One Piece Chapter 97: Sandai Kitetsu

Inside a clothing store, Nami models a long black dress with a fur collar. She asks, "AND THISI" The shopkeeper exclaims, "LOVELY, MISS!" She then tries a revealing fur-trimmed outfit and inquires, "HOW'S THISI" The shopkeeper replies enthusiastically, "OHHH, HOW ELEGANT YOU LOOK!" and "OHHH! IT SUITS YOU WONDERFULLY, MISS!" Nami continues trying different styles as the shopkeeper praises each one: "EROTIC!", "ELEGANT!", "ELECTRICAL!", "ELEMENTARY!" Nami finally decides, "NOPE, DON'T NEED IT." The shopkeeper pleads, "PLEASE COME AGAIN! I WANT SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE CASUAL." Nami smiles and asks, "SO WILL YOU BE BUYING ALL THIS, MISSI"

In the town square, a large crowd gathers before an imposing building. Bold sound effects and narration declare, "THE EXECUTION STAND." A voice notes, "SO THAT'S WHERE THE GREAT PIRATE KING WAS EXECUTED..." Nami, wearing a wide hat, stares in awe and says, "THERE IT IS..." She continues, "THE PLACE WHERE THE GREATEST PIRATE IN HISTORY WAS PUT TO DEATH..." Luffy stands with his back to the viewer, taking in the historic site as onlookers react with murmurs.

Narration continues over the empty execution platform: "WHERE THE PIRATE AGE BEGAN... AND THE PLACE..." In the street, Zoro reacts with shock, "THAT WAS SHOCKING." Nearby voices mutter, "DAMN IT..." Nami and Zoro walk together. Nami remarks, "AT LEAST I WON'T EVER RUN INTO HER AGAIN AFTER ALL..." Zoro replies, "WELL, IT IS A BIG WORLD, AFTER ALL..." Nami adds, "S... SORRY FOR TROUBLING YOU. NOT ONLY THAT, SHE'S A SWORDSMAN AS WELL!" Zoro notes, "BUT THAT GIRL LOOKS WAY TOO MUCH LIKE KUINA."

Roronoa Zoro enters the Loguetown arms shop. The proprietor, Ipponmatsu, greets him enthusiastically. "YES, YES, YES, YES." Ipponmatsu bows and says, "COME RIGHT IN, SIR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LOOK AROUND AS MUCH AS YOU WANT." He continues, "WE'VE GOT ANTIQUE SWORDS, NEW SWORDS, AND THE LATEST SWORDS IN FASHION. AFTER ALL, THIS IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED STORE THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 200 YEARS!" Zoro replies, "Sell me two swords. I've got 100,000 beli." Ipponmatsu reacts in shock, "YOU WANT 2 SWORDS WITH ONLY 100,000!I" and thinks, "SO HE'S JUST SOME PENNILESS TRASH. MUST BE SOME IGNORANT NEWBIE..."

Ipponmatsu notices the sword on Zoro's waist and thinks, "THAT SWORD ON HIS WAIST... COULD IT BE...!I" He stammers in panic, "C-C-C-COULD I M-M-MAYBE S-S-SEE THAT S-S-S-SWORD OF YOURS...I" while thinking, "KEEP IT COOL NOW..." Zoro draws the blade, confirming, "THIS IS DEFINITELY..." Ipponmatsu yelps, "ACK!" and sweats heavily. Zoro apologizes, "SORRY, I WAS LYING JUST NOW," as Ipponmatsu yells, "WHATI MEH, IT'S NO GOOD. JUST A PIECE OF JUNK." Ipponmatsu internally panics, "A DUMB NOVICE JUST HAPPENED TO COME IN WITH A FAMOUS SWORD HANGING ON HIS WAIST SO DON'T MESS IT UP! JUST PLAY IT COOL..." and thinks, "C... CALM DOWN! THIS IS MY BIG CHANCE!"

