"A very 'Luffy' kind of answer, right? Right? I think so too. The way a sword is slowly sheathed looks so cool!" Shanks chuckled, hooking an arm around Luffy's waist, fully agreeing with the boy's response.
Boys love cool things—no further explanation needed!
"When I was your age, I could chop down the grass on the whole island with just a stick!"
Shanks went on animatedly, his memories seeming to bubble up. "I'm telling you, that stick was amazing. Perfectly straight, with a split at the end, just like a handle!"
"Buggy wanted to take it from me, but I wouldn't let him… though that idiot was using a curved blade anyway."
It seemed that Shanks had hit a nostalgic nerve, leading him into a detailed story about his younger days, wielding a tree branch as if it were a legendary sword.
"Boys' interests are always so strange." Uta looked at Shanks and Luffy laughing and talking, her cheeks puffing out in slight annoyance.
But seeing Shanks like this… he looked so adorable! Uta couldn't help but think.
If I were a bit cooler, maybe everyone would admire me even more.
But… how can a girl be cool like that?
"Shanks, who's Buggy?" Uta asked, her curiosity about Shanks' past piqued.
"Oh, Buggy… we were as close as you and Luffy. But then I spooked him, and he accidentally ate a Devil Fruit…" Shanks trailed off, reminiscing about Buggy's red nose.
Back then, they were the only kids on Roger's ship, and being the same age, they were practically inseparable—until Buggy's little Devil Fruit mishap.
"Ah, those were the days… I was a dual-wielding swordsman back then…"
Shanks' hand rested on his waist, where Gryphon hung.
"Anyway, Luffy's wish isn't that hard to fulfill. If he just wants to look cool, a basic swordsmanship teacher should do the trick."
Shanks didn't think Luffy's request was particularly difficult. After all, looking cool didn't require elite skills.
"How about I find a basic swordsmanship instructor for you? Just enough to look stylish. What do you say?" Shanks asked.
"Then I want the best teacher there is! I won't settle for anything less!" Luffy replied confidently.
"Got it… I did hear about some swordsmen from the Land of Wano who ended up in the East Blue."
"Beckman! Bring me the sea chart." Shanks called out.
From the second floor, Beckman tossed down a rolled-up chart, secured with a strip of rubber.
As the chart unfurled, Luffy noticed the seagull symbol in the corner. This was a Navy-issued map.
"Let's see… nearby islands…"
Shanks examined the map of the East Blue, and Uta and Luffy crowded in close, their heads practically touching.
"There it is, Shimotsuki Village. That name definitely has ties to the Land of Wano."
Shanks quickly locked onto a keyword on the map.
"Land of Wano?" Uta repeated, intrigued by the unfamiliar term, and glanced at Shanks.
"Captain Roger once invited a samurai from the Land of Wano to join our crew. His name was Oden—a very strong man who managed to survive even after taking a blow from the captain's Divine Departure…"
Shanks explained to Uta, "The Land of Wano is a closed-off nation known for its swordsmen. Through Oden, I learned a bit about the Shimotsuki clan. They're master swordsmiths, and in the East Blue, I doubt anyone understands swordsmanship better than they do."
"Alright, everyone, change course! We're heading to Shimotsuki Village!" Shanks tossed the chart back up to the second floor, calling out.
"Yeah!" The crew cheered in unison.
Beckman adjusted the ship's course according to the coordinates on the map.
Luffy smirked to himself. He hadn't expected Shanks to mention "good man Oden," but it saved him the trouble of bringing it up.
"Captain, with Luffy's current abilities, an ordinary swordsman wouldn't be able to teach him much, right?" one of the crew asked.
Just from his strength alone, Luffy could create a powerful pressure by simply wielding a blade. Even in fights against the swordsmen on Red-Haired's crew, he could barely handle their casual blows. Teaching him? It was more like an invitation to be beaten.
The crew wasn't convinced there was anyone in the East Blue capable of giving Luffy quality instruction.
"Well, let's trust the reputation of the Shimotsuki clan for now. The Wado Ichimonji is one of their creations, after all."
"And teaching someone isn't just about personal strength," Shanks added with a grin.
"Really, Captain? The Wado Ichimonji was made by the Shimotsuki clan?"
The crew was in awe. The reputation of a sword often overshadowed that of its smith.
After all, many swordsmen had heard of famous blades but didn't know who forged them.
"The Wado Ichimonji is one of the 21 Great Grade Swords!" one crew member exclaimed.
"What does that mean?" Uta asked, seeing everyone so impressed.
"A famous blade is a weapon of superior quality, forged by master swordsmiths. They're ranked as Fifty Skillful Grade Swords, 21 Great Grade Swords, and 12 Supreme Grade Swords. The Wado Ichimonji is one of the 21 Great Grade Swords—only twenty-one exist in the world!"
The crew enthusiastically explained this old lore to Uta.
A good weapon makes a world of difference for a swordsman. Though Haki can enhance any weapon, transforming scrap iron into quality steel requires far more effort than starting with a good blade.
"What about Shanks' sword? What level is it?" Uta asked, looking at the Western-style sword at Shanks' waist.
"Ah, that…" Shanks looked down at Gryphon.
"Without a doubt, it'll be the strongest sword in the world."
"Shanks is so cool!" Uta squealed, rubbing her cheek against Shanks' knee, stars shining in her eyes.
The crew looked forward to their arrival at Shimotsuki Village.
…
Marine Headquarters
Garp was in the abandoned dockyard, using his fists to pummel a massive, derelict warship like a punching bag. The ship, already battered beyond recognition, shuddered with each of Garp's mighty blows.
Nearby, a younger Marine was following suit, pounding the warship alongside Garp with nothing but raw physical strength.
"Hey, Kuzan! It's been ages since my grandson contacted me!"
"Damn it! This has to be Shanks' doing!"
"What does that have to do with me…" Kuzan muttered, echoing Garp's movements as he also battered the ship with his fists.
"Get my leave papers ready. I'm heading back to the East Blue!" Garp growled, his frustration manifesting in a punch that made the entire ship tremble.
It was a feat akin to an ant moving a mountain, and a testament
to the strange magic of sheer physical power.
"Why do I have to be involved…" Kuzan sighed as he watched Garp storm off.
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