The story begins on the anniversary of Kuina's death, a few years after her death. Kuina is now a kind of legend about which many rumors circulate, such as that she defeated Zoro 2,000 times or that if you visit her grave, you will improve your swordsman level.
One afternoon, after finishing his personal training, Zoro heard some children singing a song about Mihawk.
“Mihawk, the master swordsman. A man with hawk eyes. His withering slash is so fast, he slips out of your sight. Silently, he appears before you. And before you know it, you are already dead.”
It's a song that children learned from a traveler who visited the island years before, and now children love to sing it while playing.
A girl from the town inn, named Himari, arrives to warn Zoro of some recent attacks that had taken place in the town. A certain person had been sneaking into the swordsmen's houses at night to kill them. Zoro says that there is nothing to fear from someone so cowardly that he only attacks when his target is asleep.
Himari tells Zoro that it is rumored that the true identity of the attacker could be "Mihawk Hawkeyes", and that the incredibly powerful swordsman who a few years ago challenged 2,000 dojos in the area (who was nicknamed the "Dojo Destroyer" ) could also be him.
Knowing that the current attacker is a mere copycat, Zoro does not pay much attention to the case. But Himari is worried because she knows Mihawk's name from the song the other kids sing and she keeps talking to Zoro. Himari says that although Zoro is the strongest in the village, he is just a “mantis” that feeds on weaker insects. Once Zoro leaves town, and in the “wild” he'll be finished after encountering a bear.
Zoro gives Himari a small knife that he uses to help the old women in the village cut fish.
Zoro: "So you can defend yourself. Learn to use it, even if it's just the basics."
Himari: "But I can't fight. You know, I'm a girl."
That night, Zoro performed the rituals for Kuina's death for the first time in many years, as the rest of the people stayed inside their homes for fear of Mihawk. Zoro made a rough boat out of bamboo leaves, placed inside a sail that he brought with him, and put the boat in the river to sail down the river. But the boat sank.
Then, Zoro noticed the presence of someone among the leaves near the river. It was a tall man carrying a very long sword. His movements were soft and silent, as if he were a night hawk. Zoro thought he might be the night attacker and followed him. That mysterious man was heading to Koushirou's house to take his head, but Zoro arrived before him at his teacher's house thanks to him passing through the village.
Zoro woke up his teacher and asked Koushirou to let him deal with the murderer. Koushirou accepted the proposal and returned to bed. While he waited, Zoro was nervous at the prospect of facing Mihawk, the man known as the best swordsman in the world. That way, Zoro could keep his promise.
Zoro confronted the murderer by asking him about his identity. The assassin responded that he was there to challenge the dojo master, Zoro then noticed that the assassin's voice was that of a very young person. The assassin asked Zoro if he was the master of the dojo and Zoro said yes but Koushirou, who was behind Zoro, said that the real owner of the dojo was him.
Zoro: "But I'm the strongest swordsman in the village. Does that give you a problem?"
Killer: "No!!"
Zoro and the assassin begin to fight (the novel says that Zoro's eyes "became like those of a shark"). After some exchanges of blows, both of their swords are covered in red. Zoro received a few superficial cuts.
Zoro gets to see the killer's face for the first time.
Zoro: "...Just as I thought, a completely different person."
Zoro describes the killer's face as narrow and nervous, and nothing like the one he had seen on the Wanted poster for "Hawkeyes."
The assassin explains that he simply enjoys fighting strong opponents. Zoro asks him then why he does it in such a dishonorable way. The assassin replies that a victory is a victory, no matter how it is achieved.
The assassin tries to scare Zoro by talking about his supposed 2,000 victories. Zoro reveals to the assassin that the man he is fighting right now is the man the assassin is targeting. Afterwards, Zoro ends up killing him and says that this is his 2001st victory.
As Koushirou watches the scene, he thinks to himself that this is goodbye, and remembers the growth Zoro has had over the years. Koushirou could no longer face Zoro for several years, so Zoro began to travel to towns near his own in search of new opponents. Koushirou believes that there are no longer any swordsmen in the area who can satisfy Zoro.
Koushirou asks Zoro to leave in the morning, as he wants the townspeople to have a chance to say goodbye to him. But Zoro decides that he will leave immediately, and bows to his teacher as farewell to him.
