ONE PIECE: THE SUN FRUIT.

The sun hung low in the eastern sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds of Shimotsuki Village.

The air shimmered with the heat of the afternoon, and the scent of salt mingled with the fragrance of wildflowers.

Zoro stood with his feet planted firmly on the ground, the three swords at his waist glinting in the sunlight.

He watched Prime and Saga sparring nearby, their laughter and grunts blending into a lively symphony of youthful energy.

"Hah! You can't even touch me!" Prime taunted, his light brown skin glistening with sweat as he danced away from Saga's sword, a smirk plastered across his face.

"Just wait! I'm just warming up!" Saga shot back, his dark blue hair whipping around his face as he lunged forward, his long sword sweeping through the air with a whoosh.

Zoro's brow furrowed as he observed their movements. They were getting stronger—much stronger.

Each day, he watched as they pushed themselves, fueled by a competitive fire that had ignited in their hearts. And yet, as he stood there, his own doubts began to creep in like an unwelcome fog.

What was he accomplishing? The memory of his defeat at the hands of Sensei Koushirou gnawed at him. He could still feel the sting of that loss, the way the laughter had faded from his friends' voices in the moments that followed.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling the cool metal of his katana's hilt against his palm.

He had always believed in the path of the sword, that one day he would rise to become the greatest swordsman in the world. Yet, the more he trained, the more he felt like he was treading water.

"Zoro! You're not even watching!" Prime called out, his voice breaking through Zoro's thoughts. The younger boy's eyes sparkled with mischief, and he struck a pose, sword held high, as if he were the victor of a grand duel.

Zoro blinked, shaking himself from his reverie. "Yeah, yeah. I'm watching," he muttered, forcing a grin. But inside, the storm of uncertainty continued to rage.

"Let's go again!" Saga urged, lunging at Prime with renewed vigor. The clash of metal echoed in the clearing as their blades met, a sharp *clang* that resonated in the air.

"Not bad, but you'll have to do better than that!" Prime replied, sidestepping with a fluidity that Zoro couldn't help but admire. They were improving, and the gap between them was closing faster than he had anticipated.

Zoro stepped forward, a frown creasing his brow. "You guys are getting good. Too good."

"If you're worried we'll beat you, just admit it!" Prime teased, his laughter ringing out like a bell.

"I'm not worried," Zoro snapped, but the words felt hollow even to him. "I'm just… focused."

"Focused on what?" Saga asked, panting slightly as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Getting your butt kicked by Sensei again?"

Zoro clenched his fists, the frustration boiling just beneath the surface. He didn't want to admit his fears, not to them. He couldn't show weakness. "I'm focused on training. On getting stronger."

"Then let's train harder!" Prime shouted, brandishing his sword with a grin. "We've got a lot to learn!"

Zoro's heart sank. He wanted to believe that training harder would be enough, but the words of Sensei Koushirou echoed in his mind. "Strength isn't just about power, Zoro. It's about understanding the blade and your own limits."

Maybe he needed to change his approach.

"Alright," Zoro said finally, the determination creeping back into his voice. "Let's see what you've got."

The next few hours passed in a flurry of movement, swords clashing against each other in a furious dance of steel. The sun dipped lower in the sky, and the shadows stretched like fingers across the ground.

Zoro felt the strain in his muscles, but he pushed through, ignoring the burn that settled in his arms and legs.

As the sun slipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple, they finally collapsed onto the grass, chests heaving.

"Man, that was intense!" Prime exclaimed, his laughter bubbling up again.

"Yeah, but I still have a hard time touching you!" Saga groaned, flopping back onto the ground. "What's your secret, Prime your awareness has been crazy, what brought it to this level?"

"Meditation" Prime said, a smug grin spreading across his face. "When I was meditating both you and Zoro thought I was Just kidding! I meditate then practice a lot. Gotta keep up with Zoro, after all."

Zoro chuckled, but inside he felt the weight of their words. They were right. He had to keep improving, or he'd be left behind.

"Hey, Zoro? You okay?" Saga asked, glancing over with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Zoro replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about what we should do next. I'm getting serious about sailing too."

"Right! We can't be stuck here forever," Prime added, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I want to see the world!"

"But we can't just sail without knowing anything," Zoro said, glancing toward the horizon where the sea met the sky. "We need to learn navigation, how to read a compass, and all that stuff."

"Let's start tomorrow!" Saga suggested, sitting up. "We can train in the morning and then practice sailing in the afternoon."

"Sounds like a plan," Zoro agreed, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within him. Maybe this was the change he needed—balancing training with sailing, exploring new horizons while honing their skills.

As they packed up their swords and headed back toward the village, Zoro felt the warmth of camaraderie surrounding him.

"Hey, Zoro!" Prime called, a grin splitting his face. "Want to race back?"

"Last one there has to clean the training ground!" Saga added, already taking off toward the village.

"Hey! No fair!" Zoro shouted, his competitive spirit igniting as he sprinted after them. The laughter of his friends echoed behind him, a melody of youth and joy that momentarily drowned out his doubts.

The path back to the village was familiar, the dirt and stones beneath their feet a testament to the countless times they had run this course.

Zoro felt the wind whip through his hair, the exhilaration of the race pushing him forward, but the moment of bliss was fleeting.

As they crossed the threshold of the village, Zoro slowed, his heart pounding not just from the sprint but from the weight of his thoughts. How long could he keep this up?

How long before Prime or Saga surpassed him entirely and then stop growing because there's no more challenge like how he felt now?

"Catch you later!" Prime called, waving as he dashed off toward his home, while Saga has been in front as the fastest everyone else gotta follow suit, their laughter ringing in the evening air.

Zoro stood there, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the village. He took a deep breath, the salty breeze filling his lungs.

The world felt vast and full of possibilities, yet his heart ached with the pressure of expectation.

He had to find a way to push past his limits. He had to become stronger—not just for himself, but for his friends.

With renewed resolve, Zoro turned, making his way home, the sounds of the village fading into the background. He would train harder than ever.

He would master the techniques that Sensei Koushirou had taught him. No more doubts; it was time to prove himself.

As he reached the door to his home, he paused, glancing back at the horizon where the sea met the sky. The vastness of the ocean called to him, promising adventure and growth beyond the shores of Shimotsuki Village.

Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow, he would take the first steps toward becoming the greatest swordsman in the world.

And maybe—just maybe—he would find the strength to share his burdens with his friends.

The stars twinkled above, and the moonlight cast a silvery glow over the village, illuminating the path ahead.

Zoro took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his resolve settle in his chest. The journey was just beginning, and he was ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead.

The next morning, they all meet up in there usually training spot. They went all in on training till they whole muscle burns but kept pushing to get past there limit.

After training, they took their time to rest. which was in the afternoon. Close to 2:00 they went to see there Sensei about them learning how to sail,

"Sensei we have been thinking, how are we going to sail when the time comes to go to Sea" Zoro says to Koushirou Sensei.

So there teacher gave them a log and compass sail book for beginners "Here's have this" Koushirou said handing the book and compass to Saga "With this you can start learning the way to sail and not disappoint me in the future"

"THANK YOU SENSEI!" Zoro, Prime and Saga said together.

After leaving the dojo they went to the beach where fisher man kept there boat to start practicing there.

"Now with this let's learn sailing and practice everything as it comes" Zoro said.

Saga, Zoro and Prime started studying navigation so they won't get lost at Sea and Zoro might even get worst because he already gets lost on an island which he knows the layouts.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★

(A/N: Skipping one day per chapter been busy so don't always have time to write until the night. Please show me support to know I'm doing good and improving. Thanks for your time.)