RNP Chapter 411 Zorro lost his parents at a young age
Chapter 411 Zorro lost his parents at a young age
Zorro lost his parents at a young age and lived a lonely and destitute life in Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue. Fortunately, he met a kind man named Shimotsuki Koushirou, who opened a dojo in the village to teach swordsmanship. Zorro came there and began his swordsmanship journey.
Zorro displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, especially his unparalleled comprehension and passion for swordsmanship. He trained tirelessly day and night, constantly honing his skills, striving to achieve something great in the art of swordsmanship.
Time flies, and when Zorro was nine years old, his two-sword style had made great progress. His swordsmanship was like a whirlwind, difficult to defend against, and he could even easily defeat the experienced adults in the dojo. However, there was one person in this dojo who remained an insurmountable peak for Zorro: Kuina, who was two years older than him.
Kuina is the daughter of Koushirou, the dojo master. Her swordsmanship is exceptionally high, and even the best students in the dojo struggle to match her. Although Zorro has won numerous matches against others, he always loses when facing Kuina. This leaves Zorro incredibly frustrated; he doesn't understand why, despite his hard work, he can never defeat Kuina.
However, Zorro was not discouraged. On the contrary, he regarded failure as motivation and practiced swordsmanship even more diligently. He would arrive at the dojo early every day and practice until late at night, his clothes soaked with sweat, but he never slacked off in the slightest.
Through countless days and nights of arduous practice, Zorro's swordsmanship gradually became more refined. His movements became increasingly fluid, and his swordsmanship more and more ferocious, each swing of the sword seemingly carrying boundless power.
One day, while Zorro was practicing swordsmanship alone at the dojo, he happened to encounter a mysterious old man—Shimotsuki Kozaburo. Kozaburo stood quietly to the side, watching Zorro practice, a smile on his face.
"Child, do you know what a knife is?" Kousaburo suddenly asked.
Zorro stopped what he was doing and shook his head. Although he had been studying swordsmanship, he still knew very little about the essence of a sword.
Kozaburo patiently explained, “A sword is not just a weapon; it is a symbol of spirit. A sword represents courage, perseverance, and determination. A good sword needs to be forged through countless trials to become an indestructible weapon. Similarly, a true swordsman needs to experience countless setbacks and hardships to comprehend the true essence of swordsmanship.”
Zorro nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding the deeper meaning behind Kousaburo's words.
“Child, your swordsmanship has reached a certain level, but it is far from enough. If you want to become a true great swordsman, you still need to put in much more effort,” Kousaburo continued.
Zorro's eyes hardened. He knew he still had a long way to go, but he was fearless. He believed that as long as he persevered, he would one day defeat Kuina and become the world's greatest swordsman. "It represents courage, determination, and perseverance. Only when you truly understand the meaning of the sword can you become a true swordsman." Zorro nodded, seemingly understanding, though he didn't fully grasp the meaning of Kousaburo's words. He could sense the profound truth within them.
Before leaving, Kousaburo gave Zorro two swords. Although the swords looked ordinary, Zorro could sense their extraordinary nature. He held the two swords tightly, as if he could feel Kousaburo's expectations and blessings for him.
After that, Zorro continued his battles with Kuina. They fought time and time again, with Zorro giving it his all each time, but the result was always the same—he never defeated Kuina. However, Zorro was not discouraged; he firmly believed that as long as he kept trying, he would one day be able to defeat her.
On a moonlit night, Zorro and Kuina had their final duel. This time, Zorro gave it his all, but ultimately lost to Kuina. After the match, Kuina suddenly said to Zorro, "Zorro, I've always been very resentful. I'm a girl, and as I grew up, my physique wasn't as strong as a boy's, so no matter how hard I tried, I might never become the world's greatest swordsman." Zorro felt a pang of sorrow; he understood Kuina's pain and helplessness.
Kuina continued, "But Zorro, you're different. You have unparalleled talent and perseverance. As long as you don't give up, one day you will definitely become the world's greatest swordsman." Zorro looked at Kuina, a determined glint in his eyes, and said, "Kuina, I'm not resigned to this either. I don't want to defeat you because of physical differences; I want to defeat you with true skill. So, we make a promise: we will both become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Kuina smiled and nodded, knowing that Zorro would keep his promise. From then on, Zorro practiced swordsmanship even more diligently, with only one goal in his heart—to become the world's greatest swordsman.
The death of his dearest friend and the weight of her legacy are tragically linked to her tragic fall down the stairs the following day. Zorro, carrying on his father Koushirou's legacy, requests Kuina's sword, Wado Ichimonji, as a tribute to her, vowing to become the world's greatest swordsman and make his name resound throughout the world. After receiving the Wado Ichimonji, he dedicates himself to training, for the sake of Kuina's legacy, and begins mastering the three-sword style that will later become famous.
The death of his best friend was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Zorro. However, he was not defeated by grief, but instead, carrying his friend's last wish, he resolutely embarked on the path of becoming a bounty hunter.
Zorro's purpose in setting sail was clear: to find the world's greatest swordsman, "Hawkeye" Dracule Mihawk. However, due to his severe sense of direction, he lost his way and couldn't find his way back to his village. Driven by hunger, Zorro was forced to begin hunting down wanted criminals to make a living.
During his time in the East Blue, Zoro gradually rose to fame thanks to his superb swordsmanship and fearless courage. His name began to be sung throughout the seas, and people's evaluation of him grew higher and higher, calling him the "Pirate Hunter." This title not only represented his strength but also reflected his status in people's hearts.
