In this way, Ryoma fell into the gentle embrace of Kushina Uzumaki.
A month passed in quiet domestic bliss.
At that moment, inside one of Orochimaru's laboratories, the pale, snake-eyed Sannin observed Ryoma with mild surprise.
"Shouldn't you be… busy right now?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
The news of Ryoma's campaign against the minor shinobi villages had already spread across Konoha. Orochimaru, who had been given a research assignment by Ryoma himself, hadn't joined the fighting.
Ryoma simply smiled. There was no need for him to personally act against such insignificant forces.
He was here for something else entirely.
For a month now, Kushina had been exhausted, spending her days mostly in bed—yet her body showed no signs of pregnancy. The red-haired kunoichi was anxious and frustrated, convinced that something was wrong with her.
Concerned, Ryoma decided to consult the village's most brilliant scientific mind: Orochimaru.
He wanted to know whether the problem lay with Kushina—or with himself.
As someone who had once lived in the modern world, Ryoma suspected the latter.
Perhaps his genetic material was simply… too potent, too foreign for Kushina's body to handle. The idea wasn't impossible.
But after discussing it in depth with Orochimaru, Ryoma found that even the Sannin was at a loss.
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with interest.
"Ryoma-kun," he hissed softly, "if you would just leave a sample of your blood and genetic material, I could conduct some… fascinating research."
Ryoma gave him a sharp look. "Forget it. I'll do the research myself."
The Sannin smirked. "You? Do you even know how?"
Ryoma chuckled faintly. "Why wouldn't I?"
He didn't bother explaining. Orochimaru's knowledge was constantly synchronized with his own—every discovery, every bit of research instantly shared. Whatever the Sannin knew, Ryoma knew as well.
Orochimaru soon realized this when he watched Ryoma work. The young man's technique and theoretical understanding rivaled his own. For once, Orochimaru was left speechless.
Ignoring him, Ryoma continued to analyze his own cells and chakra structure with clinical precision.
Meanwhile, across the continent, Konoha's armies swept through the lands like an unstoppable storm.
In the great unification war, names like Minato Namikaze, Hatake Sakumo, and the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya and Tsunade—became legends spoken of in awe.
And then, a familiar voice echoed in Ryoma's mind.
[Main Quest Completed: Rule as Hokage, Protect Konoha, Unify the Shinobi World.]
[Reward: Dimensional Gate to the One Piece World (Permanent; freely accessible)]
Ryoma blinked. He and Kushina had been quietly living their days together when the message appeared.
He couldn't help but laugh softly. Somehow, everyone in Konoha had helped him complete the mission without him realizing it.
The Dimensional Gate—a permanent portal to another world.
That night, after Kushina had fallen asleep, Ryoma stepped out onto the Hokage Rock, gazing down at the glittering lights of Konoha. The village now stood as the undisputed heart of the entire continent.
But peace was never absolute.
According to ANBU intelligence, while the shinobi villages had submitted, the daimyō of various nations were far from content. They had begun gathering forces—samurai, mercenaries, and rogue shinobi—to challenge Konoha's new order.
Three days later, in a grand palace, twenty richly dressed men and women sat around a long table. The air was thick with arrogance and fear.
At the head of the room sat five men—recognizable to any civilian as the Daimyō of the Five Great Nations. The rest were lesser nobles and military leaders.
Their gazes were fixed on a large screen, displaying the image of a dark-haired, black-eyed man.
Ryoma.
Beside his portrait were detailed records—his battle with the Ōtsutsuki, his destruction of entire armies, and the scale of his power.
The Fire Daimyō leaned forward, face grave.
"This man is too dangerous. I don't mean only his strength—but his ambition. He's already unified the shinobi world. Next, he'll come for the thrones of nations."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"If we wish to preserve our power, we must eliminate Ryoma!"
And so, the Anti-Ryoma Coalition was formed—a secret alliance of the Five Great Nations and their client states.