Ipponmatsu offers, "SO I'LL OFFER YOU 200,000 FOR THIS SWORD," explaining, "MEANING THAT YOU'LL HAVE 300,000 IN TOTAL. WITH THAT MUCH MONEY, YOU CAN BUY 3 DECENT SWORDS AT 100,000 APIECE." He adds, "I KNOW YOU'RE BROKE SO LET ME PROPOSE SOMETHING. THIS SWORD YOU'VE GOT HERE CERTAINLY AIN'T NO JUNK, BUT IT'S NO MASTERPIECE EITHER. IT'S AN ABOVE-AVERAGE SWORD." Zoro firmly states, "THIS SWORD ISN'T SOMETHING FOR SALE..." Ipponmatsu persists, "LISTEN PAL, I'LL BUY IT FOR 650,000! HOOK, LINE, AND S..." A woman with glasses appears behind Zoro. Ipponmatsu reacts in shock, "COULD IT BE!I" as she reaches for the sword. Zoro turns, startled.

Tashigi examines the sword closely and exclaims with a smile, "THIS IS... 'WADOU ICHIMONJI,' RIGHT!I" A note reads, "(It literally means 'Straight path of harmony')." Ipponmatsu stammers, "Y-Y-Y-YES... I-I-IT DOES H-H-HAPPEN TO GO BY SUCH A NAME... BUT IT'S STILL JUST A DECENT SWORD AT BEST..." Tashigi admires it, "SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EDGE..." Zoro reacts with surprise, "!I WADOU...!I" Ipponmatsu then shouts desperately, "LOOK! LOOK RIGHT HERE! IT'S A SWORD THAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT FOR ANY LESS THAN A MILLION BELI!" while thinking in panic, "DECENT!I WHY, THAT'S RIDICULOUS! THIS IS ONE OF THE 21 GREAT-GRADE SWORDS! IT'S FAMOUS!"

In the arms shop, the large proprietor Ipponmatsu polishes a sword while muttering, "HMPH, I CAN'T BELIEVE A TIMID GIRL LIKE YOU CARRIES AROUND A HIGH-GRADE SWORD...!" A customer protests, "YOU'VE COME TO PICK UP YOUR 'SHIGURE,' RIGHT!I HERE, IT'S BEEN POLISHED ALREADY!" The woman replies nervously, "WHAT!I OBSTRUCTION OF BUSINESS!I I'M SORRY, DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONGI" Ipponmatsu roars, "I SHOULD SUE YOU FOR OBSTRUCTION OF BUSINESS!" and "DAMN IT, WOMAN! YOU'VE GONE AND TOLD HIM EVERYTHING!" He continues, "IT'S JUST THAT... I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FINE SWORD BEFORE AND...!" The scene shifts as Ipponmatsu, now furious with a cross-shaped hat, declares, "IT'S EXACTLY AS SHE SAYS AND IT'S A DAMN SHAME THAT A GUY LIKE YOU WHO DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ITS TRUE VALUE IS ITS OWNER! THAT SWORD IS A MASTER-WORK BLADE!" He yells at the swordsman, "THE HECK ARE YOU FALLING OVER THERE FOR!I PUT ALL THE SWORDS BACK IN THEIR PLACE AND JUST LEAVE ALREADY!" while sound effects crash "ガラガラ ガシャア!!" and "AHhh!" Later, the spiky-haired swordsman asks the short-haired woman, "DIDN'T WE MEET EARLIER, JUST NOW ON THE STREETSI" She responds, "AH!" The proprietor shouts from the counter, "SO PICK TWO YOU LIKE AND BRING'EM OVER HERE! THOSE BARRELS BACK THERE ARE FULL OF 50,000 BELI-SWORDS." The swordsman thinks, "WHAT'S HE SO ANGRY ABOUT..."

The woman with glasses smiles and asks the swordsman, "SO YOU LOVE SWORDS, DO YOUI" He lifts a blade and replies, "I'M TALKING OF RORONOA ZORO. DO YOU KNOW HIMI" She answers, "IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING SO, YOUR 3 SWORDS REMIND ME OF A CERTAIN BOUNTY HUNTER!" The swordsman questions, "A CERTAIN BOUNTY HUNTER...I" She continues, "TO THINK THAT HE TREATS HIS SWORDS AS MERELY A MEANS OF MAKING MONEY... IT'S SIMPLY UNFORGIVABLE!" while examining blades on the wall. The swordsman responds, "OR SHOULD I SAY, INFAMOUSI" She adds, "YES, HE'S QUITE A FAMOUS SWORDSMAN HERE IN EAST BLUE. I HAVE HEARD OF HIS NAME QUITE A BIT." In a close-up, she holds a sword and states passionately, "AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO POSSESS MOST OF THE WORLD'S MASTERWORK BLADES. ALL THE FAMOUS SWORDSMEN OF TODAY ARE EITHER PIRATES OR BOUNTY HUNTERS. WHY IS IT THAT THE EVIL ARE SO STRONG IN THIS DAY AND AGE...I THE SWORDS ARE CRYING, YOU KNOW."

