Chapter 32: Return from the East Blue

Shimotsuki Village, Shimotsuki Dojo

The setting sun coated the dojo's wooden eaves in a golden red. The breeze blew the cherry blossom petals, which fell on the stone slabs, as if draping this moment of farewell in a gentle veil. Roy stood at the dojo entrance, his white Marine cape flying in the wind.

He looked at Koushirou, his voice low and firm. "Kuina will no longer be targeted by 'fate,' and Zoro will no longer have to bear any 'destiny'." His gaze slowly swept over the two little swordsmen, gentle yet encouraging. "You just need to complete your basic training here in peace. When you are truly ready, come find me at the Marines."

Kuina gripped her wooden sword tightly, her knuckles white, but her gaze was as sharp as a sword. "I will definitely become the world's number one female swordsman!"

Hearing this, Zoro immediately looked up, his fighting spirit blazing as he glared at her. "What are you talking about! I'm the one who will become the world's number one swordsman!"

Their gazes clashed violently in the air, sparks flying. But this time, it was no longer just a simple competition, but a kind of mutual understanding of achievement.

Koushirou stood to the side, looking at the determination in his two disciples' eyes, a slight smile on his lips. A hint of moisture appeared in his eyes, but he just gently raised his hand, as if to smooth out his inner emotions. He looked at Roy and nodded deeply. "I will teach them well."

Roy nodded slightly, then turned, his gaze falling on Luffy and Nami. "Alright, we should be heading home."

"Oh!" Luffy jumped up excitedly, waved vigorously at Zoro, and shouted, "Moss-head! You have to come be my something-hand soon!!!"

Nami was so angry she punched Luffy on the head, instantly creating a large bump. "You idiot! It's called a first mate!!!"

Zoro stared at the star-struck Luffy, his mouth twitching, but a sincere smile flashed in his eyes. He clenched his fist and muttered to himself, "I'll definitely go."

Kuina looked at Zoro's fighting-spirited appearance and finally couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes full of trust and admiration. After these few days together, the four little ones had already formed a deep friendship through their bickering, training, and arguments.

Roy placed his hands on Luffy and Nami's shoulders, turned slightly, and looked back at the familiar eaves of Shimotsuki Village. The breeze blew his white cape like a rolling wave.

"Let's go."

"Swish!"

The three figures vanished in the twilight glow in an instant, leaving only a floor of fallen cherry blossom petals, quietly paving the dojo entrance, silhouetting Koushirou, Zoro, and Kuina standing at the gate.

Off the coast of Shimotsuki Village, on the deck of a Marine warship

As dusk fell and the last ray of sunset sank below the horizon, the searchlights on the warship lit up one by one, drawing a silver channel on the dark sea.

"Swish!" With a slight distortion of space, Roy appeared in the center of the deck with Luffy and Nami.

"At attention!" The Marines lined up neatly on the deck instantly straightened their backs, their salutes more powerful than usual. Their gazes followed Roy with burning intensity. The newspaper delivered by the news coo this morning was now treasured in the soldiers' pockets.

[MONSTER MARINE REAR ADMIRAL FACES OFF AGAINST "RED-HAIRED" SHANKS! BATTLE ENDS IN A DRAW!]

In the accompanying photo, the image of their officer clashing with the New World great pirate with his Conqueror's Haki-infused fist still made these young Marines' blood boil.

"Return to Marineford," Roy's voice was not loud, but it cut through the night like a drawn sword.

"Yes, Rear Admiral Roy!" The response was so loud it sent the seagulls on the mast flying. The old helmsman quietly wiped his eyes. It had been too long since the end of Roger's era that the Marines had had such an inspiring new star.

At the ship's rail, Luffy was leaning so far out that half his body was over the railing, his arms waving into a blur. "Moss-head! Short-haired girl! You have to—"

"You idiot! They have names!" Nami chopped him on the head with her hand but also looked towards the gradually blurring outline of Shimotsuki Village. The moonlight coated her orange, short hair in silver. "Kuina, we... we made a promise."

The sea breeze carried the faint sound of clashing bamboo swords from the direction of the dojo, as if in response to their farewell.

At the bow, Roy's fingertips brushed over the already scabbed wound on his left abdomen. "The course of fate and all that..." he muttered to himself, then suddenly seemed to notice something and turned his head.

In the shadows of the deck, a few young new recruits were secretly looking at him with admiring eyes. When they were discovered, they were so flustered they almost threw their military caps into the sea.

For once, Roy's lips curved into a smile. He casually tossed them a few bags of rice crackers he had swiped from Garp. "Have some snacks. Don't be too nervous."

"Th-Thank you, sir!" Amidst the cheers, the warship cut through the waves. The Marine flag on the mast fluttered, the moonlight reflecting off its surface, the two characters for "Justice" more dazzling than ever.

Shimotsuki Village Coast

Zoro stopped swinging his sword, panting, sweat dripping from his short green hair. He looked at the warship, which was already out of sight, his three bamboo swords glinting coldly in the moonlight. "Just you wait, Luffy... and..." He turned to look towards the dojo. Kuina was raising Wado Ichimonji over her head for practice swings. "I will definitely surpass everyone!"

