One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

"You're saying things like that—"

Upon hearing Kuina's words, Zoro gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between them, as low as that of an enraged young beast.

"What does it mean to say this after I've lost to you more than two thousand times!"

If you can't become the world's greatest swordsman, then what am I!

If I can't even beat you, am I even less qualified?!

Guina was stunned.

Zoro suddenly stood up, gripping the wooden sword tightly with both hands, the tip pointing at Kuina. His fingers were still trembling uncontrollably from exhaustion, but he didn't loosen his grip on the hilt, not even once.

"Listen up! I won't allow you to say that! I don't care if you're a girl or not!"

All I know is that you're the guy who can beat me over two thousand times!

His voice boomed through the quiet backyard, startling the roosting birds in the bamboo grove into flight.

"If you can't become the world's number one, then I'm even less qualified!"

Therefore, I will definitely become the world's greatest swordsman in the future—

It's not because you've become weaker, it's because I'm stronger than you! Do you understand?

But Guina simply shook her head; in the moonlight, her lips trembled slightly.

This girl, who could calmly deflect any sword move, didn't even dare to look Zoro in the eye at this moment.

"You don't understand," she said.

"I don't understand!"

Zoro roared back,

"All I know is, if what you're saying is true, then why do you still practice swordsmanship?"

You fight with me every day, isn't it all for—"

"Kendo is not about gender. It's about the swordsman's will."

A voice came from the eaves.

Zoro and Kuina looked up at the same time and saw Roy sitting on the roof.

Roy casually placed the empty wine jug on the roof tile, jumped down from the eaves, and his boots made almost no sound as they stepped on the stone slabs.

He walked up to Guina, squatted down, and brought himself to the girl's eye level.

The moonlight illuminated the dark-haired man's eyes clearly—

There was no pity, no comfort, no perfunctory tenderness that adults show to children.

There was only the usual calm, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

"Who told you that girls can't become the world's greatest swordsman?" Roy asked.

Kuina opened her mouth, her voice so soft it seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

"My father said... girls become weaker as they grow up, and he was right."

"fact?"

Roy raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Then let me ask you—do you know Big Mom from the New World?"

Guina paused for a moment, then shook her head.

Charlotte Linlin. Queen of Tavern, one of the Five Sea Emperors.

Roy held up one finger, speaking slowly, but each word struck Guina's heart like a nail.

"She single-handedly established the Wan Guo Kingdom, commanding tens of thousands of elite troops, and even naval admirals dared not easily set foot on her territory."

Do you think she's a man or a woman?

Kuina's eyes widened slightly.

"Do you think she's stronger than you right now, or stronger than you?"

"Is there even a need to compare...?"

"And then there's the Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock."

Roy extended his second finger.

"Not much older than you. A user of the Love-Love Fruit, a user of all three types of Haki, and on the day she ascended to the throne as Empress, she petrified three rebellious elders with a single hand."

Even a rear admiral would avoid her.

Do you think her abilities are related to her gender?

Guina was speechless.

Her eyes were much brighter than before, and the moisture in her eyes was still there, but it was no longer overflowing.

Roy smiled at her expression, his tone softening slightly:

"Then let's talk about the Navy. As far as I know, there is a female swordswoman in the Navy whose strength is such that there are almost no people in the world who can rival her."

"So you think girls can't be strong?"

Kuina remained silent, but the wooden sword in her hand trembled slightly.

It wasn't because of fear, but because of something that welled up from the bottom of my heart that I couldn't suppress.

That is hope.

It is hope that has been suppressed for too many years and has suddenly been torn open.

"Your father, Shimotsuki Koshiro."

Roy stood up, his voice a little softer than before, but his tone more resolute.

"He repeatedly told you that girls can't become great sword masters, not to deny your talent, nor to belittle your efforts."

Quite the opposite—it's precisely because he knows how talented you are that he's afraid.

Guina was stunned.

Roy lowered his head, looked into her eyes, and said, word by word,

"He was afraid that you would take this talent and venture into the ocean, afraid that you would get hurt or die on the sea, and afraid that his only daughter would embark on a path that he could no longer protect."

That's why he wanted to use this method to make you give up.

It's not that you're not qualified because you're a daughter; it's precisely because you're a daughter that he's even more reluctant to part with you.

Kuina stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning.

She had never considered this possibility.

All she knew was that her father repeatedly told her that girls could not become the world's greatest swordsman.

All I know is that whenever I mention my dreams, my father always changes the subject with a gentle yet unyielding attitude.

She thought her father truly didn't believe her and genuinely looked down on her.

It turned out not to be.

It turns out that the opposite is true—it's because you care too much.

"Then... what should I do?"

Kuina's voice trembled.

"I don't want to give up. But my father's words, he spoke so earnestly..."

I'm afraid... I'm afraid he's really right... I'm afraid that no matter how much I practice, I'll still end up—"

"Then practice until he approves."

Roy interrupted her, his tone calm but unquestionable.

"Dreams have no gender distinction."

If you want to be number one in the world, then go for it.

You must earn your father's approval through your own abilities, not through the sympathy of others.

Kuina stared blankly at Roy, remaining silent for a long time.

Then she lowered her head, wiped her eyes hard, and gripped the wooden knife tightly again.

The moonlight shone on her hands, on the wooden sword with countless old marks from chopping, and on the entire process of her gradually closing her knuckles, from trembling to steady.

"Understood."

"Guina said. Only two words, but the tremor in her voice disappeared."

Roy looked at her, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He turned and walked towards the dojo, then stopped after a few steps, adding without turning back:

"Oh, right—have Zoro come to my place tomorrow afternoon. I'll give this guy some pointers."

Zoro, who had been engrossed in the conversation, snapped back to reality upon hearing this and shouted at Roy's retreating figure.

"etc!"

"You said so much just now, how did this matter come back to me again!"

And when did I ever ask you for guidance...?

Roy waved his hand without turning his head.

"You lost, is this our bet?"

"Do as I please!"

The few teenagers who hadn't left yet, who were watching the commotion from the corner, couldn't hold back their laughter and started doubled over with mirth.

Zoro's face turned as red as a steamed lobster, but he remained defiant.

"Hmph! I know!"

"I'll be there on time tomorrow!"