Ipponmatsu complains from behind the counter, "BUT EVER SINCE THAT MONSTER WAS PLACED IN CHARGE OF THIS TOWN, I BARELY GET ANY CUSTOMERS ANYMORE!" The woman replies, "I REMEMBER WHEN MY SHOP USED TO BE TEEMING WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ENTER THE GRAND LINE." The swordsman notes, "OCCUPATIONS REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE TIME, AFTER ALL." Ipponmatsu adds, "WELL, PERHAPS THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, NOI" The swordsman reacts with surprise, "DEVIL FRUIT...I" as Ipponmatsu explains, "HE'S A DEVIL FRUIT USER! THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO CALL HIM A MONSTER!" The woman shouts, "S-SMOKER IS NO MONSTER!" In a dramatic close-up she raises a sword and declares, "SUCH THAT I CAN TRAVEL THE WORLD AND RETRIEVE ALL THE MASTERWORK BLADES FROM THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS! WHETHER IT BE THE 12 SUPREME-GRADE SWORDS, 21 GREAT-GRADE SWORDS, OR THE 50 SKILLFUL-GRADE SWORDS, I SHALL RISK MY LIFE TO RETRIEVE THEM! IN ANY CASE... BEING A SWORDSMAN MYSELF, I VOW TO TRAIN HARDER AND HARDER WITH MY SHIGURE!"

The swordsman holds up a blade and asks, "DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL TAKE THIS SWORD TOOI THIS SWORD YOU CALL WADOU ICHIMONJI..." The woman reacts with shock, "AH!I THAT SWORD IS...!" while Ipponmatsu looks on. She continues, "I SIMPLY DETEST THE IDEA OF THEM BEING USED FOR EVIL." The swordsman says, "HM..." She clarifies, "OH, NO, NOT AT ALL. IT'S NOT THAT I WANT THESE SWORDS FOR MYSELF." In a powerful panel she thrusts forward the sword Sandai Kitetsu, shouting, "YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY BUY THIS SWORD!" with large sound effects "どきどき" and "ビキッ" as the blade is revealed. A note reads "Sandaikitetsu" and a small panel shows a surprised face. The page ends with the dramatic reveal of the third-generation demon blade.

Inside the Loguetown arms shop, the proprietor explains the history of the blades. "It's predecessor 'Nidai Kitetsu' is one of the great-grade swords, it should normally be sold for a million beli. That's amazing! This is another high-grade sword!" A young woman customer reacts in shock: "Y-yes... Are you really selling this sword for only 50,000I!" Zoro examines the blade closely. "While 'Shodai Kitetsu' is one of the supreme-grade swords!" He draws the sword, feeling its edge. "It's cursed, rightI" The shopkeeper panics and changes his mind. "No, I changed my mind! I can't sell that sword! What!I But why!I" Ipponmatsu sweats heavily as he recalls the curse. "Beginning with the Shodai Kitetsu, the Kitetsu line of blades are renowned for their quality, but they're also cursed swords!...It's as you said. I could tell. No... You knew...I"

Ipponmatsu continues explaining the danger. "That's why you won't find any swordsmen who'd dare to use a Kitetsu these days. Many famous swordsmen of the past have suffered tragic deaths after carrying around the Kitetsu swords. Even if a person was unaware of the curse behind these swords, they'd still end up dead after wielding one." He adds, "This is why amateurs like you shouldn't act like they're experts about swords!" Zoro swings the blade anyway. Ipponmatsu begs desperately, "I had no idea it was such a terrifying sword, forgive me! But I'm afraid of being cursed too... I wish I could get rid of that damn sword." Zoro grins and declares, "Y-you idiot, I said it's not for sale! If I did sell it to you and you ended up dead, I'd be as lost as if I were the one who killed you! So much so that I'll take it! I like it!"

