The next day at noon, messengers from the shipyard arrived at the Isshin Dojo, notifying Luffy that the ship was finished and waiting at the harbor.
All the supplies that had been left at the shipyard yesterday were already loaded aboard.
Luffy, who had been waiting all morning, finally perked up.
"Now that's service," he thought.
At the harbor, the sea stretched endlessly, inspiring both awe and longing.
A newspaper-delivering seagull flew past, circled once upon spotting the humans below who didn't seem wealthy, and then flew off.
Goshiro and a group of dojo students stood by the harbor of Frostmoon Village, watching the ship grow smaller in the distance.
Many children cried. Normally, without their master present, these kids were closest to the eldest disciple.
At such a young age, they couldn't fully process the sadness of farewells.
Meanwhile, on the departing ship, Luffy waved continuously from the stern at Goshiro and the other students until the harbor disappeared from view.
"Don't you want to say goodbye to your master and your juniors?" Luffy asked, approaching the bow and seeing Zoro staring silently ahead.
"I-I'm… not a little kid anymore! Nothing to say!" Zoro sniffled, barely forming his words.
Looking down at the water-soaked deck beneath Zoro's feet, Luffy nodded in understanding.
"All right then. I'll check the chart. You make sure we stick to our course."
"Y-yes," Zoro answered weakly, aware he'd been caught.
Luffy entered the cabin via the low ladder.
"System, why can't I open the sailing system even though I already have a ship?"
[Answer, host: The Sailing Ship System requires the following conditions:
The host's ship must have a name.The host's ship must accommodate at least ten humans.The host's ship must have a flag.
Your current ship meets none of these conditions; thus, the Sailing Ship System cannot be activated.]**
"Alright…"
Luffy accepted the explanation. Every system had its own activation criteria.
But thinking about what was coming, he felt excitement bubbling again.
He rubbed his hands together and said, "System, can I draw Zoro's unique item now?"
[Host may start at any time. Open the partner interface, select the new partner, and say 'Draw Unique Item.']
"Got it."
Luffy opened Zoro's panel and silently commanded, "Draw Unique Item."
A large disc appeared, spinning with countless items—blades, books, strange objects.
Luffy didn't input any instructions; the wheel spun faster and faster until everything blurred.
Finally, the pointer stopped at a swirling blue mass.
This was one of the few things Luffy had no clue about.
[Ding! Host acquired "Zanpakutō Essence." Placed in backpack. Please check.]
"Zan… Zanpakutō?!"
Yesterday he had been imagining using a Rasengan, and today he was being given a Zanpakutō.
"Huh? But that blue thing… doesn't even look like a sword?" Luffy wondered.
[Host, open your backpack to check.]
He did so, finding a blue orb in the first slot. A mental tap changed the view to another interface.
[Zanpakutō Essence]: Use this on a sentient blade to transform it into a Zanpakutō (the weapon of a Soul Reaper). Its shape and abilities are formed based on the wielder's soul. The wielder gains power by knowing and communicating with the sword's true name.]
Reading this, Luffy thought, "Soul… maybe a Zanpakutō is perfect for Zoro."
With Zoro's fierce aura, it might sync naturally with the weapon.
Luffy's anticipation to see Zoro wield it grew. He just wasn't sure if Wado Ichimonji counted as a sentient blade—probably did, otherwise few swords in the world would qualify.
Without delay, Luffy took the Zanpakutō Essence from his backpack.
A blue orb appeared in his hand.
Strangely, it felt weighty despite having no physical mass.
On the deck, Zoro monitored the ship's course while Luffy was inside the cabin.
By the time Luffy approached, Zoro had calmed from his farewell melancholy, staring at the sea.
Luffy noticed something odd, glanced at the sun, and asked, "Zoro, what bearing did I calculate from the chart just now?"
Zoro blinked, confused. "You said 15.3° south by west, didn't you?"
"South by west?"
"Right. That's what you said."
Luffy's legs trembled as he approached the compass on the rack. "Then why are we heading due east?"
"Ah?" Zoro froze, feeling embarrassed and unable to speak.
Luffy realized he'd forgotten Zoro's infamous terrible sense of direction.
He couldn't blame him entirely—Zoro's experience could somehow warp the heading despite clear indicators.
"Zoro, this is my first order as captain: Do not wander off alone or steer the ship without permission!"
Zoro sheepishly replied, "Uh… yes, Captain."
Satisfied with Zoro's attitude, Luffy didn't press further.
He paused, then continued: "There's something more important I want to do with you."
Zoro lowered his head, signaling him to continue.
"Following me is important to you, right?"
"You mean… training can start now?" Zoro immediately perked up at the mention of getting stronger.
"Not training. I have a better way."
Luffy held up the Zanpakutō Essence in front of Zoro.
"Take out your sword."
Zoro obediently handed over Wado Ichimonji.
For some reason, Zoro felt an immense power radiating from the orb, stirring his soul.
Luffy held Zoro's sword with one hand and placed the essence onto it with the other.
The blue light fused with Wado Ichimonji, flashing brightly once, then… nothing.
The sword looked the same, except the hilt now gleamed a pristine white.
'Then… what now? System? Is that it?'
The system quickly responded:
[Host need not worry. The sword is now a true Zanpakutō. It must still bond with Zoro to become his Zanpakutō.]
"Got it… but how?"
[Simply insert the Zanpakutō into Zoro's body.]
Luffy's eyes widened. 'You want me to… stab Zoro?!'
[Not a kill. Only this method allows the Zanpakutō to merge and become his.]
"Alright, understood."
Luffy lifted his head to look at Zoro.
Startled, Zoro jumped slightly.
Just now, as Luffy had pressed the orb onto Wado Ichimonji, he'd remained in a strange stance, shifting expressions for a while—scaring Zoro.
Luffy looked at Zoro and said:
"Zoro, I have a method to make you stronger, fast!"
"Really? How?" Zoro's excitement replaced his earlier nervousness.
Seeing Zoro so eager, Luffy blushed slightly and said:
"You just let me stab you!"