#“Worth it after pirates tried to kill us all” - Roronoa Zoro

[gildedmuse]

[I do not think there's a comment I can add to this to make it better than it is.]

Here there Strawhats are at a mind altering, greatest ever concert so of course when the singer is attack they jump in to save her.

And then there is Zoro like: Thank Fucking Luffy, Some ACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT.

[at1nys-blog]

Some stories gets told: Reversed roles

Pairing: OPLA!Roronoa Zoro x fem!reader

Summary: The battle is over and while everyone is in the right mood celebrate a certain writer is not. This is Zoro's time to comfort her and tell her a story of a lost friend.

Pt.1\\Masterlist\\Pt.2

If four days ago people would have told her she was going to be a loyal member of a pirate crew that wasn't Shank’s' she would have laughed; if four days ago people would have told her she was going to tell someone her story, she would have joked about it; if four days ago they would have told her she was going to be chasing for her dream she would have been lying that her dream was to have a boring life in Syrup Village, but there she was: in her room revising her writing for the the crew's boarding diary.

She was deep in her thoughts when someone knocked on the door, Sanji wanted to ask if she needed anything to eat or drink, her answer came in the form of point her water bag on her desk. The blonde pirate left her alone with her diary and her thoughts.

She kept staring at the same portion of her draft, thinking if it was worth it or not putting her story in there. She thought there was no use in that, who would have been interested in the past experience of a pirate like her, with a dream so useless as hers? Reading what she had wrote about the rest of crew, she was reminded once again that maybe she had to change her dream. Being the most famous writer in the world was nothing compared to what her new friends wanted to achieve.

This time no one knocked on her door, Zoro just came in without making his presence noticed.

-What...- the two of them hold eye contact for some seconds untill the swordsman noticed he got in the wrong room. -Right, not my room. Sorry.- when he left she laughed, for a moment and decided to appoint how the pirate couldn't find his way on his ship either.

She could sense her head exploding, her eyes started to hurt like crazy and if she didn't want to Usopp to lecture her she had to stop and take a break.

Entering the kitchen she was met with a smiling Luffy and a very confused Usopp, Sanji and Zoro.

-What is happening?-she asked.

-I wish I knew.-whispered Usopp leaning closer to her, his attention still on the captain that was taking something out from a bag.

-Hello guys.-said the...head? of a clown. What was happening??

-You gotta be kidding me.- scoffed the green haired man. The situation was still new to her, and Usopp too. Sanji as well couldn't understand why Zoro was stressed about having to deal with the head of a clown.

-What is wrong with this clown's head?- Y/N asked, she was curious to why there was such tension between the swordsman and... the clown's head.

-Oh, nothing, just that he tried to kill us for a map.- oh, that makes sense she thought to herself and took a piece of paper and wrote down "clown attack" as a note for later. She was going to write about that for sure.

-Zoro, buddy. Look I have changed, I am not here to kill you anymore.- the head spoke. Zoro rolled his eyes and pointed a finger at Luffy before warn his friend that if the clown did anything remotly suspicious, he was going to drop him out in the open sea.

She noticed how much fun the head was in teasing every single one of the crew, first with Y/N pointing out how sad she was looking, then with Usopp calling him 'Captain Shit-tastic'; then it was Zoro's time to get teased but the second in command was not going to stay calm about it. He took Buggy's head from his kerchief and threaten him to drop him at sea.

Zoro wanted to make sure it wasn't a trap, after all he had tried to kill him, Luffy and Nami the first time they had met. Usopp and Y/N kept an eye during the whole interaction between the two of them and hoped, at least the girl, that this was going to be the last time him and the head would argue like that.

Once Buggy gave his word that he was not walking them into a trap, starting singing a very obscene and out of tune sea shanty, Zoro decided to drop him inside a barrel. Y/N had to hold in her laugh, she didn't want to upset the clown further even though he was not in the situation to do anything about people laughing at him.

-...sounds like you don't know her either, mosshead.-

-they do look like moss, now that I give a better look at them.-

-yours look like a bird nest, now thay I gibe a better look at them.- he mocked her, annoyed about the comment she made. She was about to compliment him for his payback(?) but Sanji started to yell at him that was in no way how he was supposed to treat a lady. -I'm sorry m'lady.- he said in a mocking tone giving her a courtsy. -I'm sach a savage.- and with that he left the deck, deciding that maybe it was better for him to stay away from everyone.

-I hope his comment didn't hurt your feelings, madam.- the use of 'madam' cringed her a little bit, mostly because it never happened before that someone used the term for her.

-Nah, he was joking, is okay. So, what where you talking about?-

-Nami.-started Luffy. -and her choice, whatever it is I need to hear it for myself.- she was happy to have found such a nice pirate, if it was anyone else, she was pretty sure they wouldn't care and would have left her behind. But not Luffy. He was different and she couldn't help but smile at her captain.

It was after some minutes that Usopp spotted land and staring at the island she started to get nervous, what if it was a waste of time? What if Nami didn't want to come with them? What if she was going to loose her company? She didn't want to admit but, even though she had known Nami for literally two days, she had grew fond of the girl and considered her as a sister. She didn't want to face rejection from her.

Entering the village she started to feel a rush of sadness taking over her body. She had never seen anything like that before, thinking what Kuro planned was bad enought she had to consider, the fake butler was an angel compared to Aarlong. She was sure it was him, and Luffy only confirmed her thoughts.

-Hey, shithat! I think we can all agree that Aarlong's a bad fish.-it got her everytime Buggy would start talking, she wasn't used to such a situation. -But why don't we quit lollygagging and get my body back?-

-Pipe down in there.- commented Sanji. Not him nor the rest of the crew was in the mood to listen to a head complaining about his situation.

-or what? You gonna whip me up a soufflè?- that, she had to admit it, was funny but maybe just for her because the four boys looked at her confused.

-What? It was funny.- she answered

-I like her, she gets me.-

-Yeah, just don't push your luck Clown.- before the head could start another argument with her Luffy started to walk away, following a bunch of people yelling at each other for only the seven seas know why.

A man with a little started to collect what the crew thought to be Berries from the crowd of people. Some rolled their eyes, cursing under their breath; some others cried, Y/N had a thought the money they gave away was their last.

-Do we have time to get some more?- asked a woman from the crowed.

-No. You don't.- the girl didn't have time to think who was speaking, and once the people in front of them opened a passage for Nami Y/N and Luffy were ready to greet their friend. Zoro stopped the both of them, it wasn't the right time to get involved.

A look at Zoro and Luffy got the memo, stopping his walk to the ginger woman. Y/N on her hand didn't care. She wanted to talk to Nami as soon as possible; she wanted to know why she left and she wanted to try and bring her back with her, with the crew.

