Several days earlier
Marine Headquarters!
With former Fleet Admiral Sengoku freshly promoted, Black Arm Zephyr retiring from the Marines, and Garp stubbornly refusing promotion no matter how many times it was offered, all three Admiral seats at Marine Headquarters were suddenly left vacant.
To fill this massive gap—and to dramatically reinforce the Marines' overall combat power—Fleet Admiral Sengoku made a bold and decisive choice:
Promote the Navy's rising stars.
"Sakazuki. Borsalino. Kuzan."
"The Marines are in urgent need of capable hands. From today onward, the three of you are officially promoted to the rank of Marine Admiral."
"Your code names shall be
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji!"
Just like that, the three Vice Admirals—Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan—rose above the rest, becoming the youngest Admirals in Marine history.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku casually munched on a rice cracker as he solemnly announced the decision.
The moment the words landed, the three newly appointed Admirals were all visibly stunned.
Akainu clenched his fists, brimming with excitement.
"Hmph! I've been waiting for this day for a long time. From now on, I will wipe out every last pirate!"
Kizaru scratched his head lazily.
"Oooh~ I actually made Admiral, huh? Didn't see that coming. Guess I'll have to work a little harder now?"
Aokiji let out a helpless sigh.
"Man… even I made Admiral, yet old man Garp is still just a Vice Admiral. How am I supposed to face him next time we meet?"
"Ahem." Sengoku cleared his throat.
"You three don't need to worry about that old fossil. From now on, you're his superiors. Technically speaking, you can even give him orders."
"…Order Vice Admiral Garp?"
In that instant
Despite having just ascended to the highest combat rank within Marine Headquarters,
the moment Garp's name was mentioned
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji all reacted in perfect unison:
faces pale, heads shaking violently.
Command Garp?
Who in their right mind would dare?!
Even Sengoku himself looked visibly troubled.
"Forget it. I won't force the issue regarding Garp."
"However, the three of you have just been promoted, and there is an important task that needs to be handled."
"What task?"
"Vice Admiral Garp has reported that a pirate known as Tsuneo has appeared in the East Blue
a man he claims to be the most dangerous rookie pirate in the world.
Your mission is to investigate him and determine his true strength."
"The East Blue?" Akainu scoffed coldly.
"A rookie pirate from the weakest sea? Hmph. I have far more important objectives to pursue."
Without another word, Akainu turned and walked out.
"Wait—Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Aokiji suddenly paused.
"Did you say… Garp is also in the East Blue? Yeah, no thanks. I'll pass."
He rubbed his temples and promptly followed Akainu out the door.
And just like that
Of the three newly appointed Admirals, only Kizaru remained.
"Oooh~ Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Kizaru drawled.
"They all just left like that, huh? Well, if it's only an investigation into a rookie pirate…
sounds like it won't be too troublesome."
"In that case
I suppose I'll reluctantly make the trip."
Sengoku's eyes lit up.
Though Kizaru always looked lazy and unreliable, Sengoku had absolute confidence in the strength of all three new Admirals.
No matter how dangerous Tsuneo truly was,
with Kizaru personally handling the mission, nothing could possibly go wrong.
"Kizaru. I'll leave it to you."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, may I ask—how many troops can I bring?"
"No." Sengoku shook his head.
"This will be a covert investigation. You're not allowed to mobilize large forces.
At most—you may bring two subordinates."
"…Two?"
Kizaru froze, a massive awkward expression plastered across his face.
"Well then, fine, fine. Two it is."
"But Fleet Admiral, I'll be choosing them myself."
"Of course. No problem."
Moments later, Kizaru strode out draped in the Marine Admiral's cloak, radiating authority
yet somehow still exuding that unmistakable, shady aura.
Outside the headquarters
Two trusted subordinates had already arrived, waiting.
One was a woman barely in her early twenties
voluptuous figure, peerless beauty, a goddess among Marines.
Her code name: Momousagi.
The other was a man of similar age, yet short, ugly, and disturbingly reminiscent of a sleazy middle-aged creep.
His code name: Chaton.
"Momousagi, Chaton," Kizaru said lazily.
"We've got a new mission. East Blue—let's go."
"The East Blue?" Momousagi raised an eyebrow.
"The weakest sea?"
"Boss, what's the mission?" Chaton asked.
"Oooh~ we're going to meet the so-called most dangerous rookie pirate in the world."
"The most dangerous rookie?" Momousagi frowned.
"Red-Haired Shanks?"
"Not Red-Haired."
"…Not Red-Haired?"
"His name is Tsuneo."
...
Several days later
Just as Tsuneo and his group of heavy-hitting crewmates effortlessly followed Buggy's two idiot subordinates and arrived at Orange Town
From the opposite shore, Kizaru, Momousagi, and Chaton also landed.
Momousagi glanced ahead.
"Boss, was that man who landed with us just now… Tsuneo?"
Chaton swallowed nervously.
"Boss, what do we do now? Do we attack directly?"
Kizaru slowly narrowed his eyes, a faint smile forming.
"Oooh~ so you're finally here."
"Tsuneo… the world's most dangerous rookie pirate
the man even old Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku are wary of."
"Let me see for myself
just how much you really weigh."
...