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"That man? Who are you referring to?" Shanks' eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of confusion appearing on his face.
The members of the Red-Haired Pirates standing beside him were also curiously waiting for an answer.
Few people in the world could leave such a striking scar on the chest of the world's greatest swordsman.
Could it be that he challenged Whitebeard? But after thinking it over, that didn't seem likely. Mihawk wasn't that reckless.
"Arashi." Mihawk uttered the name in a deep voice.
Shanks was stunned for a moment, and then his pupils suddenly shrank. The wine glass in his hand trembled slightly at that very instant.
"He was the one?!" Muttering to himself, Shanks' gaze once again landed on the bandages across Mihawk's chest. "That wound… must be painful."
Mihawk let out a cold snort.
"This matter was worth coming here in person. I really should thank you for bringing such world-shaking news." Shanks spoke in a low voice.
His eyes flashed with solemnity, seriousness, and a faint, lingering excitement—the thrill of battle.
"A man who disappeared from the world for nearly twenty years has now reemerged as a Marine Admiral."
"It's hard to imagine what kind of major action the Marines will take next." Mihawk's voice was grave.
There was no doubt about Arashi's strength. The three Admirals were already terrifying enough, and now they had to add him into the equation.
With the Marines at their strongest in history, the balance of the seas was on the verge of collapse.
"The balance of the world is about to be shattered," Shanks muttered.
Both of them were aware of the severity of the situation.
With Arashi's return, the future of the seas would be nothing short of a raging storm, a monstrous tsunami waiting to erupt.
"Also, on my way here, I noticed that Marine Headquarters is mobilizing their elite forces from various locations."
"It seems they are preparing for a major war. But their target remains unknown." Mihawk added.
Shanks' expression grew serious. "A war? There are no signs of an impending war anywhere in the world."
The Four Seas were calm, and the Four Emperors of the New World had maintained relative peace without excessive conflict.
Shanks fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, an image of a rough, sinister, and menacing face flashed through his mind.
His body tensed up. For some reason, his thoughts suddenly drifted toward that freckled kid.
"Could it be?!" In an instant, Shanks' expression turned grim.
"What have you realized?" Mihawk asked with curiosity.
Around them, Yasopp, Beckman, and the others watched the two men with confusion, unable to grasp what was going on.
But one thing was certain—Shanks' face did not look good.
"I can't be sure yet. I may need to take a trip to Whitebeard's territory." Shanks slowly lifted his head, his expression dark and his eyes filled with heavy contemplation.
"I need to have a proper talk with that old man." Mihawk was momentarily taken aback.
He wasn't sure what could make Shanks willing to take such a risk, but whatever it was, it had to be extraordinary.
The wind suddenly picked up.
While the others remained puzzled, they could tell from the two men's expressions that this was no trivial matter.
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"A Warlord meeting?" Arashi's gaze fell on Doflamingo, staring at him silently for a moment before suddenly breaking into a grin.
"Since you have business to attend to, I won't keep you. After all, this is an important meeting in the world."
Doflamingo's expression remained unchanged, a smirk still on his lips.
"Well then, I'll be heading to Marine Headquarters first. However, the main topic of this meeting…"
His eyes shifted, falling on Crocodile.
"It's highly likely about your defeat at the hands of a rookie pirate. They might be selecting a new Warlord." Crocodile sneered.
"I don't care about the title of Warlord at all." Doflamingo turned and leapt off the Ship, waving his hand as he walked away.
"Well, that makes sense. I'm quite curious to see who they'll pick to replace you."
Arashi watched him leave without much reaction, observing as he boarded another ship docked at the nearby shore.
The Ship had been anchored at Long Chain Island for quite some time now, waiting for someone—his teacher. Arashi had always held a deep respect for Garp.
For one, back when he was in dire straits, Garp saved him and gave him the chance to grow.
Secondly, over the years, Garp had helped him more times than he could count. Lastly, it had been many years since they had last met.
The bond between teacher and student was undeniably strong.
Three days later.
As Arashi and his crew grew impatient, they saw a Marine warship with a dog-shaped figurehead slowly approaching the shore.
"He's finally here."
Rosinante let out a deep sigh.
He wasn't sure what Garp's original destination was, but it was clear that he had been heading toward Marine Headquarters. They had already been delayed for quite some time on Long Chain Island.
"Hahahaha!"
"Arashi, you little brat, you still look as young and energetic as ever!"
A figure leapt off the warship. He had a square-jawed face and a strong and sturdy build—but the once-black hair on his head had now turned completely white.
