The sea breeze was clean again—sharp, bright, almost mocking how peaceful the world could look after chaos.
From the harbor of Loguetown, the Marine warship that carried legends was setting sail once more.
At the bow stood Vice Admiral Garp, hands planted on his hips, grin splitting his face.
Beside him, Aokiji leaned against the rail, coat fluttering lazily.
And between them—Kai, staring toward the horizon where the sunlight met the ocean.
Departure
"Next stop—Marineford!" Garp roared.
The crew cheered; the sound rolled over the waves.
Kai watched quietly, hands clenched behind his back. He could still feel the faint hum of the Ghost Back beneath his skin—alive, waiting.
Aokiji glanced sideways. "Still thinking about yesterday?"
Kai nodded. "Cipher Pol won't give up, will they?"
Aokiji sighed. "They never do. The World Government doesn't like things it can't control. And right now, that's you."
Garp snorted. "Let them come! If they want a fight, they can start with my fists!"
Kai gave a small smile. "Grandpa… do you ever lose?"
Garp blinked, then barked a laugh. "Lose? Hah! I just run out of enemies worth hitting!"
Aokiji groaned. "That's… not exactly a comfort."
A New Presence
As the warship left the East Blue's calm waters, the sky began to shift.
Clouds gathered, the wind turning colder.
Kai's eyes flicked up. "Someone's watching."
Garp's grin faded just slightly. "Good instincts."
Aokiji raised an eyebrow. "You sense Observation Haki already?"
Kai frowned. "Not… exactly. It's like pressure. Like when a storm looks at you before it hits."
The admiral's lazy posture straightened. "That's no storm. That's intent."
And indeed—miles away, a lone Den Den Mushi clicked to life aboard a shadowed ship.
"Target vessel has departed Loguetown," a voice whispered.
"Proceed with monitoring until they reach Marineford. Cipher Pol Zero authorization confirmed."
The Calm Before the Grand Line
For hours, the sea stayed quiet. Kai leaned on the railing, eyes half-closed, letting the sound of the waves wash through him.
He thought of Foosha Village. Of Makino's warm smile. Of his grandfather's back the day he first left shore.
But most of all—he thought of power.
The kind of power that could shake the world.
Ghost Back Synchronization: 11.03%
Growth Rate: Increasing
Each day, the mark responded more eagerly. The line between him and it blurred a little further.
The Admirals' Talk
In the captain's quarters that evening, Aokiji leaned against the window while Garp poured tea.
"So," he said softly, "how much longer do you plan to hide the truth from him?"
Garp didn't answer immediately. He stirred his tea with deliberate slowness.
"The truth," he said finally, "doesn't help a boy grow. It just weighs him down."
"You mean the Ghost Back," Aokiji said. "That thing on him isn't normal. Even Vegapunk's records don't match it."
Garp's eyes narrowed slightly. "And if the World Government's behind it?"
"Then they've built something they can't control," Aokiji murmured.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Only the quiet hum of the sea filled the room.
Finally, Garp said, "Let them come. I'll deal with them. Kai's future belongs to him, not the elders sitting on their thrones."
Foreshadow of the Grand Line
That night, Kai stood on deck again.
The stars above were brighter than he'd ever seen.
And beneath them—the black ribbon of the Calm Belt, silent and endless.
He whispered to himself, "Marineford, huh… the center of it all."
The faint pulse of his Ghost Back throbbed once in response.
Almost like it understood.
He didn't know it yet—
but beyond that horizon waited new names:
Sengoku. Akainu. Kizaru. Tsuru.
And somewhere in the shadows of Mariejois—
an order had already been given.
"Subject Kai is to be evaluated.
If uncontrollable—eliminate immediately."
To be continued…
The warship nears Marineford—and unseen eyes prepare to test the grandson of Garp like never before.
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