From that day forward, the great powers of the world prepared for war against Konoha.
But Ryoma remained unconcerned.
He had delegated Konoha's defenses to trusted hands and turned his attention elsewhere.
In a secluded space, he opened a shimmering doorway—an oval gate pulsing with blue energy.
The Dimensional Gate.
His eyes narrowed in curiosity. "Let's see what kind of world awaits beyond this."
He stepped through.
Light surged around him—lightning, thunder, and roaring winds.
And then, he emerged in a completely different plane of existence.
The One Piece World
A day earlier, under clear skies and calm seas, a naval warship approached the docks of a lush tropical island.
A tall, broad-shouldered man disembarked, his short black hair ruffled by the breeze. His dark blue eyes carried a mix of strength and warmth.
To any who recognized him, he was a living legend.
Monkey D. Garp, Vice Admiral of the Marines—known throughout the world as "Garp the Hero."
Though the island was beautiful, Garp's face was solemn. He wasn't here for leisure.
Something had changed in the world—and he could feel it in his bones.
The island was known as the Valley of the Gods—a paradise for the Celestial Dragons and their slaves.
A few days earlier, the Celestial Dragons had received alarming news: the Rocks Pirates, the most powerful and feared pirate crew in the world, were on their way to the island with one goal—to slaughter every last one of them.
The World Government, panicked by the warning, immediately dispatched the Navy to protect the nobles.
Despite his personal disdain for the Celestial Dragons, Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp volunteered for the mission. Partly out of duty—but also because of something else hidden on that island… something the Government was desperate to protect.
Even so, the thought of facing the Rocks Pirates made even Garp uneasy.
That crew wasn't a traditional pirate band, but rather a volatile collection of monsters—each chasing their own ambitions, constantly betraying one another for power or treasure.
"Charlotte Linlin, Edward Newgate, Shiki…" Garp muttered under his breath. "Every one of them is a nightmare."
His expression hardened.
"And their captain, Rocks D. Xebec—the man who dreams of ruling the world…"
He sighed. "What a headache."
As he pondered the coming battle, a familiar voice echoed from the nearby pier.
"Well, if it isn't the famous Vice Admiral Garp. What a coincidence."
Garp froze. That voice—he knew it too well.
Turning sharply, he saw a man striding toward him, black-haired, with a wild beard and a long red coat billowing in the wind. Behind him followed a rowdy group of pirates, each radiating strength and confidence.
The surrounding marines immediately drew their weapons and gathered behind Garp.
"Gol D. Roger," Garp said coldly, narrowing his eyes.
"You've got some nerve showing yourself here. Aren't you afraid I'll drag you in right now?"
Roger grinned, his sharp eyes glinting with mischief.
"Do you really have the time for that, Garp?" he asked, his tone teasing yet calm.
The two stood face to face—marine and pirate, both legends in their own right. The tension between their crews thickened like gunpowder in the air.
Just as the atmosphere reached a breaking point, Roger suddenly laughed.
"Relax, I'm not here to pick a fight. I happened to be passing by this island… and I heard some interesting news."
Garp frowned. "This isn't a place for pirates."
Roger's grin widened. "Oh? Then it's a good thing I don't follow rules."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Garp could hear.
"Don't bother denying it. The thing the World Government's hiding—it's here, in the Valley of the Gods, isn't it?"
Garp's expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered in shock.
So Roger knew.
"I'll take your silence as a yes," Roger said seriously, his earlier mirth gone.
He understood now why Garp, who despised the Celestial Dragons, would personally lead a protection mission. It wasn't for them—it was for that thing.
"The Rocks Pirates are coming," Roger continued.
"And they're after more than just the Celestial Dragons. If I'm right, they're targeting that treasure too."
He folded his arms.
"You can't stop them alone, Garp. But if we join forces, we might just be able to destroy them."
Garp's gaze darkened. "So that's what you're after—you want the treasure too."
"The Navy doesn't barter with pirates," he growled. "We don't need your help."