-No, not now.- said Zoro, in a whisper for just her to hear.

-But...-

-No buts. We will talk to her later.- there was no way she could fight him on that, if the swordsman thought it wasn't time yet, it wasn't. The girl left a annoyed "fine" and walked some steps backwards.

-You got something for me?- her tone was harsh, Y/N couldn't believe her friends could be meaner from what she witnessed, but even when Nami used a cold tone with the crew, she knew it was becuase someone had to, but now? She was just mean, for no reason. She sounded like her bully back in the days. She was so caught in her world that didn't notice Nami saw them; she didn't hear her asking Luffy why he was there.

-And you? Why didn't you stopped him?-that was brought her back to reality but even then she couldn't understand what was happening. -I asked you a question.- the girl couldn't speak, but even if she could what was she supposed to say?

-Because I need you back.- that was supposed to be kept between the wall of her mind, but as usual the words left her mouth before she could register what she was saying.

-I don't need you. I don't need any of you.- Nami gave a quick look on everyone before she went back to speak. -Aarlong wanted the map, and I conned you into getting it for me. And you bought it. I was never part of your stupid crew.-

-You don't mean that.- Y/N started to think Luffy and her are connected somehow because whatever he spoke were the same words she was thinking. Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe the two of them had learned to read between the lines and managed to understand when something was off, not just with Nami. Maybe Nami was just to easy to read, an open book there for everyone to catch on what she really meant, just like now. She could tell, and so Luffy, she needed to be saved but if she couldn't ask for it is not like you could do anything about it.

-Take the rest of these clowns and sail away from there. I never want to see you again.- and with that the ginger woman left, and once again Y/N wished nothing but to go after her friend, and once again Zoro had to stop her, an unspoken "is not worth it" flew between the two.

-Okay, that went about as bad as it could. So back to the boat before the fishmen find us? Sail the hell out of here? Okay.-

-No.-

-She is right, there's something else going on here.- added Sanji.

-She was very clear she want us to leave.-

-You don't know her.-

-Because you do?-

-No, but unlike someone here I can read in between lines. She is just trying to not get us involved in whatever is happening here.- she really didn't want to start a fight but Zoro was giving her milion of reasons to, and the same with Sanji. It was like the swordsman just wanted to start arguing with everyone on his sight.

-Guys, guys. You don't get it? She's one of them. She is a bad guy. The villagers are terrified of her.- she rolled her eyes and if it wasn't for Luffy walking away, she was going to smack Usopp on the head, annoyed by his behaviour.

-Who was that lady? You know, the one with the cool hair?- the Scar guy, or how Luffy addressed him asked who wanted to know to witch the captain answered with his name followed by "I'm a pirate" to wich Zoro corrected, adding a little thing.

-We're here to collect Aarlong's bounty.- it made sense, she thanked the man for interfering into the conversation. The man in front of them was confused. He couldn't believe a bunch of little flies like them could take a piarte of the scale of Aarlong.

-We just want to talk to her.- Y/N could sense him smirking, she knew he was. She had learned it was one of his habit.

-Trust me, you don't. But if it'll get you out of my town, try the house down that road, on the edge of the tangerine grove. The girl thanked the man with a small courtsy, following behinde her friends in the direction he pointed at.

The five pirates were almost at their destination when Usopp started to complain about how tired he was.

-Keep walking princess, we are almost there.- she teased him. -And stop picking up tangerines.- she added noticing her friend stealing a couple of them from the trees.

-Is not like they would notice some are missing.- he protested back.

The group didn't even had the time to knock that the girl with blue hair they saw among the crowed gretted them pointing a gun at the pirates, asking them to leave immediatly. Usopp was fast, hiding behind Zoro's body while the other four didn't seem too fased about their current situation.

Luffy tried to reason with her, if talking about having things in common meant reasoning with someone having you at gun point. The woman expressed her thoughts on Nami, calling her a thief with no conscience, that once there was nothing left to take she just leaves, without turning back. That was not the Nami Y/N knew, but maybe Nami fooled her good, showing a part of her that was a lie. Maybe.

-My sister doesn't have any friends. The sooner you realize that, the better.-

-Sister. That makes sense. Both as beautiful as each other.-

-Give it up.-Zoro spoke, rolling his eyes, Y/N following suit. She liked Sanji company, she did but sometime his flirting was too much and off topic. They were there to find a way to get Nami back, not for him to flirt with everyone that looked in his direction. But Y/N had to give it to him, he knew how to get to people, with the promise of a good meal doing the trick he was able to let the blue haired girl shut down her walls and let them inside.

Nojiko, you had learned was her name, started to talk. She explained about the day Aarlong and his men arrived at Coco Village and destroyed everything. Nojiko talked about how Bellamere, their adoptive mother had asked the two of them to hide from the pirates. She told them about Bellamere's sacrifice and how her and Nami watched Aarlong killing their mother in front of them. She had told them how Nami started to work for the fishmen crew and that from that day on she never saw her sister again, untill she started collecting the money from the villagers.

The story broke Y/N's heart, she couldn't even fanthom how hard her friend's life was. Compared to hers, she had lived a good childhood, getting picked on from time to time.

-Wait. Nami's working for the pirate that killed your mother?-Nojiko nodded, it was short and almost invisible if you didn't look closely.

Luffy stood up, without saying a thing, he didn't had to. What was he supposed to say? He walked outside, Y/N and Zoro exchanged a quick glance and she nodded, hers too almost going unnoticed if you didn't look for it, a sign she understood it was not her place to talk to Luffy. Not now at least.

Everyone was trying to kill time as best as they could: Sanji and Nojiko were on dishes duty; Zoro and Luffy were still outside either talking or maybe in silence; Y/N was drafting part of what happened that day; Usopp was preparing his famous little bombs with Buggy's head annoying the poor guy.

It was after some minutes that Nojiko left that the silence was cut with bombs and screaming from the village, the crew left and on their way to see what was happening they meet Nami.

Y/N couldn't believe her eyes, her friend was on the ground, screaming in a fit of anger, stabbing her tattoo letting blood cover the symbol that had tormented her for her whole life. One thing, when Luffy stopped her attack on her flash, she asked for one thing: help.

Of course they were going to help, she was their friend, a part of a new family that was only meant to grow with every new adventure. She was family and there was no way they weren't going to help her.

Entering the village in the morning, the chaos that reigned was worse than what they encountered the day before. The houses seemed to have dissapeared, becoming black ash from being set on fire. Not a single soul was there, and if they were people they were hiding well.