Zoro smirks confidently. "My luck... or its curse...I Then how about thisI Why don't we test what's strongerI" Ipponmatsu yells in panic, "Don't be stupid! Just sell the damn thing already!" Zoro hurls the Kitetsu sword high into the air. It spins wildly as he extends his left arm directly beneath its falling blade. "Wha!I" The shopkeeper screams, "Agh! But honey!" Ipponmatsu's wife cries out in terror, "Ahhh...!" Ipponmatsu shouts desperately, "Stop! You'll lose your arm! That sword's sharpness is unparalleled!" The blade plummets straight toward Zoro's outstretched arm.

The cursed sword slices downward. Zoro's arm remains unharmed as the blade miraculously misses or turns aside. He catches the sword cleanly. "I'll take it!" Ipponmatsu lies sprawled on the floor in shock, covered in sweat and debris. Zoro stands over him holding the Kitetsu. "Hey, you. Pick one more sword out for me." Ipponmatsu groans weakly on the ground as the cursed blade rests beside him. The shop bell rings faintly in the background.

In the arms shop, the proprietor urgently calls out, "JUST... WAIT RIGHT HERE!" and "HANG ON!" as a small figure dashes away. Tashigi, adjusting her glasses, replies hesitantly, "O-OK..." then wonders, "HMMI" The shop owner presents a long black-lacquered sword on the counter and declares, "ALTHOUGH MY STORE MAY NOT BE MUCH, THIS IS THE BEST SWORD I HAVE. THIS IS A BLACK LACQUERED LONGSWORD WITH AN UNRAVELLED EDGE. IT'S NAME IS 'YUBASHIRI,' ONE OF THE 50 SKILLFUL-GRADE SWORDS! I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO ITS SHARPNESS!" He continues earnestly, "AS THEY SAY, THE SWORD CHOOSES ITS OWNER. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SEEN A SWORDSMAN AS GOOD AS YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR TRYING TO TRICK YOU BEFORE. AND OF COURSE, I WON'T ASK YOU TO PAY FOR SANDAI KITETSU EITHER. SO I SHALL ALSO BELIEVE IN YOUR GOOD LUCK AND PRAY!" The swordsman answers firmly, "I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY MONEY! I ALREADY TOLD YOU I HAVE NO MONEY." The owner laughs, "HAHA... I CAN'T BUY THIS. I ALREADY TOLD YOU I HAVE NO MONEY."

Zoro strides through the Loguetown streets carrying three swords, declaring, "I FEEL MUCH BETTER WHEN I HAVE 3 SWORDS." Tashigi sits inside the weapon shop on a checkered floor and snaps, "SILENCE, WOMAN! I'D NEVER HAVE IMAGINED A CHEAPSKATE LIKE YOU WOULD WILLINGLY GIVE AWAY THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM." Moments later she sits dejectedly, murmuring, "I CAN'T EVEN STAND UP AFTER THAT..." The furious shop owner shouts, "YES, DEAR! ALRIGHT, JUST GET TO CLEANING THE BATHTUB. JUST WHAT'S WRONG WITH A MAN ENTRUSTING HIS DREAM TO ANOTHER MAN!I"

At the Loguetown Marine station a Marine reports, "WE'VE GOT AN EYEWITNESS REPORT ABOUT PIRATES. GO BRING HER BACK IMMEDIATELY." Another asks, "JUST HOW MANY HOURS DOES SHE NEED TO DO THAT!I" and adds, "SEARGENT MAJOR TASHIGI HAS GONE TO PICK UP HER SWORD AT THE ARMS SHOP, SIR!" A voice questions, "IS TASHIGI STILL NOT HERE!I" Captain Smoker, cigar in mouth, growls, "DAMN THAT CLUMSY WOMAN... SHE'S THE SHAME OF THE MARINE HEADQUARTERS..." while a subordinate answers, "YES, CAPTAIN SMOKER!" Elsewhere a long-haired man exclaims, "BIG TOWNS SURE ARE DIFFERENT! OHHHHH!" as smoke drifts past shuttered buildings. Alvida appears in a wide hat, smiling confidently, "JUST LOOK AT THAT, BEAUTIFUL LADY!"

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