One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 11 I'm Actually Good at Swordsmanship

"For the next few years, I continued to practice swordsmanship at Isshin Dojo. Sensei Koshiro was very kind to me, but I still felt unsatisfied and dreamed of reviving the dojo one day."

"Especially a few months ago, a guest from Asa Sakurajima came to visit me. I asked him about the Sakuraba Dojo, and he was stunned for a long time. He had never heard of it!"

"This kind of thing, this kind of thing..."

Jun'ichi clenched his fists, his teeth clenched so hard that they chattered. "I can't accept this! If my father were still alive, how could this have happened? Back then, Sakuraba was known to everyone on Asazakurajima!"

"It's all my fault! I'm so incompetent! I couldn't take on my father's legacy and responsibilities, and I didn't become a swordsman capable of standing on my own. That's why the dojo has fallen into disrepair and decline!"

"Stop, stop, stop."

Xia Nuo got goosebumps and quickly reached out to interrupt.

"That's enough. I can't stand it. You're just a kid, but you keep talking about responsibility and reviving the dojo. Let me ask you, how old were you when your father died?"

How to bring this up?

But Junyi still answered honestly: "Ten years old."

"That's it." Xia Nuo spread his hands. "Didn't you say that all your brothers ran away? If adults can't control the situation, what can a ten-year-old do?"

"What are you doing? What's wrong with you? You're crying and wailing, taking all the blame on yourself. Who are you trying to impress? Isn't this a masochist?"

"Remember, it's better to consume others than to consume yourself. Otherwise, sooner or later you will fall into endless anxiety and may even hang yourself one day."

He spoke with the tone of someone who had experienced it, "Your most urgent task is to honestly follow Koshiro and practice your swordsmanship well. When you get tired of practicing, just vent your anger by scolding those guys who ruined the dojo, and then continue practicing. It's clearly their fault!"

“…” Junyi was stunned.

This guy is obviously younger than me, so why does what he says sound so philosophical?
"But, my swordsmanship is already very strong..."

He said anxiously, "I came back to Asazakura Island this time just for the kendo tournament. I want to win the championship and let those people in the seven major gyms know that the Sakuraba family has not fallen! But, but..."

"No money to sign up?" Xia Nuo glanced at him.

"Yes."

Junyi was dejected, then annoyed. "You saw what was posted on the bulletin board, right? The registration fee is 10,000 berries. You also have to buy the standard kendo uniform and bamboo sword, and they're very expensive. It's almost 20,000 berries in total."

"Not to mention, only disciples of the seven major dojos can register, leaving outside swordsmen to pay to join the dojo... It's insane! They're so greedy, yet they still have the nerve to call it the most authoritative kendo event in the East China Sea..."

"Kendo, and a dojo that teaches swordsmanship, shouldn't be like this!"

Boom! He grew increasingly agitated, unable to resist pounding his fist on the table, shouting, "Why do the Seven Dojos have to be like this?! When the Sakuraba family first established the Kendo Tournament, they didn't charge any money and even subsidized the travel expenses of those swordsmen who were short of money. How could the atmosphere back then... have it become so ugly now?! Don't they have any sense of honor and self-awareness as a swordsman?"

"You're so noisy! Seriously... I can't even hear what the beautiful girl is saying. Shut up, little brat!"

The table next to him was also slammed. A man with gold-rimmed glasses who was flirting with a hostess stood up with his sleeves rolled up and was about to come over to beat someone up.

Xia Nuo turned away coldly.

"Sorry, please continue."

The man with gold-rimmed glasses sat back down at the speed of light.

However, Junyi realized his own loss of composure and quickly stood up, bowing to all the other drinkers around him.

After sitting back in his seat, he lowered his head and said nothing more, but his clenched fists were trembling slightly.

"..." Xia Nuo looked quietly at the thin boy in front of him, and suddenly said, "I want to confirm two things with you." "What, what?" Chunyi raised his head in confusion.

"The registration for the Kendo Tournament closes tomorrow, right? When does it start and how many days does it last?"

"The competition starts the day after tomorrow. As for the schedule..." Junyi shook his head, "There's no such thing as a schedule. The results are announced on the same day. Auditions in the morning, semi-finals in the afternoon, and finals in the evening."

"So, it will only take one day." Xia Nuo nodded. "I understand. Secondly, the Sakuraba Dojo is still on the official registration list, right? Can I sign up directly?"

"Yes." Junyi hesitated, "Actually, I don't understand why the Seven Dojo haven't expelled Sakuraba yet. Maybe they're afraid of the bad influence. After all, the Kendo Tournament was founded by my father..."

He suddenly realized and looked up with surprise: "You, you mean, you are willing to lend me money and help me sign up?"

"Do not."

Xia Nuo shook his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "I can lend it to you, but my main point is, maybe you can give me a disciple status in Sakuraba Dojo, such as deputy director or something, so that I can also participate in this kendo tournament."

“Eh? You?!!”

"Why are you looking at me with such suspicion? Be careful or I might get upset and regret not lending you the money."

Xia Nuo put the empty goblet on the table, stood up with a lemon slice in his mouth, stretched, and said with a smile, "There is something I forgot to tell you."

"Actually, I'm also a swordsman who has some basic skills in swordsmanship."

……

Half an hour later, at the registration office.

Holding the newly bought standard kendo uniform and brand new bamboo sword in his elbows, Xia Nuo put away his wallet with a painful look on his face and gave one of each to Jun'ichi Sakuraba.

“It’s really dark.”

On the way back to the hotel, Xia Nuo scolded the Seven Dojos again. "With this cloth, this broken sword, and the bamboo burrs haven't even been shaved off, they dare to sell it for 15,000 Baileys each. Isn't this a complete rip-off? The threshold is so high, why are there so many people rushing to get ripped off?"

The 50,000 berries given by Bellmère were used up in an instant.

If he didn't have some change he had saved, he probably wouldn't even be able to afford a hotel tonight and would have had to lie down on the street together.

"After all, the prize money is quite generous. Besides, becoming the champion... no, even just reaching the semi-finals is a great honor for the swordsmen of the East China Sea."

Junyi followed closely beside him, "By then, several local newspapers from Donghai will be here, and the champion will become famous overnight. Who doesn't dream of becoming famous? But..."

"But what?" Xia Nuo paused and turned to look at him.

"But I still doubt whether you are a true swordsman."

Junyi's tone was sincere. "Mr. Xia Nuo... let's call you that for now. Although I'm very grateful for your guidance and comfort, and for lending me such a large sum of money, you really don't look like a swordsman at all, do you? What kind of swordsman goes out without a sword?"

The sword is in the backpack, but you can't see it.

Shanuo muttered to himself.

After getting the "authentic" knife, he threw away the small wooden sword. After all, the thing was not even as long as his arm. Carrying it around would only make him look funny like a clown.

"The reasons for doubt are valid."

Xia Nuo looked down at the skinny young man in front of him. "But don't we have swords now?" He weighed the standard bamboo sword in his hand and grinned. "How about we find an open space and practice with each other?"

(End of this chapter)