One Piece: The Sword

Isshin Dojo • June, 1513 ~~~~~~~~

As soon as Cain spotted Koushirou, their eyes met, a subtle understanding passing between them.

So this is Shimotsuki Koushirou, Cain thought, observing him closely. He doesn't look particularly impressive… or maybe I'm just too weak to sense his strength. Hmm. After all, he's supposed to at least be an advanced swordsman. To someone who truly understands swordsmanship, his power would probably be obvious.

Koushirou broke the silence first. "Are you here to challenge the dojo, young man? Or perhaps to join as a disciple?"

A murmur spread among the other disciples, with a green-haired boy looking at Cain with particular interest.

"I'm here to learn swordsmanship under your guidance. My name is Cain! Please, make me your disciple." Cain said, bowing slightly.

Koushirou observed him thoughtfully for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "I see. Then pick up a shinai (bamboo sword) from that basket and come with me." Koushirou instructed Cain. He then addressed his other disciples, "The rest of you, continue practicing your swings as I taught you."

"Yes Master!"

The murmuring ceased, and the dojo returned to its usual rhythm.

Cain took up a shinai from the basket and followed Koushirou towards the other side of the room, eager to listen as Koushirou began explaining the fundamentals of swordsmanship.

"In essence, martial arts can be divided into two categories: unarmed arts and armed arts. Swordsmanship, archery, and spearmanship fall under the latter category," Koushirou began by explaining the basics to Cain.

He continued "Archery is primarily used for long-range combat. Spearmanship is used in close combat but is more suited for piercing rather than cutting."

"Swordsmanship, on the other hand, is used in close combat for cutting. Though, swordsmanship can also unleash long range attacks if you become a master at the art."

He paused, then asked, "Before we go further, let me ask you: what do you think is the purpose of a sword?"

Purpose of a sword? Isn't it... "To cut?" Said Cain, feeling about ninety percent sure of his answer.

"Yes," Koushirou said with a nod. "The purpose of a sword is to cut, but more precisely, it's to cut anything and everything the wielder wishes to cut—and not even scratch when they don't."

"Always remember this, a blade that cuts all that it touches isn't really a sword" Koushirou looked at Cain and stated firmly.

Yeah…I know that from the anime, thought Cain but showed an understanding expression on the outside.

Koushirou nodded, seeing this, and moved on to the practical teaching. "Let's start with the grip and basic stance. Hold the shinai like this…"

Koushirou took a shinai and showed him the correct way and also corrected his mistakes.

Cain took a deep breath, gripping the shinai tightly as he tried to mimic Koushirou's stance. His feet felt awkward, and the weight of the shinai seemed heavier than he'd expected, pressing down on his arms as he struggled to keep it steady.

"Raise the shinai higher," Koushirou instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Keep your head up, and don't let your hands block your view. Always keep your eyes on what's in front of you."

Cain adjusted his grip, his arms trembling slightly as he did. He wasn't used to this kind of discipline, his muscles resisted, protesting at the unfamiliar stance. He felt sweat beginning to gather on his brow.

Koushirou's gaze sharpened as he observed Cain's form. "Loosen your shoulders. You're holding too much tension. Swordsmanship requires focus, but you must not let that focus turn into rigidity. Keep your movements fluid."

Cain nodded, exhaling slowly as he tried to relax. But as he did, his grip slipped, and the shinai dipped slightly. Frustration simmered within him, he'd expected this to come more naturally. How hard could holding a sword really be?

He glanced around, noticing some of the other disciples practicing their swings nearby. Their movements were smooth, almost effortless, their stances low and strong. A few of them cast glances his way, clearly assessing the newcomer with curiosity, or maybe a bit of doubt.

A green-haired disciple in particular watched him intently, eyes sharp with interest but unreadable. Cain met his gaze for a brief moment, So that's Zoro, huh? Cain thought, feeling an unexpected urge to prove himself. He didn't want to be just another outsider struggling on his first day.

