"Borsalino."
"You think you're taking Hawk from me?"
Sakazuki's voice rumbled like thunder, each word heavy with warning. "Don't even think about it."
The moment he saw that eager grin plastered on Kizaru's face, Sakazuki understood.
This man hadn't come to welcome his fellow Admiral.
He was here for Renn Hawk.
Handing such a rare, sharp-edged talent to a slacker like Borsalino? Impossible.
The thought of Hawk picking up Kizaru's lazy habits greeting people with his half-sung "Yoo~" and mumbling "Scaary~" at every turn was enough to make Sakazuki's stomach twist.
Unlike Kizaru's calm, almost teasing tone, Sakazuki's outburst cracked across the docks like a cannon blast.
Every Marine nearby turned at once, eyes snapping toward them. Even veteran officers stopped in their tracks.
"That's Admiral Akainu!"
"He's back from the East Blue?!"
And then their eyes shifted, widening when they saw the young man standing behind him.
"Look! That must be Renn Hawk!"
"It's him! Admiral Akainu just called his name!"
"So that's the new Rear Admiral? He looks so young!"
The murmurs swelled like a rising tide, flooding the entire dock.
"Don't let his age fool you he wiped out every pirate in the East Blue!"
"I heard the same thing! That's why Admiral Akainu went there personally to investigate. He even used a special recommendation to fast-track Hawk's promotion to Rear Admiral!"
"That's nothing! You're behind on the news. My buddy told me Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally approved Hawk's appointment."
"They're sending him to command the G-3 branch on the Grand Line!"
"What?! The G-3 branch? Isn't that post usually held by a Vice Admiral?"
"My god… a Rear Admiral commanding G-3?! That's never happened before!"
"Exactly! But what's Kizaru got to do with this?"
"Yeah, doesn't Admiral Kizaru usually avoid work? Why's he here on the docks acting so… eager?"
Confusion spread through the crowd.
"Wait. Didn't Admiral Akainu just say Kizaru wants to take Hawk with him?"
"…"
"Hold on. Are we watching two Admirals fight over the same officer?!"
"No way!"
Every pair of eyes locked on Hawk.
What a spectacle. Two Admirals, in front of the entire Headquarters, fighting to recruit a Rear Admiral? Scenes like this didn't happen once in a century.
Was this about to turn into an actual battle?
"Uh…"
Hawk's scalp prickled as the realization hit him.
Damn.
So that creepy grin on Kizaru's face earlier really was aimed at him.
Still… with Sakazuki here, he decided to stay quiet and watch for now.
"Sakazuki, don't be so hot-tempered."
Kizaru's smile didn't waver as he adjusted his sunglasses. He had expected resistance. Convincing Sakazuki to hand over his prized subordinate wouldn't be easy.
But Hawk was simply too good to let slip away.
"I only think it's a waste to bury such talent in a branch office. A young man like Hawk should be beside us Marine Headquarters' top power. Only then can he grow to his full potential, see the broader world."
"Under your command, he won't have that freedom. With me, it's different."
"My leadership style is very… flexible."
Hawk's jaw nearly dropped.
Flexible? You mean you want me to do all your work while you nap in your office, don't you?
Kizaru clearly didn't want to "train" him. He wanted a strong, reliable tool to handle all the boring jobs so he could slack off in peace.
But Hawk had no intention of becoming anyone's errand boy. He wanted to hunt pirates, crush evil, and pursue justice not paperwork.
Before he could speak up, Sakazuki's voice thundered again.
"Borsalino!"
"Hawk is already appointed as G-3's commander. Sengoku himself signed the order. Nothing you say will change that."
Inside, Sakazuki scoffed.
Flexible? Please.
A Marine's duty is to obey orders. But that didn't mean he couldn't bend rules when needed.
After seeing Hawk's abilities firsthand, Sakazuki had even placed his own daughter under Hawk's command, trusting him completely. That bond of trust was proof enough.
Compared to that, Kizaru's so-called "open-mindedness" was laughable.
Kizaru shrugged as if unfazed. "Bringing up Sengoku, eh? I already know the story. You promised Hawk the post before getting approval, and Sengoku just signed off afterward."
"That seat doesn't have to go to Hawk. I have plenty of Vice Admirals I could recommend for G-3."
"But Hawk…" His sunglasses glinted. "Hawk deserves better."
Like filling that long-vacant Vice Admiral slot at his side. Hawk's current rank was perfect not too low, not too high. If he rose further, making him a subordinate would feel like a waste.
Now was the time to claim him.
"He's already in the perfect position."
Sakazuki's tone was ice. "Hawk is one of ours. An eagle. Not one of your… fence-sitters."
Everyone knew about the factions within the Navy.
Sakazuki led the hawks those who demanded iron-blooded justice.
Aokiji, the doves more lenient, merciful.
And then Borsalino, the so-called neutral party, who slipped between both sides like a fish, avoiding responsibility whenever possible.
"Sakazuki," Kizaru drawled. "If Hawk really came under my wing… well, I could play at being a hawk once in a while."
The dock froze in stunned silence.
"…What?"
For a brief second, Sakazuki's massive frame stiffened in disbelief.
Was this man seriously changing factions just to steal Hawk?
Hawk watched, torn between disbelief and laughter.
First, he hadn't expected to become a prize being tugged back and forth between two Admirals.
Second… only Kizaru. Only he could embody the phrase: 'My bottom line is having no bottom line.'
Even the crowd of Marines whispering nearby was dumbstruck.
If Kizaru joined the hawks… what would happen to the entire neutral faction? Without him, the balance would collapse overnight.
But the moment stretched too far.
The temperature on the docks spiked.
Sakazuki's fury finally boiled over, the air shimmering with heat. His arm glowed red-hot, magma flickering beneath his skin.
"Damn you, Borsalino. Don't think I'll hold back just because we're old comrades."
If it had been anyone else, Sakazuki would have punched them already. Only Kizaru's long years as a fellow Admiral had bought him patience this far.
But Hawk was his chosen successor. His eagle. He would never hand him over.
The magma roared, ready to erupt.
"Admiral Akainu's about to strike!"
"They're really going to fight over Rear Admiral Hawk?!"
"Quick, inform Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Spread the word! Akainu and Kizaru are clashing on the docks!"
"What?! They've already started fighting?!"
"Spread it! The Admirals are at war! Headquarters is falling! Marineford is sinking!!"
Akainu and Kizaru: "???"
"Who the hell is spreading these rumors?!"
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