Chapter 15: One Year Later

Time flowed quietly, passing more than ten months in the blink of an eye, without disturbing anyone.

In the Dojo, a group of junior disciples sat in two rows, hands resting on their knees, gazing in awe at the two figures engaged in a fierce battle in the center.

As expected, it was Zoro and Kuina currently dueling.

Ian sat on the side, watching their sparring.

It had been a year since Zoro came to the Dojo. Compared to when he first arrived, the bear-like kid, who only knew how to use brute force, had disappeared. In his place stood a skilled two-sword swordsman.

No one uttered a sound in the Dojo; the only noise came from the clashing of bamboo swords as Zoro and Kuina exchanged blows. They had sparred for over a hundred rounds, giving their all in the duel.

Training with Zoro every day, Ian was well aware of his progress. From initially being defeated by Kuina in just a few moves to the current long-drawn-out battle, Zoro had improved significantly. Ian couldn't help but nod in approval.

Unfortunately, while Zoro had grown stronger, Kuina had become even stronger than him. Just when everyone thought their duel would continue for some time, Kuina suddenly lowered her body, thrusting her bamboo sword at Zoro!

Zoro quickly raised his sword to block, but Kuina's attack turned out to be a feint. It drew Zoro's defense, exposing an opening, which Kuina immediately seized with a powerful upward sword strike, hitting Zoro's face hard!

Another red mark appeared on Zoro's face. Kuina's attack was powerful, and Zoro had been hit in the face more than once by it...

"One point! That's enough! Kuina wins!" Zosuke the instructor announced. "2000 victories, 0 defeats!"

Seeing the match's outcome, Ian couldn't help but sigh. Throughout the year, Zoro had repeatedly challenged Kuina. Every time he felt some progress after training, he would challenge her again. In a year, they had fought two thousand times, averaging five to six matches per day. Ian couldn't fathom where Zoro got the tenacity for such relentless challenges.

With so many attempts, it wouldn't be too surprising if he had won a few times. However, not once had Zoro managed to defeat Kuina. Ian understood Zoro's mindset now. It was embarrassing for him to lose to a girl, especially so many times. That was just Zoro's stubbornness. If it were anyone else, they might have been discouraged long ago.

"Damn it!" Zoro trembled as he got up from the ground.

Kuina pointed her bamboo sword at Zoro with a teasing smile. "You're really weak, Zoro. How can you be so useless when you're a boy?"

The junior disciples in the Dojo exchanged whispers. "Zoro isn't weak at all! Among the boys, he's the strongest, even defeating adults!"

Perhaps they had spoken a bit too loudly, as Kuina overheard their conversation and retorted, "But he's still weaker than me. No matter how many swords he uses, a weakling is a weakling!"

With that, Kuina left the crowd and walked out of the Dojo.

Ian chuckled, noticing Kuina's constant habit of provoking Zoro after each victory.

Zoro's thoughts were a mystery to everyone. As he stood silently, his disciples surrounded Kuina's father, Koshiro, complaining, "Master! Could it be that you secretly trained her because she's your daughter?" "Yeah! That's not fair!"

Koshiro waved his hands quickly. "No, no! I would never do that. Zoro has indeed become stronger, but Kuina has also grown more powerful. They are both challenging each other."

Meanwhile, Zoro was lost in thought. After a while, his master approached him, only to find him calm and collected. He patted the dirt off his clothes and said, "I'm going to wash my face!"

Koshiro sighed and said to Ian, "Go check on him!"

Ian nodded and walked out as well, arriving at the well in the courtyard only to see Zoro holding water and desperately pouring it over his head.

"Damn it, why can't I just win against Kuina!" Zoro muttered to himself before suddenly yelling, "Why! Why! I'm trying to become the strongest man in the world, why is this happening!?"

Ian saw that he was agitated, so he didn't go up to him and just hid behind a tree and watched him.

After Zoro vented for a while, he finally calmed down, and with a wipe of the water stains on his face, he secretly said, "Tonight, I'm going to look for her to duel again ..."

….

After dinner that day, Master Koshirou and his senior brother Zosuke were sitting in their room drinking tea, and in the course of their conversation, they couldn't help but mention the duel between Zoro and Kuina during the day.

"It's only been just a year since we were initiated, Zoro's growth is truly mind-boggling!" Zosuke said, "The amount of practice both he and Ian have had is unmatched by anyone else, and it's indeed true to say that it's par for the course, but it's still not enough to win against Kuina ah ..."

Koshiro thought for a while after hearing that before speaking, "The swordswoman has a huge obstacle ... As things stand now, I'm not able to let him inherit the dojo ..."

"Father!" Kuina burst into the room.

"Eavesdropping is not good, Kuina!" Koshiro looked at her with a serious expression.

Holding back her emotions, Kuina said, "Father, I will become the strongest swordsman in the world!"

Just like Koshiro, it was the first time she had formally expressed her aspirations in front of her father, hoping to earn his approval.

However, Koshiro's response was unexpected. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "Kuina... girls cannot become the strongest..."

Kuina looked at her father in astonishment, unable to believe that her father could be so stubborn. All her efforts had never gained his approval!

Without saying a word, Kuina turned and left. Only when her figure disappeared into the darkness did her tears finally flow...

"Isn't that too hurtful?" Zosuke couldn't believe it. "How could you be so merciless to Kuina?"

Sighing, Koshiro lifted his teacup and took a sip. "Do you think the same?"

Ian emerged from behind a tree, having watched the entire situation unfold. He was surprised by Koshiro's words. He had thought that Koshiro was a rigid person who couldn't accept new ideas. However, he now realized that it wasn't the case. Koshiro's excuse about girls not being able to become the strongest was merely his way of preventing Kuina from leaving his side.

This was a father's profound love for his daughter. No one could say that Koshiro was wrong...

Under such circumstances, Ian didn't know what to say. He stood up and said, "Master, I'll go check on Kuina..."

Koshiro didn't reply but silently agreed with Ian's actions. Ian closed the room's door behind him and went outside.

He had originally intended to look for Kuina, but from a distance, he saw her running towards the warehouse. Intrigued, Ian followed her quietly.

After a while, Ian saw Kuina leaving the warehouse, holding a real sword in her hand!

That was a genuine blade! Having stayed in the Dojo for so long, Ian naturally recognized it—it was the named sword "Wado Ichimonji"!

The sword was entirely white, with a white scabbard and a white hilt. Although it was stored in the warehouse, it was said to be a keepsake left to Kuina by her mother—a sword that belonged to Kuina.

In the dead of night, Kuina was holding this sword. Ian couldn't help but sigh.

He knew what would happen next; he just felt as if everything was happening as it should, despite his presence. Perhaps this was the moment he had come to witness—Zoro and Kuina making a vow and agreement for the 2001st duel...

Fine, let's go and see. It's also a witness to the moment they make their oath.