The villagers, or what was left came out, all with a holding some kind of weapon. They wanted to fight, they wanted their home back, freed from the fishmen and they were fighting until death to pursue it.

Nami tried to reason with them, there was no way they could take Aarlong's army and get out of it to see another day, but the people of Coco Village didn't care. They wanted their home back and they were going to fight.

Luffy, Sanji, Zoro and Nami started to walk, headed to Aarlong's Park; Usopp wished he had stayed at home, Y/N was the only sane one that had to stop the crew, which turned out a little complicated since Luffy was very into getting started on some action.

-Guys, we can't get in there without a plan.-

-We have a plan. We get in and we fight everyone that gets in the way.-

-That is not a plan. That is the base for a suicide mission. Nami please help me out there.- the navigator didn't say a word, she was not in the right state of mind to think properly. Aarlong tricked her, and now she just wanted to get her revenge. Y/N scoffed. It was useless, no one was going to listen to her. -Usopp, before we get in throw some of yoru smoke bombs so we might have a higher chance to not end up dead.-

-yes captain.-

Entering enemie's territory Nami and Luffy left for the map room, where Aarlong supposedly was, while the rest of the crew enganged in a fight with the fishmen crew. Y/N with a smooth movement jumped on the walls the separated the park from the outside and from there she started throwing her daggers to whoever tried to get to her. She got distarcted for a split second, noticing Luffy cornered, and that caused her opponend to strick a kick at her.

She was up, back at her feet almost immediately, back flipping some miles away she threw at the fishman another couple of dagger at him. The two blades got him, one cutting his left forearm and the other his right leg; she sprinted closer to her enemy, keeping an eye around her to make sure no one was close enought to engange in a duel, when she was closer, the pirate kicked him on the other side of the Park and then moved to her next opponent.

The dynamic was the same for every fishmen she was fighting: throwing daggers from a distance and then knocking them down the wall; if they were downstair she would have knocked them out agaist every surface that was close to them and then moved to the next target.

-You look tired.- teased Sanji -Maybe you should take a break.-

-You ought to get back in the kitchen.-Zoro protested in response.

-I have a dagger with your names on it, next time I hear the two of you picking a fight is on sight.- there was no way those two were arguing with each other in such a delicate moment.

-My apologise ma'am.-

-mY aPoLoGiSe Ma'Am.-mocked Zoro.

-Quit screwing around. Luffy needs us.-

-You just got here. You don't know what Luffy needs.-

-if you don't shut up right this istant I am going to kill you next.-

-As if you could take all of them by yourself.- she wanted to kill the swordsman right here and there. How dare he assume she couldn't take an army by herself?

-Just because I don't look buffed like you doesn't mean I am weak. Now I'll be happy to not hear you two fight again or... Shit.- talking while fighting is not always a good idea, no, is never a good idea. The y/h/c haired girl got sent flying, the air got cut short from her lungs for a brief moment and if it wasn't for Zoro coming to her rescue she knew she was gone for good.

-You were saying?- he wasn't paying attention to her, once he slayed the pirate he went on fighting the next one.

-This is your fault. Now shut up and keep fighting.- she was back throwing daggers after daggers, her collection seemed unlimited for a rookie eye, but she was fast in getting back the one she had already used.

-Stop telling me what to do woman.-

-Ehy, that is no way to talk to a lady.- of course the cook had to give his one cent in the conversation.

-SHUT UP.- both Zoro and Y/N smiled as they spoke simultaneously.

As fast as the fight started, it ended and so the bickering between Sanji and Zoro. Y/N could only roll her eyes while she was retriving her weapons from the dead bodies laying around.

-Oh, it's so much better than I even remembered.- turning around the girl saw that the head was back on its rightfull place. Now, looking better the clown wasn't as scary as she thought he was going to be, he looked somehow... attractive? Weird considering he was once an enemy. -Hey, so, uhm... I'm gonna get out of here.- he said, flipping the finger on both hands and leaving. It didn't came as a surprise. She had it coming, of course someone like Buggy would have done such a think. Zoro tried to call him back but the clown didn't want to stay there any longer. -Sorry, kiddos. I'd love to make things right, but it's time to exit stage left.-

The trio really wanted to take a break, to relax at least five minutes but no. Another fishman was ready for a fight and in second he put k.o Sanji. Zoro was the first one to attack but his only good sword was not able to cut throught the tough skin of the fishman, then it was Y/N turn to attack but not even her daggers were of much help.

Kicks after kicks, puches after punches it seemed like there was no way they were going to win this one. It was like the universe was against them, after having helped the three of them for that long. Everything changed when the nameless guy badmounthed Nami about her poor choice of friends and Sanji got so rilled up he started giving weird names to his attacks.

-Mouton shot?- Zoro was genuinly confused, what kind of attack name was that?

-All great fighters call out their finishing moves.-

-That was cringe, let me tell you.-

-Yeah, you're gonna fit in just fine.- he remembered the first time he fought alongside Luffy and how he said the same exact thing as Sanji. Maybe there was a logic on how the captain was recruiting new members for the crew, maybe it was just a coincidence.

Usopp started to run back in, yelling and being his extra self, proclaiming to not fear because "Captain Usopp was there to save the day" when he noticed there was no need tp fight anymore.

-Oh. You guys did pretty good in here.- that made the daggers thrower laugh, which wasn't a good thing since her ribs hurted like crazy.

-You okay?-Asked Zoro some what concerned.

-I think I broke some ribs, nothing too serious.- she was about to ask him how he was doing when Sanji calling Nami's name got your attention. The blonde cook opened his arms, ready to welcome the girl in there but she ran past him and threw herslef at the three pirates behind him. The collision made the swordsman and Y/N hiss in pain but Nami didn't notice, too happy to see her friends still alive. Zoro asked where Luffy was and when hearing he was still inside the map room Usopp hoped for his captain to get outside of there in one piece.

-Hey Nami, how are you doing?- Y/N asked sitting next to the navigator, the ginger haired woman smiled assuring her friend she was doing fine. -I know what happened is fresh but..- the y/h/c haired pirate handed her a small leather notebook. -I was wandering if you could write about, you know...- she had to clear her throat, she didn't want to sound indelicate but it was for her project. She wanted to write about everything, the good and the bad of her and her friends' adventures. -nevermind is stupid. Just...-

-I would love to help you, just give me some time.- said Nami snatching the notebook from her friend's hands. Opening the book she smiled, Y/N remembered what she had wrote on the first page "Nami's diary: a great thief, navigator and liar but also the greatest friend on the sea" and blushed. She was embarassed, thinking that maybe it wasn't the right way to address her friend. -I love it.-

-You want something to eat? I am starving.-

-I am not that hungry yet, maybe later.-

-Okay, I'll tell Sanji to save you a portion.- she turned back. -I'll wait as long as you need so don't worry.-

Taking her portion of food Y/N took a seat further than the people surronding Usopp, she wasn't in the mood to stay around people not when her mind was starting to play tricks on her once again. Since the battle against Aarlong came to an end she couldn't stop thinking that no matter how strong she was, or she was going to turn out her dream wasn't strong enought to ensure her a spot on Luffy's crew.

