One Piece: It All Started When I Found Shanks' Arm

Chapter 51: Black-Foot Zoro and Three-Sword Style Sanji

"Poor Buggy."

On the deck of the Orange Grove, Shane picked up his fishing rod, put down the newspaper he had just bought, and laughed until he was bent over.

It wasn't his fault for framing him.

With Arlong dead, the East Blue was full of small fry. He really couldn't find a second character who fit the description of "hiding his true strength" from the phone call with Nezumi.

So, he had no choice but to let the great god Buggy take the fall.

He figured a man with Conqueror's Haki-level luck wouldn't capsize in such a small storm.

In fact, the fleet sent by Marine Headquarters to eliminate him probably wasn't intended to wipe out the Buggy Pirates completely. As long as they could scare him out of the East Blue and into the Grand Line, the mission would be considered complete.

The Four Blues were the foundation of the World Government's rule. Their population and landmass were far greater than the Grand Line's. The East Blue, in particular, had been peaceful for a long time since Roger's execution and couldn't tolerate too much turmoil.

The Grand Line, on the other hand, was more like a battle royale track prepared for pirates. There was no need to manage it too much; they would kill each other off seven or eight times out of ten through infighting alone.

The fishing rod remained still in his hand, without any movement.

Shane didn't mind.

Fishing was an amateur hobby he had developed in his past life as a corporate drone. He hadn't touched it much since his reincarnation. Now, he was just trying to adjust his mindset, which had been too tense and hadn't fully returned to normal. He had casually used half a red bean bun as bait, not expecting any stupid fish to bite.

"Boss," Skinny's voice came from the crow's nest. "We can see Shimotsuki Village ahead. We'll be there in half an hour at most."

"Is that so?"

Shane was a little surprised. It was half a day faster than he had expected. Arlong's ship really had a decent speed.

He put the fishing rod aside, turned his head, and looked towards the distant horizon. He could indeed vaguely see the outline of an island.

This time, besides another round of wool-fleecing, he had come to Shimotsuki Village to solve the matter of Zeff's leg.

Originally, he thought the best solution would be for the trading market to refresh with some kind of miraculous elixir that could regenerate flesh and blood. Such things were rare, but he wasn't in a hurry. After all, there were still several years until the agreed-upon date, so he could just wait slowly.

But he hadn't expected that when he bought "Iron Bones" two months ago, this thing had also appeared—

[Genos's Bionic Replacement Leg]

[Type: Equipment]

[Price: 625 Points]

[Description: A mechanical leg modified by Dr. Kuseno from the world of One-Punch Man. It can automatically adjust to fit disabled individuals of various heights and body types and has a self-repair function.]

[Seller's Remark: I finally picked up a valuable sacrifice! Wait, why is a bald guy walking towards me with a dark look on his face?]

It seems this plan isn't bad either. A glorious evolution, so to speak.

Shane bought it on the spot, ready to give it to Zeff.

It's just that... if this happened, when the old man went out to sea with him in the future, what would his title become...

Shane shrugged and glanced at his remaining points.

Over the past year, besides buying the training manuals for the "Six Powers" and the "Flesh-Melting Furnace Art" whenever he could, he hadn't spent much. Plus the earnings from the Arlong Pirates and Nezumi these past few days, his current remaining points were exactly 36,000, only two or three thousand less than a year ago.

"There's nothing worth buying this month. I'll have to wait until next month."

Shane pinched his chin, deep in thought. Suddenly, the fishing rod at his feet trembled and began to slide towards the outside of the ship. He quickly stepped on it.

Even this gets a bite?!

He grabbed the rod with one hand and weighed it. It was quite heavy, probably over a hundred pounds. Shane was overjoyed and immediately gave it a hard pull—

Swish. A green-haired boy, stubbornly biting a red bean bun, was fished out of the water. He turned his head blankly to look.

"..."

Their eyes met. Three black lines appeared on Shane's forehead.

"Why is it you?!!" they both shouted in unison.

An hour later, on the country path leading to the Isshin Dojo.

"So, you were just doing the breaststroke around the entire island for twenty laps to train your leg muscles?"

"Yeah, it's the goal Uncle Zeff set for me."

Zoro walked at the very front, holding seven or eight red bean buns and gobbling them down. "It's really tiring. I was starving after only twelve laps. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been caught by your bread!"

"Oh, is that so... Wait, that's not right," Shane's eyes widened. "Why aren't you practicing your swordsmanship properly to catch up with Kuina? What are you doing learning leg techniques?"

Could it be that after another year of being beaten by Kuina, his confidence is completely gone?

"That's not it!"

Zoro heard the meaning in Shane's words and couldn't help but shout, "It's that stuck-up, curly-browed brat! He started learning leg techniques from Uncle Zeff half a year ago and was doing pretty well. After being praised by the old man a few times, he came to show off in front of me. I couldn't stand it, so I also started..."

Shane's eyes were quick. He grabbed Zoro, who was absentmindedly walking to the right. "Where are you going? It's to the left!"

Damn it, I've only been here once and I remember the way. How do you manage to get lost on a path you walk every day?!

"Oh, it does seem to be to the left."

Zoro scratched his head. "Anyway, I also started practicing leg techniques with Uncle Zeff, but I haven't neglected my swordsmanship! I just want to prove to that stinky curly-brows that my talent is much better than his! It's just a leg technique. I can master it by just spending a few hours on it every day!"

As they spoke, the group had already followed Zoro to the entrance of the Isshin Dojo.

Before they even entered, they saw a blond, curly-browed boy in the courtyard. He was holding a bamboo sword in each hand and had another one in his mouth. He was in a firm horse stance, swinging the swords rapidly, making the wooden posts around him clatter.

"..."

Shane was silent.

He took a step back and looked at the nameplate. This was the Isshin Dojo. He hadn't gone to the wrong place.

"I say, Zoro..." Nojiko poked Zoro's arm and asked in a whisper, "That guy looks so strange. Why does he have to bite one in his mouth too?"

"Isn't it stupid? I think so too!"

Zoro took a bite of a red bean bun and sneered. "This guy saw that I'm a unique two-sword style swordsman and insisted on proving that he's stronger, so he stuck one in his mouth too. He even claims to be some kind of three-sword style swordsman! He's crazy! Who fights like that?!"

"It is very stupid," Nami and Nojiko nodded in deep agreement.

At this time, Sanji also noticed the large group of people outside.

"Mr. Shane! Why are you here!"

He first looked surprised, then saw Zoro at the front and couldn't help but laugh with his hands on his hips.

"Hey! Moss-head! How was my sword speed just now? It's not much slower than yours, is it? In a few more months, I think you'll not only lose to Kuina, but you won't even be able to beat my swordsmanship!"

"Dream on, you idiot!"

Zoro crossed his arms and sneered. He turned and delivered a side kick, and the Isshin Dojo's nameplate instantly exploded into pieces.

"You'd better witness my leg technique! See this power? It has completely surpassed yours! Leg techniques are just easier to learn than swordsmanship!"

"Bullshit!"

Sanji was furious. With a swish, swish, swish, his three swords came out at once, instantly chopping the shattered pieces of the nameplate on the ground into even finer wood chips.

"See! It's obvious that swordsmanship is nothing special!"

"Leg techniques!"

"Swordsmanship!"

The two of them were nose to nose, their argument growing more and more intense.

They didn't even notice that behind them, Zeff and Koshiro had appeared at some point, standing side by side, their faces as black as the bottom of a pot...