Roger shook his head. "Don't be so stiff, Garp. I don't need your permission to take what I want. But before that… I have a bigger enemy to deal with—Rocks."
He leaned forward, his eyes burning with intensity.
"You and I both know what happens if that man succeeds. You want to stop him from killing the Celestial Dragons. I want to stop him from taking that treasure. Our goals align—for now. So, how about we deal with him first and settle our score afterward?"
Roger extended his hand.
For a long moment, Garp said nothing. His sense of justice screamed against the idea of allying with a pirate. But deep down, he knew Roger was right—facing Rocks alone would be suicide.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and clasped Roger's hand.
"This doesn't make us allies," he said gruffly. "If you step out of line, I'll kill you myself."
Roger smirked.
"Fair enough. The feeling's mutual."
The air around them crackled as two overwhelming auras—Conqueror's Haki—erupted from their bodies. The pressure was immense, forcing nearby marines and pirates to their knees. The clash of wills sent shockwaves across the docks.
And then, silence.
A Day Later
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Explosions rocked the entire island. The Valley of the Gods trembled as if the world itself were splitting apart.
In front of a massive palace drenched in blood and fire, a tall, muscular man stepped forward from the carnage. His long black hair whipped in the wind, and his coat, dark as the abyss, fluttered behind him.
Rocks D. Xebec.
He raised his massive blade, pointing it straight at Garp and Roger, who stood side by side amid the flames.
"Come on!" Rocks roared, his grin feral. "I'll add both of you to my collection!"
Roger's lips curled into a fearless grin as he tightened his grip on his blade, coating it in Armament Haki until it gleamed black.
"The last guy who said that ended up at the bottom of the sea."
Beside him, Garp clenched his fists, Haki crackling around them like molten iron.
The ground beneath their feet shattered as the three titans launched forward.
"BOOM!!"
The collision shook the heavens. The shockwave split mountains, toppled buildings, and sent waves crashing far beyond the island's shores.
No one dared to approach. The marines and pirates could only retreat several kilometers away, staring in awe at the clash of monsters that would go down in history.
Roger gritted his teeth as their blades locked.
"This guy's strength… it's insane!"
Even as Roger pushed with both hands, Rocks wielded his sword with one—and still held the upper hand.
"But strength alone doesn't decide the battle!" Roger shouted.
As their weapons clashed again, Garp leapt high into the air, his fist glowing with blinding Haki, descending like a meteor.
"Iron Fist of Justice!"
Rocks met him head-on, punching upward with his free hand.
"BOOM!!!"
The shockwave tore the earth apart, sending fissures spreading hundreds of meters across the island. The air itself seemed to vanish under the pressure.
Rocks chuckled, shaking off the numbness in his arm. "Not bad… you two are quite capable."
Using his Observation Haki, Rocks sensed three powerful presences nearby—watching but not interfering.
Charlotte Linlin. Edward Newgate. Shiki.
He sneered. "So, you three are just going to stand there and watch, huh? Waiting for me to fall so you can snatch what's left?"
The three pirates didn't answer. They merely fended off stray enemies, keeping their distance from the real fight.
The world trembled as legends clashed.
And the Battle of the Valley of the Gods—the day that shaped history—had truly begun.
Among the Rocks Pirates, there were three who stood apart from the rest—Edward Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, and Shiki.
Rocks could see the fire of ambition burning in their eyes. They were not followers, not truly. Each had joined his crew only to share in the spoils, never to submit to another's rule.
They were partners of convenience, nothing more.
The moment disaster struck, Rocks knew, they'd scatter—each to chase their own destiny.
Still, he didn't care.
What he truly sought was far greater than loyalty or fame.
"I must get that slate," Rocks murmured.
Slaughtering the Celestial Dragons was merely the pretext for this expedition. His real goal lay in acquiring a Signpost Poneglyph—the ancient stone said to contain fragments of the world's lost history.
For centuries, nearly a hundred years of history had been erased by the World Government. No one alive knew the truth of what had transpired in that blank era.
