The new sword era

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting an amber glow over Dawn Island as Kenshin D. Zuno stood at the bow of his small ship. His deep blue skin shimmered under the fading sunlight, his white hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the only thing that filled the air, but Kenshin felt an overwhelming silence in his heart.

"It's time," he whispered to himself, his voice filled with both excitement and hesitation. The swords at his side—three in total—felt heavier than usual. Each one had a history. Seiryu, the first sword Garp had gifted him, had accompanied him through every battle and every struggle. Shinshin, the second sword he'd earned from a wandering master who saw his potential, was a blade that still held much mystery. And Ketsurin, the third sword, was a gift from a dying man who had entrusted it to him before his final breath. It felt like a promise—one he was determined to honor.

But today was the day he would leave. Kenshin was no longer the child that Garp had pulled from the wreckage years ago. He had grown, both in strength and in spirit, and now he longed for a new purpose.

---

Flashback: A Family's Love

It had been a few months after Kenshin was taken in by Garp, and he had spent many nights thinking about his past. Luffy had been the first to try and make him feel like part of the family, though Kenshin hadn't yet understood the concept of family at that time.

Luffy had approached him one day, holding up a fish he had just caught. "Hey, Kenshin! Want to cook this with me?"

Kenshin had stared at the fish, confused. "I... don't know how to cook."

Luffy, always the optimist, beamed. "Then we'll learn together! You've gotta eat if you want to get strong!"

Kenshin chuckled softly, still unsure. He had grown up alone, with no memories of his family. "I guess I could try," he said.

It wasn't long before Ace had joined them, his serious expression softening when he saw Luffy's exuberance.

"Don't expect me to help if you burn it," Ace warned, crossing his arms, his eyes still sharp and calculating despite the warmth in his voice.

"I won't!" Luffy responded cheerfully, and for the first time, Kenshin felt a sense of belonging—a bond that even a Fish-Man could share with humans.

---

A Conversation with Garp: Guidance from a Father

One evening, Garp had called the boys together. He sat at a large table covered in maps and charts, and his heavy, calloused fingers traced a route across the Grand Line.

"You kids have been talking about setting out to sea, huh?" Garp's deep voice rumbled. His eyes were serious, but there was an undeniable softness in them when he looked at his adopted sons.

Kenshin nodded slowly. "I... I feel like there's something I need to find. Something out there. I want to be strong enough to protect the people I care about."

Garp's eyes softened even further as he turned his gaze to Luffy and Ace.

"I see. But you're not just fighting to be strong. You'll be fighting to survive." Garp's tone grew stern. "The Grand Line is no joke. There are pirates, Marines, and even worse, there's the world government. It's a dangerous place, full of pirates who will do anything to achieve their own dreams."

Luffy grinned confidently. "I don't care! I'm gonna be Pirate King!"

Ace nodded, though he was more somber. "I don't know if I'll be a pirate, but I'll fight to make my own freedom, just like you, Garp."

Kenshin met Garp's gaze. "And I want to become the greatest swordsman in the world. I don't know what lies ahead, but I know I can't stay here forever."

"That's the spirit." Garp's voice was filled with pride. "If you want to carve your own path, then go. But always remember, the world is unforgiving."

---

Meeting Shanks: A Pirate's Wisdom

When Shanks arrived on Dawn Island, Kenshin was just 14 years old. The Red-Haired Pirate was a figure of legend, and when he disembarked with his crew, there was a sense of awe in the air. Luffy had been the first to run up to him.

"Shanks! I'm gonna be Pirate King one day!" Luffy declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Shanks laughed heartily. "Is that so? I like your spirit, kid!" Then he turned his gaze to Kenshin, who had been silently observing from the side. "Ah, you're a swordsman, huh?"

Kenshin nodded. "I want to be the greatest swordsman. Do you have any advice?"

Shanks paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Kenshin with a critical eye. "Advice, huh? Well... I'll tell you this. To be the greatest, it's not just about your swords or your strength. It's about what's inside you. The sea will test you. It'll take everything from you if you let it. But it'll also give you everything if you're strong enough to take it."

Kenshin felt a spark of understanding. It was more than just about technique. It was about heart.

"I won't forget that," Kenshin said, his voice determined. "Thanks, Shanks."

---

Sabo's Words: Freedom

As Ace, Luffy, and Kenshin grew older, they met Sabo, a boy from a noble family who had been trying to escape the chains of his birthright. They became fast friends, and one night around a campfire, Sabo looked up at the stars, his face a mixture of determination and sadness.

"Freedom..." he muttered, almost to himself. "That's what I've always wanted. Not just to be free, but to have the power to make my own choices."

Kenshin leaned forward, his three swords clinking softly. "But there's always someone trying to stop us, right?"

Sabo's eyes were hard, but there was a flicker of understanding in them. "Yeah... but that's why we fight, Kenshin. Because no matter what, they can't take that away from us."

"Right." Kenshin's voice was steady, his resolve hardening.

---

Kenshin's Decision: Setting Out to Sea

On Kenshin's 17th birthday, he walked down to the shore, where Garp, Luffy, Ace, and Sabo stood watching him. The wind whipped through their hair, and the salty scent of the sea filled the air.

"So, you're really leaving, huh?" Luffy asked, his usual grin on his face but his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and excitement.

Kenshin nodded, his heart pounding. "Yeah. It's time for me to find my own path. You guys... you guys are my family. But I have to do this."

"We'll be here, waiting for you to come back," Ace said, his tone sincere but with the same underlying determination that Kenshin had. "Go, and be the swordsman you've always wanted to be."

Sabo, who had been silent up until now, clapped Kenshin on the shoulder. "Just don't get yourself killed out there, alright?"

"I won't," Kenshin said with a firm smile. He looked at Garp, who nodded proudly.

"Go. Just remember what I said. The sea isn't kind, but it's yours to conquer if you're strong enough."

Kenshin's heart swelled with emotion, and as he turned to face the sea, he whispered, "I will."

With a final glance back at his family, Kenshin set sail, ready to carve his own legacy on the sea.