Morning came early in Shimotsuki Village.
Too early.
Ren's eyes snapped open the moment he heard the sharp, rhythmic sound of wood striking wood.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
His body ached.
Every muscle screamed in protest as he tried to sit up. His arms felt like they had been torn apart and stitched back together incorrectly. His legs trembled even before he stood.
"…so this is what training feels like in this world," he muttered.
Yesterday had only been basic stance.
Basic.
And yet, it nearly broke him.
He let out a slow breath and forced himself up.
No shortcuts.
No system.
If I fall behind now… I'll never catch up.
Back to the Dojo
The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of the sea. Ren walked slowly, each step heavy, but steady.
When he reached the dojo, training had already begun.
Children sparred in pairs.
Sweat flew.
Voices shouted.
Determination filled the air.
And at the center—
Kuina.
She moved like a blade itself.
Precise.
Unyielding.
Unstoppable.
Her opponent lunged forward, aiming for her shoulder.
She sidestepped.
One strike.
Clean.
Decisive.
Her wooden sword stopped just inches from the boy's neck.
"…again," she said calmly.
No arrogance.
No pride.
Just expectation.
Ren watched silently.
She's already this strong at this age…
No wonder Zoro could never beat her.
A shadow flickered in his eyes.
And yet… she still dies.
His hands tightened unconsciously.
Not this time.
Training Begins
"Oi. You're late."
Kuina's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Ren blinked.
"…I came as fast as I could."
She glanced at his trembling legs.
"…pathetic."
Blunt.
But not entirely wrong.
She tossed him a wooden sword again.
"Stance."
Ren took it.
This time—he was ready.
Or at least… more ready than yesterday.
He planted his feet.
Adjusted his grip.
Straightened his back.
His arms still shook.
But less.
Kuina walked around him slowly, like a predator circling prey.
"Too stiff."
She tapped his arm with her wooden sword.
"Relax here."
Then his leg.
"Too loose."
Then his shoulder.
"Wrong angle."
Each correction was sharp, precise.
Ren gritted his teeth and adjusted.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Sweat soaked his clothes.
His arms burned.
His vision blurred slightly.
But he didn't stop.
The First Fall
"Swing."
Kuina's command came suddenly.
Ren reacted instantly.
He raised his sword and swung forward.
It was clumsy.
Slow.
Predictable.
Kuina didn't even bother dodging properly.
Clack.
She knocked his sword aside effortlessly.
Before he could react—
Thud.
Her wooden blade tapped his chest.
A clean hit.
Ren stumbled back.
"…again," she said.
He lunged.
Missed.
Countered.
Hit.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each time—he fell faster.
Each time—he failed harder.
His breathing became ragged.
His arms felt like lead.
Finally—
Thud.
He collapsed onto the ground.
"…hah… hah…"
The ceiling spun above him.
Silence filled his ears.
Then—
Footsteps.
Kuina stood over him.
"…you're weak."
No malice.
Just fact.
Ren let out a weak laugh.
"…yeah… I know…"
He turned his head slightly, looking at her.
"But I won't stay that way."
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Something changed.
Kuina frowned slightly.
"…everyone says that."
Ren smiled faintly.
"I'm not everyone."
A Different Kind of Presence
There it was again.
That feeling.
The moment their eyes locked—
Kuina felt it.
A chill.
Subtle.
But real.
Like standing near something… unnatural.
Her grip on the wooden sword tightened slightly.
"…you're weird," she said.
Ren blinked.
"…what?"
She turned away.
"Nothing."
But in her mind—
That feeling…
What was that?
Endurance
Ren didn't stop.
Even after falling.
Even after failing.
He got up.
Again.
And again.
Each swing improved—slightly.
Each step steadier—barely.
But progress was there.
Small.
Painfully small.
Yet undeniable.
By midday, his arms could barely lift the sword.
By afternoon, his legs shook constantly.
By evening—
He collapsed again.
This time, he didn't get up immediately.
"…I can't… move…"
Kuina looked at him.
"…then don't."
Ren blinked.
"…what?"
"Rest."
He stared at her.
"…you're telling me to rest?"
"Hm."
"…I thought you'd say I'm pathetic again."
Kuina shrugged.
"You already know that."
Ren laughed weakly.
"…fair enough…"
The Quiet Moment
The dojo emptied slowly as the sun began to set.
Golden light filtered through the wooden walls.
Only two remained.
Ren.
And Kuina.
She sat nearby, wiping her sword.
Silence hung between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… quiet.
After a while, Ren spoke.
"…why do you train so hard?"
Kuina didn't answer immediately.
"…to become the strongest."
Simple.
Direct.
Ren nodded slowly.
"…even though…"
He hesitated.
She glanced at him.
"…even though what?"
He looked at the ceiling.
"…even though people say girls can't become the strongest?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Kuina's hand tightened slightly around the cloth.
"…you heard that?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"…it's a small village."
She looked away.
"…they're not wrong."
Ren frowned.
"…you believe that?"
Kuina didn't respond.
But her silence… said enough.
A Promise Unspoken
Ren sat up slowly, ignoring the pain.
"…then prove them wrong."
Kuina's eyes flicked toward him.
"…what?"
"Prove them wrong," he repeated.
His voice was calm.
But firm.
"You're already stronger than everyone here."
She stared at him.
"…that's not enough."
"It is for now."
Ren met her gaze.
"And later… you'll be stronger than people outside this village too."
Kuina's expression wavered—just for a second.
"…you talk like you've seen the future."
Ren smiled.
"…maybe I have."
She snorted lightly.
"…idiot."
But—
For the first time—
A faint, almost invisible smile appeared on her lips.
The Shadow Stirs
That night, Ren sat alone outside his house.
The sky was filled with stars.
The sea whispered in the distance.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
Again—that presence.
That darkness.
But this time—
He didn't pull away.
"…what are you?" he murmured.
The darkness shifted.
Slow.
Heavy.
Like a cloak wrapping around his soul.
Cold.
But not hostile.
Not yet.
His breath slowed.
Then—
For a brief moment—
The world around him felt… distant.
Like he was standing between life and death.
Then—
It vanished.
Ren opened his eyes, breathing heavily.
"…I felt it…"
His hand trembled slightly.
"…just a little…"
A slow smile formed on his lips.
This power…
It's real.
But so was the danger.
He looked at his hand.
If I lose control…
His expression darkened slightly.
"…I might become something worse than a pirate."
A New Beginning
The next day would come.
And the next.
Training.
Pain.
Growth.
Slow.
Uncertain.
But steady.
Ren lay down, staring at the sky.
Twenty years before Luffy.
This is just the beginning.
His eyes slowly closed.
Kuina…
I'll change your fate.