บท 4: 4. Do You Want To Become Stronger? Zoro
Unlike Moria, Kuma's strength ranked among the top among the Shichibukai. If he decided to act, it would be nearly impossible for the Straw Hat Boy to escape.
"It seems the operation failed. The exact reason remains unknown. After all, Bartholomew Kuma is not currently under our direct control," reported the Rear Admiral.
Garp breathed a sigh of relief while Sengoku frowned, signalling for the Rear Admiral to step down.
"Bartholomew Kuma," Sengoku muttered to himself. He had heard of the exploits of this Shichibukai.
Originally a kingdom of kings, it was forced to undergo Vegapunk's transformation for undisclosed reasons by the World Government—the Pacifista project.
However, Sengoku always felt that Kuma's involvement was more complex than it seemed on the surface. Many secrets were hidden behind it, and even he, the Marine Marshal, hadn't fully grasped it.
"You can relax now, Garp," Sengoku assured.
"What do you mean? I don't understand, Sengoku," Garp deflected.
"Prepare yourself, Garp. Sooner or later, the Straw Hat Boy will meet the same fate as Fire Fist," Sengoku stated coldly.
Garp fell silent.
Garp felt helpless. His grandson's fate, and even his son leading the Revolutionary Army, were beyond his control.
"Ace," Garp sighed heavily inwardly, his expression grim. He had tried to avoid dwelling on these thoughts lately, but Sengoku's words had struck a nerve.
The atmosphere in the Marshal's office was thick with tension, almost palpable. Sengoku regarded his old friend with a troubled expression, eventually breaking the silence.
"Compared to the major players in this sea, the Straw Hat Boy is still insignificant. Given the current circumstances, the government shouldn't focus too much on him after this incident," Sengoku remarked, his tone heavy with implications.
Garp remained silent, quietly sipping his tea.
...
Meanwhile, as Sengoku predicted, after the Kuma took Gekko Moria, the World Government didn't invest much effort into minor players like the Straw Hat Pirates.
Following a night of celebration, Brook officially joined the Straw Hat Pirates as their ninth member, adding his musical talents to the crew.
After bidding farewell to the formidable Lola Pirates, Luffy and his crew set sail once more.
Nine days later, they found themselves in a warm-climate sea.
"Why did you seek me out?" Zoro questioned, his voice echoing in the top room of the Sunny watchtower as he practised swinging his knives with a massive barbell.
His swift recovery was attributed to both Chopper's exceptional medical skills and the fact that his injuries hadn't been severe enough to push him to the brink of death or cause lasting damage. Within about five days, his wounds had mostly healed, with no significant lingering effects.
During the encounter with the Kuma, it wasn't just Luffy who had truly awakened—Zoro had as well. As the captain and co-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, their strength directly impacted the safety of the entire crew during their voyage.
Since recuperating from his injuries, Zoro had intensified his training regimen. Previously, he had been prone to bouts of heavy drinking and sleeping, but now he focused intensely on his exercises, with sleep being only an occasional necessity. His newfound dedication demonstrated the strength of his resolve.
"I've realized I prefer it up here to the bow," Luffy remarked casually, leaning against the window and gazing out at the expansive view.
The room atop the watchtower offered an impressive vantage point, being the highest spot on the Sunny.
"Hoo, follow through, hoo," Zoro breathed deeply, his movements precise like a well-calibrated machine as he swung the towering barbell in his hands with unwavering consistency.
Sweat dripped from his body, forming small puddles on the ground, yet his focus remained unbroken—fixed on the horizon.
It was as if he could envision not only the imposing figure of Kuma but also the Marine Admiral named Aokiji, whom he had encountered before. These seas were filled with formidable adversaries.
In the end, his gaze was set on the man wielding a colossal black blade, standing atop all swordsmen in the world.
His arm throbbed with pain, his body pushed to its limits, yet he persisted in his vigorous swings.
"To endure every hardship without faltering—that's my path of Shura," Zoro muttered through gritted teeth.
"It's tough going, Zoro," Luffy observed, his face resting on his hands.
"If you're just here to chat, then leave, Luffy," Zoro retorted, his tone firm.
Gritting his teeth, Zoro whispered, his determination palpable.
Luffy fell silent.
Moments later, as Zoro prepared to push himself beyond his limits, dragging his sore arm to swing once more...
"Do you want to get stronger, Zoro?" Luffy's sudden question broke the silence.
Boom.
The massive barbell crashed to the floor.
"Do you want a beating, or what?" Zoro seized Luffy's collar, shaking him vigorously and shouting, "I'm trying to train here, not have a chat fest!"
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