Hunted by Characters I Drew!!

"One-Sword Style: Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix!"

With a sharp motion, Zoro dashed toward Yasuo, his blade cutting through the air. 

This technique, originally developed later in his journey, had been mastered by Zoro ahead of time. Having watched the entirety of 'One Piece', particularly the Wanokuni arc, he had gleaned insights that allowed him to hone his skills and invent new techniques far earlier than in canon. 

Similarly, Luffy had also been making rapid progress, nearly mastering his 'Second Gear' and 'Third Gear'. However, without a teacher for 'Haki', the growth of the Straw Hat Pirates remained somewhat limited for now. 

Yasuo looked at Zoro with a faint smile as he parried the strike effortlessly. "Why are you so eager to fight at such a young age?" 

"Oni Giri!" 

A powerful gust of wind surged from Yasuo's blade, forming a tornado that met Zoro's attack head-on. 

Boom! 

The collision of the two techniques created a whirlwind that roared through the backyard, the shockwaves rustling Ais's hair as she watched in awe. Her golden eyes sparkled as she observed the duel. 

Ais wasn't weak herself, boasting Level 6 strength in the 'Danmachi' world. Yet, the precision and elegance of swordsmanship demonstrated by Yasuo and Zoro were a revelation to her. Unlike the magical and skill-driven fighting style of her own world, this was pure mastery of the blade. 

Both swordsmen wielded wind-based techniques, which resonated with Ais's own abilities. An idea began forming in her mind—a bold one. 

——

Clash after clash rang out. 

"Two-Sword Style: Seventy-Two Pound Phoenix!" 

"Wind Barrier!" 

"One-Sword Style: Three Hundred and Sixty Pound Wind Strike!" 

"Wind Barrier!" 

"Three-Sword Style: Three Thousand Worlds!" 

"Wind Barrier!" 

No matter how fiercely Zoro attacked, Yasuo's 'Wind Wall' stood impenetrable. Frustration boiled within Zoro as he gritted his teeth. 

"Hey! Aren't you a swordsman? All you've got is that wind barrier? Why don't you face me head-on?!" Zoro shouted angrily. 

Yasuo chuckled lightly, his demeanor far from the aloof and stoic swordsman he once was. Ever since his emotional burdens had been lifted, he had embraced a new, fiery side of himself. 

"Alright, if you insist." Yasuo sighed, vanishing in a blur of afterimages. 

"Step Forward Slash!" 

With a flash, Yasuo appeared behind Zoro, his sword gleaming as it completed a devastating arc. 

Zoro clenched his swords tightly. "Asura—Nine-Sword Style!" 

In an instant, Zoro seemed to sprout three heads and six arms, his nine blades flashing simultaneously. 

Clang! 

The sound of metal echoed as the two fighters crossed paths mid-air, landing back in their respective positions. 

Yasuo sheathed his sword calmly, his voice low and steady. "Death is like the wind—always by my side." 

Zoro retracted his blades as well. Though their duel had no clear winner, Zoro knew Yasuo hadn't been fighting with his full strength. 

"Hey, Yasuo! Where are you going? Get back here!" Zoro called out, ready to continue. 

Before Zoro could charge forward, a figure rushed past him. 

"Excuse me, Mr. Yasuo! Please accept me as your apprentice!" 

Yasuo froze in surprise. Ais stood before him, her gaze unwavering and resolute. 

Yasuo stared at her, completely taken aback. 'Who is this girl?' he thought. 'And why is she asking me to teach her out of the blue?' 

He immediately recalled a young girl he had once mentored, only to find the experience far more troublesome than rewarding. He had no intention of repeating it. 

"I'm not taking apprentices," Yasuo said curtly. 

"Hey! What's wrong with you?!" Zoro interrupted, glaring at Ais. "It's first come, first served! I'm not done fighting him yet!" 

Turning back to Zoro, Yasuo raised an eyebrow. "Kid, you don't get it, do you? You're talented—exceptionally so. Give it another two years, and I might not even be able to defeat you. But for now…" Yasuo smirked confidently. "You still can't beat me." 

Yasuo tilted his head slightly, gazing up at the sky with an exaggerated air of melancholy. "Ah, life is so lonely—like snow." 

Zoro stared at him, slack-jawed. 'This guy's just showing off!' 

"You're kidding, right? Two years? By then, I'll be on Hawkeye's level! I won't need you!" Zoro shouted angrily. 

Yasuo sighed, shaking his head. 'Who does this kid think he's fooling?' 

He knew better than to humor Zoro. If he engaged him in another duel, the consequences were clear: 

If Yasuo won, Zoro would hound him relentlessly for a rematch. If Zoro won—well, that wasn't an option. As the 'Wind Swordsman', Yasuo had his pride. 

"I'm the Gale Swordsman," Yasuo muttered to himself. "I can't lose face like this." 

Zoro, however, wasn't about to back down. "Hey! Stop pretending to be cool and fight me! I'm not leaving until I win!"