-Was he always like that?-

-what?-

-Usopp. Was he always that good of a liar?- staring at her long time friend she laughed.

-He just like the spotlight and is a good story teller. He wants to lift up people's spirit when in need, he did it with Kaya back home and now with the villagers. He knows how to touch people's hearts.-

-You are a pretty good story teller too.-

-I have to disagree, I don't know where to start nor how to end. I talk to much I am abresive.- she started to play with her food. -Have you ever... Never mind, it doesn't matter.- Zoro started to push her into talking and she was trying her best to keep her mouth shut but eventually she gave up. -I just can't stop thinking I have a stupid dream, I mean you want to beat the strongest swordsman of all seas; Sanji wants to find the All Blue which is considered a myth; Nami wants to draw a map of the whole world; Usopp wants to be a brave soldier of the sea and I... I want to be a writer.-

-Why?-

-What?-

-Why do you want to become a writer?-

-I made a promise to my friend. She told me I had a way with words and she made me promise her that no matter what I had to keep writing. This is why.-

-I had a friend when I was a kid. Shw was older than me and the daughter of the sensei of the dojo I trained. She wa...-Y/N interrupted him, feeling that he was telling her that story to make her feel better. She told him that if that was the case he didn't have to keep with the story. -Woman, I don't do things out of pity, now let me talk. I was saying. She was stronger than me and stronger than all the boys in the dojo. We made a promise, every day we will fight each other growing stronger and stronger and then one day, when we were older one of us was going to be the strongest swordsman in the world. She died that same night. Wado was her sword, I asked her father if I could keep it and since that day I lived to fulfill that promise. I think every dream is based on a promise, no matter if it was made to a family member, a friend or even at yourself, so stop overthinking. Now.- He stood up streaching out a hand in your direction. -where is my notebook?-

-oh, about that... I have to buy three mores. I left Syrup Village with two and Usopp has the other one.-

-Showing favouritism, I see. Just make sure to give it to me first and not to Shitty cook over there.- he said pointing behind his back, that made her laugh. -Now care to enjoy the festivities?- Y/N took Zoro's hand in hers, helping herself up and followed the pirate back to the crowed of people listening to Usopp. Maybe she was gooing to fight her dark thoughts a little longer, but now she had a weapon to keep them at bay.

[leoandreeda]

Samurai references in One Piece

Even when this is "short" this took me a long time to made but I finally finished it. I know that maybe I do not have ALL the references, but I'll mention the ones I've been seeing since I'm watching One Piece again. Also you'll read a lot about Zoro because he seems to be the character in which Eiichiro Oda likes to represent these warriors. I couldn't avoid pointing them out, especially since we're actually in Wano, to show you all a little of the influence they have in One Piece (at least in this arc.. or just in Zoro...). Of course there'll be manga spoilers.

1. The breath of all things.

While Zoro and Daz Bones were fighting in Arabasta, Zoro sees that he is at a disadvantage against his rival because this one is the user of the Devil fruit of steel, and that is a material that he wasn't capable of cutting. After a few attempts, he remembers a particular moment from his childhood about one of the lessons that his teacher and Kuina's father, Koshiro, teach him after a young Zoro asks if it is possible to cut steel. Koshiro gives him a demonstration when he tries to cut a piece of paper with his sword, but fails. After receiving a confused look from his student, he says what is in the pic beneath.

This teaching is inspired by one of the legends of Masamune Ozaki. In this story, Masamune (Who was not a samurai but a blacksmith who still was closely related to them) is challenged by his disciple Muramasa Shinji to see who of the 2 is the best blacksmith in Japan. Masamune accepted the challenge and after days of dedication and effort he created Yawarakai Te (Soft Hands / 柔らかい手). Muramasa also worked tirelessly and, finally, shaped Juuchi Yosamu (10,000 cold nights / 十千夜寒).

To test the value of each of them, Masamune and Muramasa were summoned on the riverbank one day at dawn. Once there, Muramasa submerged the first the tip of his sword in the water, against the current. Juuchi Yosamu, the Muramasa blade, cut everything that came close to its edge: it split the leaves that floated in the river and cut in half the fish that swam nearby. It even cut the morning air and the same sunlight. Masamune recognized with a deep reverence the great work of his disciple Muramasa. Indeed: there could not exist in all of Japan a sharper blade than that blade and only a Grand Master could make a sword like Juuchi Yosamu. But now his turn had come. He closed his eyes for a few moments and unsheathed Yawarakai Te. The brightness of the soft forging of his blade was reflected on the water while the old blacksmith dipped the tip of his sword into the river. And, then ...

Nothing happened because the fish that came close to Masamune's sword swam peacefully around him, without getting hurt. The leaves that floated down the river collided with it, turned on themselves and followed their course where the current led without splitting or cutting. Sunlight shone on the sword and the wind whistled softly as it struck its edge. Muramasa began to laugh at his master's sword. "You are no longer able to make a sword that really cuts. Now the best blacksmith in Japan is me" he said. Masamune did not answer. He drew his sword from the water and, still smiling, dried it first and then put it in its holster.

An old monk who had seen everything from the other shore said: "There is a sword that is very well made, that is very beautiful and sharp, but is eager to cut and does not discriminate against who or whom. But the other sword is undoubtedly more beautiful and more perfect because its edge is still finer and does not need to cut what is innocent and does not deserve to be cut. There is a sword that takes away life and another sword that gives it. "

Note: Of course this is only a legend since Masamune Ozaki and Muramasa Shinji are many years apart (almost 100 I suppose), so I understand they did not even know each other, but you get the point.

2. The Kitetsu.

The kitetsu are a "trio" of Yōtō ( cursed swords / 妖刀) that are said to bring misfortunes to their owners until they find death in horrible ways. They are demonic swords whose thirst for blood is insatiable and whose edge and ease to cut things are incredible, almost incomparable.

Now, this is related to one of the aforementioned blacksmiths, specifically with his clan, the Muramasa. Muramasa Shinji was a person of unstable and violent character, it was said that his swords leaves, shorter, more curved and more affiliated than those of Masamune, instilled in the warriors that carried them an uncontrollable desire to kill.

