The first half of the Grand Line Marineford.
The warship docked at the harbor. Kane followed Garp and the rest of the marines as they disembarked, the salty wind brushing across his face.
Garp waved his hand to dismiss the soldiers, then turned toward Kane. "Come with me. I'll take you to meet Sengoku. He's been waiting to see you personally."
"Yes, sir," Kane replied, his tone calm but respectful as he followed behind.
As they made their way through the wide marble corridors of Marineford, Kane couldn't help but feel a trace of amazement. He hadn't expected that his short stay in the East Blue base would cause such a stir, much less earn him the personal attention of the Fleet Admiral. For someone who had only just joined the Marines, this was far beyond his expectations.
When they reached Sengoku's office, Garp didn't bother to knock. With a loud bang, he kicked the door open and shouted, "Sengoku! I brought the kid you wanted! Got any rice crackers? I'm starving here!"
Kane blinked, momentarily speechless. So this really was the same Garp he'd seen depicted in the manga loud, blunt, and utterly unpredictable.
Still, Kane found himself liking the old man. People like Garp were simple and straightforward. He didn't scheme, didn't play politics. You treat him with sincerity, and he'll do the same. It was refreshing, especially for someone like Kane, who had come from a world filled with the political games and paranoia of shinobi clans. The Uchiha had taught him that power attracts suspicion, and that sincerity often costs you everything.
Compared to that world, the Marines even with their flaws still seemed far more honest.
A blue vein pulsed on Sengoku's forehead as he set down the document in his hand. He had planned to make a composed and dignified first impression before this promising young recruit. That plan was now completely shattered.
"Garp, can you act like an adult for once?!" Sengoku snapped, barely restraining his frustration.
But Garp, completely unfazed, dug at his nose and flicked something at Sengoku's pet goat. The dark speck landed right on the poor creature's face, giving it a new, shiny "beauty mark."
"GARP!" Sengoku roared, his patience finally at its limit.
Before he could explode further, a calm female voice spoke up. "Alright, you two. How old are you now? Stop bickering like children. You're making the young man laugh."
Kane turned to the source of the voice. Sitting on the sofa was an elderly woman with silver-gray hair tied neatly behind her head. Standing beside her was a tall, striking woman whose presence immediately drew the eye.
Her long black hair was loosely tied at the back, framing a pair of alluring red-tinted eyes. Her face carried a natural grace a straight nose, delicate lips, and just below them, a small beauty mark that added a touch of dangerous charm.
"Beautiful," Kane thought silently, giving her a five-star review in his mind. He quickly recognized the two: Vice Admiral Tsuru, the famed tactician of the Marines, and her foster sister Rear Admiral Gion, better known by her codename, Pink Rabbit. Both were among the Navy's elite.
While Kane studied them, the two women also turned their gaze toward him.
And then they saw his eyes.
They were drawn in at once. Those eyes rings of black rippling outward like whirlpools, flickering faintly with violet light.
Tsuru and Gion instinctively released their Observation Haki. In that instant, they both felt it: an overwhelming pressure, an energy that pulsed like a living storm. The aura radiating from Kane was sharp, commanding almost akin to the King's Haki.
"A terrifying newcomer," they thought in unison.
Gion's gaze lingered a bit longer, curiosity flickering in her eyes before she finally looked away with a subtle nod of approval.
Kane had felt their probing, but he didn't mind. He stepped forward, saluted, and reported respectfully, "Recruit Kane Uchiha, reporting for duty, sir."
Sengoku's eyes lit up. Now this, he thought, this is what a proper marine should look like. Talented, polite, respectful, and full of potential. Unlike a certain someone who was still picking his nose in the corner.
"Excellent," Sengoku said with satisfaction. "Kane Uchiha, given your demonstrated ability and the reports from the East Blue base, I'm authorizing you for direct entry into the Marine Headquarters Elite Training Program. There, you'll receive the most rigorous and most prestigious training the Marines can offer."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone serious. "So tell me, Kane Uchiha... are you ready?"
Kane felt a small smile tug at his lips. This was exactly what he wanted. The Elite Training Camp would expose him to the world's power system the perfect opportunity to study and adapt to this universe's combat styles. Besides, the idea of rising through the ranks of the Marines intrigued him.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Kane answered firmly. "I'm ready."
Sengoku nodded, clearly pleased. "Good. I'll have someone show you around the base and help you settle in "
"I'll do it," a feminine voice cut in smoothly.
Sengoku blinked, surprised. It was Gion. Of all people, she was the last one he expected to volunteer for such a simple task.
"Are you sure?" Sengoku asked cautiously. "This isn't exactly a high-level assignment."
Tsuru shot her foster sister a knowing glance, her expression somewhere between amusement and resignation. So the old girl's taking the initiative, huh? she thought with a faint smirk.
Meanwhile, Garp simply yawned in the corner, clearly uninterested in whatever drama was unfolding.
Gion ignored them all. "I just think this young man and I might have good synergy," she said casually, her red eyes glinting with mischief. "And since we'll probably be working together in the future, it wouldn't hurt to get to know him better."
Sengoku hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. If you insist."
Gion smiled, the corners of her lips curving into a playful grin as she walked toward Kane. The rhythmic click of her heels echoed across the office floor. Stopping in front of him, she placed a hand on her hip, leaned slightly forward, and teased,
"Then let's go, shall we? I'm Gion but you can call me Pink Rabbit. Looking forward to working with you, little brother Kane."
Kane's eyebrow twitched. Pink Rabbit? More like Pink Fox, he thought, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Outwardly, though, he simply smiled politely.
"Thank you, Miss Gion," he replied. "I'll be in your care."
Gion gave a soft laugh, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, I'm sure you will."
Behind them, Sengoku rubbed his temples in exasperation while Tsuru hid a small smile. Garp, as usual, was busy trying to steal another rice cracker from the drawer.
As Kane followed Gion out of the office, he couldn't shake the feeling that his days in Marineford were about to get far more interesting than he'd anticipated.