"This is the One Piece world?"
Guts muttered to himself as he took a deep breath. The air here was different — thicker, saltier. The smell of the sea clung everywhere, almost overwhelming.
He had already said his goodbyes to everyone close to him, and without wasting more time, he'd used the System to travel to the One Piece world.
Now, his attention shifted inward.
[Achievement Unlocked: "Travel to Another World" — Template Character: Issei Hyoudou — Completion Rate: 60.55%]
The template had progressed when he subdued Kaguya, along with the result of years of hard work.
Even so, he wasn't sure how much further it would rise in this new world.
After all, truth be told, the One Piece world held no threat to him. It was like a level 100 boss dropping into a level 10 lobby — unfair, unbalanced, almost cruel.
But Guts wasn't careless. He still had some ideas about how it might progress… and he would soon be testing them.
"It seems I arrived too early in the One Piece world," he murmured, narrowing his eyes.
"The timeline here is much later than when I reincarnated in the Naruto world."
Wandering through the town of Shells in East Blue, Guts listened to the chatter of locals.
From a pair of shopkeepers.. a mother and daughter he learned the town had been rescued by two pirates named Luffy and Zoro half a month ago.
Recently, Marines had come to escort away Axe-Hand Morgan, a former captain who once ruled Shells Town with darkness and tyranny, now headed for trial at Marine Headquarters.
That alone was enough for Guts to guess the current timeline.
As he strolled toward the port, he found crowds of townspeople gathering, their voices full of excitement.
"Hey! Look! The people from Navy Headquarters are here!"
"Oh my God! Is that… Vice Admiral Garp's ship!?"
"That means the Navy Hero, Garp the Fist, is here!" one villager shouted, his face flushed with excitement.
"What!? Garp — the legendary Marine who cornered the Pirate King Gold Roger several times!"
Hearing these comments, Guts's face shifted slightly.
The name "Garp" alone was enough to stir something in him.
Pushing through the crowd, Guts caught sight of the marines from Shells Town escorting their prisoner. They stood before a towering, dog-masked man.
"Vice Admiral Garp! This is the prisoner, Morgan!"
The Shells Town marines bowed their heads with admiration, eager to report.
This was Garp.
The legendary Marine, the one recorded in textbooks.
But the man's tall, burly frame stood silent. He didn't answer. He didn't even move.
"Vice Admiral…?"
After half a minute of no response, one of the marines dared to ask again.
"Hululu~~"
Nasal bubbles swelled in Garp's nose as soft snores escaped.
"Oops… he fell asleep again."
Garp's adjutant, Bo D. gard, sighed with visible exasperation.
"Fell asleep!!?"
The marines of Shells Town were stunned, jaws dropping in disbelief.
Suddenly, Captain Morgan's face twisted with rage. His eyes flared as he lifted his cuffed hands high, aiming to drive the sharp steel of his shackles straight into Garp's chest.
No one expected it.
A living legend stood before him, and yet Morgan still dared to attack!?
It was too late to intervene.
Everyone could only watch as the chained blade of the cuffs swung down toward Garp's chest—
Zmmmmm—!
An unfamiliar surge of energy rippled through the air.
Bang!!
Morgan's body was blasted back as if struck by a cannonball. He flew across the pier, limbs flailing, before crashing into the sea with a heavy splash.
Puff!
Water sprayed as he sank beneath the waves, gone before anyone could even shout.
"What—!? Who did that!?"
"Too fast! I didn't even see it clearly…"
The marines and townsfolk alike froze, eyes wide, murmurs spreading through the crowd.
Bogard, Garp's ever-calm adjutant, stiffened. His eyes widened slightly as an unsettling thought crossed his mind.
"No way… Just now, was that Shigan? One of the Navy's Rokushiki techniques?"
Puff!
The nasal bubble on Garp's nose burst, and he smacked his lips, mumbling groggily.
"Hm? What's with all the noise…? What happened?"
A voice called out from the crowd.
"Old man, seriously? Don't tell me you've already gone senile."
Everyone turned to see a tall figure stepping out from among the spectators... Guts, looking completely unimpressed.
He sighed, shaking his head.
The so-called "Hero of the Marines," a man standing at the very top of this world's combat power… almost got poked to death by a washed-up, two-episode fodder villain.
No wonder people joked Morgan was "the strongest man beyond Garp."
If Guts hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it either.
