminder: The Cursed Sword Star Fragment, also known as Lake Toya, is forged from a legendary tree over ten thousand years old, known as the Diamond Tree. This sword can cut through anything—from rocks to meteors, even bullets. It's capable of slicing stars and shattering moons, destroying anything in its path.]

"Slicing stars and shattering moons, huh?" Takumi thought. "Seems pretty decent."

Takumi swung Lake Toya around a bit, and to his surprise, it felt incredibly natural in his hand.

He strapped the wooden sword to his waist and started walking toward the village.

When he thought of Shimotsuki Village, the first thing that came to mind was Zoro and the Isshin Dojo.

Judging by the current timeline, Zoro should have already started training under Koushirou, the dojo's master.

And since the first rewards he received upon landing were related to swordsmanship and Lake Toya, it was clear that this check-in task was closely tied to the way of the sword.

With that in mind, Takumi decided to pay a visit to Isshin Dojo.

After getting directions from some friendly villagers, Takumi soon found himself standing outside the dojo.

Even though it was late, the dojo was still brightly lit, and the sounds of children practicing their sword strikes echoed from within.

[Ding! You have arrived at Isshin Dojo. Progress increased by 10%. Current total progress: 20%. Swordsmanship level increased by 1.]

Immediately, a warm sensation flowed through Takumi's body, and his mind was filled with the knowledge of Level 2 Swordsmanship.

Unlike the subtle improvement from Level 1, the jump to Level 2 was something Takumi could clearly feel. He was definitely stronger now.

Smiling slightly, Takumi walked boldly into the dojo.

Inside, a blue-haired girl led a group of children in practicing their sword strikes.

Takumi's eyes were immediately drawn to a green-haired boy among the children and the middle-aged man with glasses, sitting calmly at the side of the dojo, his eyes always smiling.

The green-haired boy was, of course, Zoro, and the man was Koushirou, the dojo's master and father of the blue-haired girl, Kuina.

Takumi knew Koushirou was a skilled swordsman, but from what he'd heard, the man had never truly revealed the extent of his abilities. At Takumi's current Swordsmanship Level 2, he stood no chance against Koushirou.

The slight noise at the entrance caught Koushirou's attention, and his eyes soon focused on the wooden sword at Takumi's waist.

There was a brief flash in Koushirou's glasses.

"That wooden sword... it doesn't seem ordinary," he thought.

Koushirou stood up and walked over to Takumi.

The children, who had been practicing their strikes, paused and turned to look at the entrance.

"You must be from out of town," Koushirou said with a friendly smile. "Are you also a swordsman?"

Takumi gave a small nod but didn't directly answer the question.

His intention was just to make a brief appearance, meet Koushirou and Zoro, and then leave.

But as he turned to go, Koushirou watched him carefully.

Many wouldn't notice, but Koushirou wasn't just anyone. He'd spent a lifetime studying people, and from Takumi's steady gait and composed demeanor, he could tell that this child had incredible strength.

From the moment he first laid eyes on him, Koushirou had sensed a calmness in Takumi that most people never achieved in their entire lives.

Most people who practice swordsmanship are impatient.

But only those who achieve true peace of mind, free from emotional disturbances, can become truly powerful swordsmen.

In Takumi, Koushirou saw the potential for greatness.

"Wait," Koushirou called out.

Takumi stopped and turned back, his voice calm. "What is it?"

Koushirou smiled. "What's your name?"

"Takumi."

"Do you enjoy drinking tea?"

Takumi raised an eyebrow. "Tea?"

"If you have some time, why not stay for a cup of tea and some snacks? We could chat for a bit."

"No thanks," Takumi declined. "I prefer drinking sake."

"Sake?" Koushirou looked surprised.

"Yeah."

Koushirou chuckled. "Interesting. I happen to have some aged sake I've been saving. Would you like to try some?"

"Aged sake?" Takumi was intrigued.

"Alright."

Just as Takumi agreed, Kuina approached with a frown. "Father, what are you doing? He already refused you, so why are you insisting he stay?"

"Kuina, you don't understand," Koushirou said with a smile. "There's much you could learn from Takumi."

"Learn from him? Father, you must be mistaken—he looks younger than me!"

"Age doesn't determine everything," Koushirou replied. "His strength far surpasses yours."

"What? Him?" Kuina wasn't convinced. Gripping her bamboo sword, she pointed it at Takumi. "I challenge you!"