Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Bai Ye found himself quite frustrated with certain events in original story that unfolded in Water 7, particularly Usopp's conflict with the Franky family and his subsequent split from Luffy. While these developments were crucial for Usopp's character growth, Bai Ye found the plot twists rather irksome.
Perspectives can change the perception of events dramatically. For instance, when the Franky family robbed the Straw Hat crew, they were villains from the protagonists' point of view but could be seen as heroes by the civilians for standing up to pirates. This dichotomy left Bai Ye feeling uneasy.
To mitigate these frustrations, Bai Ye had been making various preparations well in advance. He enhanced the Golden Merry beyond its original capabilities and also focused on making a "better" Usopp. This included giving Usopp a marrow cleansing pill, providing intensive training, and equipping him with two new guns—all aimed at accelerating his development.
Usopp's transformation was evident from his performances in the chapters of Alabasta, Mock Town, Sky Island, and even during his encounter with Admiral Aokiji. These instances highlighted Usopp's growth, although there was still room for improvement.
Confidently, Bai Ye believed he could alter the outcomes in Water 7, including changing Robin's fate. He had spent considerable time training and strategizing with Luffy and the others to make Robin realize that, even when faced with formidable opponents like an Admiral, the Straw Hats would never abandon her.
Though they had not yet reached Water 7, Bai Ye was confident that even if Robin were confronted by CP9 again, she wouldn't just disappear. Bai Ye's meticulous preparations suggested that his influence over the upcoming Water 7 arc could be substantial, potentially steering it in a new direction.
Of course, Bai Ye's meddling hadn't come without its own set of mishaps. The changes he implemented were bound to have ripple effects on the future. For instance, Luffy had already decided to recruit Frankie before they even arrived at Water 7. While this seemed positive in the current context, from a long-term perspective, Bai Ye realized he was losing his most significant advantage—the foresight provided by his knowledge of the original storyline.
Leaning on the edge of the boat, Bai Ye sighed reflectively. "Oh, what a happy trouble I have..." His familiarity with the original plot had propelled him to his current position, but by altering it, he had inadvertently diminished that edge. A wistful smile crossed his face as he mused, "Since it has come to this, let's just go with the flow and enjoy the ride."
However, his smile quickly vanished as if struck by a sudden thought. With a swift gesture, Bai Ye conjured a space door enveloped in a seven-color mist right before him. Stepping through the portal, he found himself on an island where the only other person was Zoro, undergoing a grueling tribulation.
Zoro looked like a man who had narrowly escaped death, his body covered in wounds as if he had been slashed hundreds of times by swords carefully avoiding vital organs. Bai Ye couldn't help but give a wry smile at the sight and half-jokingly remarked, "You guy, could it be that you were besieged by hundreds of people in an illusion?"
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Zoro wasn't actually besieged by hundreds of people. Throughout the illusion, his only opponent had been one person—Kuina. In a clearing within the illusionary woods, Kuina held her sword to Zoro's neck and declared with a smile, "The 5000th win!"
Zoro, despite his defeat, maintained an arrogant demeanor, stubbornly responding, "Understood, I will beat you sooner or later."
A lot of time had passed since Zoro and Kuina first crossed swords. Ever since Zoro had lost to Kuina in their first encounter at the dojo, they had dueled several times nearly every day. By the time of their 2000th match, they had progressed from wooden to real swords. Although Kuina was always cautious during their bouts, she still managed to injure Zoro occasionally, leaving him almost constantly wrapped in bandages.
Today marked not only Kuina's 12th birthday but also their 5000th duel. Despite his loss, Zoro felt an unusual sense of joy. Strangely, he found himself unbothered by his many losses to Kuina, feeling no annoyance or anger at all. On the contrary, he was even eager to celebrate her birthday.
"Let's go, Kuina, let's head back. Today is your birthday," Zoro said as he stood up and started walking towards the dojo.
However, this time was different. Kuina didn't follow him back as usual. Instead, she stood still, her back turned to him, signaling a change in the usual routine.
"Kuina?" Zoro felt a pang of doubt; he couldn't understand the behavior of the girl in front of him. A quiet voice broke the silence, compelling Zoro to step forward. "Not like this..."
"It's not that we have to go back..." Kuina murmured, her voice tinged with an unknown urgency that sent a wave of panic through Zoro. He hurried forward, reaching out to grab her.
Suddenly, Kuina spun around, her sword flashing as she swung it at Zoro! Her voice roared with emotion as she faced him, "It should be you that need to go back!! Zoro!! Wake up!! You idiot!!" Her hand trembled as it gripped the scabbard, and her voice cracked, heavy with reluctance.
Tears began streaming down her face, falling to the ground below. Zoro, confused and alarmed, exclaimed, "Kuina... you, what are you talking about?"
Through her sobs, Kuina forced the words out, "This is not Shimotsuki Village at all. This place is just a dojo on an entire island. I'm not the real Kuina at all, and my body hasn't aged since I was ten years old. Don't you understand, Zoro! We are in..."
Before she could finish, a sudden slash cut through the air from behind her. In an instant, Kuina was sent flying, a gush of blood staining her back as she was struck. "Kuina!!" Zoro's eyes widened in horror at the sight.
He rushed to her, catching her in his arms and frantically trying to cover the wound. As Kuina's face rapidly lost color, Zoro's heart shattered, overwhelmed by a haunting sense of déjà vu.
Then, a voice cut through the tension. "It's really troublesome, should I let her wake up?" As these words echoed, a figure emerged from the dense forest behind Kuina.
If Bai Ye had been there, he would have gasped, "Isn't it a blackened version of Zoro?" Indeed, the figure resembled an adult Zoro, but his clothes were dark as the night, not his usual green.
This dark version of Zoro looked down at the distraught, real Zoro, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down his face. A sinister smile played on his lips. "Don't worry, she won't die. After all, this is not the real world!" His laugh, cold and mocking, filled the air, "Hahahahaha!!"
P.S Recently, I started writing my own novel, "Poop Mage: Manure Mysteries" Consider checking it out.