Chapter 17 : Hawkeye: Don't Laugh At Him! I Agree With His Goal!

Monkey D. Luffy: "Huh? I set sail when I was 14 over there? Why didn't I go with Ace?"

Portgas D. Ace: "...Luffy, haven't you realized? Over there, I wasn't worthy of setting sail with you…"

Monkey D. Luffy: "Ah, is that so..."

Nami: "If Luffy set sail that early over there, it seems like we never had a chance to join him..."

Roronoa Zoro: "I don't know. Around that time, I was still a bounty hunter. Maybe he'll run into me. But... that Luffy is way too strong, he might not even think I'm worth recruiting."

Usopp: "If you think that, then there's no way he'd notice someone like me!"

Nico Robin: "Don't overthink it. Our meeting with Luffy was fate. That Luffy over there will have his own path to follow."

Vinsmoke Sanji: "Robin-chan is absolutely right!!"

Roronoa Zoro: "...Sanji, you're such a disgrace."

Tony Tony Chopper: "...Sanji, you're such a disgrace."

Usopp: "...Sanji, you're such a disgrace."

Vinsmoke Sanji: "You damn moss-head!!! I'll fight you!"

Amid the playful bickering of the Straw Hat crew, the large screen with a white border slowly begins to light up.

[On a bright, sunny day, 17-year-old Luffy recklessly sails out to sea on a small boat!]

[His dream is to form a pirate crew and find 10 companions!]

[But things don't go as planned. Less than half a day into his journey, Luffy encounters a whirlpool, and his boat is destroyed!]

[Fortunately, Luffy thinks fast, hides inside a barrel, and barely avoids drowning.]

[By sheer luck, the barrel Luffy is hiding in is salvaged by Coby.]

[Luffy helps Coby fight Alvida and frees him from her grasp.]

[Afterwards, they arrive at Shells Town!]

[This is where Zoro makes his first appearance~]

[At first, Luffy mistakes Zoro for the "killer" Coby mentioned and has no intention of recruiting him~]

[But when he finds out that Zoro risked his life to protect a little girl from Marine Captain Morgan's tyranny, Luffy beats up Morgan on the spot and immediately decides that Zoro will be his first crewmate!]

Rocks D. Xebec: "What are we watching? This kid's adventure story??"

Gol D. Roger: "What are you complaining about? No one's forcing you to watch!"

Shiki: "I actually find this pretty entertaining! Have you noticed? The Marines in this base are oppressing the townspeople! And that big-headed Sengoku keeps going on about 'justice.' What a joke! He represents nothing but hypocrisy!!"

Ochoku: "Hahaha!!! These shameless Marines, calling us pirates villains~~~"

Charlotte Linlin: "Shame? Marines? Those with shame can't even survive in the Marines…"

Sengoku: "Tarnishing the reputation of the Marines? Haha, do you pirates really think anyone cares what you say?"

[On the Marine branch square, Coby tries to untie Zoro but is shot down by Marine bullets.]

[Then, Colonel Morgan appears, and under his command, a group of Marine soldiers fires a barrage of bullets at Zoro and Coby!!]

[Just when it seems like the end for them, Luffy descends from the sky like a god!!!]

[The bullets pierce Luffy's body, only to bounce off, thanks to the power of his Rubber-Rubber Fruit.]

[After saving Zoro, Luffy declares his intention to recruit him, but Zoro states that he won't become a pirate!]

[Luffy, holding Zoro's three swords, replies, "You can either join me, fight the Marines, and become a wanted criminal... or die here. Your choice."]

["!!"]

[Zoro is stunned by the offer, exclaiming, "A multiple-choice question with only one option! You... you devil's grandson!!"]

["Forget it. If my only option is to die here, I'd rather... become a pirate with you!"]

[Then, Luffy unties Zoro.]

[As Marine soldiers charge, Zoro equips his three swords in an instant, effortlessly blocking all their attacks with a cool pose!!]

[He stares at Luffy with determination and says, "Listen, I'll join you as a pirate, but I have my own goal!"]

["No matter if I'm famous or infamous, the world will remember my name! I will become the world's greatest swordsman!!"]

[Luffy grins widely, thrilled, "The world's greatest swordsman... that's awesome!!! A Pirate King's crew has to be that great!!"]

Shanks: "Whoa! Luffy, your crewmate's dream is no small feat! Wanting to be the world's greatest swordsman? That's a monumental challenge."

Gion: "More than just difficult, with that person still around, it's almost impossible!"

Vista: "Exactly! As long as Hawkeye is alive, no one else stands a chance at claiming the title of the world's greatest swordsman~~"

Dracule Mihawk: "Don't mock his ambition. I respect his goal! One day, I will be waiting for him to challenge me for the title of the world's greatest swordsman!!!"

Hiss!!----

Everyone feels a chill at Mihawk's declaration. The fact that he acknowledges Zoro's dream sends shockwaves through the room!

To earn Hawkeye's recognition... what kind of potential does Zoro possess??