The three Marine Admirals, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, led nearly ten thousand Marines toward the East Blue.
They first rendezvoused with Vice Admiral Garp before pressing toward the location indicated by intelligence.
Countless warships advanced in a fan-shaped search formation, sweeping forward bit by bit, determined to leave no blind spots.
Along the way, every pirate crew trembled with fear, giving the Marine fleet a wide berth.
That same afternoon, during the execution of the strategic encirclement, the vanguard fleet reported fresh intelligence.
Traces of the Konoha Senju had been sighted, but Golden Lion Shiki had already disappeared without a trace.
Akainu immediately gave the order: all ships were to scatter and encircle the target waters, tightening the noose from the outside in.
The objective was clear, ensure the target could not escape.
"These rookies are terrifying… To think one could come out unscathed after crossing paths with the Golden Lion."
Kizaru lazily filed his nails with a small tool, looking for someone to chat with in his boredom.
"Borsalino, you're underestimating that brat Arima," Garp said, unable to hold back. "I've fought him myself. His skills are no joke."
"When did you run into him?"
Aokiji removed his sleep mask, curiosity piqued.
"On my way out of the West Blue," Garp recalled.
"We both took shelter from a storm on an island that housed the 80th Branch's base.
To be honest, the kid was already growing fast back then. We both held back during that encounter, but… I wouldn't be so sure I could defeat him now."
"You couldn't handle him either?" Aokiji mused, surprised.
"Seems we did underestimate him. I thought he was just another rookie Supernova, maybe that Rumble-Rumble Fruit user was worth watching out for, but him?
Still… how in the world did he end up with Nico Robin?"
Aokiji seemed especially attentive at the mention of Robin.
"When I parted ways with him, that girl wasn't aboard," Garp explained. "I reckon she sneaked on later."
But his tone grew heavier as he continued.
"I've got the feeling there's another hidden powerhouse on the Konoha Senju. If that's true, the few of us might not be enough to bring them down."
The Admirals exchanged wary looks. Clearly, the opponent wasn't some helpless chick waiting for the butcher's knife, but a wolf baring its fangs.
"Hmph! Whoever it is, I'll crush them all," Akainu growled.
His arm turned to molten magma, dripping scalding lava that nearly burned through the deck. Only Aokiji's quick intervention with his Ice-Ice Fruit saved the ship from catching fire.
"My, my… Sakazuki looks angry. How frightening," Kizaru quipped, though his sharp gaze and upright posture betrayed rare seriousness.
"But I'd also like to see for myself how strong this rookie really is. Don't tell me Shiki was actually captured by him?"
Garp shook his head. "Hard to say. Sengoku just told me CP0 lost one of their scouts, likely taken out by Arima. Honestly, I hope Shiki escaped. Otherwise…"
Despite his carefree demeanor, Garp's instincts were razor-sharp. They were honed from countless brushes with death, and he trusted them.
By then, they had entered the target waters. The clash with the Konoha Senju could happen at any moment.
"This is ridiculous," Aokiji muttered, scratching his messy curls. "I came here to arrest Golden Lion Shiki, and suddenly it's turned into a mission to arrest Arima? He's not even a pirate."
"He just hasn't been given a bounty yet!" Akainu barked. "Back in Kano, his deeds were no different from a pirate's!"
"You've caused more destruction than he has," Aokiji shot back dryly.
The two glared at each other, neither backing down.
Before their argument could escalate, a scout ship relayed a message: they had encountered the target vessel.
Akainu immediately ordered all forces to full speed.
Half an hour later, the Marine fleet spotted the sail of the Konoha Senju in the distance.
The signal was given, and an endless barrage of cannon fire thundered toward the small ship.
The explosions should have reduced the vessel to splinters, yet, in the next instant, every shell was repelled mid-air.
Some even flew back into the Marine fleet, detonating upon their own ships.
"What Devil Fruit ability is this? Wasn't he supposed to be a Wood-Wood user?" Aokiji gripped the railing, studying Arima's movements, perplexed.
"This kid is terrifying. Normal attacks won't work at all… Guess it's my turn," Kizaru murmured. His body transformed into pure light and shot across the sky.
On the Konoha Senju's deck, Arima stood calmly, his Kenbunshoku Haki sensing Kizaru's approach.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Kizaru hovered above, arms crossed, raining down a storm of blinding golden light bullets.
"Wood Release: Armament, Ranking Pillar Jutsu!"
Arima pressed his hands together, summoning massive wooden pillars clad in Armament Haki. They rose like shields, blocking the laser rain with ease.
"Magnet Release: Armament, Railgun!"
A storm of iron sand whirled around Arima, charged with electromagnetic force and infused with Armament Haki. Like a million stars, the particles shot upward at Kizaru.
Kizaru's eyes widened. The tiny grains were as lethal as bullets, and each one carried Haki.
One hit could spell his defeat. For an Admiral, a one-sided loss would be catastrophic, a stain on the Marines' prestige. He had no choice but to retreat, cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
"…Terrifying."
This time, his tone carried no mockery, only gravity.
Aokiji immediately pressed him: "What happened? Why are you drenched in sweat?"
"He's not limited to a single Devil Fruit ability," Kizaru said while wiping his brow.
"Worse, he's mastered advanced Armament Haki, able to coat tens of thousands of iron particles simultaneously. How many in the Marines can do that?"
His gaze turned sharply toward Garp, who just chuckled awkwardly.
"Ahahaha… I didn't expect his Haki to grow so fast! Back then he'd only just learned Ryuo…"
"So you taught him?" Aokiji asked, incredulous.
"Shanks taught him Haki!" Garp clarified, laughing again. "I only showed him how Ryuo works. Who knew he'd pick it up that quickly?"
The three Admirals were stunned. Arima had ties to a Yonko as well?
Akainu growled, "Enough talk. We'll take him down together. The rest can be settled later."
"Fine."
"Agreed."
For once, the three Admirals reached a rare consensus.
On the Konoha Senju, Aokiji's eyes narrowed. "Robin… whether you survive this depends entirely on your new captain."
"Ice Age!"
The sea froze in an instant, locking the Konoha Senju in place like a target on a shooting range.
The three Admirals leapt into action, surging toward the ship with a tidal wave of Marines behind them.
But Tsunade stood proudly at the bow, smiling faintly. "That ice sheet's as thin as paper… Sage Art: Lightning Release, Divine Phoenix!"
A radiant phoenix of lightning roared down from the heavens, smashing the ice apart. The frozen sea shattered, leaving Marines floundering in the waves.
"Thirty million volts, that's your welcome gift!"
Hands on her hips, Tsunade looked down at the struggling Marines with disdain.
Only Aokiji's quick creation of a new ice platform spared Akainu from the same humiliation as his men.
But in just the opening clash, the Marines had already suffered a bitter setback.
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