Bogard narrowed his eyes slightly. His suspicion deepened.
"That strike just now… was it him? But who is he…? I've never seen him among the Marines."
"To pull off a Shigan that cleanly… even at Headquarters, a man like that would be known everywhere."
"Who's senile, you brat!"
Garp grumbled as he wiped the snot off his face with the back of his hand. Then, scratching his nose thoughtfully, he muttered,
"I was just thinking about my grandson…"
The truth was, a small fry like Morgan didn't need the Marine Hero himself to show up.
But when Garp heard the name "Monkey D. Luffy" — that Morgan had been defeated by some rookie pirate who just happened to carry the "D." name... he couldn't help himself. He had to see it for himself.
"Old man, are you going back to Navy Headquarters now?" Guts asked suddenly, hands tucked into his pockets, tone casual.
"Hey! Who do you think you are!?" one of the Headquarters marines snapped, glaring at Guts.
"Watch your mouth when you talk to Vice Admiral Garp!"
But Garp only tilted his head, eyeing the strange young man in front of him.
…He hadn't seen this kid before. At least, he didn't think so. And yet, why did he feel so oddly familiar?
He squinted, scratching his head. Déjà vu… why does it feel like I've known this brat forever?
Finally, he gave up trying to place the feeling. "Bah, whatever." He waved a hand dismissively.
"Anyway, yeah, things here are wrapped up. No reason for me to hang around."
"I happen to be heading to the Grand Line myself," Guts said with a grin. "How about giving me a ride?"
The words hit the marines like a thunderclap. They froze, staring at him in disbelief.
What the hell did this kid just say!?
Since when was Garp's warship a free taxi service? Was this guy crazy?
Even Garp blinked in surprise. Then he suddenly barked out a booming laugh, clutching his stomach.
"Wahahahaha! You've got guts, brat! Asking me for a lift like I'm some ferry service!" He slammed a fist against his chest, grin splitting his face.
"Haven't had someone talk to me that casually in years!"
Still… the feeling of familiarity nagged at him, even through his laughter. Why did this kid sound so much like an old friend he couldn't quite remember?
Of course, Garp didn't know the truth. If measured by the System's clock, he and Guts had already "known" each other for over twenty years... back when Guts had pushed Garp's template to one hundred percent.
How could they ever be strangers?
"Vice Admiral Garp, this man is extraordinary in strength… by no means ordinary. Best keep an eye on him."
Bogard, ever the calm shadow at Garp's back, spoke in a low whisper.
Garp grunted, narrowing his eyes. After a moment, he nodded.
But he wasn't worried.
He was Garp the Fist. Who in the world would dare act out on his ship?
What Garp couldn't possibly imagine was that this kid barely a third of his age had already surpassed him long ago.
And the reason he couldn't "see" Guts's true strength?
Simple. Guts's Haki had transcended normal limits. Just as Shanks could silence the future-sight of advanced Observation Haki, Guts could veil himself completely.
If he didn't want anyone to know his power, then no one would.
And so, with that invisible pressure humming around him, Guts boarded Garp's warship bound for Marine Headquarters.
"Oi, brat! What's your name? And where'd you learn Rokushiki, huh?"
Garp leaned against the railing as the ship cut through the waves, one hand holding a bundle of doughnuts.
Before Guts could answer, his eyes flicked to the sweets.
He reached forward casually.
Garp jerked his hand back in surprise, but Guts's movement was faster... he plucked a doughnut right from Garp's grasp and bit into it without hesitation.
"My name's Guts~" he said around a mouthful, his grin crooked.
"As for Rokushiki? Nothing special. I just… watched the Marines train when I was a kid. Watched long enough, and well… I picked up a thing or two."
"Wha—!?"
Garp's eyes bulged. He almost sprayed chewed-up doughnut all over Guts's face.
Even the Marines standing nearby froze, their jaws slack.
Learned by watching? Just like that?
"Don't screw with me, brat!" Garp roared, though his booming laughter followed immediately after. "Wahahahaha! You've got some nerve!"
Still, his fists itched. He wasn't about to admit it, but Guts had stolen that doughnut cleanly and faster than even he could react.
Around them, the younger Marines whispered in awe, staring at the stranger who had just walked onto their ship like he owned the place.
Who the hell is this guy…?
PS: The second world, One Piece, is here… A shout-out to everyone who journeyed through Naruto...now it's time for another adventure.