One Piece: The Sword

Isshin Dojo • June, 1513

Cain woke up early. After washing up, he decided to go for a run. He thought, since I started learning swordsmanship later than most, I will have to put more effort to catch up and surpass them.

He set off from the dojo, jogging through the village streets to familiarize himself with the layout. Since it was early, only a few people were out, mostly those starting their work, like the fishermen.

Fishermen? I remember Saburo-san mentioning that it was the fishermen who found me on the shore. Are these the ones? With that thought, Cain altered his route and approached them. The men paused, noticing the young man running toward them.

One of them recognized him. "Aren't you the boy we found and brought to Dr. Saburo?" he asked as Cain drew close.

Cain nodded, expressing his gratitude for their help.

One of the fishermen said, "You should thank Kisaki here. He was the one who spotted you." pointing towards his friend.

Cain turned to the middle-aged man named Kisaki and gave him a deep bow. "Thank you for saving me. I promise I'll repay this kindness one day."

Kisaki laughed, clapping him on the back. "You're fully recovered now, huh? Don't worry about repaying me. Anyone would do the same. So, what's next for you? Heading back to your home island? Or maybe you'd like to learn how to fish?"

Cain's expression turned sad, but then he answered with resolve. "I lost everyone on Jotor Island after the pirate attack, so I have nowhere to return. But I've decided to stay here and train at Isshin Dojo. I want to be strong, so that this never happens again."

Kisaki gave a nod of understanding. "Good choice. You've got a goal, then. We should get going. Good luck, young man."

Cain also didn't linger and continued on his way. By the time he returned to the dojo, he was completely exhausted, drenched in sweat.

By now, many of the dojo's students had gathered, preparing for the morning training exercises. The dojo buzzed with activity. Some of them noticed Cain, giving him strange glances, as he looked like he had been chased by a beast, but shrugged it off soon after.

A few moments later, as Cain was lying on the ground, Koushirou came and was greeted by all the students. He called Cain towards his side. Cain got up and made his way to Koushirou, feeling a little confused.

When Cain reached his side, Koushirou turned to his other students and introduced Cain. "Everyone, this is Cain. He will be learning alongside you from today."

Cain, also following along, greeted his fellow students, "It's a pleasure to meet you all!"

The other students also enthusiastically greeted him after Koushirou announced his status as his student.

"Why didn't you introduce me to them yesterday?" asked Cain, seeing the change in the behavior of other students.

Koushirou answered, "Because you have officially become my disciple from today."

"What about yesterday?" Cain asked again, not understanding the meaning behind his words.

"Yesterday was just a test to see if you have enough determination and willingness to learn, as well as to test your talent in swordsmanship." Koushirou said with a calm face.

Cain gave Koushirou a blank look. No wonder he took me in so easily yesterday, it was all a test! He couldn't help but sigh and went toward others waiting for instructions.

"As we have a new student, I will say this once more. First, we build the foundation," Koushirou announced, his tone firm but steady. "Strength, endurance, and control are necessary before you even touch a blade."

Cain nodded, feeling a rush of excitement mixed with the first hints of nervousness. The day had just begun, and he already felt the weight of what was coming. Within minutes, the training routine was underway.

The novices started with push-ups, and Cain soon realized that the word "routine" didn't capture the intensity. It was relentless!

Every muscle in his body burned as he struggled to keep pace, his arms trembling as he pushed himself up, only to fall again seconds later.

He glanced over at some of the older students, catching sight of Zoro, who had dropped effortlessly into a set of rapid push-ups and made it look easy.

Cain gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the ache in his muscles as he pushed himself harder, but couldn't complete the pushups in the end.

Next came squats. Cain fought to keep his legs steady, his thighs screamed with fatigue, and he felt as if his body might collapse at any moment, struggling to complete even half the amount.

As they finished the last round of squats, Koushirou nodded, signaling them to move on to endurance runs around the dojo.

Cain's heart sank as he staggered to his feet, I just ran over five kilometers in the morning! he thought but still joined the line of students, pushing himself to keep moving. His lungs burned, and legs felt like lead.

One by one, some of the novices began to slow, dropping out of line to catch their breath. Cain's body begged him to stop, every step is like achieving a milestone.

By the time Koushirou finally called them to a halt, Cain's entire body was trembling. He stumbled to the side, gulping down air, feeling his heart pound in his chest.

Yet, despite the exhaustion, there was also frustration within him. He couldn't complete any of the exercises fully in his first training session.

Koushirou called for the novices to form a line again, this time to begin their lesson in technique. Cain took his place with the other students, shoulders back, willing his tired body to keep up.

Koushirou announced, his voice calm yet resonant. He held up a shinai. "Proper grip, stance, and control are everything. Without these, you won't have power, and you won't have accuracy. Watch carefully."

Cain observed intently as Koushirou shifted into a stance that seemed almost too simple at first glance.

Cain held his shinai, feeling its weight in his hands as he tried to match Koushirou's stance.

Koushirou walked down the line, adjusting postures with minimal movements. When he reached Cain, he paused, then stepped closer. "Keep your weight centered, like this," he said, guiding Cain's grip and shifting his feet into position. The difference was instant; Cain felt more grounded, more stable.

In the afternoon, the lesson shifted to basic grip adjustments, and Cain was partnered with another novice named Taro, who looked a couple of years older than him.

Taro grinned as they exchanged a brief nod, his enthusiasm infectious.

"Don't worry," Taro whispered, "We'll get the hang of it. Master is tough, but he knows what he's doing."

Cain nodded, grateful for the encouragement. Together, they practiced gripping their shinai correctly, following Koushirou's demonstrations.

Taro pointed out small things he'd noticed, like keeping the wrists relaxed, while Cain focused on absorbing as much as he could from their practice.

Through Taro, Cain got his first glimpse into the camaraderie that existed among the dojo's students.

Their interaction was interrupted by a low hum of whispers nearby. Two other novices were discussing Zoro, their voices tinged with awe.

"He's been here for nearly a year now," one of them said. "Master says he trains harder than anyone."

"Yeah, I heard he never takes a day off," the other replied. "He's determined to be the strongest swordsman."

Cain listened intently, it reminded him of the episodes he'd watched, but here, it was all raw and real. Zoro wasn't simply a character in a story; he was a fierce, focused rival in front of him.

Cain clenched his hands around his shinai, feeling the fire of competition stir within him.

As the training wound down, Koushirou called the group together once more.

His gaze swept over them, "Strength comes from patience and discipline," Koushirou said, his voice steady. "If you lack these, you'll never succeed, no matter how hard you swing a sword. Each step we take here matters. Do not rush."

This wasn't just about learning moves; it was a path, one that demanded focus and resilience. For the first time, he began to grasp the depth of what lay ahead. He had to be ready to give his all—not just in strength but in spirit and will.

By the end of the session, Cain's body felt like lead.

That night, as Cain lay on his bed, every part of his body throbbed with fatigue, but his mind was alive, replaying the day's events. He could still feel the solid grip of the shinai, the ache in his muscles from holding his stance.

Despite the challenge, he couldn't ignore the satisfaction he felt. He had been pushed to his limits, yet he hadn't backed down. With this, he drifted to sleep.