"Time to get back to class."
Luffy glanced at the time, then handed his sketch over to Shimotsuki Kozaburo, grinning.
"Old man, make me this sword, alright?"
With a carefree laugh, he turned and began heading back to the dojo. "I'll come back to pester you!"
His Conqueror's Haki may have only shocked Kozaburo briefly, as it wasn't powerful enough to knock anyone out yet. Judging from the old man's reaction, it wouldn't be enough to convince him to make the sword either. Luffy wondered if he'd have to play his "Garp card" next—the last of his persuasive tricks.
But he didn't mind too much. The main reason he was here in Shimotsuki Village was to help cheer up Kuina and make Zoro's childhood a little brighter. Learning swordsmanship and getting a famous blacksmith to forge him a sword were just bonuses. If Kozaburo didn't want to make it, Luffy could live with that.
"Hey, you foolish brat!" Kozaburo called, blowing a puff of smoke as Luffy walked away. "What kind of king are you aiming to be?"
Luffy tilted his head back, glancing over his shoulder. With a mischievous grin, he replied, "A king is just… a king, old man."
…
Luffy's Conqueror's Haki didn't reach the dojo, as its range was still limited, and no one there even noticed it. He knew he still had a long way to go before it was powerful enough to truly impress people—or convince Kozaburo to craft him a sword. He'd need to save the Garp card for later, just in case.
Back in the dojo, Zoro spotted him returning. "So you didn't sleep after all!" he remarked, looking at Luffy's refreshed appearance.
"I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a bit," Luffy said, placing his hands behind his head as he eyed the sweat-drenched Zoro. "You've been working hard, huh?"
"Of course! I'm training to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
"That's great! Wanna team up with me for a game?" Luffy asked with a grin.
"I don't have time for games. I'm training!" Zoro replied, biting down on the rope he was using to lift heavy stones.
"Well, I heard you keep losing to Kuina," Luffy said, smirking with a mocking tone. "I was thinking of helping you, but if you're not interested, I guess you can just keep being dead last. Good luck with that!"
The taunt lit a fire in Zoro. His pride flared, and he shouted, "I'm not dead last!"
"Then prove it in the game," Luffy challenged, "but if you drag me down, you'll be following my lead from now on."
"Fine! You're on, you smug jerk!"
His shout echoed around them, and the rope slipped from his mouth, letting the heavy stone crash to the ground with a loud thud.
"Luffy, where did you go during lunch?" Uta waved, catching sight of him as he entered.
"Oh, I just went somewhere to unleash a bit of Conqueror's Haki," Luffy replied.
"Hey! Don't go using that to mess with people!" Uta scolded, frowning.
"No one even noticed," he said, shrugging. His Conqueror's Haki was still at the lowest level; he'd only managed to knock out a few ordinary folks on rare occasions.
"Conqueror's Haki? What's that?" Zoro asked, clearly intrigued.
"It's a super cool power!" Uta said enthusiastically. "Shanks has it too, but Luffy's isn't as strong as his."
"Uta! Today, I'm fighting ten at once! Zoro, team up with me!" Luffy said.
"What? You'll never beat me! Silly Luffy, you just want to get beaten up," Uta teased with a grin.
"My fists are strong; I just don't like hurting you. I need to get some battle experience, that's all."
"Ha! You're just saying that because you've lost to me so many times. I'll bring Kuina to watch you get beaten up!"
"Don't make girls cry, Luffy!" she said playfully, sticking her tongue out.
Zoro watched the two banter, his face growing redder as he heard Kuina's name. He trailed after them, thinking to himself how much he wanted a chance to take Luffy down a peg.
…
That afternoon, the dojo focused on basic literacy as part of their lessons. Kozaburo, as usual, avoided mentioning anything about samurai, while Shimotsuki Koushirou stuck to general knowledge, never veering into topics about Wano.
Luffy also received some private tutoring from Koushirou, who evaluated his foundational skills and introduced more advanced techniques in swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, Uta found an opportunity to slip away from Luffy, joining Kuina at her seat.
"Kuina, Kuina! After class, let's go beat up Luffy!" She waved her little fists with mock ferocity, eager to show off her "power."
Kuina blinked in surprise, then smiled, as the two girls huddled together, whispering like conspirators.
Koushirou glanced at them but decided to let it slide.
After dinner, the dojo emptied out as everyone returned home. Uta led Kuina with her, looking confident as they confronted Luffy.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
In a blink, they found themselves in Uta's dream world. The environment shifted to a sandy beach, the perfect setting for a playful showdown.
In reality, Uta found a quiet spot to sit, her lips curled into a smile as she dove into the dream world.
The dream versions of Luffy, Zoro, and Kuina appeared, each now wearing light, combat-ready clothing with a katana at their sides.
Both Zoro and Kuina looked around, their eyes widening at Uta's incredible ability to reshape the surroundings. This girl could change the world at a whim, her Devil Fruit powers awe-inspiring.
"Aaaaaa~" Uta sang, her voice creating a chorus of notes that danced around her.
Ten knights in armor, each made of musical notes, lined up behind her. They wielded shields and spears, their vibrant armor gleaming with Uta's signature musical emblem.
"Well, Zoro, are you just going to stand there… or are you ready to go?" Luffy asked, drawing his sword and giving it a casual swing.
"I'm ready!" Zoro replied, brandishing his own weapon, determination flashing in his eyes.
The knights raised their shields and pointed their spears, marching forward with mechanical precision.
"Here they come! It's just like a monster-hunting game!" Luffy shouted, adrenaline surging as he led the charge.
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