Marine Headquarters, Outside the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Knock knock knock.
"Enter!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
A messenger hurried inside, his voice urgent. "Something's happened!"
"Hm?" Sengoku was buried in paperwork, but the words made him snap his head up. "What happened?"
"Admiral Akainu and Admiral Kizaru… they're fighting at the docks!"
"What?!"
The steel pen in Sengoku's hand snapped clean in two, ink spilling across his desk.
"Phew…"
On the sofa, Vice Admiral Tsuru remained calm, gently blowing on her tea. "With Borsalino's temperament, it's unlikely he'd clash head-on with Sakazuki."
That slippery eel of a man? He'd never start trouble on his own.
"But…"
The messenger relayed the latest rumors, lowering his voice. "They say the docks are already half destroyed! Some even claim that if this goes on, Marineford itself will sink!"
"What?!"
Even Tsuru nearly lost her composure. Her teacup slammed onto the table with a sharp crack.
"They really fought?"
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged a glance. Both could see disbelief in the other's eyes.
Something wasn't right.
Their Observation Haki easily covered the entirety of Marineford. If the two Admirals were truly fighting, the resulting power surges would have been unmistakable. Yet… from the docks there was only minor disturbance.
Something was off.
The two high officers rose at once, striding quickly toward the docks.
Inside Admiral Aokiji's Office.
Kuzan was sprawled on his sofa, snoring lightly. The sudden rush of footsteps and shouts in the hallway woke him.
"So noisy… Can't a man sleep around here?"
He pulled down his eye mask, rubbing at his drowsy eyes.
"...Sakazuki and Borsalino… fighting at the docks?"
He tilted his head, listening. A lazy grin tugged at his lips.
"Well, might as well go watch the show."
Yawning, he rose slowly and headed toward the commotion.
Marineford Docks.
"Yo, Sakazuki… calm down."
Kizaru raised both hands in surrender as he felt Akainu's fury radiating like molten fire.
"I was just joking. No need to take it so seriously."
Looks like today wouldn't be the day to steal his prize. No matter. There would be other chances.
Renn Hawk had only just been promoted to Rear Admiral. He wouldn't be reassigned so soon. Next time, when Sakazuki wasn't around, he'd make his move.
Step, step, step.
The sound of hurried boots echoed as Sengoku and Tsuru arrived.
Seeing the docks intact — no massive destruction, no life-threatening duel, just two Admirals glaring at each other — Sengoku let out a long breath of relief.
Then, fury surged in his chest.
His eyes swept over the crowd of Marines who had gathered in rings around the scene, their faces alight with excitement at the "spectacle."
"What are you staring at?! Do you all have nothing better to do?! Have you finished your training missions?!"
"Disperse! Now!"
The crowd scattered in an instant.
Sengoku turned back to the Admirals, his voice a thunderclap. "Nonsense!"
Kizaru shrugged. If Sakazuki had just agreed earlier, none of this would have happened.
"Hmph."
Akainu coldly ignored him, then gestured toward Sengoku and Tsuru. "Fleet Admiral. Vice Admiral Tsuru."
He stepped aside and introduced the figure standing straight and tall at his back.
"This is Rear Admiral Renn Hawk."
Hawk stepped forward, posture sharp, and saluted crisply.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Vice Admiral Tsuru!"
His voice was strong and steady, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Hmm…"
Tsuru studied Hawk carefully, forming her first impression.
Not bad. Handsome, disciplined, and steady.
"Oh…"
Sengoku's sharp gaze shifted from the Admirals to Hawk. His eyes lit up.
So this was the young man Sakazuki had gone out of his way to protect, even demanding a special appointment.
Strong posture. Firm eyes.
Most importantly, even while caught in the crossfire between two Admirals, and now under the scrutiny of Marine Headquarters' highest leaders, Hawk remained calm and composed.
This wasn't something just any young officer could achieve.
Sengoku saw it clearly: this boy had the bearing of a future leader of the Marines.
"Very good, Rear Admiral Hawk." Sengoku gave a small nod before turning sharply. "All of you, follow me! To the Fleet Admiral's office."
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, everyone took their seats.
"...Sakazuki. Borsalino."
Sengoku slammed his hand onto the desk, voice booming like cannon fire. "You two are the highest combat power of Marine Headquarters! Role models for every Marine under our command!"
"Is this how you carry yourselves as Admirals?!"
"Ready to fight each other in front of the entire garrison?!"
"What were you thinking?!"
The tea cups rattled from the force of his roar.
"Even if you wanted to fight, at least find a place without witnesses! What do you think will happen if word spreads? The reputation of the Marines will be in tatters!"
"..."
Kizaru sat cross-legged, silent, expression unreadable. All I wanted was a capable vice admiral to share my workload. Was that such a crime?
"..."
Akainu sat rigid, face cold, refusing to speak. Hawk had been secured. Sengoku could rant all he wanted.
"You two…"
Sengoku finally let out a breath, seeing their obstinate silence. His anger had nowhere to go.
He forced it down, then asked coldly, "Explain yourselves. Why make such a scene at the docks?"
The office fell deathly silent.
Everyone could tell Sengoku had scolded them first, then asked questions later.
His sharp gaze flicked between the Admirals. Both, at the same time, turned toward Hawk at the far end of the room.
Sengoku froze. The root of this… was Hawk?
"What's going on?"
Kizaru finally spoke. "Fleet Admiral, you know how overwhelming my duties are. Every day, countless matters pile up waiting to be resolved."
"I simply thought, a capable young man like Rear Admiral Hawk would be perfect as my adjutant, to help share the burden."
"Hmph."
Akainu's scoff was full of contempt. "Borsalino, you just want to slack off."
"..."
"You want Hawk as your vice admiral?" Sengoku drummed his fingers on the appointment file.
"The appointment to G-3 Branch Commander has already been signed and stamped by the Fleet Admiral's office. It cannot be revoked."
Borsalino wants Hawk to share his workload? Then who will share mine?
Who carried the greatest burden in the Marines? Who handled the most affairs? Who endured the constant blood-pressure spikes caused by the Five Elders?
Him. Sengoku. The Fleet Admiral himself.
Wait.
Why hadn't he thought of this before? Why shouldn't he reduce his own workload?
And if the future of the Marines needed to be shaped… who better to do it than the Fleet Admiral himself?
The more Sengoku thought, the more brilliant the idea seemed.
Bam!
His palm struck the desk, louder than before.
"Nonsense! This isn't the place for you to fight over subordinates!"
Then his sharp gaze locked onto Hawk, who looked completely blindsided.
"Rear Admiral Hawk, starting tomorrow, you will report directly to the Fleet Admiral's office."
"As for the G-3 Branch Commander appointment… it can be rescinded."
"..."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Akainu's icy expression froze solid.
Kizaru's smile stiffened.
Even Tsuru, who had calmly watched the farce, stopped mid-sip, her teacup hanging in midair.
Renn Hawk: "..."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Now even the Fleet Admiral was fighting over him?
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