The four kids happily set up a barbecue feast in the back mountain of Shimotsuki Village Village, with all kinds of food!
"Let's celebrate Daisy joining our little team, everyone raise your bottles!" Little Nami excitedly raised her milk bottle.
The other three kids also smiled and raised their bottles.
"Come on, Daisy, don't be shy, try this roast meat!" Ryuen said, handing a piece of golden, crispy meat to Daisy.
"I, I... I'll do it myself~" Daisy blushed and shyly took the meat, taking a small bite. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoᴠᴇFɪre.nᴇt
"That's it, Daisy, we're good friends!" Nojiko said, patting her leg like a big sister, as happy as if she were drunk on milk.
"Friends?" Daisy whispered, then smiled sweetly, her lips curving into a beautiful arc.
Ryuen and the others saw this and smiled at each other, knowing that Daisy had truly become one of them.
The party continued, and everyone enjoyed the food, either drinking milk or eating barbecue. Laughter echoed through the hillside, making it a pleasant and joyful time!
The small barbecue party ended only after they finished all the milk and meat.
"So comfortable~" Daisy lay on the grass, her small face still savoring the joy. The other three kids did the same, lying on the grass with satisfied faces.
After eating and drinking, the four kids soon fell asleep, their little noses bubbling as they entered sweet dreams.
The sun slowly climbed to the top of the opposite mountain, casting its white light over the forest.
Ryuen felt the urge to pee and woke up groggily. He walked to the edge of the forest to relieve himself. Just as he felt a sense of relief, he heard the sound of fighting.
"Strange, fighting in Shimotsuki Village? Is that guy crazy?" Ryuen woke up completely and walked towards the sound of the fight.
He arrived just in time to see the end of a fight between two small figures!
Kuina and Zoro had finished their 2001st fight!
It was those two! And Kuina was still alive, which surprised Ryuen!
Ryuen remembered that Kuina was born at the end of the Sea Circle Calendar 1500 and died at 11 years old from falling down the Grand Staircase. Now it's Sea Circle Calendar 1512, didn't Kuina die last year?
But it didn't matter. Since Kuina was alive, Ryuen decided to make her an unbeatable opponent for Zoro!
"Darn it~ Darn it~ So frustrating!" While Ryuen was lost in thought, Zoro was crying, covering his face.
Hearing Zoro's frustration, Kuina's face fell: "I'm the one who wants to cry~"
Zoro was stunned. He had been defeated 2001 times and didn't understand why Kuina was still frustrated.
Without looking at Zoro, Kuina continued: "Girls become weaker than boys as they grow up. I'll soon be surpassed. My father said girls can't become the world's greatest swordsman!
I understand this, I've known it for a long time, but... but I'm not willing to accept it!
My chest is starting to develop too. If only... if only I could become a boy..."
As Kuina finished speaking, tears of frustration rolled down her cheeks, and her face was filled with sadness and despair.
"You've already beaten me, so stop complaining! It's so unfair, you're my goal!" Zoro shouted angrily.
"Zoro..." Kuina looked at Zoro with tearful eyes.
"What's this about boys and girls? When I beat you one day, will you say the same thing?
It makes it seem like I didn't win with my own strength! All my hard training would be for nothing! Stop saying things like that!" Zoro scolded Kuina angrily.
Kuina looked at Zoro in disbelief, her doubts slowly fading.
"We made a promise! One day, either you or I will become the world's greatest swordsman! Let's see who can do it!" Zoro's face was full of determination.
"Idiot, you're so weak..." Kuina wiped her tears and smiled, making a vow with Zoro.
"Promise!" they said together.
"Huh? When did you get here?" Ryuen turned to see three heads peeking over, their faces still with tears of emotion.
"It was so touching, making a promise together..."
"Yeah, childhood friends and all..."
The three girls ignored Ryuen and looked at Kuina and Zoro on the grass below with envy.
At this moment, Kuina and Zoro noticed Ryuen and the other three kids. They looked puzzled, wondering who these four people were.
Seeing that they had been discovered, Ryuen and the other kids stopped hiding and walked towards Kuina and Zoro.
"That was great! Girls can also become the world's greatest swordsman, just like boys!" Nami said proudly.
"Who are you?" Kuina asked.
"Hello, I'm Ryuen, she's Nami, this is Nojiko, and the shy one is Daisy. We are the Robin Hood Squad!" Ryuen said with a bit of arrogance.
"Hello, I'm Kuina, and this is my defeated opponent, Zoro." Kuina introduced with a slight smile.
"Idiot! Kuina! One day, I'll defeat you!" Zoro, now shy in front of strangers, ran away after speaking.
"Hahaha, this green-haired guy is so cute!" Nami laughed happily at Zoro's shyness, and the other kids, including Kuina, did the same.
"By the way, where are you from? I don't think I've seen you in the village before?" Kuina asked after Zoro ran away.
"Well... we came from the distant Cocoyasi Village, and we're here to find your father!" Ryuen said directly.
"Find my father? Are you here to learn swordsmanship from him too?" Kuina was a bit surprised.
"Of course not. You'll find out tomorrow!" Ryuen said mysteriously.
"Tomorrow? Alright then." Although curious, Kuina didn't ask further.
"Hey, Kuina, we don't have a place to stay. Can we..." Nami asked, rubbing her hands together.
"Well... you can stay at our dojo for now." Kuina agreed.
So, Ryuen and the other kids followed Kuina to the Isshin Dojo.
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