I, Zoro, Will Finally Win This Battle! (5/5)

A day later, the super battleship arrived at Shimotsuki Village.

Instead of docking at the port, it anchored at a remote location.

Shimotsuki Village, Kendo Hall.

The disciples of the dojo were sitting cross-legged in a circle, watching two figures engage in a martial arts duel at the center.

On the left stood a woman with black eyes, about 19 years old. On the right was a boy with green, algae-like hair, looking around 17.

Lv Zaotou pointed his sword at the woman and, with determination in his voice, declared, "Kuina! This time, I'll finally defeat you!"

At his words, the disciples around them began to murmur.

"Brother Zoro and Sister Kuina have tied 26 times in a row! Do you think this will be the one?"

"No, the last match was a draw, but Zoro has definitely gained an edge now."

"Even though Senior Sister Kuina is an exceptional swordswoman, her strength can't match Senior Brother Zoro's. Even if she wins today, she'll likely lose in the next match."

"It's a shame that Kuina is a woman. If she were a man, she'd be one of the greatest swordsmen in the future."

Hearing their discussions, Kuina felt a pang of bitterness.

A feeling of loneliness crept over her.

A memory began to surface in her mind...

Finn.

Kuina would never forget that full moon night when, overwhelmed with frustration, it was Finn who embraced her, encouraging her when she needed it most. His words still resonated in her mind.

"Kuina, imagine this: A woman's basic strength is 5, while a man's is 10. But if you work twice as hard, you can close that gap. If you push three times as hard, you can surpass them!"

Those words had reignited her confidence, and made her realize that any lack of strength she faced wasn't because she was a woman—it was because she hadn't worked hard enough.

"Finn, I might lose to Zoro today... I wonder if you'd be disappointed in me for not trying hard enough..."

With a soft, self-deprecating smile, Kuina drew her sword, "Let's fight, Zoro!"

"Alright!" Zoro shouted, his voice full of fighting spirit. He rushed forward, his swords—one in his hand, the other clutched in his mouth—clashing with a crackling sound.

Kuina began to fend off the rapid attacks, at first managing to parry them with relative ease. But as Zoro's onslaught grew more intense, she could feel her body starting to tire. Sweat began to bead on her forehead, and her arms grew sore and numb.

Zoro, a tireless stamina machine, continued his relentless assault. The longer the battle raged on, the harder it became for Kuina to defend herself.

Gradually, she started making mistakes. Seizing the opportunity, Zoro swung the katana in his mouth with incredible force, striking Kuina's sword.

Boom!

The shock from the hit caused Kuina to stagger backward, her feet slipping as she fell against the dojo wall.

"Kuina! This time, I win!" Zoro shouted, his voice filled with triumph.

As Zoro prepared to press his advantage, a voice suddenly echoed from the doorway.

"Hey, Zoro! What are you doing? Trying to bully my Kuina while I'm away?"

Everyone turned to look toward the door, and Zoro froze, recognizing the voice. A look of familiarity appeared on his face.

Kuina, too, was shaken.

Finn.

Her heart began to race as she turned toward the doorway.

That familiar figure stood there, his presence as comforting as ever. Her face lit up with happiness.

"Finn..." she whispered softly, her voice filled with joy.

Finn smiled warmly at her. "Kuina! I was suddenly taken by my grandfather to join the Marines, and I didn't have the chance to tell you. But now I'm back, and I wanted to see you."

Zoro, not understanding the significance of the moment, grinned. "Finn, glad you're back! We'll have a drink later! But right now…" His grin turned mischievous. "This is the 6328th time I've fought Kuina, and I'm about to win! Just wait a moment, let me finish this match first!"

After so many years of losses, Zoro was finally close to winning. Could this be his moment?

But Finn simply raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" Finn said, a playful smile curling his lips. "Zoro, I hate to break it to you, but you won't win today. And you may never win against her in the future."

Zoro blinked in confusion. "What? Finn, what nonsense are you talking?"

But Finn just shrugged, smiling as though he were telling an amusing joke.

Kuina, exhausted and disheartened by the battle, was about to call for a halt. But before she could speak, she saw something blur before her eyes.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in front of her. It was Finn—standing there protectively.

"Finn!" Kuina cried out in alarm. "Get out of the way! Let me handle this!"

But it was too late. Zoro had already unleashed his signature move.

"Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash!"

Three blades flew at Kuina from different angles, and she braced herself. But she knew—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't outlast Zoro's strength.

"I..." she began, ready to surrender, but before she could finish her sentence, a flash of movement caught her eye.

Finn, with casual grace, stretched out his hand.

The three blades—each aimed for her—suddenly stopped in mid-air, as if guided by an invisible force, and gently fell between Finn's fingers. Then, they froze, motionless.

"What?!"

The entire dojo erupted in shock. Everyone stood, mouths agape, staring at Finn in disbelief.

It couldn't be real. It was impossible. It must be some kind of illusion.

But the look on Finn's face was calm, as though this was nothing extraordinary.