He clenched his jaw, straightening his posture and gripping the shinai with renewed determination.

Koushirou said, stepping closer. "Swordsmanship isn't about fighting against yourself. It's about finding balance—between strength and fluidity, focus and awareness. A swordsman who tries to overpower his own body will only end up struggling with his blade."

Balance, Cain thought, trying to focus on Koushirou's words. He squared his shoulders, forcing his mind to quiet. He let himself feel the weight of the shinai, letting his muscles adjust to it rather than forcing it into place.

A small flicker of confidence surfaced as he held the stance for a few seconds longer than before. Koushirou noticed and gave a nod of approval, the faintest hint of a smile on his face. "Good. Keep that calmness in your movements, Cain. Once you grasp this, then you'll understand why a sword can be as light as a feather or as heavy as a mountain."

The afternoon passed quickly, and soon it was time for the dojo to close. Most of the students returned home, leaving few remaining. At this, Cain finally remembered that he doesn't have a place to stay. He thought, I can arrange for food somehow but I don't have a place to stay. What to do…should I ask Koushirou? Hmm, let me ask him.

"Do you need something Cain?" Koushirou asked as he noticed Cain approaching.

"Master, actually I am not from this island. I was captured by pirates, then got swept up in a storm and ended up washed ashore on this island. I don't have a place to stay right now. Can I stay in the dojo for the night?" asked Cain, showing a pleading expression.

He saw a flicker of surprise in Koushirou's eyes, quickly replaced by a look of careful consideration. "So you're the boy the fishermen were talking about earlier," Koushirou said, his voice neutral but thoughtful. "You came here under difficult circumstances, it seems."

"If you wish to stay here, you'll have to contribute. Training alone isn't enough. Strength comes not only from skill but from discipline and hard work. You'll need to help around the dojo and occasionally on the farm."

So I have to become a farmer now?... Seems fair... Cain thought, but he quickly accepted and said "I'll help however I can."

"Koji! Show him to a room in the dojo dormitory." Koushirou instructed one of his senior disciples.

Cain followed Koji to the room and lay down on the tatami mat, reflecting on his first lesson.

Swordsmanship is actually pretty fun to learn, thought Cain. But if I have to become the strongest, then only learning swordsmanship is not enough.

To truly become strong, first, I'll need to master martial arts. I am currently learning swordsmanship from Koushirou so that's that. Second method is to obtain a devil fruit, but it is not something easy to find, so I will leave it for the future when I start sailing. Third and the most important is to learn Haki, it is the real key to strength. I don't know if I possess conquerors haki or not but even armament haki is powerful, just take a look at that monster Monkey D. Garp…On second thought, to be the strongest, I must have the conquerors haki too, right?

Oh right! There's also the six powers of the Cipher Pol agency of the world government. But it's also not easy to obtain. Sigh…

With his mind buzzing, he shifted back to the basics. I will just focus on swordsmanship for now. After all, it also has various levels. If I have to categorize, it would be like this: Novice, beginner, intermediate, advanced, master and grandmaster. Grandmaster being the highest known level. Dracule Mihawk is probably at the peak of the Grandmaster tier.

So many monsters out there, he thought, feeling a mix of excitement and challenge.

"Cain! Dinner's ready; come eat!" Koji's voice interrupted his thoughts.

After a quiet dinner, Cain returned to his room, pulled out a futon from the storage compartment, and lay down. The day had been intense, filled with new challenges and Koushirou's rigorous instructions. His shoulders ached, his grip was sore from holding the shinai, and his legs felt heavy from the stance drills. But despite the exhaustion in his body, a small, satisfied smile spread across his face.

Cain's eyes began to grow heavy as he thought of the future, his breathing deepening with each passing second. He would learn the art of the sword, and beyond that, he'd aim for things no one had ever thought him capable of.

Haki, Devil Fruits… even the legendary skills I've only heard whispers about. They'll be mine one day, he vowed to himself.

This is only the beginning!