Before leaving, Zoro turns around and asks Koushirou to give this message to Himari.
Zoro: "Tell her I'm the bear."
One afternoon, after finishing his personal training, Zoro heard some children singing a song about Mihawk.
“Mihawk, the master swordsman. A man with hawk eyes. His withering slash is so fast, he slips out of your sight. Silently, he appears before you. And before you know it, you are already dead.”
It's a song that children learned from a traveler who visited the island years before, and now children love to sing it while playing.
A girl from the town inn, named Himari, arrives to warn Zoro of some recent attacks that had taken place in the town. A certain person had been sneaking into the swordsmen's houses at night to kill them. Zoro says that there is nothing to fear from someone so cowardly that he only attacks when his target is asleep.
Himari tells Zoro that it is rumored that the true identity of the attacker could be "Mihawk Hawkeyes", and that the incredibly powerful swordsman who a few years ago challenged 2,000 dojos in the area (who was nicknamed the "Dojo Destroyer" ) could also be him.
Knowing that the current attacker is a mere copycat, Zoro does not pay much attention to the case. But Himari is worried because she knows Mihawk's name from the song the other kids sing and she keeps talking to Zoro. Himari says that although Zoro is the strongest in the village, he is just a “mantis” that feeds on weaker insects. Once Zoro leaves town, and in the “wild” he'll be finished after encountering a bear.
Zoro gives Himari a small knife that he uses to help the old women in the village cut fish.
Zoro: "So you can defend yourself. Learn to use it, even if it's just the basics."
Himari: "But I can't fight. You know, I'm a girl."
That night, Zoro performed the rituals for Kuina's death for the first time in many years, as the rest of the people stayed inside their homes for fear of Mihawk. Zoro made a rough boat out of bamboo leaves, placed inside a sail that he brought with him, and put the boat in the river to sail down the river. But the boat sank.
Then, Zoro noticed the presence of someone among the leaves near the river. It was a tall man carrying a very long sword. His movements were soft and silent, as if he were a night hawk. Zoro thought he might be the night attacker and followed him. That mysterious man was heading to Koushirou's house to take his head, but Zoro arrived before him at his teacher's house thanks to him passing through the village.
Zoro woke up his teacher and asked Koushirou to let him deal with the murderer. Koushirou accepted the proposal and returned to bed. While he waited, Zoro was nervous at the prospect of facing Mihawk, the man known as the best swordsman in the world. That way, Zoro could keep his promise.
Zoro confronted the murderer by asking him about his identity. The assassin responded that he was there to challenge the dojo master, Zoro then noticed that the assassin's voice was that of a very young person. The assassin asked Zoro if he was the master of the dojo and Zoro said yes but Koushirou, who was behind Zoro, said that the real owner of the dojo was him.
Zoro: "But I'm the strongest swordsman in the village. Does that give you a problem?"
Killer: "No!!"
Zoro and the assassin begin to fight (the novel says that Zoro's eyes "became like those of a shark"). After some exchanges of blows, both of their swords are covered in red. Zoro received a few superficial cuts.
Zoro gets to see the killer's face for the first time.
Zoro: "...Just as I thought, a completely different person."
Zoro describes the killer's face as narrow and nervous, and nothing like the one he had seen on the Wanted poster for "Hawkeyes."
The assassin explains that he simply enjoys fighting strong opponents. Zoro asks him then why he does it in such a dishonorable way. The assassin replies that a victory is a victory, no matter how it is achieved.
The assassin tries to scare Zoro by talking about his supposed 2,000 victories. Zoro reveals to the assassin that the man he is fighting right now is the man the assassin is targeting. Afterwards, Zoro ends up killing him and says that this is his 2001st victory.
As Koushirou watches the scene, he thinks to himself that this is goodbye, and remembers the growth Zoro has had over the years. Koushirou could no longer face Zoro for several years, so Zoro began to travel to towns near his own in search of new opponents. Koushirou believes that there are no longer any swordsmen in the area who can satisfy Zoro.
Koushirou asks Zoro to leave in the morning, as he wants the townspeople to have a chance to say goodbye to him. But Zoro decides that he will leave immediately, and bows to his teacher as farewell to him.
Before leaving, Zoro turns around and asks Koushirou to give this message to Himari.
Zoro: "Tell her I'm the bear."