In the sound of the tide, the crisp sound of two wooden swords clashing carried far, far away. The course of fate seemed to have already begun to change...

Marineford Port, morning.

With the help of Roy's teleportation ability, they returned to Marine Headquarters from the East Blue in just two days. The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the sound of the seagulls at the port and the warships' horns intertwined into a low symphony.

Roy's warship slowly sailed into the port. The ship had not even fully stopped, but the Marines on the deck were already lined up neatly, their gazes burning as they looked at the pier. On the pier, two tall figures stood side-by-side.

"Hey, hey, Zephyr, did you see that? That kid's cape isn't even wrinkled!" Garp stood with his hands on his hips, grinning widely, rice cracker crumbs flying from the corner of his mouth. "As expected of my disciple!"

Zephyr pushed up his sunglasses, a slight smile on his lips, and snorted coldly. "Hmph, it's clearly the result of my teaching."

As he spoke, Roy on the warship's deck had already sensed the familiar presences, a smile on his lips. "These two old men actually both came to watch the show?"

He crisply gave a series of orders, quickly arranging the warship's affairs, then turned to Luffy and Nami. "Let's go!"

"Swish!" Space distorted slightly, and the three figures instantly appeared in the center of the pier.

"You brat!" Garp rushed forward with a single step, his fist whistling as it came down on Roy's head. "You dare to take on the Red-Haired Pirates by yourself?!"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Roy clutched his head, wincing, but couldn't help but laugh. "Old man, I came back in one piece, didn't I?"

A hint of relief flashed in Garp's eyes. He was about to land another punch but was stopped by Zephyr. Zephyr walked over, his sharp gaze scanning Roy up and down. Seeing that his presence was steady, he nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. You didn't bring shame to the Marines."

"Of course! How could my disciple bring shame!" Garp immediately interjected, looking smug.

"Nonsense!" Zephyr shot back, pointing at Garp's nose. "His Six Powers secret techniques and Armament Haki were clearly specially trained by me!"

"Huh?!" Garp's eyes widened. The two of them got closer and closer as they argued, their noses almost touching, spit flying, the scene once getting out of control.

Seeing this, Roy quickly reached out and grabbed their shoulders, smiling wryly. "Wait a minute, you two old men, there are so many people watching at the port..."

Zephyr snorted coldly, put away his sunglasses, and shook his clothes. He suddenly became serious. "Alright, Roy, Sengoku wants to see you."

Garp pursed his lips, reached out, and picked up Luffy by the back of his collar, holding Nami. "Let's go, kids. Grandpa will take you to eat barbecue."

Luffy excitedly kicked his legs. "Meat! Meat!"

Nami looked at Roy with concern, and he gently nodded to reassure her.

Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's Office

In front of the large wooden door, Roy took a deep breath and knocked lightly. "Come in."

Pushing the door open, Sengoku was sitting behind his desk, his eyes behind his glasses as sharp as a hawk's. He was holding a thick file, his brow furrowed.

"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral, Rear Admiral Roy has arrived."

Sengoku slowly put down the file and looked up at Roy, a hint of an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "Sit."

Roy sat down, his back straight.

"Red-Haired Shanks," Sengoku said, getting straight to the point, his voice low. "What do you think of him?"

Roy frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "He's very strong, but..." He paused, his gaze determined. "He doesn't seem to want to be an enemy of the Marines."

A flicker appeared in Sengoku's eyes. "Oh?"

"He should have other motives."

Sengoku's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, and the office fell into a brief silence. After a moment, he suddenly changed the subject. "The two children from Shimotsuki Village, are you sure you want to train them?"

Roy's gaze was as firm as a rock. "Yes."

"Even if the World Government might object?"

Roy's gaze was like a blade. "They are just children with extremely high potential. The Marines need this kind of fresh blood."

Sengoku stared at him for a long time without speaking. After a long while, Sengoku slowly smiled. "Garp and Zephyr were right. you really are..."

Before he could finish, the office door was thrown open. "Sengoku! My disciple is not for—" Garp's loud voice stopped abruptly because he saw that Sengoku was now holding a thick stack of files, aimed precisely at his face.

A vein popped on Sengoku's forehead. Garp was stunned for a moment, then sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and stuck out his tongue. "Ahem, old man Sengoku, don't be angry..."

Roy: "..."

After a brief silence, Sengoku sighed lightly, pushed up his glasses, and his gaze turned to Roy. "The situation on the seas is complicated now. You need to be careful."

Roy's expression was serious, his gaze like a torch. "Understood."

-------

Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!

Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA

I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (110 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (210 Chapter)

Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (210 Chapter)

MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (100 Chapter)

BLEACH: Blade of Purification (90 Chapter)

Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (250 Chapter)

My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (100 Chapter)

The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (80 Chapter)

Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(70 Chapter)

Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (50 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (60 Chapter)

Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (50 Chapter)

If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.