Arashi stepped down from the Ship's bow, gazing at Garp as he approached, a strange feeling surfacing in his heart.
He had aged. He had truly aged.
He could still recall how, ten years ago, Garp had a full head of black hair and was brimming with energy.
But now, standing before him, the legendary Vice-Admiral Hero seemed like an old man who had stepped into the twilight of his years.
Though his body remained robust and his spirit strong, time had undeniably taken its toll. His life force was waning, and his hair and beard had turned completely white.
"Garp-sensei!"
Arashi quickly walked forward.
"Where's Luffy?! That brat actually dared to become a pirate—I need to teach him a lesson!"
Garp walked over, glanced at Arashi, and immediately started scanning the Sand Ship, yelling in frustration.
"If my guess is correct, your beloved grandson should be in Water 7 by now."
Arashi replied with a smile.
He saw through Garp's words instantly. Though he spoke of Luffy being disobedient, deep down, he was worried sick.
"What?! You didn't capture him?" Garp's eyes widened in shock.
"How could I possibly arrest your own grandson? Besides…" Arashi paused briefly before smiling again.
"In my eyes, he isn't a criminal. If anything, he's a pirate who has done nothing but good deeds along his journey. He hasn't committed any real sins against the world."
Garp scowled.
"You always were too righteous for your own good. A pirate is still a pirate!"
Though he said that, a faint sigh of relief escaped him.
Then, looking at the disciple he had personally trained, a proud smile appeared. Stretching out his arms, he pulled Arashi into a firm embrace.
"You brat, you haven't changed a bit over the years! Hmm… No, you've gotten stronger! Unlike your old teacher—I'm already an old man!" Garp laughed heartily.
"You will always be young, sensei!" Arashi replied.
"Brat. In my whole life, I've only ever trained one disciple like you." Garp suddenly sighed.
Arashi was momentarily stunned, but he quickly understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
His son joined the Revolutionary Army, and his grandson became a pirate. Only he had remained in the Marines from beginning to end.
Though he had many flaws, his heart never wavered, always standing in the same camp as the old man.
As for Kuzan, his lazy sense of justice naturally left Garp dissatisfied. "Thank you!" Before Arashi could respond, Garp spoke again in a low voice.
"It's what a disciple should do," Arashi smiled. Garp also smiled, patting Arashi on the shoulder before straightening up.
"Sengoku insisted that I personally invite you to Marine Headquarters. What exactly is he planning?" he suddenly asked in a low voice.
"Was it Fleet Admiral Sengoku who invited you?" Arashi was slightly surprised.
"That's right. He seems to be preparing for something very important," Garp nodded.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is planning to make a move against Whitebeard," Arashi said calmly, glancing at Garp.
"What?!" Garp's eyes widened in shock.
"I was the one who proposed this plan. Sengoku thought it over carefully and decided to go through with it," Arashi continued.
"We believe that the Marine forces right now are strong enough to devise a detailed strategy against the Whitebeard Pirates."
"If we can crush the Whitebeard Pirates, we can weaken the power of the pirates and break the balance of this world!" Arashi said with a light chuckle.
"That old guy Whitebeard won't be easy to deal with," Garp said seriously. The image of the old man with his crescent-shaped white moustache flashed in his mind, making him sigh internally.
"But there is a high chance of success," Arashi replied.
"So, you're planning to fight the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World? That's pirate territory. You'll risk provoking a bigger reaction," Garp frowned.
"Of course not," Arashi said. "We've already found a breakthrough point that will force Whitebeard's crew into a trap that the Marines have prepared in advance."
Garp raised an eyebrow.
"And what's this breakthrough point?" he asked curiously.
"It hasn't appeared yet, but it will soon," Arashi replied, looking toward the distant sea.
As the Straw Hat crew reached Water 7 and wreaked havoc on Enies Lobby, Ace would be defeated by Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach. That event would trigger a chain reaction worldwide, setting off an unprecedented era-defining event.
"You're becoming as cryptic as Sengoku," Garp grumbled.
Arashi simply smiled without responding. He knew that if Garp found out that the breakthrough point was Ace, the old man would be troubled for days.
Moments later, two young men stood before them.
"Arashi, I forgot to introduce them to you!" Garp said with a hearty laugh. "This is Koby and Helmeppo, my new disciples!"
Arashi's gaze shifted to the two nervous young men standing rigidly at attention. His eyes first fell on the pink-haired boy wearing glasses.
He squinted slightly, examining him for a long moment before finally speaking. "So, you're Koby?"
