Rodney's Sharingan, like a predatory eye, greedily absorbed Garp's movements as he demonstrated "Geppo." The ease with which he copied the techniques was astonishing. But despite Rodney's mastery of "Geppo," his body stubbornly refused to obey.
"My physical fitness leaves much to be desired," he sighed. "Rokushiki requires remarkable strength from the body, and I, accustomed to life at sea, was far from suitable for such training."
A shadow clone that could speed up the process was unavailable. A thousand points was a steep price, one Rodney couldn't afford yet. There was only one option left: grueling training to toughen both body and spirit.
"Gomu-gomu-no... Gatling!" Luffy seemed tireless, attacking Rodney with an endless barrage of fists.
But Rodney was as elusive as a ghost.
"Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!" he whispered, appearing behind Luffy and striking him in the chin with a bolt of lightning.
Luffy flew into the air, and Rodney, soaring after him, delivered a crushing blow to his stomach.
"Leaf Whirlwind!" he shouted, and Luffy fell to the ground like a felled tree.
"That was close!" Luffy dusted off his hat and returned it to its place. "You really are strong!"
Unwilling to accept defeat, Luffy challenged Rodney. Reluctantly, Rodney accepted. Luffy's rubber fruit made him invulnerable to conventional attacks, so Rodney decided to use shurikens and kunai.
"Sharingan!" he whispered, and shuriken, like obedient bees, circled around Luffy, blocking all escape routes.
"Fire Burst!" Luffy, left with no choice, rushed into the attack.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Rodney erupted into a volcanic eruption of fireballs.
"Oh no!" Luffy, caught off guard, couldn't dodge.
The chakra concentrated in the flames threatened to burn him to ashes. But Luffy, as if driven by instinct, launched an attack.
"Gomu-gomu-no... Gun!" His hand extended, delivering a powerful blow.
An explosion of white smoke enveloped the arena. But instead of Rodney, Luffy found a shapeless log.
"Ha-ha-ha, Luffy, you're such an idiot!" Garp, who had been watching the fight, burst out laughing. "Rodney's already escaped. You're still too naive!"
"Where is he?" Luffy, looking around, couldn't find Rodney.
"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!" Rodney's voice came from behind, and all Luffy saw was a severed head lying on the ground.
"Let me go, free me!" Luffy shook off the dust, but Rodney ignored him.
"Ace, did you see?" Garp turned to Ace, smiling. "Rodney likes to fight with his mind. You guys rely too much on your abilities. That's where you fall short, Rodney. Would you like to join the Marines? Your abilities are well suited for the Marines."
Rodney refused.
"Old man, leave me alone!" Ace said to Garp, looking impatiently at the sea. "I want to go to sea!"
"Call me Grandpa!" Garp hit Ace on the head, leaving a red mark.
"Old man!" Ace stepped back and looked at Garp.
"Damn it, you brat, why don't you call me grandpa? I want my grandson to love me too. Rodney, why don't you be my grandson?" Garp turned to Rodney again.
"No need," Rodney stepped back, looking at the sea.
A ship appeared in the distance, and Rodney's Sharingan saw the Pika flag and familiar faces on it.
"Ace, your team is here," Rodney said to Ace.
"What? Everyone..." Ace was shocked. Remembering Garp, he became nervous. "No, they can't come here!"
"Ha-ha-ha, Ace, it looks like you've found some reliable nakama," Garp smiled as he looked at the ship.
"Of course!" Ace answered Garp proudly.
Garp headed towards the port, and Ace, seeing this, asked in shock: "Wait! Old man, where are you going?"
"Do I even need to tell you?" Garp stopped and looked at Ace. "A group of pirates has arrived, and as a lookout, I'll naturally take action!"
"Rodney, let me go!" Ace rushed towards Rodney. "I'm going to save everyone!"
Rodney looked at him. The key to Ace's handcuffs was in his hand. He could free him. But then Ace would go to the Grand Line, and the chances of becoming Whitebeard's son would increase several times over. And Ace, having paternal feelings for Whitebeard, would easily become his son.
The war raged, but Blackbeard, Rodney, stared into Ace's face, his gaze fixed on his. "Ace, do you really have to become a pirate?" he asked, quiet but piercing.
"This is my destiny!" Ace blurted out without hesitation.
"Even if it means risking my life?" Rodney didn't back down.
"Death doesn't scare me!" Ace clenched his fists, his gaze full of determination.
"Even if it means dying in front of Vice Admiral Garp? Letting that old man who raised you watch you die, powerless to do anything about it, and living with that burden for decades?" Rodney's voice was full of bitterness.
Isn't it painful for Garp, a loyal servant of justice, to watch his grandson die at the hands of Akainu? After all, Ace and Luffy are his grandchildren! How can a grandfather not love his grandchildren?
"I..." Ace faltered, his resolve wavering.
He deeply respected Garp, despite calling him "smelly old man" and "old man." Garp was still his grandfather, though Ace didn't want to admit it. Rodney's question made him think, made him feel the fear of death. To die in front of a stinking old man, to watch him die, and the old man could only blame himself for the rest of his days...
How cruel!
Even though Garp held the title of Marine Hero, in front of his family he was just an ordinary old man.
"Ace, what are you still thinking about? These are your crew, your nakama! Shouldn't you be responsible for them?" Luffy cried out impatiently, his words, as always, direct and sincere. For him, his comrades came first. Rodney frowned.
Luffy's words strengthened Ace's resolve. He looked at Rodney and said firmly, "I won't die in front of that stinking old man! No way! Rodney, I promise you! Please help me. I'm their captain, and I'll take responsibility for them if I get them out!"
In this world, people have always valued loyalty above all else, which was both admirable and funny at the same time.