While searching for new swords to replace the ones shattered by Mihawk, Zoro meets a woman named Tashigi, a marine Sergeant Major with a passion for swords, who looks exactly like an older Kuina. She notices that Zoro is carrying a rare sword. Zoro, who has little money, inquires about a cheap sword, which the owner says is cursed. After an impressive test of the sword, the owner lets him have it for free, along with another rare sword he said should belong to a true swordsman.