The Marine's infamous dead weight, a burden, a naive idealist, and the so-called Marine Oden? Arashi's expression made it clear that he had no fondness for the boy.
To be honest, he had no good impression of Koby. Whether as a Marine or a pirate, blind kindness and naive idealism were laughable, or rather, immature mindsets.
Especially in this world. Unlike an anime, this was a living, breathing reality. Ever since coming to this world, Arashi has experienced real darkness and evil firsthand.
Koby's famous cry during the Summit War halted the battle for a few seconds, preventing further slaughter.
But two years later, his weakness and naivety led to him being captured by the Blackbeard Pirates on Hachinosu, and his foolish compassion dragged his mentor into a deadly predicament.
This boy's worldview was deeply flawed. Pure-hearted foolishness would only plunge the world into deeper chaos. Under Arashi's piercing gaze, Koby felt his heart tremble.
The man before him had an imposing build, a towering presence, and an overwhelmingly strong physique. Just one look was enough to make Koby feel completely insignificant.
"Doesn't seem like much," Arashi said with a faint smile. "Sensei, why did you take in someone like him?"
One sentence made Koby tremble, his head lowering involuntarily.
"Hahahaha!" Garp burst into laughter. "At least give your junior some face!"
But when he glanced at Koby, even Garp had nothing to say. Compared to his senior disciple, the gap between them was massive.
Arashi's talent and unique lineage were unparalleled, something that couldn't be found anywhere else. On the other hand, Koby embodied the most ordinary Marine recruit, a true representation of the common people.
Arashi shook his head, not bothering with Koby any further. As for the sweating, nervous Helmeppo standing beside him, Arashi didn't even spare him a glance.
He wasn't interested in these two. It wasn't outright dislike, but their actions in the original story had left him with little reason to care for them.
The master and disciple sat down and continued chatting. Most of the time, Garp talked about his experiences training Luffy and Ace, often complaining about how Arashi had completely ignored Ace after leaving him in Garp's care.
Arashi smiled and responded accordingly, occasionally sharing his own experiences.
"Was Crocodile your undercover agent? That's an interesting excuse. Maybe I should use that excuse if Luffy ever gets caught."
Hearing Arashi mention Crocodile, Garp frowned and muttered under his breath. This surprised Arashi. "Sensei, you are bold!"
Garp chuckled. "Just joking!" Then his expression turned serious. "But you really are something, brat!"
"You've built such a massive force in the West Blue already."
Garp's face grew stern. Years ago, it might not have been obvious, but now, the officers standing in the distance—those of captain and commodore ranks—had an unmistakable presence that even Garp couldn't ignore.
Clearly, the younger generation had grown into key figures under Arashi's command. With his experienced eye, even Garp could tell that these men's strength was already remarkable within the Marines.
"Them? They still have a long way to go," Arashi said with a smile.
Garp shook his head. He hadn't seen them fight, but their aura alone proved they had become a formidable force. Then, he turned to look at Koby, who had been silent since earlier, and laughed.
"Why don't you give your junior a lesson? Like you, he started from zero." Arashi looked up at Koby, who flinched and nervously met his gaze.
Frowning slightly, Arashi remained silent for a moment. Eventually, he stood up slowly. "Let's see how much you've learned under Garp-sensei."
A calm voice echoed, pushing Koby's tension to its peak. Facing each other in the open space, their eyes locked. Koby had to tilt his head up at a forty-five-degree angle just to take in the full stature of his senior. Arashi's towering and muscular frame was unlike anything he had ever seen in his life.
"So tall!" "His presence is so overwhelming!" "Is this the Admiral Arashi that Instructor Garp spoke of?" Koby's heart trembled. Even before the fight began, fear had already crept into his mind. Arashi frowned as he looked down at the small recruit before him, whose height barely reached his waist—perfectly dividing their figures.
"If your will and courage are lacking," Arashi said plainly, seeing Koby's fear as clear as day, "then I advise you to take off that uniform now and live as an ordinary civilian."
"Senior!" Koby clenched his teeth, looking up. A trace of shame flashed through his eyes—he had already felt fear before even making a move.
"Come at me," Arashi said calmly.
"Yes!" Koby nodded firmly and took a deep breath, locking his eyes on the man before him. His body tensed, lowering slightly.
In the next instant, he disappeared with a swift movement. Almost simultaneously, he reappeared mid-air to Arashi's right. Marine Rokushiki—Soru! Seeing his opponent remain still as if unaware of his approach, Koby gritted his teeth and swung his right leg down forcefully.
"Rankyaku!"
Boom! A shockwave spread out as Arashi effortlessly raised his right hand to block the attack.