During this time, Zorro's reputation attracted the attention of Baroque Works. The former Mr. 7 invited Zorro to join their organization, but Zorro made a condition: he would only agree to join if he replaced the president, Mr. 0 Crocodile. This demand obviously aroused the hostility of Baroque Works; however, Zorro did not back down. He resolutely killed Mr. 7, demonstrating his determination and strength.
Just as Zorro continued his life as a bounty hunter, a chance encounter changed his destiny. He met fellow bounty hunters Yosaku and Johnny, who were captivated by Zorro's strength and unique charisma, and without hesitation recognized him as their elder brother. Although Zorro himself only considered them ordinary friends, this friendship proved to be of unimaginable importance in their subsequent adventures.
After becoming a pirate, Zoro was unfortunately framed and sentenced to death. Just before his execution, he arrived in Shells Town. There, he happened to save Rika, a girl being bullied by Hillambo, the son of Marine Captain Morgan, and decisively killed the wolf Hillambo was raising.
However, Zorro's actions brought him even greater trouble. He was quickly arrested by the Navy and tied to the execution ground at the naval base, where he suffered from hunger and thirst. Hilmabo, who had promised to release him if he lived for a month, was actually just toying with him and had no intention of truly letting him go; instead, he planned to publicly execute him.
And so, Zoro endured nine arduous days at the execution ground. On the ninth day, the gears of fate began to turn, and Monkey D. Luffy and Koby arrived in Shells Town. After learning the truth behind Zoro's arrest, Luffy resolutely decided to help him and invited him to become his crewmate.
When Luffy and his crew arrived at the execution ground, Zoro initially refused Luffy's suggestion. He insisted that he did not want to become a pirate, seemingly harboring some kind of resistance to the identity.
After that, Luffy demonstrated his courage and determination, helping Zoro retrieve his three swords without hesitation. These swords were more than just weapons to Zoro; they represented his connection to the past and his unwavering pursuit of swordsmanship. When Zoro learned from Kobi that Hilumaba intended to execute him, he wasn't overwhelmed by fear; instead, his resolve strengthened.
To fulfill his promise to Kuina, Zoro decides to become Luffy's crewmate. This decision wasn't impulsive, but rather a well-considered one. He sees in Luffy Luffy his courage, kindness, and unwavering dedication to his dreams—qualities that resonate with his own. Thus, Zoro resolutely joins Luffy's adventure.
After Luffy untied Zoro, the two faced the powerful enemy Morgan together. Their excellent teamwork and perfect coordination ultimately led to their victory over Morgan. This battle not only showcased their strength but also further deepened the trust and friendship between them.
The surrounding navy and civilians were awestruck by their bravery, and cheers erupted everywhere. Amidst this enthusiastic atmosphere, Zoro and Luffy arrived at the bar owned by Lilika, the bartender, to enjoy a sumptuous meal.
However, Luffy got a little too carried away helping Koby join the Marines, even overacting a bit. Zoro intervened in time to stop him, reminding him not to forget their true goal—to become great pirates.
In the ensuing journey, Zoro officially set sail with Luffy. Their adventure had only just begun, and countless challenges awaited them. Along the way, Luffy was carried to Orange Town by a giant bird.
Without hesitation, Zoro relentlessly pursued Luffy, determined to find him. During the chase, he encountered members of the Buggy Pirates who had perished. Despite being enemies, Zoro displayed his kindness and compassion, rescuing them.
Zorro continued on his journey, and after some time, he finally arrived at Orange Town. This town was famous for its abundant orange production, with orange trees lining both sides of the streets and the air filled with the fresh scent of oranges.
Zoro inquired around town and finally found the headquarters of the Buggy Pirates. It was a rather imposing building, with some pirates' residences nearby. Zoro cautiously approached, observing the surrounding activity.
Just then, he heard a commotion. It turned out that the Buggy Pirates were attacking a girl, and that girl was Nami. Without hesitation, Zoro rushed forward and engaged the pirates in a fierce battle.
Although Zoro's swordsmanship was superb, he was unaware of Buggy's abilities. Buggy was a Devil Fruit user capable of splitting his body, which caught Zoro off guard in the fight. During one attack, Buggy ambushed Zoro from behind, slashing him deeply in the back, the wound instantly staining his clothes with blood.
However, Zoro was not defeated by his injuries. Despite the excruciating pain, he used the chaos to rescue Luffy and Nami, then quickly fled the Buggy Pirates' headquarters. They hid in an empty house, where Zoro, due to his severe injuries, soon fell into a deep sleep.
Enraged, Bucky discovered Zorro and the others had escaped and furiously unleashed his Bucky Bomb. This powerful bomb instantly destroyed several rows of houses. The empty house where Zorro was located also teetered on the brink of collapse in the explosion.
Fortunately, Zoro was jolted awake by the shockwave of the bomb before the house collapsed. He struggled to his feet and found himself facing Cabaji, a member of the Buggy Pirates' crew known as "Artistic." Seeing Zoro's injury, Cabaji seized the opportunity to relentlessly attack his wounds, trying to completely incapacitate him.
Faced with Kabaji's relentless onslaught, Zorro knew that if he continued to sit idly by, he would surely perish. He gritted his teeth, raised his sword without hesitation, and plunged it fiercely into his wound. In an instant, intense pain surged through him like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm him.