章 92: Chapter 92: Senior Brother
"I'll soon be surpassed by you."
"Don't you always say you're going to become the world's greatest swordsman?"
"Father says girls can't become the strongest."
"Zoro... I really envy that you're a boy."
"I want to become the strongest too!"
...
"Let's make a promise!"
"One of us will become the world's greatest swordsman someday!"
"Let's see who can achieve it first!"
"...I promise you!"
...
"Zoro! Something's happened to Kuina!"
"What?!"
...
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
"Humans are... so fragile," Koushirou sighed softly, his face filled with sorrow.
"Thanks to Wright's gift... Kuina was saved! Stop saying such depressing things..." Lady Shimotsuki wiped her tears. "That boy mentioned in his letter three years ago that he'd return. With his miraculous abilities, Kuina will be fine!"
"Yes... it's all thanks to Wright." Recalling the harrowing moment, Koushirou couldn't help but smile faintly. "When he sent that letter, I hesitated to give Kuina the pendant. After all, she's just a child."
"Hmph, if it weren't for my insistence, your stubbornness would've cost Kuina her life!" Lady Shimotsuki retorted with dissatisfaction. "Do you even understand the weight of such a gift? That's a life! Including the time before he left, that boy has already saved the lives of both mother and daughter!"
"Haha..." Koushirou laughed awkwardly. "When he made such a name for himself in the East Blue, I knew he'd grown strong. But I never expected that crystal of his would actually be used."
"Still..." Koushirou sighed again. "Even when Wright returns, Kuina's injuries are so severe... Even with his treatment, she may never wield a sword again."
"There must be a way! When Wright returns, we'll know. Until then, we must take good care of Kuina!" Lady Shimotsuki said firmly.
...
"Kuina! What happened to her?!"
Outside Kuina's room, a green-haired boy shouted at the physician tending to her. "That's so unfair, Kuina! We promised!"
"Zoro! Stop that..."
Koushirou's voice came from behind. Zoro turned to see his master approaching, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Sensei... Kuina will be okay, right? We promised to compete to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
"Zoro... Kuina fell from the warehouse stairs while retrieving a whetstone. Under normal circumstances, her injuries would've been fatal. But thanks to your senior brother, Kuina still has a chance."
Koushirou spoke softly. "But she's gravely injured and unconscious. For now, we must wait for your senior brother to return."
"Senior brother?" Zoro's eyes widened. "The dojo has a senior brother? Kuina is supposed to be the strongest! Can he really save her?"
"Come with me." Koushirou apologized to the physician and beckoned Zoro to follow him back to the room.
"Zoro, you've only been here a little over a year, so you wouldn't know. This dojo once produced a student who was the strongest among us."
As Koushirou poured tea into two cups, he sipped and seemed to drift into memories.
"His name is Wright. He joined the dojo at twelve and left at fourteen, already a master swordsman."
"What?!"
Zoro was incredulous. A swordsman from their small village dojo? In just two years?!
"After leaving the dojo, he made quite a name for himself—have you heard of the strongest pirate hunter in the East Blue, the 'Dawn Healer'?" Koushirou asked with a smile.
"Of course I've heard of him! I grew up hearing his stories in the village!"
"That man is our senior brother?!"
Zoro felt like he'd stumbled upon an unbelievable truth—Wright had never disclosed where he trained!
"Three years ago, Wright sent a letter. At 22, he had already become a Rear Admiral in the Navy's Grand Line headquarters, with swordsmanship that had further advanced." Koushirou chuckled wryly.
"When the other students heard the news, they insisted on calling him 'senior brother' in honor of the strongest to ever emerge from this dojo."
"I see... If it's the 'Dawn Healer,' senior brother can definitely save Kuina!" Zoro exclaimed, then frowned. "But our village doesn't have a Den Den Mushi. How can we contact him?"
Koushirou nodded with a smile. "Wright will save Kuina. She survived thanks to the life-saving gift he sent three years ago. He said in his letter he'd return after three years. All we need to do now is care for Kuina and wait for him."
"Alright!"
...
Days passed in anxious waiting at the Isshin Dojo. Though Kuina showed no signs of waking, she was out of immediate danger. This gave Koushirou and Lady Shimotsuki some relief.
One day, while Koushirou was supervising Zoro's sword training, he suddenly sensed something and turned around. A golden streak descended from the sky, crashing heavily into the practice yard.
As the dust settled, a figure emerged—a man with golden hair tied in a ponytail, clad in a pristine white Navy coat of justice. The faint image of golden wings slowly dissipated behind him.
Hearing the commotion, the students rushed over, seeing the figure turn, a longsword at his waist.
"Wright! You've finally returned! Did you... fly here?!"
"Master, it's been a long time... I'm back!"
"That's... senior brother?!"
Wright flashed a radiant smile. "Kuina... Is she alright?"
Koushirou's expression darkened. "You already know... Thanks to the gift you sent, she survived, but she remains unconscious."
"I sensed her crystal activate and rushed here from Navy Headquarters. Don't worry, Master. Take me to her... Kuina will be fine soon!" Wright said with confidence.
"From Navy Headquarters?" Koushirou was stunned. "You should rest first. Kuina's situation isn't urgent."
"Haha, no need, Master. Prepare to welcome Kuina's recovery!"
...
In Kuina's room, Wright sat by her bedside. Koushirou and Lady Shimotsuki sat nearby, the room silent except for the four of them.
"Eternal Flame!"
As Wright summoned the beautiful golden flames that once healed her own injuries, Lady Shimotsuki wept with relief, and Koushirou's eyes were filled with hope.
With his experience healing even the gravest injuries in the North Blue, Wright confidently treated Kuina. Holy energy emanated from his hands as he placed them on her forehead. Moments later, a faint voice emerged from Kuina's lips.
"What... happened to me?"
Wrapped in warmth, Kuina slowly opened her eyes to see her tearful parents.
As her gaze focused, she saw a young man with golden hair smiling at her.
"Welcome back, Kuina."
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