Only the ancestors of the Kozuki Clan of Wano had dared preserve that truth—engraving the world's hidden history onto indestructible stone blocks.
In total, thirty Poneglyphs existed—some carrying historical records, others revealing information. But four of them were special: Signposts, each marking the way to the world's final island, where truth and treasure alike awaited.
And according to Rocks' sources, one of those Signposts was held by the Celestial Dragons on the island known as the Valley of the Gods.
As Rocks and his lieutenants discussed their plan, the skies above the island suddenly darkened.
Without warning, a deafening explosion echoed through the heavens. The wind howled, thunder cracked, and a massive whirlpool of lightning and storm opened in the sky above the Valley of the Gods.
The sea below raged in response, waves rising like roaring beasts.
Then, with a blinding flash, a black shadow plummeted from the vortex—slamming into the ocean with the force of a meteor. The impact sent water surging high into the air before the world abruptly fell silent again.
"What the hell was that?"
The sudden phenomenon froze the battle below. Both Navy and pirates stopped mid-fight, their eyes fixed on the sky and sea.
Even Rocks, Roger, and Garp paused, their instincts sharpening in unison.
Moments later, under the gaze of thousands, a lone figure burst out of the water and landed on the shattered docks of the Valley of the Gods.
He was a young man—tall, lean, with black hair and black eyes.
"...Well, that was unlucky," he muttered, brushing seawater from his coat.
It was Ryoma.
He had just emerged from the Dimensional Gate, but miscalculated the spatial flow and was hurled through the portal by turbulence—falling straight into the sea before he could activate his chakra to stay afloat.
With a faint sigh, he released a gentle surge of Fire Release chakra. Steam rose instantly as his soaked clothes dried.
When he finally looked around, Ryoma found himself surrounded by two massive armies—the Navy and the pirates—locked in deadly combat.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward him.
"Uh," he said, raising a hand awkwardly. "I'm just passing through."
It didn't help.
Before he could move, a massive figure turned his way—Kaido, then still a trainee member of the Rocks Pirates, bloodstained and battle-hungry.
An unfamiliar presence suddenly appearing in the middle of a warzone? To Kaido, that could only mean one thing—an enemy.
"RAAAHHH!!"
Kaido roared and lunged forward, swinging a massive, Haki-charged fist at Ryoma.
The punch landed.
—or rather, it didn't.
There was a crack.
Kaido froze, eyes wide in disbelief. His right arm bent at an unnatural angle, bones splintering under the recoil of his own strike.
Ryoma stood unharmed, not even a wrinkle in his coat.
He tilted his head, expression unreadable.
"Your strength isn't bad," he said calmly.
But to Kaido, those words stung like poison.
Even as an apprentice, he was a monster among men, certain of his destined kingship. And yet, in a single instant, this stranger had broken him—effortlessly.
Humiliation burned through his veins. With a bellow of rage, Kaido charged again, Haki flaring violently as his muscles bulged.
The next punch tore the air itself, his power surging to new heights. Even Garp would have acknowledged that blow.
But Ryoma didn't move.
His expression remained calm as the ground cracked beneath Kaido's charge.
The body of the Sage of Six Paths, the enhancement of the Hundred Hero Arts, and the regeneration of the First Hokage—these combined within Ryoma's vessel, making his physical body godlike.
Kaido's fist met his.
"BOOM!!"
The explosion of force shattered the nearby cliffside. The shockwave sent Kaido flying like a cannonball, tearing through dozens of soldiers—pirates and marines alike—before crashing through a concrete structure hundreds of meters away.
He vanished in a plume of dust and rubble.
Silence fell.
Hundreds of eyes turned back toward Ryoma—the mysterious stranger who had just knocked Kaido unconscious with a single punch.
The air was thick with shock, confusion, and killing intent.
That one strike had just done what neither pirates nor marines had expected.
It had united them—in hatred.
...
TN:
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