But the swords of Muramasa fell into disgrace when Tokugawa Ieyasu arrived at the shogunate, at the beginning of the 17th century, due to the many misfortunes that these swords caused to his family: the Kaishaku (end of the seppuku ritual in which the assistant beheads the suicidal with a katana) of Ieyasu's son, Nobuyasu, was made with a Muramasa; in his childhood, Ieyasu was wounded with a Tantō Muramasa; Ieyasu's grandfather was killed with a Muramasa katana; Ieyasu's father was attacked with a wakizashi Muramasa. Therefore, the shogun banned the use of Muramasa clan weapons in Japan. Even the Bugyō (commissioner / 奉行) Nagasaki, who was a collector of Muramasa weapons despite the ban, was executed under direct orders from the Shōgun (army commander/ 将軍) Tokugawa Ieyasu for considering this as an obvious conspiracy against his clan.

For all this, they said, Muramasa's katanas brought their owners misfortunes and unnecessary deaths, while those of Masamune were only unsheathed when the situation inevitably required it.

3. Taken from movies.

Maybe some of you already know it, but I do not lose anything mentioning it. Issho (or Fujitora) is based on Zatōichi (座頭市), the protagonist of a television series and a large number of films about a blind, but very skilled swordsman.

Literally is the same thing without scars, they even have the same sword... However, the designs are not the only thing that Oda has been inspired to add to his work. There are a number of thoughts/quotes that he has also taken from different movies like this one, that he says is one of his favorites, called Shichinin no samurai (The Seven Samurais/ 七人の侍).

I won't make much spoilers. In one scene of the film, while the protagonists are looking for another samurai to join them, they hear that one has arrived at the town. To test if he's worth of joining them, one of them hides to the side of the door to ambush him, saying: "If he is a true swordsman he will be able to dodge it, a samurai never lets alcohol take control on himself". Does it remind you of something?

4. Roronoa Zoro's "true" inspiration.

Even though we all know Zoro is based on François l'Olonnais, who was the cruelest pirate of the Caribbean Sea; I can say that he is also a little based on Date Masamune.

Excellent military tactician, was popularly identified because of the lack of one of his eyes, commonly being called "dokuganryū" (Dragon of a single eye/ 独眼 竜). The exact cause for which he lost his entire eye is not known, but it is said that as a child he lost it because of smallpox and to save himself he took it off. After this, his mother told him he could never become a warrior, explaining to Masamune's father that having just one eye already put him in an abyssal disadvantage on the battlefield. Because of that, he swore he would never let anything else get over him, not even something like an illness. At the young age of 17 or 18 years old, he took his father's place as the leader of Date's clan; later becoming one of the most powerful Daimyō (大名) of the old Japan.

This fiery samurai was also known because of his cruelty and cold personality. Not caring who he was talking to, he'd always be a prepotent and shameless man who gained the respect, but mostly fear, of those who were around him.

5. Pirate hunter's journey.

As we all know, in the begining of the serie when Luffy asked Zoro why he sailed, the swordsman told him he was looking for someone (Dracule Mihawk) but then got lost. Sailing to the sea to find recognition and become the greatest swordsman, as he promised to Kuina, sounds like certain practice called Musha shugyō (warrior training/ 武 者 修行) that's based on traveling or pilgrimage to which the ancient samurai were ascribed. A practitioner of this concept has to roam around Japan practicing and honoring his abilities without the protection of his family or his school, all alone and exposing himself to the dangers necessary to prove his worth. The possible activities of the adventurer could include training with other schools, fighting a duel, working as a bodyguard/mercenary, and looking for a Daimyō to serve.

Soooo he found a "Daimyō" to live and to die for.

Note: I'm not saying Zoro is a samurai, in fact and sadly, he isn't. I repeat, I'm just pointing things that I can relate to them.

6. Kaidan.

Kaidan (怪談) is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 (kai) meaning “strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching apparition" and 談 (dan) meaning “talk” or “recited narrative.”In its broadest sense, kaidan refers to any ghost story or horror story, but it has an old-fashioned ring to it that carries the connotation of Edo period Japanese folktales. Kaidan entered the vernacular during the Edo period, when a game called Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales / 百物語怪談会 ) became popular. This game led to a demand for ghost stories and folktales to be gathered from all parts of Japan and China.

Originally based on didactic Buddhist tales, Kaidan often involve elements of karma, and especially ghostly vengeance for misdeeds. Onryō (Japanese vengeful ghosts / 怨霊) are far more powerful after death than they were in life, and are often people who were particularly powerless in life, such as women and servants. You all know who were servants? There's certain transtalion or meaning to samurai that says "those who serve in close attendance to the nobility"; Not only that, since Kaidan appeared in Edo period these warriors are the co-protagonists of many of those stories. If we look up at some of those stories we can conclude something; at least two of them are the "inspiration" to certain samurais in Wano and they are Kin'emon and O-kiku. We need to be clear on something, they are considered ghosts by the people of Wano that seek to avenge Oden's death so thinking that Oda made this on purpose is pretty logic, right?

Lets start with Kin'emon. He's, at least a bit, inspired in Botan Dōrō (The Peony Lantern / 牡丹燈籠) This tale tells that on the first night of Obon, a beautiful woman and a young girl holding a peony lantern stroll by the house of the widowed samurai Ogiwara Shinnojo. Ogiwara is instantly smitten with the woman, named Otsuyu and vows an eternal relationship. From that night onward, the woman and the girl visit at dusk, always leaving before dawn. An elderly neighbor, suspicious of the girl, peeks into his home and finds Ogiwara in bed with a skeleton. Consulting a Buddhist priest, Ogiwara finds that he is in danger unless he can resist the woman, and he places a protection charm on his house. The woman is then unable to enter his house, but calls him from outside. Finally, unable to resist, Ogiwara goes out to greet her, and is led back to her house, a grave in a temple. In the morning, Ogiwara's dead body is found entwined with the woman's skeleton.

Why I relate Kin'emon with this story? To be honest it reminded me of him for dumb reasons ;;; The woman's name sounds like Kin'emon's wife's name, O-tsuru. Also I have the feeling that he won't be able to resist any longer being apart with his wife, wich he seems to love very much. Or not necessarilly because he wants to be with her but to warn her to run away at some point and someone will notice and bla bla bla.

