One Piece My Partner is Too Crooked - Chapter 73
The next morning, at the training grounds behind Shimotsuki Village.
“What? Kuina, you’re saying you don’t want to become the world’s greatest swordsman anymore?!”
Little Zoro, with three bamboo swords at his waist, looked shocked and confused, his determined face full of disbelief.
“That’s right. I’ll leave becoming the world’s greatest swordsman to you, Zoro.”
Kuina, dressed in a white short-sleeve shirt, looked full of energy and determination as she waved her arm. “My goal now is to become the strongest Sword Goddess!”
Seeing her more confident than ever, Zoro frowned, scratching his moss-green hair, completely puzzled.
“Sword Goddess? Is that a title stronger than the world’s greatest swordsman?”
If it is, then he wanted that too! There’s no way he could lose to Kuina!
“Maybe, or maybe they’re equally strong. I’m not sure right now.”
“Huh?” Zoro tilted his head, a big question mark on his face.
Kuina thought for a moment and then had an interesting idea.
“How about this, Zoro? When you become the world’s greatest swordsman and I become the Sword Goddess, we can have a match to see who is stronger!”
“I see. Then it’s definitely the world’s greatest swordsman!” Zoro said confidently.
“You can talk big when you actually beat me,” Kuina chuckled, not backing down at all.
Now, she no longer feared or worried that Zoro would surpass her. If he did, she’d just surpass him again.
After all, as long as she put in the effort, she could achieve anything. She was someone who could do it!
“By the way, why do you have three swords today?”
Kuina suddenly noticed the extra bamboo sword at Zoro’s waist.
“That straw-haired jerk is too strong. Two swords aren’t enough to beat him!”
Remembering the humiliation he suffered at King’s hands yesterday, Little Zoro gritted his teeth, filled with intense frustration.
“If two aren’t enough, then use three. That’s so like you, Zoro,” Kuina laughed.
“Who are you calling an idiot? Even if you almost died tripping over stairs and are still weak, I won’t wait for you!”
Determined, Zoro grabbed one bamboo sword with his mouth, holding one in each hand, and started furiously striking the hard rocks.
“Idiot! Don’t bring that up again!”
Kuina blushed, quickly mimicking Zoro’s training to cover her embarrassment.
…
Inside Isshin Dojo, Icey woke up early and headed there to ask Koshiro some questions about swordsmanship.
Learning new skills requires humility.
King initially wanted to hide out in Koshiro’s accommodations, but the enthusiastic dojo disciples kept knocking on his door, asking about proper push-up and sit-up techniques.
Unable to bear it any longer, he came to the dojo to give a unified demonstration.
Ironically, despite being an amateur, King’s casual glances and movements triggered extensive overanalysis among the disciples.
In the end, they practiced earnestly and effectively.
As for the idiot goddess, she was sprawled out on the bed, snoring away, occasionally scratching her belly or picking at her feet.
Unsurprisingly, Aqua had drunk too much at the party the previous night, leaving a mess of rainbow-colored vomit…
Time passed quietly and pleasantly, and soon it was noon.
“I understand. Thank you for clearing up my doubts. I feel like my swordsmanship has become much clearer.”
Icey set down his tea cup, expressing his gratitude to Koshiro.
“Not at all. Without you, Kuina might not be with us anymore. You are the benefactors of Isshin Dojo.”
Koshiro’s gentle smile was filled with genuine gratitude.
“If you don’t mind, why not stay for lunch at the dojo?” he offered.
“Then we’ll take you up on that,” Icey nodded.
At that moment, there was a commotion outside the dojo.
Sweaty and exhausted from training, Kuina walked in, her clothes soaked.
“Kuina, where’s Zoro? Didn’t he come back with you?” Koshiro asked, puzzled.
“We met Miss Aqua in the village earlier. She wanted to find a crowded place to spread the word about the Axis Order, and Zoro offered to show her the way.”
Kuina paused, then sighed, “I wanted to go with them, but Zoro insisted he knew the way and didn’t let me follow.”
“He’s a fool who can get lost on a straight path.”
Hearing this, Icey almost spat out his tea.
“What did you say? Zoro is leading Aqua?!” He was shocked.
Where did they get the courage, one to lead and the other to follow?!
Opposite him, Koshiro smiled gently, “Don’t worry too much. Zoro’s sense of direction may be bad, but the village only has a few streets. Even if they get lost, Miss Aqua should be able to find her way back.”
Unfortunately, this comfort didn’t help Icey at all.
Because he wasn’t just worried about Zoro!
“Koshiro-sensei, let’s have lunch first.”
“Uh, don’t you want to wait for Miss Aqua?”
“Let’s eat first. We’ll need the energy to find them…”
“What do you mean?”
…
Things went exactly as Icey expected.
At that moment, in a remote area deep in the mountains behind Shimotsuki Village…
“Zoro, are you sure we’re not lost? This doesn’t look like a crowded place.”
Aqua looked at the small mountain stream and the surrounding weeds, voicing her doubt.
“That’s strange. I’m sure it was this way. There were rows of houses. How did we end up in the mountains?”
Little Zoro scratched his head, doubting himself.
“You’re not lost, are you?”
Aqua’s suspicion grew stronger.
“No way! I’ve lived in this village all my life. How could I get lost?” Zoro retorted, blushing.
Seeing his guilty yet serious expression, Aqua burst out laughing.
“You are lost! Hahaha! I can’t believe someone could get lost in their own village!”
“Zoro, even among all the reincarnators I’ve met, you’re the most hilarious. Hahaha!”
Aqua laughed so hard she was clutching her stomach and slapping her thigh, making Zoro want to punch her.
“Shut up! You woman!”
Zoro blushed with shame and shouted, “Fine! I’m lost. I can’t remember the way back. Please, lead me back!”
“…”
Hearing the words “way back,” Aqua’s crazed laughter vanished.
Because she hadn’t bothered remembering the way, following the local, she didn’t know how to get back either.
“You don’t know the way back, do you?”
Now it was Zoro’s turn to be suspicious.
“No way! The Water Goddess’s sense of direction is top-notch!”
Aqua feigned confidence, scanning the surroundings with a wise look.
Using the direction ants were crawling, she “determined” the way back to the village.
“This way. Follow me, moss-head.”
With that, Aqua confidently led the way.
“Damn it! Stop calling me moss-head!!”
Zoro cursed, then followed.
And so, the two walked through the dense forest.
Half an hour later, they indeed saw buildings ahead!
“Hahaha! See, Zoro? I told you my sense of direction was great.”
Looking at the town made of brick buildings and stone-paved streets, Aqua sighed in relief. “Your village rebuilt quickly, turning from a ruin to a proper town in minutes.”
Hearing this absurd statement, even Zoro couldn’t hold it in.
“That’s the coastal town outside the village!!!”
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