( shanks senses zoro long before either of them step foot in the chapel, the strength of zoro's aura wandering in and out of shanks' perception. and perhaps it's because shanks can quite literally feel the tangle of zoro's emotions like a second skin that he enters the chapel again, despite knowing exactly the demands of this place. zoro obviously has a bone to pick with him, so let him pick it where they both have to sit and listen to one another before the chapel will let them out.

he turns from the altar when zoro approaches, opening his mouth to say something, but zoro is already on the defensive and it takes a concentrated effort not to sigh and roll his eyes in return. )

It's not going to open, Zoro. ( helpfully, when zoro throws his shoulder against the door, to no avail. ) You're going to have to talk to me.

( but he already knows what this is about, for the most part, so he gestures vaguely at wado in zoro's grip and leans casually against the altar, not wasting any time getting right to the heart of it. )

Would you have preferred if I let you win? Just for the sake of your pride? ( shanks holding back isn't going to help zoro become strong enough to defeat mihawk and claim his title. if anything, defeating shanks is just another a stepping stone to fulfilling that dream. once zoro is able to win a duel against shanks, then he'll be ready. ) You won't become the World's Greatest Swordsman if I go easy on you. I never went easy on Hawk Eyes, either.

( which he doesn't necessarily mean as a euphemism, but — well, it could be. with a shrug, he adds, almost an afterthought: )

I imagine I could have robbed him of his title if I'd cared enough about such things — but that's your dream, not mine.