Now, O-kiku is inspired by the history of Banchō Sarayashiki (The Dish Mansion at Banchō / 番町皿屋敷 ) that tells that once there was a beautiful servant named Okiku. She worked for the samurai Aoyama Tessan. Okiku often refused his amorous advances, so he tricked her into believing that she had carelessly lost one of the family's ten precious delft plates. Such a crime would normally result in her death. In a frenzy, she counted and recounted the nine plates many times. However, she could not find the tenth and went to Aoyama in guilty tears. The samurai offered to overlook the matter if she finally became his lover, but again she refused. Enraged, Aoyama threw her down a well to her death. It is said that Okiku became an Onryō who tormented her murderer by counting to nine and then making a terrible shriek to represent the missing tenth plate – or perhaps she had tormented herself and was still trying to find the tenth plate but cried out in agony when she never could. In some versions of the story, this torment continued until an exorcist or neighbor shouted "ten" in a loud voice at the end of her count. Her ghost, finally relieved that someone had found the plate for her, haunted the samurai no more.

In some versions of the tale, Okiku is a maid who incurs her mistress' jealousy. Her mistress breaks one of dishes that Okiku is responsible for and Okiku commits suicide. Similar to the other versions, her ghost is heard counting the plates, but her mistress goes insane and dies.

Did you notice the same name, that in her first apparition she is holding a plate and that she refuses someone who's looking for her to be his lover? Hmmm.

7. Extras.

These are just mentions so I'll compilate them here.

⦁ Zoro's name in Wano is Zorojuro, which sounds a lot like Sanjuro, the name of the protagonist from another samurai movie called Yojimbo (which probably Zoro got his personality from); casually made by the same director from The seven samurais, and a lot more movies about these warriors, Akira Kurosawa.

⦁ It's possible that Shuusui is based on, it is said to be, the best sword ever made by Masamune Ozaki, called Honjo Masamune. I think this sword was "stolen" and is still lost.

⦁ Zoro's way of seeing the world is absolutely based on Miyamoto Musashi's lessons writen on his book Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings/ 五輪書). Not only that, Musashi felt that he won his duels not because he had mastered the strategy, but because he was stronger, prepared or just lucky... we all know Zoro likes to leave all to luck.

⦁ Vivi calls Zoro "mr. Bushido". Bushidō (武士道) is a strict and particular ethical code to which many samurai gave their lives, which demanded loyalty and honor until death. If a samurai failed to maintain his honor, he could recover it by practicing seppuku.

⦁ O-Tama saying that is a disgrace for a warrior to feel hunger is also said in The Seven Samurais.

⦁ The Gorōsei (The Five Elders / 五老星) the leaders of the World Government and, as such, the world's rulers and the highest authority only below Im, are based on The Council of the Five Regents, or council of the five great elders (go-tairō / 五大老). This was a council formed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to govern Japan instead of his son, Hideyori, until he came of age. Hideyoshi chose his five most powerful daimyō for this task: Ukita Hideie, Maeda Toshiie, Uesugi Kagekatsu, Mōri Terumoto and Tokugawa Ieyasu.  With the creation of the council formed by five people, Hideyoshi hoped that the different components of the same one would be balanced, preventing that none of them took control of the power. However, almost immediately upon the death of Hideyoshi in 1598, the regents were divided into two groups: Tokugawa on the one hand, and the other four on the other. The war, however, did not begin until the mid-1600s, ending the same year at the Battle of Sekigahara, where a difficult peace was agreed upon that left Hideyori alive and in control of Osaka Castle.

⦁ It was said that Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous samurai of all time, could win any duel with one look. Ehem... Haoshoku haki?

⦁ The Iaidō (居合道) is a Japanese martial art related to the unsheathing and sheathing of the katana. It was practiced by the samurai, especially in the Edo period. These techniques arise mainly to be able to attack or defend at the same time that it was unsheathed, beginning therefore the confrontation with the weapon still in the saya (sheath) and unsheathing with the appropriate speed to attack or counterattack the opponent without giving him time to react. The main idea of Iaidō is to be able to react correctly to any unexpected situation. The first letter 'I' has as a translation of its ideogram the meaning of Spirit, Being, Will and also Intention, therefore, decomposing the term Iaidō we find its philosophical meaning as "the path of the harmony of the Being or the path of union of the spirit "('I' is spirit, 'ai' unite or harmony, and the suffix 'dō' way). I don't know about you but it reminds me a bit of the meaning of Wado Ichimonji (Straight Road of the Harmony / 和道一文字); of course not ignoring that this style is used sometimes in the serie.

⦁ In the second point "the Kitetsu", I also mentioned that there was a certain time in Japan when Tokugawa Ieyasu banned muramasa's swords around the country. Well, in chapter 926 we were shown that civilians couldn't carry weapons because that would be a clear statement of rebellion, just saying.

⦁ Ishho is based more in a Sōhei (Warrior monk / 僧兵) than in a Samurai.

⦁ Even when Miyamoto Musashi was known for fighting with 2 Bokken, he had an actual sword. The Tsuba of this sword, now in the Art Musseum of Fukuoka, is a little bit similar to Wado Ichimonji's tsuba.

⦁ Shimotsuki Yasuie or better known as Tonoyasu or Yasu, the happy man from Wano that lives in Ebisu, was shown to be based on the Shōgun mentioned in the second point, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The most famous Shōgun in the story of Japan.

⦁ Gyukimaru on Oihagi Bridge is based on Saitō Musashibō Benkei (西塔 武 蔵 坊 弁 慶 1155 - 1189), popularly called Benkei (弁 慶), Was a Sōhei who was under the orders of the samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is generally presented as a man of great stature, very strong and loyal, and is one of the favorite characters of Japanese folklore. Tells the story that Benkei would have been located on the bridge Gojo in Kyoto, where he challenged each warrior who passed, taking the sword of their defeated opponents, reaching a total of about 999 swords. In his 1000th duel, Benkei was defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, son of the warlord Minamoto no Yoshitomo. Therefore, he became a warrior of Yoshitsune and fought alongside him in the Genpei war against the Taira clan. Curious, don't you think?

⦁ The relationship between O-kiku/Kikunojo and Kin’emon implies that they’re very close, we can see it in their flashbacks and even when they reunite, however, if we look at things in a more... real life way, we can say that their relationship is, or was, influenced by Shudô (衆道 ). Shudô was a samurai custom in which adult samurai engaged in pederastic relationships with younger samurai. This custom is most prominently seen, or discussed, in the Sengoku and Edo periods. The older man in the relationship, known as the nenja (念者), and the younger man, known by a variety of terms including wakashû (若衆), formed a close, tight personal relationship with one another. A nenja typically engaged in such relationships with only one wakashû at a time, and vice versa. Though much discussion today, based in modern/Western social mores about homosexual relationships, focus strongly on the homosexual sexual acts involved in the relationship, Shudô relationships went beyond this, and were strong personal and sentimental or emotional relationships, which involved as well strong elements of mentorship. Mentorship and training in the "warrior" lifestyle and values of the samurai was a major element of the relationship.

