"There's no problem. There are no broken teeth, and two teeth are slightly wobbly, but that's just because the baby teeth are falling out and the permanent teeth are coming in. It's too early to pull them out now, so you can either let them fall out on their own at home or come back in a few months."
Toji listened to the dentist's explanation, glancing at Zoro, who was sitting on the dental chair with a sullen expression inside the examination room.
Zoro's sharp gaze met Toji's, but Toji didn't mind. After all, who insisted on doing something his father warned was dangerous?
"Zoro-kun is now 5 years old, and it's a bit early for him to be losing baby teeth. Normally, the lower front teeth fall out between ages 6 and 7, and the upper front teeth between ages 7 and 8, but for Zoro-kun, both are already making way for permanent teeth."
It meant that Zoro was growing 2 to 3 years faster than other children. It seemed even faster than that by 1 to 2 years when he was younger. Even now, he was still young.
'But his teeth are wobbling, and he put a sword in his mouth?'
Such an incorrigible son. Toji shook his head.
The dentist asked, genuinely curious, "But what exactly did Zoro-kun put in his mouth? I heard it was something hard and metallic..."
"..."
Unable to admit it was a sword, Toji vaguely dodged the question.
Leaving the dentist with Zoro, who still had a grumpy expression, Toji tapped Zoro on the back.
"Why did you put the sword in your mouth?"
"That's my sword technique. Three Sword Style."
"Do it a few years later. After all your teeth have come in."
Zoro made an intrigued expression, "Huh, you're not saying to stop it or not do it anymore? Changed your mind?"
"...I've seen it myself."
Zoro with two swords and Zoro with three swords were different. Having experienced it firsthand, Toji wasn't foolish enough to object.
"...!"
Toji startled and looked into the distance. Far away, at the edge of his vision, he saw (or felt) a small figure sitting on a rooftop.
The figure leaped down from the building and attached itself to a passerby. Then, suddenly, the voice of the annoyed passerby complaining of a headache...
"Calm down."
At Zoro's words, Toji regained some of his composure. Zoro explained:
"When you've just awakened Observation Haki, like father, you might strongly sense presences or unintentionally activate Observation Haki."
So, learning to control it was necessary.
Toji managed to finally retract his Observation Haki and took a breath of relief.
"...So this is Haki."
"Yeah. You've got both Observation and Armament Haki now. How does it feel?"
"I'm not sure."
It didn't seem as impressive as he had thought, especially the Armament Haki. Toji still found using his physical abilities or curse tools more convenient and effective.
'When the Wado Ichimonji clashed with Playful Cloud, Playful Cloud was pushed back.'
Whether that was because of Zoro's superior Haki or the sword's performance was better, he wasn't sure. It could be both.
'Plus, when my Armament Haki clashed with Zoro's, mine was clearly overwhelmed.'
It meant Toji's Haki was significantly inferior to Zoro's.
Hearing this, Zoro snorted.
"Your Armament Haki is still at a basic level. Normally, when Armament Haki clashes, the stronger one wins."
Of course, this assumes other conditions like physical abilities, weapon skills, condition, and combat experience are equal; in actual combat, the outcome can vary.
"How do you increase the power of Haki?"
"By fighting strong opponents, risking your life."
Whether your opponent dies or you do. Haki develops in extreme combat situations where the life or death of you and your opponent hangs on a single attack.
Hearing Zoro's words, Toji seriously pondered. He couldn't easily think of an opponent worth risking his life against. Being an assassin, Toji's usual combat style was to wait for the opponent to be at their weakest before launching a surprise attack, rather than engaging in a head-on battle.
'The only ones who might pose a threat to my life are that brat from the Gojo family... and that woman who recently became a special grade.'
Since that woman went overseas as soon as she became a special grade, Satoru Gojo might be a potential opponent for him.
Seeing Toji deep in thought, Zoro smiled as if amused.
"Seems like you have a few people in mind?"
"Yeah."
"Who?"
"Satoru Gojo."
"Satoru Gojo?"
Zoro repeated the name a few times. Satoru Gojo. Satoru Gojo, huh.
"Is he strong?"