"Put more strength into it," Arashi said, his voice steady. "Or else, you won't even be able to shake me."
Hearing this, Koby's heart trembled, and panic flashed in his eyes. That strike had already been his full power.
Without hesitation, he kicked off the air again.
Moonwalk.
In an instant, he had repositioned himself behind Arashi and launched another kick.
Sigh. A sigh echoed. Arashi suddenly turned, watching as Koby leaped into the air, finally reaching eye level with him. His right hand slowly lifted, forming a fist.
"Weak will."
"Lacking physical strength."
"Barely any combat experience."
As he spoke, Arashi sighed again. "Have you ever been on a battlefield?"
"Have you seen a comrade's throat pierced by a blade right next to you?"
"Have you ever faced the despair of death?"
"Has your body ever been soaked in blood?"
"Have you ever cut off an enemy's head with your own hands?"
"Do you understand the difference between Marines and pirates? Do you even know what justice is?"
His fist moved slowly, yet in reality, it was incredibly fast. In an instant, it was right in front of Koby.
The wind howled as the seemingly light punch sent a powerful gust, pushing Koby's pink hair back.
"The Marines are not some childish playground!"
"Koby!"
With those words ringing in his ears, a powerful punch landed squarely on Koby's face. In an instant, his mind went blank, his vision filled with stars. The world spun and blurred as his body was sent flying backward before crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.
"Koby!!" Helmeppo shouted in panic and rushed toward him.
For what felt like ten seconds, Koby's world was nothing but darkness before his vision slowly returned. When he saw the figure approaching him, he clenched his teeth.
"Kid," Arashi said, crossing his arms as he looked down at the Marine recruit. "You still lack the resolve to become a real Marine."
"Ask yourself—justice, courage, strength—what do you truly have?"
"Having a goal and determination alone isn't enough."
"If you truly want to be a Marine," Arashi continued, his voice calm, "then take my advice—leave your instructor's side and experience the cruelty and darkness of this world firsthand."
"Only when your hands are stained with blood will you truly understand what justice means."
Koby's entire body trembled, his expression flickering with uncertainty.
"The Marines are not a game."
With those final words, Arashi turned and walked away.
Koby remained seated on the ground, lost in thought.
From a distance, Garp watched his fallen disciple in silence. In that moment, he realized something—perhaps he truly was getting old.
Aging didn't just weaken his body; it had unknowingly softened his heart. Ever since Koby became his disciple, he had barely experienced the cruelty of real battle. Even now, the fear in his heart had not been erased.
For a Marine, that was unacceptable. In fact, Koby was weaker in spirit than even some veteran soldiers.
And the biggest reason for that—was Garp's own softness. He had wanted to shield the boy from the storm.
"Sensei."
Arashi's voice rang out.
"Arashi." Garp looked at him, his expression complicated.
"Sensei, you don't need to waver."
"The things you worry about—I will take care of them for you," Arashi said with a smile.
Garp was momentarily stunned. Then, realizing what Arashi meant, he let out a gruff laugh.
"You brat!"
"I ain't wavering! Just because you're an admiral now, you think your old man's grown weak?"
"Are you itching for a taste of my fist?!"
Arashi pretended to step back in fear. "Please don't, Sensei! Your Fist of Love is unbeatable!"
"Bwahahaha!!" Garp roared with laughter. The lingering gloom in his heart vanished without a trace.
In that moment, he suddenly felt grateful. Grateful for that day long ago in the Sabaody Archipelago when he had gone to see this disciple out of sheer curiosity.
From that day on, fate had quietly shifted in a new direction.
For a brief moment, Garp could almost hear the sound of destiny's gears clicking—breaking away from their original course.
Meanwhile, two Marine warships left Long Ring Long Land.
Five days later, news that shocked the world broke out.
"The Straw Hat Crew has invaded Enies Lobby."
"The Enies Lobby Incident?"
For a time, the warships were filled with chatter, and Garp nearly jumped in fury.
"Arashi, where are you headed?" he demanded.
"Marineford," Arashi replied with a smile. "I need to prepare for what's coming and discuss things with Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"I'm going to Water 7!" Garp announced.
Arashi nodded. At that moment, they parted ways.
Two days later, on the warship's lookout, Daz Bonez spotted a lone boat drifting across the sea.
"They seem to be a group the World Government has placed a bounty on," he murmured, reporting the sighting to Arashi.
Sitting in his chair, Arashi gazed at the boat bobbing on the waves, a faint smile curling his lips.
"CP9, huh?"
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