In Shimotsuki Village, a peculiar sight caught the villagers' attention. Two children jogged together through the village, one of them—a black-haired boy—running with his eyes closed, while the girl beside him wore a cheerful smile and occasionally laughed aloud, radiating joy.
"Those pirate kids sure are strange," one of the villagers muttered, watching the pair curiously.
"That Uta girl is so pretty, and her singing is beautiful," another commented.
In the village, Uta had quickly become a favorite, charming the villagers with her songs, far more so than Luffy, who often seemed like an enigma.
As the two ran, Uta kept an eye on the time, eventually guiding Luffy back to the dojo. Known as the Isshin Dojo, its sign bore two crossed swords, the proud emblem of the Shimotsuki clan.
Kuina and Zoro were already at the dojo, practicing on the grass. Both wielded bamboo swords, swinging them in disciplined, synchronized movements.
"Good morning, Kuina! Good morning, Zoro!" Uta greeted them cheerfully. "Are you practicing swordsmanship?"
"Yes, we're doing some basic swings," Kuina replied, slightly flustered by Uta's exuberance, still finding the pirate girl's enthusiasm a bit overwhelming. The pirates were so… energetic.
"Yep, it's morning training!" Zoro greeted back, more casually, unfazed by Uta's high energy.
Uta smiled, watching them. "Swordsmanship training, huh? I'll see if Luffy wants to join."
Inside his head, however, Luffy's response was clear. "Let's get the daily training routine done first. Swordsmanship can wait until Sensei teaches it properly."
Uta relayed Luffy's thoughts back to Kuina and Zoro with all seriousness, but it didn't take long for them to notice that Luffy was still jogging with his eyes shut. He was breathing steadily, his chest rising and falling slowly, unmistakably in a state of sleep.
"Wait… is he actually asleep?" Zoro asked, bewildered.
Their suspicion was hard to accept; it seemed so impossible. Besides, Luffy hadn't spoken a word. How did Uta know what he was thinking?
As they continued to watch, they saw Luffy move into his exercises with his eyes still closed, advancing from palm-based push-ups to knuckle push-ups, and eventually to single-finger ones. Each move challenged his entire body, targeting different muscle groups with precision.
"What's with this guy? He's training with his eyes closed!" Zoro pointed at him, more amazed than ever.
"How does he even know where he's going?" Zoro asked, completely baffled.
"That's because Luffy is currently in my world," Uta explained.
Kuina's mind raced as she recalled her experience in Uta's world. Though her memories had blurred since she'd woken up, like a fading dream, she distinctly remembered visiting a magical place with Uta.
"Is it like that world from last night?" Kuina asked.
Uta nodded with a smile. "Exactly."
Kuina looked at her in awe. "So, you're controlling his body?"
"Yup," Uta replied proudly.
"That's amazing! I mean, I don't really understand it, but… wow!" Zoro was entirely taken aback.
"It's my special ability! I'm a Devil Fruit user." Uta laughed. "Pretty cool, right? You're welcome to shower me with praise!"
"So, this is the secret to Luffy's strength?" Kuina murmured, intrigued. She looked at Uta with a determined glint in her eye. "Please, Uta, do the same for me! I want to grow stronger. Train me like you're training Luffy!"
Uta looked at her, surprised but pleased by her conviction. "Sure thing," she agreed with a nod.
"Me too!" Zoro said quickly, his eyes darting nervously between Kuina and Uta, afraid he'd miss out. Seeing Kuina interact with Uta like this made him feel like he was being left out.
But Uta lifted a finger in caution. "I need to warn you guys first. Your training won't be exactly like Luffy's," she explained. "My ability works by controlling your bodies while you're asleep, sending commands to do things like attack, defend, and dodge—actions your body already knows. But if your body doesn't understand a specific move, it won't work."
"In other words, I can guide your bodies to do routines like basic swings, but I can't replicate all of Luffy's complex movements. He said that training is a serious matter, and incorrect movements could cause injury. You understand?"
Kuina nodded thoughtfully. "I see… So, even if you control our bodies, we'll just perform the same basic moves, like practice swings."
But what's the point of that? Kuina wondered. Still, there was no harm in trying.
"I understand. Please, use my body for training," Kuina said with determination. To surpass Luffy, she knew she needed to follow his path.
Uta's eyes lit up. "Then, Kuina, can you help me with something in return?"
Kuina looked curious. "What is it?"
"Boys love cool stuff, and I've been trying to figure out how girls can look cool, too," Uta said with a bright grin. "Watching you swing your sword gave me the idea. I want to learn those powerful stances and incorporate them into my dance moves!"
"I… don't really understand," Kuina admitted, "but if I can help you, I'd be happy to."
With that, Uta began singing softly, guiding Kuina and Zoro into the dream world, where they found themselves joining her and Luffy on a vast grassy field under a clear, blue sky.
"Welcome to Uta's world!" she cheered.
A wave of musical notes swirled around Kuina and Zoro, transforming their dojo uniforms. Kuina found herself dressed in an elegant, pure-white dress with a sword at her side, appearing ethereal and serene.
"Girls should wear pretty clothes!" Uta said with a smile.
Kuina blushed, covering her chest, unused to such an outfit. Her cheeks flushed pink, not entirely comfortable in the elegant attire.
Zoro, meanwhile, stood frozen, openly staring at Kuina. Finally, he muttered, "Kuina, you look… really pretty…"
Then he quickly caught himself and added, "But I still won't give up on beating you!"
Kuina's cheeks turned redder, both flattered and flustered. "I'm a swordsman, not a doll! Change me back,Uta!"
"Not a chance! Besides, it's just a dream," Uta teased, sticking out her tongue.
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