Slowly but surely

In the year 1512, Grandline

A caravel pirate ship was sailing in the seas, and on the deck of the ship, a white-haired swordsman was currently lifting an enormous barbell that was weighed half a ton on each side.

"996,997,998,999 ..... 1000!"

*Huff* Huff*

Sweat rolled down on Kenshin's well-toned body, he stood up and took his towel to dry the sweat off his body.

Jack who was standing beside Kenshin sighed in admiration, he gave Kenshin a thumbs up and said, "You really are a monster boss!"

Kenshin looked at Jack and asked, "Why aren't you training? do you think that you are powerful enough to contend against those elite pirates? or are you planning on hiding behind my back when a strong opponent appears."

Jack lowered his head while scratching the back of his head clearly ashamed of himself.

Looking at the pathetic look Jack was displaying Kenshin frowned, he slowly approached Jack and patted his shoulder. "If you are ashamed that you can't carry heavy objects just like I do then your mindset is clearly flawed you know Jack, everything starts somewhere. I also started carrying light objects and I slowly worked myself to be able to carry the heavy barbell earlier."

Realization dawned on Jack and he nodded his head resolutely, he approached the equipment area and started carrying light objects.

Seeing Jack starting to work out Kenshin smiled in satisfaction, he looked at the clear blue sky and thought of the days that he trained under his mentor.

--- FLASHBACK ---

"Why aren't you maintaining your form?! you need to have a proper stance in order to unleash a powerful sword strike! go and repeat 1000 strikes now!"

"You only did 69 sword strikes! you need 931 more!"

"You think that you can save your Father with that kind of will?! you won't even know how you die when the war starts!"

The 14-year-old Kenshin who was currently being scolded kept on striking the wooden block repeated with tears in his eyes.

'I will persevere! I will save Father one day and take back my homeland!'

'I will become stronger, stronger than any other pirates out there. I will become the strongest existence so that no one can ever think of taking over my land ever again!'

The 14-year-old Kenshin keep on repeating this sentence in his mind as he kept on training.

-------------------

Kenshin then lowered his head and wiped the tears in his eyes, after wiping his tears Kenshin raised his head and a red glint appeared in his eyes, and an image of a bird-like dinosaur with red flames surrounding him appeared on Kenshin's mind

"Don't worry Master, I will surely avenge you and kill that bird"

"Boss! help!"

A strange cry snapped Kenshin out of his imagination, he looked back and saw Jack with a barbell on top of his chest.

*Pfft!*

Kenshin laughed seeing Jack trying to remove the barbell with a red face, he approached Jack and helped him remove the barbell making him sigh in relief.

"Thanks, Boss, I thought that I would die because the barbell blocked my airway."

Jack sat down on the floor and took a few deep breaths.

"You don't need to force yourself, Jack. like I said earlier go at your own pace lest you hurt yourself." Kenshin said.

Jack nodded his head, he went back to the equipment area and started carrying the lighter ones again trying to build up his strength slowly.

A/N: Please bear with the short chapters, because I'm bad at starting a story. I already have a plot ready for the mid and finale part of the story.