Chapter 17: The Accident
That night, Ian fell asleep wondering what choice Kuina would make.
In truth, even Ian himself couldn't imagine what it would look like if Kuina actually became a boy. But when he had left Ivankov as a backup option, Ian was only making an attempt. He knew that if Kuina continued to stay in Shimotsuki Village, she would soon wither away and die.
He had grown accustomed to drinking a cup of hot water handed to him with a smile by Kuina after working in the fields. He had grown used to the pressure of Kuina's hands as she wrapped bandages around him after every training injury. Ian couldn't accept the reality of losing this sister who seemed strong-willed on the surface but was actually gentle at heart.
So during this time, the word that occupied Ian's mind the most was: Butterfly Effect! He wanted to try if he could change this outcome, and he would stop at nothing to do so.
The next day, Ian had just woken up and hadn't even washed his face yet when Kuina came looking for him.
They sat down at the table. The Den Den Mushi had already woken up and was crawling toward Kuina with a huff. Kuina smiled, stroked its big eyes, and handed it a vegetable leaf, watching it eat happily.
"Kuina, have you made up your mind?" Ian asked after a long pause.
"I have!" Kuina looked up at him. "I can only say, thank you for your kindness, Big Brother Ian!"
"I... I thought about it all night last night!" Kuina said, pressing her hand to her chest. "Although I used to always think, if only I were a boy, how wonderful that would be. Then I wouldn't disappoint Father, I could grow stronger without any limits, gain his recognition, and inherit his dojo."
"But when you told me yesterday that such an opportunity was actually placed before me, I hesitated..."
"If I really became a boy, would I still be me? Even if I could eventually become the world's greatest swordsman, would that swordsman still be the Kuina I know?"
"I've figured it out, Big Brother Ian!" Kuina looked at Ian with a smile. "From now on, I won't agonize over my gender anymore. Since Father says a girl can't become the strongest, I'll prove him wrong. I will become the world's greatest female swordsman!"
Ian looked at Kuina and saw that her face no longer held confusion or resentment. Instead, it was filled with determination and confidence!
Kuina meant it. She had truly overcome her inner conflict!
"Ha, haha!" Ian suddenly burst out laughing. This was the Kuina he knew in his heart. With such a strong personality, what did it matter if she was a girl?
"I told you, no matter what decision you make, I'll support you!" Ian said with a smile. "Since you've decided to become the strongest female swordsman, then work hard!"
"Mm! Thank you, Big Brother Ian. I'll take my leave now!" Kuina stood up.
"Kuina!" Ian called her back, his expression turning serious. "Let's leave this matter here, but I need you to promise me something else!"
"What is it?" Kuina asked curiously.
"Don't go anywhere dangerous! Especially high places!" Ian said. "It's best if you train with me and Zoro for a while!"
"Why?" Kuina was puzzled.
Ian couldn't explain it to her, so he simply said, "I can't really say why. Maybe I just have a bad feeling..."
Hearing that this was the reason, Kuina found it a bit strange, but she was reluctant to train with Ian and Zoro. "No way. That idiot Zoro stinks after he sweats! I don't want to train with him!"
"I stink too when I sweat!" Ian felt like he was caught in the crossfire.
"You're different. You're family to Kuina!" Kuina playfully stuck out her tongue. "That guy Zoro is my rival. If I train with him, he'll see all my tricks!"
"Alright!" Ian saw that she really didn't want to, so he didn't force it. After all, Kuina was a girl and was starting to develop; she couldn't always hang around with two guys. So he just said, "Then promise me you won't go to dangerous places, okay?"
"Fine, fine, I promise!" Kuina waved her hand. "See you! I'm going to practice!"
Watching Kuina walk out humming a tune with a cheerful mood, Ian couldn't help but sigh. He had originally planned to take Kuina out to sea to avoid her death, but unexpectedly, he had inadvertently resolved Kuina's inner conflict instead. This whole thing had turned out so strangely that Ian didn't even know what to say.
Over the next two days, Ian kept a close eye on Kuina. Every time he went out to train with Zoro, he hurried back as fast as possible, only relaxing after confirming that Kuina was safe.
