So, the training the Straw Hats received was very specialized — tailored to meet each of their individual needs, specifically what they needed most to survive right now.
"Seems like you're struggling, shitty cook," Zoro muttered, lying on the floor, his body covered in wounds.
"It's not like you're doing any better, moss head," Sanji shot back, also on the ground, his body equally beaten — though his wounds looked more like bruises and burns rather than slashes. Lots of kicks, apparently.
Standing above Sanji and Zoro were two of Kairo's clones — one carrying Kairo's sword and axe, the other standing in a stance that looked like a mix of Fishman Karate and the Mink fighting style, lightning sparking around his body. It was almost as if he had entered his own version of the Mink's Sulong form.
"Three minutes," both clones said in unison. That's how long the two had lasted.
"Get up... fight," they ordered again, voices in sync.
Sanji and Zoro slowly got up, their bodies trembling from exhaustion.
"Tch... this is troublesome," Sanji said weakly.
"I'll defeat mine before you defeat yours, shitty cook," Zoro replied, cracking his neck.
Sanji glared. "Then I'll defeat mine even sooner!"
Their rivalry and bickering seemed to fuel them, pushing them forward in a way no motivational speech ever could.
"Haki blooms most when you're near death or in extreme situations," both clones said at once.
"So don't expect us to go easy on you two..."
"We don't need your damn pity," Zoro groaned, his ribs poking painfully into his lungs.
"Don't you dare make excuses when we beat you," Sanji added.
The speed clone didn't reply. It simply vanished.
Zoro took his stance, placing a sword in his mouth.
"Three-Sword Style..."
"Diable Jamble," Sanji muttered, spinning rapidly, his legs igniting in flames. He'd speed-blitz that clone if he had to.
And just like that, the clash resumed — faster and fiercer than before.
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
Ussop was hiding from Kairo. And to be clear — he was scared shitless. Sure, he knew it was only a clone, but still — fighting a ninja... in a dark forest... covered in blue fire?
Yeah, that's nightmare fuel.
Ussop wiped the sweat off his brow, letting droplets fall into the Reject Dial. Taking out a pellet, he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, letting it drip onto the small sphere.
"I can't see him," he whispered, scanning the area. Kairo was forcing him to rely on something other than sight — to unlock his Observation Haki.
"I'm not scared of you... show yourself!" Ussop shouted, his legs trembling violently.
"Are you now?"
Ussop froze. He felt cold steel press lightly against his throat. Kairo's presence was everywhere. It was like being the only herbivore left on a predator island.
Then suddenly — puff.
The Ussop Kairo was holding turned into a log.
Four hundred meters away, the real Ussop crouched behind a burning tree, slingshot already loaded and aimed.
"...Got you," he muttered, firing.
KA-BOOM!
Kairo hadn't realized it yet, but that clone Ussop had left behind — it still carried traces of his sweat and blood. Technically, still Ussop. Technically, still usable for his Bomb-Bomb Fruit explosions.
After launching two more explosive pellets, Ussop sprinted through the cold-flame forest, brushing against trees and rocks, leaving behind traces of his DNA.
Focusing his haki on his feet, he sprinted full speed while leaving a makeshift decoy clone to fire shots and distract Kairo.
Even though he couldn't see him, Ussop could feel Kairo. Not through Observation Haki... but through sheer survival instinct.
When Kairo hid his killing intent, the world still reacted to his presence — the subtle air shifts, the way the atmosphere tightened.
Ussop wasn't sensing his aura... he was reacting to the existence of danger itself.
Pure, instinctual dread.
In other words, while Zoro and Sanji trained through fighting, Ussop was unlocking something far rarer — a form of awareness born from fear.
Kairo hid his will perfectly, but Ussop still "felt" him.
Not through training... but through sheer panic-fueled intuition.
A unique gift born of cowardice — ironic, but effective.
Kairo, several meters away, smirked faintly.
Good. This hunt was turning out to be fun.
He tapped his wooden blade against his shoulder.
"Maybe it's time I use a real weapon," he teased.
"FUCK NO!" Ussop yelled instantly, voice cracking like glass.
Kairo paused, amused.
"Don't worry, Ussop... I'll be gentle."
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
Somewhere else again...
Nami stood amid a clearing of blackened trees, sweat dripping from her forehead as storm clouds gathered above.
"Now... hit that tree with lightning," Kairo ordered.
Nami pointed her Clima-Tact at a tree and fired — lightning struck with a sharp crack.
The tree disintegrated instantly.
"...Failure. Again."
Nami groaned, gasping for air. Around her were at least forty trees already reduced to ash.
"Please... I need a break," she panted.
"You'll get a break when you succeed," Kairo replied flatly.
Nami frowned.
Okay, maybe a different tactic.
"Come on... I'm sure a big, strong guy like you wouldn't want to hurt a poor, defenseless woman," she said sweetly, tugging her sleeve down just slightly. "How about a little break, hmm, big boy?"
Kairo stared blankly.
"...Forty more trees."
Nami deflated.
Of course, it didn't work. His eyes weren't even looking at her chest — they were locked on her technique.
This man had no weaknesses.
Couldn't be bribed. Couldn't be scammed.
Didn't even get flustered by boobs.
Truly, a monster.
"Ugh, fine..." she grumbled, raising her Clima-Tact again.
And so, she continued training — focusing on precision instead of power. She'd need both control and stamina to use her weather fruit to save the Merry when the time came.
A/N Original draft was 1290 words, ai rewrite is 920 words...so some stuff got cut. Reread it and compare them...they cut some words from Ussop inner monologue.
Also the fact that the red line became some sort of safe space for pirates for some reason 6 years ago, got cut out to.
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