One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 39: An Echo from the Past

Zoro wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets of Logue Town, his mind lost in thought as he moved from one weapon shop to the next. He had come to the city with a clear goal: to replace the swords he had lost during his battle with Dracule Mihawk. But no matter how many blades he examined, none seemed to live up to his expectations. Each shop he entered left him feeling more dissatisfied than the last.

As he absentmindedly roamed, Zoro's thoughts drifted back to that fateful duel with Mihawk. The memory of being utterly outclassed by the world's greatest swordsman weighed heavily on him. He clenched his fists at the thought of how easily Mihawk had shattered two of his precious swords, reducing them to splinters with just a flick of his wrist. The humiliation of that day still stung, a reminder that he had so much further to go on his path to becoming the greatest swordsman in the world.

But it wasn't just Mihawk who had left an impression on Zoro. His thoughts shifted to the more recent battle between Goku and Aokiji, the marine admiral. Watching them fight had been like witnessing gods clash. Goku had proven himself to be not only a fearsome fighter but a swordsman on a level Zoro had never imagined. The way Goku handled his blade with such fluidity and power made Zoro question his own abilities. Perhaps Goku was on the same level as Mihawk—something Zoro never thought possible.

Zoro's brow furrowed in frustration as he reflected on these moments. Everyone seemed to be ahead of him—Goku, Mihawk, even Aokiji, who had effortlessly frozen Goku's ki blast in mid-air. Zoro had trained hard, pushing his body to its limits, yet he still felt as though he was lagging behind, unable to catch up to the true monsters of the world.

Lost in his thoughts, Zoro didn't notice the figure walking in front of him until it was too late. He collided with someone, sending them sprawling to the ground.

"Watch where you're going!" a sharp voice scolded.

Zoro blinked, shaking himself out of his reverie. He looked down at the person he had bumped into—a young woman scrambling to pick up a few scattered papers that had flown from her hands. For a brief moment, Zoro's heart nearly stopped.

She looked exactly like Kuina.

The woman had short, dark hair, and her face bore an uncanny resemblance to Zoro's childhood friend and rival. But as she gathered herself, Zoro noticed something that jolted him back to reality—she wore glasses. The young woman pushed them up the bridge of her nose, muttering something about people needing to pay attention to where they were going.

Zoro stared at her, completely stunned. She looked so much like Kuina that it left him feeling disoriented, like he had just seen a ghost.

"Sorry," Zoro muttered, his voice unusually quiet as he reached out a hand to help her up. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. How could someone look so much like Kuina, yet clearly not be her?

The woman took his hand, brushing off her clothes once she was back on her feet. She fixed her glasses and looked up at him, her brow furrowed in mild irritation. "You should really watch where you're walking. This town's crowded enough as it is."

Zoro blinked again, still trying to process the situation. "Uh, yeah… sorry about that," he mumbled, still completely weirded out by how much she looked like his old friend.

As he continued to stare at her, the woman's expression softened, and she tilted her head slightly, as if something about him was familiar. "Do I know you from somewhere? You look… familiar."

Zoro's blood ran cold at her words. That was exactly the kind of thing Kuina would say. He didn't know how to respond, feeling more out of place than ever. "No, I don't think so," he managed, trying to keep his composure. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow staring into his past.

The woman's attention shifted to the sword at Zoro's waist, and her eyes immediately lit up with excitement. "That sword…" she breathed, stepping closer to examine it. "That's a Wado Ichimonji, isn't it? One of the twenty-one Great Grade swords!"

Zoro blinked, taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. She knew the name of his sword? "Yeah, it is," he replied cautiously.

Her hands reached toward it, not to touch, but to admire it from a closer distance. "I've only ever read about it in books! To see such a masterpiece in person… the craftsmanship is incredible. You must be an extraordinary swordsman to wield such a blade."

Zoro's brow furrowed. "Are you… a sword fanatic or something?"

The woman smiled brightly, her previous annoyance forgotten. "Absolutely! I'm on a mission to collect all the great swords of the world, especially from those who misuse them. It's a disgrace to see such fine weapons in the hands of criminals."

Zoro's eyes widened as she spoke. The way she gushed over the sword and her passion for collecting the world's greatest blades was eerily reminiscent of Kuina. He remembered how Kuina used to talk about swords with the same fire in her eyes, though no one but him and her father had ever seen that side of her. He couldn't help but smile, a bittersweet feeling creeping over him. At least this version of Kuina—this woman who looked so much like her—was living out a fantasy that Kuina had never been able to pursue.

The woman's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Oh! Where are my manners?" she said, bowing slightly. "I'm Tashigi, a marine officer stationed here in Logue Town."

Zoro froze for a moment. A marine? The revelation caught him off guard, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Zoro," he said curtly, not offering any more information than necessary.

Tashigi furrowed her brow, her gaze lingering on his face as though she was trying to place him. "Zoro, huh… I swear I've heard that name somewhere before…"

Zoro chuckled nervously, quickly trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. "If you're such an expert on swords, maybe you can help me. I'm looking for a place that sells quality blades. Know anywhere I can get a good one?"

Tashigi's eyes lit up once again, the excitement returning to her face. "Oh, absolutely! Logue Town has a few shops that carry some really high-quality swords. I'd be happy to show you one of the best ones in town."

Zoro nodded, regaining his composure. "Lead the way, then."

As they walked together through the crowded streets, Zoro couldn't shake the strange feeling in his chest. Tashigi was so much like Kuina in both appearance and passion for swords, yet she was a marine—one of his enemies. And to make matters worse, she seemed to be aware of him, or at least suspicious of his identity. But there was something almost comforting about being around her, like an echo of the past that still lingered in the present.

As they made their way toward the sword shop, Zoro couldn't help but wonder what kind of twist fate had in store for him. Running into someone who resembled Kuina so closely had rattled him more than he was willing to admit. But at the same time, he felt a strange sense of peace knowing that, in some way, a part of Kuina's legacy lived on through this woman.

For now, though, he had to focus on finding a new sword—and keep an eye on Tashigi. He couldn't let himself get too distracted by memories of the past, not when the Grand Line was just around the corner.

[A/N: Read 20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]