But Ian couldn't keep Kuina within his sight forever. He could watch over her for a while, but not for her whole life. So Ian came up with an idea. He told the younger disciples at the dojo that if they ever saw Kuina heading to a high place, they should try to stop her, or run and tell him as quickly as possible!
Out of respect for Ian, the younger disciples at the dojo all seriously agreed.
What Ian least expected was that things would happen so quickly.
On the morning of the third day, Ian and Zoro each carried a younger disciple on their shoulders, ran a lap around the village, and then headed to their usual training spot on the back mountain.
Carrying people while running was a trick Ian and Zoro had come up with recently, because plain running no longer had any training effect for them.
They set the two younger disciples down and let them go back on their own, then Ian and Zoro began their daily routine.
However, for some reason, while watching Zoro do pull exercises with a rock in his mouth, Ian suddenly felt a sense of unease.
At first, he didn't notice it, just feeling a bit restless. But when he saw the two younger disciples, whom he and Zoro had carried up the mountain, running back again, Ian's heart began to pound violently!
"Not good!" Ian shouted and immediately ran down the mountain.
Zoro stared dumbly at Ian as he sprinted away, not knowing what was happening. He asked the two younger disciples, "Why did you come back?"
The two younger disciples were panting heavily, leaning on their knees. "Ku... Kuina went to the attic to get her whetstone. We... we remembered what Senior Brother Ian said and tried to stop her, but she said it was fine. We had no choice but to come and get Senior Brother Ian!"
Meanwhile, Ian was sprinting down the mountain with all his might, using every ounce of strength he had. But feeling it wasn't fast enough, he channeled his Psychic Power into his legs, and his speed instantly skyrocketed.
After a year of constant training, he had gradually mastered the technique of freely using his Psychic Power. However, because his Psychic Power value was still low and couldn't reach a materialized state, he still couldn't simulate true Armament Haki.
Rushing back to the dojo at full speed, Ian headed straight for the warehouse—the same one where Kuina had taken out the Wado Ichimonji that night.
Without a second thought, Ian crashed through the door and charged inside.
Amid flying wood chips, Ian saw Kuina. She was on the second floor, seemingly about to come down, holding a black whetstone in her hand.
But at that moment, her foot suddenly missed a step. She tumbled and fell from midair.
"Kuina!"
Ian lunged forward, reaching out toward where Kuina was falling, trying to catch her. But the distance was too far, causing his own body to stumble and fall.
Originally, given the way Kuina was falling, she would likely have broken her neck and died from the impact. But Ian's arms caught her just in time, cushioning her fall. Kuina's body was unharmed, but her head hit the floor hard.
As the dust settled, Ian felt Kuina's body go limp in his arms. Ignoring the pain from his own fall, he got up, held Kuina in his arms, and checked on her condition.
To his relief, Kuina was still breathing.
He quickly picked her up, rushed out of the warehouse, and shouted anxiously in the dojo, "Master! Master Koushirou!"
Koushirou came out upon hearing the commotion and saw Ian holding an unconscious Kuina in his arms. He immediately panicked and asked, "What happened!?"
"Kuina fell from the attic. I caught her, but her head hit the floor!" Ian carefully laid Kuina down on the dojo floor. "Master Koushirou, watch over her. I'll go get the doctor!"
"Thank you for your hard work!" Koushirou said.
Ian didn't reply and rushed out in a hurry.
Shimotsuki Village was very small. There was only one doctor in the entire village, and he was the kind who could only treat minor ailments. But Ian didn't care about that at this point. He ran to the doctor's house, hoisted him onto his back, grabbed the medical kit, and rushed back to the dojo. By then, Zoro and a group of younger disciples had already gathered in the dojo, waiting anxiously.
The doctor was an old man with a white beard. He put on his glasses and carefully examined Kuina, then shook his head and said to the concerned crowd, "Her body is fine, but she hit her head hard. I don't know when she'll wake up!"
"What do you mean!?" Zoro grabbed the doctor in panic. "Are you saying Kuina won't wake up!?"
"Not that she won't wake up! I'm saying we don't know when she'll wake up!" The doctor shook his head. "It could be a few days, or it could be a much longer time..."
Ian was stunned when he heard this. How could this be!?
Although his intervention had saved Kuina from death, now she might fall into a long-term coma!?
Was fate playing such a cruel joke?