This training ground had originally been part of the Navy's 80th Branch infrastructure.
But ever since the Pirate King, Roger, used his death to usher in the Great Pirate Era, this island had been abandoned for strategic reasons.
The 80th Branch relocated to a new site, and the training ground, left untended, naturally fell into ruin.
Arima stood facing Garp. The clash of their auras grew heavier by the moment, and the scattered stones around them began to tremble.
"Arima, taste the power of my Fist!"
Garp's entire body was wrapped in dense Armament Haki as he charged straight toward Arima.
Through Observation Haki, Arima sensed that Garp's strike was aimed for his head. He prepared a counter in advance.
But Garp, a veteran of countless battles against Observation Haki users, was unfazed.
His attack pattern looked the same, yet just before impact, he suddenly shifted the trajectory of his fists, aiming for Arima's chest instead.
The next instant, their fists collided head-on. The force of the impact blasted a crater into the granite floor beneath Arima's feet.
Arima's Observation Haki was formidable, no matter what little tricks Garp tried, his attacks failed to land decisively.
"Not bad, brat. Your Observation Haki surpasses most fighters in the New World! Looks like I'll have to get serious."
Garp was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected this young man's mastery of Observation Haki to be at such a level.
Once again, Garp's heavy fist came crashing toward Arima's face.
Predicting the strike, Arima grumbled inwardly. 'Old man really has no manners, don't they say never hit the face?!'
He quickly coated his arms with Armament Haki to block.
But the moment his arms met Garp's fist, a powerful shockwave erupted, hurling Arima through the air and slamming him into a nearby cliffside.
Though his body bore no visible wounds, he felt his insides had taken serious damage.
Confusion hit him, he had countered correctly, so why had his defense still been broken?
Before he could think it through, Garp lunged again, this time his eyes radiating killing intent.
"So I need to fight with the resolve to kill?!"
Dodging desperately, Arima reflected on his mistakes. 'It seems that in the pirate world, a lot of rules need to be rewritten.'
Noticing the change in him, Garp chuckled with approval. "You really are a monster. Growing stronger this fast… now you're starting to look like a true 'Fifth Emperor'!"
"How did you injure me just now, even through my guard?"
"Oh? You don't know? That's an advanced Armament technique.
Imagine Haki flowing like water, leaving your body, concentrating at a single point to strike inside your opponent. That way, the damage is delivered directly within."
"So that's it! That bastard Shanks must've forgotten to mention that part!"
Arima tried to mimic Garp's explanation, but quickly realized how difficult it was. Advanced usage couldn't be mastered in a single attempt.
"So Shanks taught you your Haki, huh? Seems he's not worried about you challenging him someday."
"Maybe we'll spar in the future. But as for being called a 'Fifth Emperor', I couldn't care less."
"Bwahaha! You're a strange one. The title doesn't matter, reach that level of power, and the world will call you that whether you like it or not!"
Their battle resumed, words exchanged between blows.
Garp eased up on his strikes, deliberately letting Arima adapt to the advanced form of Armament.
Arima tried repeatedly to guide the flow of his Haki, but something kept blocking him.
Activating his Byakugan, he compared his own Armament to Garp's, and instantly noticed the huge difference.
"So that's it… then next. "
His Armament began to flow, glittering like drifting cherry blossoms.
"Well, well. Those eyes of yours are sharp! To see through the secret of flowing Haki so quickly… your growth is terrifying! In that case, I won't hold back anymore!"
Garp unleashed advanced Haki himself.
The two continued trading blows, evenly matched. Arima knew full well, however, that Garp was guiding him, feeding him strikes, helping him adapt.
By noon, Arima could already use advanced Armament Haki smoothly. He had even managed, on occasion, to project his Haki inside objects to destroy them from within.
Though he couldn't yet command it at will, he understood the principle. Now, all he needed was practice until his body remembered the feeling.
At that moment, Tsunade arrived at the training ground, shouting from a nearby ridge. "Arima, it's time to set sail!"
Hearing her call, both men halted their clash.
"Brat, where are you heading?"
Garp picked up his Navy coat, draped it back over his shoulders, and, acting as if nothing had happened, pulled out a bag of donuts, munching happily.
Watching him, Arima couldn't help but find the old man amusing.
"I'm going to the East Blue. Shanks once stopped by Foosha Village, I want to see this 'jewel' he mentioned."
"You're going to Foosha Village? Perfect! I'm headed that way too!"
"What for?"
"To visit my grandsons! Can't let Shanks corrupt them!"
"So the 'hope' Shanks spoke of… is one of your grandsons?"
This revelation piqued Arima's curiosity. Now he was even more determined to meet the child entrusted with such expectations.
"Don't let Shanks corrupt you too. That troublemaker's already a headache, don't you add to it."
"Relax. I'm only passing through. I actually plan to look for Skypiea. They say there's gold up there."
Arima casually revealed his plans, hoping for some intel.
"Skypiea, huh… It exists. When I visited Roger in Impel Down, he mentioned it. Said there's plenty of gold there, and even a Poneglyph."
True to form, Garp didn't disappoint. He shared everything he knew without hesitation. To him, Arima's sense of justice was rare, and he wanted to see how far this young man could go.
"Do you know how to reach it?"
"I've never been, but Roger said you can reach it from Jaya Island, riding the Knock-Up Stream. But those currents are rare and dangerous. You really plan to go?"
"Yeah. I'm short on cash right now. Some gold would fetch a good amount of berries."
Arima spoke openly, not hiding his motive.
"What do you need so much money for?" Garp asked curiously.
"To buy Devil Fruits. I need them."
"Ah, so that's it. Tell you what, why don't you join the Navy? I'll swallow my pride and pull some strings to get you more Devil Fruits!"
Hearing this, warmth spread in Arima's chest. In Garp, he saw an echo of his grandfather, and his respect for the old man deepened.
"No need for you to lower yourself. Rare as they are, Devil Fruits can always be bought with money."
"Fair enough. But remember, when I come asking for help someday, you can demand a price from the World Government! Just don't say I told you that… Bwahahahaha!"
With that, Garp left the training ground first. He intended to depart separately from Arima and his group, avoiding more nagging from the Gorosei.
Almost instinctively, Arima delayed his own departure by several hours. Though they'd only spent half a day together, a quiet understanding had already formed between them.
And so, Arima and his crew prepared to leave the West Blue, setting course for the East Blue.
But when they returned to the Konoha Senju, ready to sail, they found an unexpected guest aboard. The intruder was bound by wooden vines conjured by one of Arima's wood clones.
Absorbing the clone's memories, Arima learned what had happened.
He stepped forward, waved his hands, and released the vines.
Smiling with interest, he asked, "Miss Robin, what business brings you sneaking onto our ship in the middle of the night?"
The woman showed not the slightest fear. Instead, she smiled calmly. "Arima, Third Hokage of Konoha, I want to join your crew."
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