"...Just so you know, don't even think about fighting that guy."
Toji stated firmly and coldly to Zoro.
"Maybe after you're an adult, but if it's before that, you'll definitely be outmatched."
"That strong?"
"He was destined to be the strongest from birth."
The Six Eyes. Plus, a sorcerer born with limitless cursed energy. It would be stranger if he didn't stand at the apex.
Zoro's lips twisted. A person who was destined to be the strongest.
"I hate that kind of thing the most."
"Zoro."
"I won't fight. I don't even know what kind of person he is."
"He's about ten years older than you. His hair is white, and his eyes are unique."
"Eyes?"
Toji recalled the blue Six Eyes that had precisely turned to look at him from behind.
Eyes that seemed to contain the vast sky, infinitely clear and deep. Eyes that could discern even a curse with zero cursed energy, embodying all mysteries and truths. Truly,
"Eyes that contain the sky."
Toji muttered to himself before snapping back to reality.
"Anyway, don't fight with Satoru Gojo if you can avoid it. I don't plan on confronting him head-on either."
He had no intention of entering a deathtrap just for the sake of training his Haki. Making an enemy of Satoru Gojo would be no different from declaring war on the Gojo Clan, one of the three great sorcerer families with significant influence in the jujutsu world. For Toji, who had two children to consider, it was absolutely something to avoid. Besides, there was no reason to fight in the first place.
Toji changed the subject and asked another question.
"By the way, is it common for both Observation and Armament Haki to manifest at the same time?"
"I'm not sure. There are many people who only have one or the other."
"What about you?"
"Both manifested at the same time for me, just like you, father."
Zoro remembered his fight with Mr. 1. At that time, it was a very basic level of Observation and Armament Haki, being able to discern the position of the sword and cut through steel, even though he didn't know it was Haki.
"From what I see, father, even among those with Observation Haki, you seem to have a particularly strong ability to sense cursed energy."
He was better at detecting Playful Cloud than the Wado Ichimonji, and focusing on the presence of the figure on the rooftop in a city full of so many distractions almost confirmed it.
"Does it vary from person to person?"
"Of course."
Observation Haki isn't the same for everyone. Some people, like Luffy, are sensitive to others' emotions, while others, like that annoying curly-browed chef who especially senses women, have their Observation Haki's range and accuracy increase only in specific situations.
In Zoro's case, his Observation Haki is specialized in assessing an opponent's strength and in combat situations.
"My Observation Haki is particularly good at sensing cursed energy..."
Toji let out a short laugh. It was ironic that he, who possessed no cursed energy at all, had Haki specialized in detecting it.
Being ostracized by his family for lacking cursed energy and later living by killing sorcerers with cursed energy weapons, it might make sense for Toji to be sensitive to cursed energy. Even if he had come to accept and reflect on himself, the time spent couldn't just disappear.
"You'll need about a year more to master Haki proficiently."
"A year... So, a total of two years training in Haki."
"Yes. After that, it's up to you."
Toji was convinced. To become stronger in Haki, one would need to engage in life-threatening battles, and Zoro couldn't find such opponents for him.
"Now give back the Wado Ichimonji."
"No."
"Why not!"
"Exactly, your teeth are wobbly, why would you wield a sword?"
Toji remembered the Wado Ichimonji being swallowed whole by the curse storage vessel. It was a shame, but if given back, he'd just keep biting it.
Noticing Toji's thoughts, Zoro, conflicted, asked,
"...If I promise not to put it in my mouth, will you give it back?"
After thinking for a moment, Toji laid out the conditions.
"Promise not to put the sword in your mouth until all your permanent teeth have come in, except in life-threatening emergencies, and I'll give it back."
"..."
"What will you do?"
"...Okay."
"Then, let's pinky promise."
Watching Zoro reluctantly linking pinkies, Toji couldn't help but laugh.
...
[Author's Comments]
Now you can join the Amaterasu faction for 7 days for free and enjoy early chapters.
Right! Now you can read up to 20 early chapters on my patron.
Now, regarding the fanfic, the next chapter is going to be fun, lmao.
Keep sending power stones, remember what we came to do! TATAKAE