BOOM!
Ivankov, embedded in the rock wall, pulled himself free with a grunt, brushing the dust off his flamboyant clothes.
He looked up at Kouta, who stood there completely unscathed, eyes wide in disbelief.
He didn't take a scratch?
Panting slightly and easing the pressure in his chest, he let out a breath and exclaimed, "Little Kouta, your ability is really something else!"
Incredible.
Though he still couldn't tell what kind of Devil Fruit power it was.
Truthfully, Kouta could barely stand. Taking that blow had pushed him to his physical limit.
That move was strong enough to send Bartholomew Kuma flying with a single strike.
And yet Ivankov, he was only slightly winded.
After all, Kouta was only twelve. His body hadn't matured yet.
But with time, with age, he would no doubt explode in strength.
After resting a bit and regaining some stamina, a glint returned to Kouta's eyes. He stared at Ivankov and called out:
"How about we call it a draw today, Little Ivan?"
Ivankov chuckled. "Sure. Whatever you say."
He had clearly noticed Kouta's condition, but chose not to say anything.
"What about the food?"
"Food, huh…" Kouta rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Ivankov watched him anxiously.
"Of course the food's for you guys!"
Kouta suddenly mimicked Ivankov's signature spin, dramatically twirling and raising his arms high.
"What the...?!"
"You're seriously giving it to us?!"
Ivankov played along, shouting in his theatrical voice.
"We've been tricked again!"
The two locked eyes—and burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha…"
"Hey, Little Ivan," Kouta suddenly said.
Ivankov stopped mid-laugh when he saw Kouta now sitting casually on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Is the Kamabakka Kingdom really… entirely made up of okama?"
As they walked toward the village, Ivankov replied with a smile, "Those sweethearts over there? They're all just regular people—people who longed for a place where okama could live freely."
"Oh!"
"So that's how it is," Kouta nodded knowingly. "I figured. If they were all okama, then how would the population ever grow?"
Ivankov beamed. "You should visit Kamabakka Kingdom one day, Little Kouta. I bet the cuties there would absolutely love you!"
"After all, you're so adorable, so pretty!"
"Kamabakka Kingdom, huh…"
Images of Sanji's horrific experiences there flashed through Kouta's mind. He shivered, panic creeping into his voice.
"Nope."
"No way."
"I'm still a kid. Not ready to go out to sea yet."
"Oh?" Ivankov pouted. "And here I was, planning to introduce you to the most gorgeous cutie in our entire kingdom!"
Now Kouta's imagination went wild—muscled men with scruffy beards, wearing frilly pink dresses, sprinting across beaches under a dazzling sun.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
"You okay, Little Kouta?"
"Why are you sweating so much?!"
"Cough, cough… I'm fine."
"I'm totally fine…"
Kouta hurriedly changed the subject.
"Let's get going!"
Seeing the others already waiting at the dock, he vanished with a teleportation flash.
"Wait for me!" Ivankov called, running after him.
"Is Kamabakka Kingdom really that scary?"
Shimotsuki Village
Isshin Dojo
Kouta lay sprawled across the dojo rooftop, gazing at the figures training below, and let out a sigh.
The fight looked good on the surface—but only he knew how wide the gap really was.
He had used everything he had. All that did was make Ivankov take him a little more seriously.
In the end, he collapsed from exhaustion. Ivankov? Barely winded.
For him, it was just a warm-up.
It wasn't that Kouta lacked skill—he was simply too young. His physical limits and lack of Haki were holding him back.
And there was nothing he could do about that. Some things just took time.
"Kouta, what are you daydreaming about up here?"
Koushiro sat down beside him.
"Nothing much," Kouta said. "Just frustrated that I still have a long wait before I can head out to sea."
"Sensei, I really want to see the world."
He sat up, eyes glowing with excitement.
To see this vast, boundless world with his own eyes.
To witness the living legends.
To explore the Grand Line's bizarre creatures and magical places.
Sky Islands. Bubble Island. Fishman Island…
Even just thinking about it made his whole body tremble with excitement.
He'd never been this impatient before.
But today—today he'd met someone who wasn't quite human.
And now, he burned with curiosity. With longing. With the urge to see more.
This wasn't the world of comics and panels.
This was a world you could touch, talk to, and fight alongside.
"Kouta," Koushiro said softly, adjusting his glasses and looking toward the mountain behind them. "It's not time for you to set sail yet. You're still young. You need to at least wait until you're an adult."
"I'm not trying to hold you back. But the world out there… it's not as beautiful as you imagine."
There was a brief pause. A shadow flickered in Koushiro's eyes.
"Even if you do go out to sea, you should at least wait for Kuina."
"That girl—she sees nothing but you right now."
"If you left, I don't know what she'd do."
Following his gaze, Kouta saw Zoro and Kuina training furiously on the mountainside.
Since they'd returned from the harbor, they had thrown themselves into their training harder than ever before.
"Don't worry, Sensei," Kouta said softly. "I know when the time is right. I know what kind of world this is—I read the newspaper every day."
He looked toward Kuina, his expression tender.
"As for her… I just know one thing. I'll never leave her behind."
"…Mm."
"I'm glad you understand."
Koushiro looked back at him and unhooked the black-sheathed sword at his waist.
"I was originally planning to give this to you when you finally set sail…"
"But after seeing your growth in today's battle, I realized your skills have outpaced ordinary training blades."
He lifted the sword and held it out.
"Take it."
"It takes time to bond with a sword. This one's been forged to match your usual grip and technique—scaled up to grow with you. It should still fit perfectly even when you're grown."
"Thank you, Sensei."
Kouta took the blade with both hands, excitement lighting up his face. He drew it with a crisp shing!
Raising it before his eyes, he studied it carefully.
The spine was thicker than usual, the blade shaped in a distinctive chaotic Ō-Kissaki reverse pattern, its silvery-gray surface etched with subtle violet serrated markings.
Running his palm gently across the edge, he could feel its razor sharpness.
"A fine blade."
Koushiro nodded, watching his reaction.
"This was modeled after the legendary Wano blade—Shusui."
"It's incredibly tough. Because of its density, it's heavier than other swords of similar size."
He paused, then added, "If you use Haki to temper it every day, one day this sword might become a Black Blade."
"Black Blade?"
Kouta blinked in feigned surprise—of course he already knew.
"The defining trait of a Black Blade is its durability," Koushiro explained. "A swordsman can imbue their blade with their Haki, tempering it until it becomes a permanent black weapon."
"Shusui is one such blade."
"Don't worry, Sensei," Kouta said, eyes gleaming as he admired the weapon. "I'll make sure the world knows this sword's name."
"Mm."
Koushiro smiled.
"It doesn't have a name yet. You should choose one."
Kouta raised the sword above his head. In the sunlight, it shimmered with a bluish glow.
"I'll call it... Zankū."
"Zankū?" Koushiro repeated.
"The 'Kū' that means space, as in slicing through space!"
Kouta shouted, filled with excitement.
"One day, I want to be able to cut through space itself!"
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!