Zoro wasn't sure what exactly he felt about Luffy's fight with Arlong.

At first, he didn't even know what to think because Luffy was clearly toying with his opponent. It didn't mean that he wasn't serious; the rubber boy always took fights seriously, despite his goofy grins and heedless attitude giving evidence to the contrary. Even in their occasional spar sessions, Luffy approached training with all the intense seriousness of a seasoned combatant who went through countless death-and-life battles.

The confrontation between the fishman and his captain was strange at first. But then, there was a shift. Just a subtle change in Luffy's demeanor that caused Zoro's grip on the handle of his katana to unconsciously tighten until it threatened to shatter. A sudden surge of adrenaline pumped through his veins and overwhelming excitement made him giddy.

And then the fight ended in a matter of seconds.