Tashigi felt extremely awkward about her current situation.
She had just arrived at Marine HQ not long ago... and now the legendary Grand Inspector Michael was about to take her away from here.
Could it be that her talent didn't meet their expectations, so they were planning to send her back to East Blue?
"What's wrong, Tashigi? Why did you stop?"
Michael, walking ahead, suddenly turned around to find Tashigi standing still, clutching her sword tightly.
"P-Please give me another chance, Vice Admiral Michael! I'll work even harder!" Tashigi looked up, her young eyes brimming with tears.
"Please don't give up on me!"
"Huh, who said anything about giving up on you?" Michael sighed.
"This isn't about giving up on you—it's about finding you a proper swordsmanship teacher."
"Huh?"
"You really don't know?" Michael rubbed his forehead, explaining helplessly, "Instructor Zephyr's epithet is 'Black Arm' because his greatest strengths are Armament Haki and physical combat… As for swordsmanship, he only has a basic understanding. He didn't want to waste your talent in the way of the sword, so he asked me to find you a better teacher."
"O-oh, I see!"
Hearing Michael's explanation, Tashigi's anxiety instantly melted away.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her face flushing red again.
Vice Admiral Michael and Instructor Zephyr had been thinking of her all along—had she been too childish just now?
She hurriedly looked up, only to find Michael already walking ahead.
"Alright, hurry up and keep pace… If you miss meeting your new teacher, don't blame me."
"Yes!"
Tashigi responded loudly, jogging to catch up.
...
Several days later, standing outside the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue, Tashigi was completely stunned.
She had only known that she would have a new swordsmanship teacher.
But no one had told her that this teacher…
Was in the East Blue!
After going all that way, she had circled right back to her homeland!
If there was a swordsman here worthy of Vice Admiral Michael personally bringing her to visit, then why had she even needed to go to Marine Headquarters in the first place?!
Not to mention, Shimotsuki Village wasn't even far from her own home!
She thought she could easily practice swordsmanship and then go home to sleep!
Of course, these were just the inner grumblings of a young girl.
Overall, she now held an almost blind admiration for the formidable Vice Admiral Michael.
After all, while crossing the Calm Belt, Michael had sliced a massive Sea King attacking their warship clean in half with a single strike.
That Sea King had been like a living island!
Yet even after witnessing that, Tashigi felt no desire to learn directly from Michael.
Sometimes, when the gap in strength was too vast, there was little a teacher could impart.
Michael's power was on a level Tashigi could never hope to reach in her lifetime.
Tashigi understood this clearly, so she didn't trouble herself with unrealistic aspirations.
Instead, she grew even more excited about the swordsmanship teacher Michael was about to introduce.
To earn the respect of someone as powerful as Grand Inspector Michael, this teacher must surely be a peerless master of the sword!
"My, my, Michael, you're here again." Koushirou Shimotsuki stood at the dojo's entrance, warmly greeting Michael as he approached.
"You've been visiting more and more often lately."
"This time, I came specifically for you." A mischievous grin suddenly appeared on Michael's face, making Koushirou's lips twitch with unease.
"For me? What could you possibly need from me? You know I don't handle affairs, even though I've joined your group. If there's business, you should take it up with Ginny and Kuma…"
"What are you talking about, Shimotsuki-san? I've traveled all this way just to bring you a disciple!"
The next moment, Michael stepped aside, revealing Tashigi behind him.
Tashigi's expression shifted from excitement to confusion, eventually settling into a face full of question marks as she looked at Michael.
That gaze was clearly asking Michael...
Is this slightly scruffy, bookish-looking uncle really going to be my swordsmanship teacher?
Vice Admiral Michael, are you seriously not messing with me?
But Koushirou Shimotsuki's reaction was even more dramatic.
His perpetually narrowed eyes had widened completely, undisguised shock visible in their depths.
Then, almost unconsciously, he reached out a hand to point at Tashigi.
"This... this can't be? How could they look so alike?"
"But... she looks slightly older than Kuina..."
This series of actions from Koushirou only deepened Tashigi's confusion.
Alike? Alike to what?
"Ahahaha, why are we standing around stupidly at the door? Come on, let's go inside and talk."
Michael couldn't care less about all this!
He simply pushed open the gates of Isshin Dojo and strode confidently inside.
Following Michael into the dojo, Tashigi immediately understood why Koushirou had pointed at her saying "alike."
The girl currently leading the younger students through basic swordsmanship drills in the center of the dojo didn't just resemble her...
They were identical.
The only difference might be the glasses on Tashigi's face.
When Kuina heard the dojo gates open, she instinctively turned her head, her face lighting up with joy at the first sight of Michael.
Ever since Michael had saved Kuina's life, his status in her heart had risen to nearly equal that of her father Koushirou.
After all, being a "second parent" wasn't an exaggeration in this case.
Her second glance fell upon Tashigi standing beside Michael.
When their eyes met, both girls froze in shock.
For a moment, the entire dojo fell silent—even the usual shouts accompanying practice swings ceased as everyone noticed this girl who looked exactly like their senior sister.
But the world always has those socially oblivious idiots who specialize in breaking awkward situations.
"Eh? Kuina! This girl looks exactly like you!"
"Could she be your long-lost sister?"
The dumb moss-headed boy rubbed his wrist as he loudly voiced this observation.
Instantly, all eyes shifted from Kuina and Tashigi to focus on Zoro, the idiot with green hair.
Particularly from Koushirou, who had never before felt such a strong urge to murder his beloved disciple.
Long-lost sister!?
Did this brat realize that single sentence had transformed him from a traditionally respectable man into the world's biggest scoundbag!?
Thank goodness Kuina's mother had passed away early!
Otherwise he wouldn't have survived this day!
"Zoro, come here."
Koushirou smiled benevolently and beckoned to the moss-headed idiot.
"Coming, sensei. What is it?"
"Come closer... and I promise I won't beat you to death!"
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