This is all I have so If there's something I missed please let me know, thanks for reading.

[asexualzoro]

list of reasons I find zoro ridiculous

after my similarly titled mihawk post took off I decided to make a zoro post, since he’s my second favorite character and also arguably the most ridiculous character in all of One Piece. here we go

- I know what you’re all thinking. i’m gonna open this list with how he wields three swords, right? no. no, Zoro has done so much ridiculous bullshit, this doesn’t even seem weird anymore. i don’t even bat my eye at this. this is nothing. now that i’ve got that out of the way, let’s begin

- this dude has like, an obsession with cutting off his own limbs? and MAYBE i can understand trying to cut his feet off when they were stuck in wax—you’re trying to save your friends, i get it—but what about when he was sword shopping in loguetown? who’s first response when buying a cursed sword and testing if it’s really cursed is “i’ll toss it in the air n see if I get amputated lol.” plus there’s that old filler where luffy gets his finger stuck in a bottle and, when he asks zoro for help getting it out, zoro tries to CUT IT OFF. im convinced he lost that left eye of his bc he got dust or something in it and then tried to stab it out

- there’s like, several occasions where Zoro has been directed to head up a staircase and gone some other direction. it happened in enies lobby and in dressrosa? like, what’s the dude got against stai—... oh, wait

- his reintroduction post timeskip. get on the wrong boat? just cut it in half! who even cares! how’d you even end up on the wrong boat? you had to walk towards that boat, which means looking at the boat. that boat looked nothing like the sunny, wouldn’t zoro have noticed that? he also has to make an effort to climb on, which means, you guessed it, looking at the boat! he probably sees the crew members, maybe even gets helped up by one or a few. how did he not at any point in time notice that wasn’t his boat?

- also when they landed on sabaody the first time and zoro was like “i’m gonna go take a walk!” and both Sanji and Usopp tried to stop him, talking to him like concerned parents of a troublemaking toddler, like “Zoro you can’t go out there you’ll get lost!” to which Zoro replies “yeah but the grottos are numbered, I can find my way back if I just remember the number!” and Sanji and Usopp are like “okay, solid logic, even YOURE not dumb enough to mess that up” and what does Zoro do? what does he fucking do?

- I want to emphasize he messes it up because a bubble covers the 4 in “Grotto 41” so he thinks it’s grotto 1. BUBBLES. ARE. TRANSPARENT

- “sorry, I don’t pray to god” fuckin edgelord

- Zoro’s epithet is “Pirate Hunter” and it’s super lame. he could’ve been “Demon of the East Blue” but they went with pirate hunter, even though he became a pirate. even Chopper’s is better than his lbr

- THERES A SCENE WHERE SANJI THREATENS TO PUT RAZOR BLADES IN ZOROS FOOD N ZOROS LIKE “do it u won’t” SO SANJI DOES AND ZORO JUST EATS THEM? ODA EVEN GOT ASKED ABOUT IT IN AN SBS AND CONFIRMED YES, ZORO DID IN FACT EAT RAZOR BLADES. THIS 2EDGY4U BITCH JUST. STRAIGHT UP. ATE RAZOR BLADES

- in film gold he wears that black jacket under the white one. mind you he had no way of knowing he would be trapped in gold by tesoro or that they’d all have a dramatic coordinated outfit change once he was free so what the fuck was he doing? why did he wear that? who wears two jackets for no reason?

- “if i’m gonna be a statue I want it to be in this pose” “i’m glad I struck a pose”

- remember when zoro fought mr. 1 in alabasta and mr. 1 dropped a stone building on him and he was just like “this is a rocky day” or smth equally awful? i hate him

- the tarzan yell in skypiea

- actually, the goggles too.

- didn’t he try to convince someone he was fighting they were sunglasses bc they had some blinding light-based attack? I feel like he did but I don’t remember skypiea well enough to be sure

- Zoro vs the bird in skypiea. spent a fair amount of the damn arc running around skypiea getting messed w by a bird (which, according to Luffy, was more evolved than Zoro bc it had developed a sense of direction. burned by ur own captain)

- when asked why Zoro was able to speak with a sword in his mouth, oda said “IT’S HIS HEART SPEAKING”

- that colorspread Zoro where he reads a book about weightlifting while balancing a weight on top

- when Zoro fights that masochist guy in film gold (I think his name was dice?) and said some cocky ass one liner after the guy fell unconscious that went something like “What's wrong? Didn't it feel good? Aren't you gonna scream in pleasure?" awful

- Zoro almost gets murdered by Mihawk and then, later that day, tries to take on fishmen underwater. others r like “you cannot handle this, you will literally die” and Zoro doesn’t even care bc Luffy is in trouble

- he was sailing bc he left home to find mihawk and then couldn’t figure out how to get back

- remember that filler where Zoro taught Luffy how to skate but then forgot to teach him how to turn. I love both that this happened and the implication that Zoro is a person who knows how to roller skate and therefore has spent time roller skating. Zoro roller skating backstory when?

- when Zoro was fighting oz, a 500 year old corpse, he licked his sword. now, on top of licking his sword being ridiculous as hell because, listen, there’s NOTHING cool about licking your sword. you just look like a loser. but a sword that just came out of a 500 year old corpse? really? i know it was preserved by the cold and all but there’s no way it didn’t rot at all. that’s a rotted, frozen corpse. Zoro what in the HELL were you thinking. I hope you get sick

- i’m sure it probably wasn’t even the first time he licked his sword in a fight but I will say with absolute confidence he looked like a loser every single time

- I feel like he licked his sword while facing mr 1 but I can’t remember. if he did, that’s honestly iconic. stare down a dude that’s made of swords while licking yours? power move. only decent time to kick your sword

- Zoro, joining Luffy: “if you stand in the way of my dream i’ll kill you!” Zoro, a day later: “of course i’ll carry my captain in this heavy cage on my back to safety. oh this gaping wound in my side? nothing. who cares about bleeding to death, my captain needs me!”

- all those big weights he’s got. all of them.

- especially that time he was lifting weights post thriller bark after barely surviving kuma, still heavily injuries, complaining about how weak he is. buddy...

- that time in drum island where he decided to train by going swimming in the freezing ice-country water, then when he got out he got lost in the snowy mountains until he wandered into a random battle and took out some guy just to steal his coat

- this isn’t the only time he steals some random dude’s coat

- the chimney.

- that filler in smiles lobby where he gets, like, abducted by a bunch of children for a day and integrated into their family?

