"Grandpa, here's some juice," Orochimaru said obediently, handing Garp a glass with a well-behaved smile.
Garp was taken aback but said nothing. 'I must have finally gotten through to him with my love. Having a well-behaved grandson isn't so bad, after all. He's my grandson, Garp's grandson. He should be cute, obedient, and a future pillar of the Marines... right?'
Orochimaru explained that Luffy's desire to become the King of the Pirates stemmed from Red Hair Shanks' influence. Garp listened intently, but neither he nor Orochimaru ever denied Luffy's potential to achieve his dream.
Though Garp insisted Luffy should join the Marines, he wouldn't crush the boy's ambitions. Luffy could become whatever he wanted, as long as he wanted it. If he chose the Marines, Garp might laugh so hard he cried... No, no! Luffy must become a Marine!
Watching Orochimaru's feigned politeness and Luffy's goofy grin, Garp's fists itched. 'Maybe I'll punch Luffy first to vent my frustration. He's the older brother, after all. As for that sneaky little faker... if I catch him slipping up, his backside is going to bloom like a flower!'
Orochimaru shivered, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
Garp tossed the smoking Luffy into Orochimaru's arms.
"Early to bed tonight. Tomorrow, I'm taking you both somewhere you'll be living from now on."
The next day, Garp marched forward, hands in his pockets, pinching Luffy's cheek with his left hand. Orochimaru sat calmly perched on his right shoulder.
"Grandpa, I told you! I'm going to be King of the Pirates! Let go!" Luffy shouted, struggling against Garp's grip.
Garp strode onward, unfazed. "King of the Pirates? You ate a Devil Fruit and still run your mouth like that! Why can't you be more like Orochimaru? And you're the older brother!" He glared sideways at the squirming Luffy. "Luffy! You, Orochimaru, and Ace will all become the strongest Marines someday!"
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Damn it! I'm supposed to be made of rubber! Why does it still hurt? Let me go, Grandpa! Orochimaru, help me!" Luffy thrashed in frustration.
The well-behaved Orochimaru pretended to be lost in thought.
"And you're corrupting Orochimaru too! Putting you in that peaceful Windmill Village was a complete failure! Why insist on becoming a pirate? You little brat! And acting like sworn brothers with that Red-Haired Shanks! This is outrageous!"
As Garp ranted, he didn't notice Luffy wrapping his arms tightly around a large tree trunk. With a sudden jerk, the tree swung forward and slammed into the back of Garp's head. Orochimaru was thrown off, somersaulted through the air, kicked off the tree trunk, backflipped, and landed gracefully back on Garp's shoulder without missing a beat.
The grandfather and grandson arrived, still bickering loudly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Garp pounded furiously on the door as Luffy darted around the yard like a whirlwind, while Orochimaru stood quietly to the side.
"What in the world is all that racket?!" Dadan roared as she flung the door open, eyes blazing. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"It's me," Garp replied casually. (ー`′ー)
"Garp! Mr. Garp!" Dadan stammered, recoiling in terror.
Dogra and Magra, who had followed her to the door, broke out in cold sweats.
"You seem lively enough," Garp remarked.
Dadan threw her hands up in exasperation. "Don't joke around! I'm begging you! Ace is already ten years old!"
"Is that right? Time flies! Bwahaha!" Garp chuckled.
Dogra, clutching a book, grumbled, "Honestly, just take him back already! We can't handle him anymore!"
"Speaking of which..." Garp scooped up the monkey-like Luffy with one hand and patted Orochimaru on the head with the other. "I'm leaving these two in your care as well. Come on, Luffy, Orochimaru, say hello."
"Yo!" Luffy waved enthusiastically.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with you," Orochimaru said with a stiff bow, his voice retaining its unnervingly cold edge.
Magra, ever the simpleton, asked, "Who are these two?"
"They're my grandsons."
'Ugh... ε=ε=ε=┏(°ロ°;)┛!! Ugh!!!!!!!!! Two more?! Garp's... Mr. Garp's grandsons!!!'
"We can't afford this!" The trio knelt on the ground, utterly serious.
Garp folded his arms. "Is that so? Then rot in prison. Or raise them. Your crimes are countless, and I've been turning a blind eye for far too long."
"How could you do this to us?!" they wailed.
Luffy stood nearby, picking his nose, his shirt slipping off his shoulder, looking utterly disheveled. Just as he was about to wipe his snotty nose, Orochimaru slapped his hand away expressionlessly, wiping Luffy's fingers and nose on Dadan's sleeve before straightening his clothes.
Dadan's veins bulged. "We refuse to raise these little monsters!"
Luffy scoffed. "Tch, this crummy shack."
"Stop complaining, brat! I'll skin you alive!"
Luffy ran off carelessly. Suddenly, something flew toward him. Orochimaru yanked Luffy aside, letting the glob of spit land on the ground.
Orochimaru glared at Ace on the wild boar and threw a shuriken without a word.
Clang!
Ace deflected the shuriken with his pipe.
"Oh? You're back, Ace," Garp said with a smile as he approached.
To be continued...