The light filtering through the grime-streaked window of the cheap inn room announced the arrival of morning. The room was cold, quiet, and profoundly unsettling. Leo woke up, stiff and sore, but his attention immediately snapped to the silent figure across the room.
Sekiro, The Wolf, was sitting cross-legged on the dusty floor, his focus entirely on the Tenseiryū, which lay diagonally across his knees. He wasn't meditating or cleaning it; he was simply watching the indigo scabbard with a chilling intensity, his one good eye narrowed.
Leo slowly sat up on the cot, rubbing the sleep from his face. "Hey, Sekiro," Leo began quietly, "What are you doing? Don't tell me you pray to your katana daily in the morning?"
Sekiro didn't flinch or look away from the blade. "No, I was not praying." His voice was low and rough, cutting through the silence. "It's just that when I hold this katana... something like rage inside me roars and tries to get out. It feels like a fever in the soul. It makes my heart beat with a terrifying, unknown purpose."
Leo froze, the morning humor vanishing instantly. He got up and walked closer, kneeling beside Sekiro to examine the sword.
A rage inside the user? Leo's mind raced through his plot knowledge. If this Katana is made by the same legendary swordsmith, Shimotsuki Kozaburō, who created Enma, could it have some mystery to it?
Enma was known to drain the wielder's Haki and life force, choosing its master by demanding immense willpower. But this was completely different.
Leo's Inner Monologue: It's not draining Haki; it's instilling rage. Is the sword trying to control the wielder? Or is it demanding a specific type of discipline, like a berserker's focus? What kind of terrifying, legendary power is this? I wish I had a System skill to check item lore!
"I don't know what it could be," Sekiro admitted, looking at Leo now, his face a mask of disciplined frustration. "But this sword demands violence. It is not peaceful."
Leo nodded, recognizing the profound danger. "We'll think about that later, Sekiro. Just control it for now. You have the discipline of a shinobi; don't let a sword control you."
Sekiro simply sheathed the blade with a crisp CLACK. "Understood.
Leo stretched, pulling his attention away from the high-stakes existential threat of the sword. "Good. Now, on a slightly less life-threatening topic..."
Leo's stomach answered for him with a loud, embarrassing growl.
Leo immediately blushed, covering his abdomen with his hands. "It's just me and my stomach talking in code language, Sekiro! You know, like how you shinobis talk! Haha! Let's go eat something!"
Sekiro, utterly devoid of judgment, simply stood. "Okay, your stomach demands sustenance."
The Calm Before the Storm
They went downstairs to the main dining area, where the owner served them their allotted morning meal. Sekiro ate with disciplined efficiency, while Leo, having adopted Luffy's eating habits, devoured his food with frantic, satisfying gusto.
The scene soon became a backdrop for Leo's internal plot checks, necessary for his survival.
Leo's Inner Monologue: Now, only one month remains until the training is finished. Luffy is mastering Gear Fourth and his new attack now.
Rusukaina Island:
The silence of the jungle was shattered by a deafening, elastic boom. Luffy, coated in a thick, almost rubbery layer of Armament Haki, his body massive, bounced and compressed with unimaginable force as he perfected his new big attack—the devastating King Kong Gun. Rayleigh watched him, a proud, tired smile on his face, knowing the student had finally surpassed the mentor in raw potential.
Luffy turned to Rayleigh, his expression filled with boundless enthusiasm. "I am very excited to meet my friends! I wonder how strong they are now! And also to meet Leo!
Rayleigh chuckled, watching the smoke rise from the impact site. "Don't worry, Luffy. They're all stronger than you can imagine. And as for Leo, I know He's waiting for you, too."
Back to Leo:
Leo mentally checked the other crew members: they would all be in the final phase of their learning, ready to leave their separate islands and embark on the next phase of the Grand Line. They were all on their way to Sabaody. The stage was being set.
Leo swallowed the last mouthful of stew, suddenly realizing he had missed a critical, obvious detail.
Wait. Am I forgetting something?
He scrunched his eyes, trying to force his memory to surface the key logistical plot point from this specific arc. Sabaody, two years later... Straw Hats meeting... Duval... Flying Fish Riders...
A sudden, sharp bolt of realization hit him, so powerful it was like a slap.
KRRSH!
Wait! The Thousand Sunny! The ship! It's here!
The Thousand Sunny had been docked and guarded for two years!
Leo's Inner Monologue: How could I forget this?! I've been so focused on the Fake Straw Hats and the Katana! The ship is parked in one of the Groves, and the man protecting it from pirates is none other than the warlord Pacifista, Bartholomew Kuma! And not only Kuma, but also the Flying Fish Riders, led by Duval, and Hatchan are also nearby!
Leo jumped up so fast his chair nearly tumbled over. "Hey, Sekiro! Get ready! We need to go to Grove 44! Now!"
Sekiro, instantly on his feet, moved to the door. "Understood, Leo. New mission."
Leo adjusted his robe, his mind already formulating a new, intricate plan. I need to see that ship with my own eyes.
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