- Roronoa Zoro went fursuiting in dressrosa and that’s a canon fact you all must acknowledge

- speaking of being a furry anyone remember mugiwara theater?

- THE FUCKING MUGIWARA THEATER NAMES. mugiwara theater is a gift, alright? here’s some: nakamura hanzorou. zobear. ZOROMILK

- I FORGOT TO MENTION. THAT TIME ZORO N USOPP WERE HANDCUFFED TOGETHER AND ZORO TRIED TO CONVINCE USOPP TO PLAY ROCK PAPER SCISSORS WITH HIM TO SEE WHICH ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO CUT THEIR HAND OFF

- also the fact that his logic was “it’ll be fine cuz chopper can just sew it back on”

- can we also talk abt how later that fight he uses Usopp as a sword because holy shit Zoro

- this isn’t technically zoro’s fault but the guy who sold him his sword to him in loguetown has a giant version of bounty image up above his bath, which........

- barto asked for zoro’s autograph and Zoro just wrote “sword”

- the grave of the rumbar pirates was finished right around when Zoro woke up from his coma post thriller bark and Zoro decided to walk over while Brook is sitting there mourning almost everyone he ever loved and just. plops his sword—an inanimate object—in the dirt by the grave of BROOKS ENTIRE CREW like “hey i’m gonna bury this here u don’t mind tho right? cool”

- he’s lucky Brook is such a cool dude cuz if I was mourning the death of MY crew and some fuck decided to plant a rusty sword there i’d just fuckin kill em

- in Zou they were talking abt whatever and Luffy mentioned how Sanji was as strong as one thousand men and Zoro, clearly jealous that Sanji got praised by Luffy, butt in with a stuttery objection on how HE was stronger than Sanji and worth TWO THOUSAND men, which luffy ignored, and Nami had to reassure him that yes, Zoro, we know you’re strong. toddler

- this is also not technically zoro’s fault but one time someone asked oda in an sbs which strawhats would eat ice in their drink and oda answered who would n wouldn’t (Luffy, Chopper, Brook, Usopp, and Robin would, if ur wondering). Zoro was on the wouldn’t list, and some fan sent oda a letter informing him of a panel where Zoro was shown eating ice to disprove this. someone pulled zoro ice eating receipts on oda and that’s a fact we all have to live with

- the first time Zoro meets mihawk—the strongest man in the world, the man he wants to defeat someday, and incredibly powerful and impressive dude—he cries like a baby

- zoro’s been crucified like 4 times now. once in his introduction than in three movies (6, gold, nebulandia). idk why this keeps happening but honestly? keep it up

- when Brook joined the crew, Zoro said he was sorry for Brooks bad luck as if one of the first things Brook ever saw Zoro do wasn’t to try and die for the crew via Giant Paw Ball of Pain

- speaking of, i’m pretty sure half the reason zoro DIDNT die in thriller bark is because if he died via smth as silly as a giant paw ball his injured pride would kill him again

- I was going to make fun of Zoro for wearing only a suit and a fake mustache in dressrosa as a disguise but then I realized, like, given how absolutely shredded Zoro was in Punk Hazard and how that suit somehow managed to squish it all down without zoro ripping the sleeves off? solid disguise

- when merry was burning and everyone’s bawling and remembering great memories on the ship and Zoro was standing there, 100% stoic, remembering a nap

- Zoro saw marines (Garp) coming to Water 7 while Luffy was still unconscious and ran off to warn the others but couldn’t find his way back to the hotel

- that G8 filler where he falls off a cliff in pursuit of his swords

- speaking of fillers, remember that amnesia one? (ha). highlights include Zoro trying to physically fight a small sea horse (plus Usopp doing a bad lip-syncing) and Zoro swimming through the Grand Line with his swords tied to his head by his bandana

- meets a dragon, eats the dragon

- it got mentioned once that Sanji and Nami canonly help Zoro and the other guys get dressed. so every time Zoro wears something absolutely ridiculous (which is often), it’s probably Sanjis doing

- “I can’t believe I cut a freaking booger!!”

- speaking of, remember that time Luffy flicked a booger into Zoro’s drink at the Baratie and Zoro tried to force him to drink it?? remember that?? I hate them both

- that time Zoro was trying to find the Right Eye in Skypiea, said that (though the path to get there was STRAIGHT AHEAD) all he had to do to find the right eye was just keep going right (even though that would just lead him in circles!). and then after that do you know what direction he went?? do you know?? he fucking went left

- the time Zoro got lost walking on a straight path in a filler.

- Zoro lost to a guy in a fight and just fucking let the dude cut him in half. like, yes, the baratie scene was all cool as all hell and I love it but Zoro did in fact basically invite a dude to cut him in half

- when they were hit by negative hollows and everyone else said stuff that was kinda funny but Zoro went straight up “I don’t deserve to exist” please honey talk to someone

- he was fighting Kaku and kept engaging in Kaku’s devil fruit bs and then berating himself for being uncool as if he wasn’t already fighting a giant giraffe

- to end this list, I want to get to Zoro’s absolute worst offense. remember when Zoro fought Kaku and he did that asura form thing? where he straight up grew four extra arms and two extra heads, all wielding swords? what the FUCK was that? and don’t tell me “fighting spirit” alright. that’s bull. people don’t just GROW EXTRA SWORD-WIELDING BODY PARTS because they’re just REALLY INTO a FIGHT. like I know this is One Piece and shit’s ridiculous all this time but this? this is too much. even for One Piece this is too much. this is so ridiculous. there has to be a line, even in One Piece, with what these guys are allowed to get away with. I can accept haki so good you can see the future. I can accept spinning so fast you set your leg on fire. I can accept being made of springs. I can accept booger bombs. I can accept all that and more, but this? this is where i take my stand. Roronoa Zoro cannot keep getting away with this! fighting spirit is just not an explanation. and the worst part? the absolute worst part?

- Zoro makes four extra limbs and two extra heads, all armed with swords, MATERIALIZE out of THIN AIR with absolutely NO REAL EXPLANATION and then pretty much NEVER DOES IT AGAIN! he did it once in sabaody (and once in strong world) and then hasn’t done it since! everyone else uses the power ups they got in enies lobby all the time but Zoro, somewhere out there, knows how fuckin sick this attack is (bc yeah it’s ridiculous as hell but like I still enjoy it) and he just won’t do it again. not once post timeskip has he used it at all. Roronoa Zoro knows what he’s doing and he is out there, right now, laughing

- roronoa zoro is one of my top three favorite one piece characters and I make this list entirely out of love. (feel free to add on more moments I may have missed and i’ll add them)