Chapter 234: Luffy's Inspection
"BUUUURP—!!!"
Luffy let out a satisfied belch while rubbing his round, distended belly, swaying unsteadily as he walked out of the mess hall.
Behind him, several cafeteria ladies watched him leave with expressions like they had just witnessed a biblical miracle.
"That child... just how many years has he been starving..."
"He ate half the meat stock of the entire cafeteria by himself... we have to change the menu for the rest of the week!!!"
Luffy was completely oblivious to their breakdown, muttering to himself, "The steak was yummy... the roasted ribs were good too... next time I gotta add some omurice..."
He swayed over to the edge of the training ground and spotted Sanji and Usopp practicing. His eyes lit up instantly, and he waved his hands high, his loud voice booming like thunder:
"Oi~ Swirly-brow cook! Crybaby Long-nose!!!"
Veins popped on Sanji and Usopp's foreheads simultaneously as they roared:
"MY NAME IS SANJI (USOPP)!!!"
As soon as they finished yelling, a massive fist smashed ruthlessly onto Luffy's head!
BONK!
"You brat—!! Can't even remember names, can you?!!"
Zephyr stood behind him, fist smoking, roaring with a gaze that was angry yet amused.
Luffy squatted on the ground clutching his head, tears and snot flying. "I knoooow—!! It hurts—!!!"
Just then, a clear, pleasant call came from the edge of the training ground:
"Luffy—!"
Nami and Nojiko walked over side by side, warm smiles on their faces.
"Nami!! Nojiko!!!" Luffy's eyes lit up. He bounced up from the ground instantly, charging over like a bull off its leash.
Nami unceremoniously punched him on the head. "Didn't you just say you knew it hurt?"
"Waaahhh—why hit me again?!!!" Luffy wailed, squatting back down.
Nami smiled and rubbed his head. "Heard you were back, so we came specially to see you."
Nojiko didn't speak, just smiling at him, but her gaze inadvertently drifted past Luffy, resting on Ace in the distance.
Their eyes met. Ace paused slightly, then revealed a bashful smile, scratching the back of his head.
...
Sanji, who had perked up instantly upon seeing the two beauties Nami and Nojiko, had put on his jacket and straightened his tie, eyes sparkling: "Goddesses visiting! This is the perfect time to display this gentleman's charm—!!"
He was just about to step forward dashingly when he saw Nami affectionately rubbing Luffy's head.
Then he saw the soft light in Nojiko's eyes... directed at Ace.
THUD.
Sanji fell to his knees instantly, turning gray and petrified, like a painting that had lost its soul.
"Why... why do all the beauties skip over me..."
Usopp patted his shoulder from the side, comforting him with the tone of an experienced man:
"Don't lose heart, Sanji. Your 'destined one' might still be on the other side of the Grand Line."
Sanji looked up, teary-eyed and snot-faced. "Wuuu... we're the only lonely ones..."
Unexpectedly, Usopp's expression suddenly turned serious. He stood up dashingly, adjusted his bandana, turned around, and threw a sharp look.
"I'm not, though."
With that, he skipped away, his long nose swaying, his dashing back figure fluttering in the wind, looking every bit the image of a hypothetical prodigal son.
CLANG!
Sanji fell to his knees again, pounding the ground with both hands, utterly broken.
"Even Usopp... this world... is too cruel!!!"
Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko laughed and chatted in the distance, while Ace smiled watching this noisy yet intimate group of nakama.
Sunlight spilled onto the training ground, casting warm shadows.
Just as everyone was immersed in the joy and noise of the reunion, a messenger soldier in uniform rushed into the training ground, panting heavily:
"Report! Orders from Admiral Sakazuki: Enel is to proceed immediately to the New World for support. Target: subjugate the pirate 'Steel Fang' Litton!"
"A pirate to kill?"
Enel, who had been yawning lazily in the corner, instantly had a fierce light in his eyes upon hearing the word "pirate."
"Hmph... finally, something interesting."
Before his voice faded, his entire body exploded with lightning. With a CRACK, he transformed into a bolt of electricity leaping across the sky, vanishing over the horizon in an instant, leaving only a rolling trail of thunder.
Everyone stared dumbfounded.
"Oi! Luffy!"
Zephyr's voice was loud as thunder, echoing over the training ground.
"Since you're back from the G-3 special training, I have to personally inspect the results of your training!"
Luffy's eyes ignited instantly, battle intent rising like a flame.
He took a sharp step forward. "Really?! Teacher Zephyr!! Fight me!!!"
"Hah?!"
Nami exclaimed, hardly daring to believe her ears. "Luffy, you... are you getting cocky?!
Do you know who you're talking to?! That's Teacher Zephyr!!!"
Ace walked over upon hearing the commotion, a familiar helpless smile on his face. He reached out to ruffle Luffy's messy hair.
"You brat... challenging the teacher as soon as you get back? You never let anyone worry less."
Luffy shook his head, his smile under the sun dazzling enough to pierce the clouds. "Shishishi~ I'm not the same me from a year ago!"
"After more than a year of hellish training, I'm more than a hundred times stronger than before!!!"
Sanji bit his cigarette in half with a snap, looking at him in shock. "Challenging Teacher Zephyr? Is he crazy..."
Usopp jumped up, face turning pale. "Teacher Zephyr's Iron Fists! I still have trauma from them!!!"
The two looked at each other, as if instantly dragged back to those purgatorial days of being beaten, kicked, and hammered repeatedly day after day. Their bodies couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Just then, a thunderous laugh rang through the field!
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
Zephyr threw his Justice coat aside heroically, instantly revealing a terrifying physique that had long transcended the category of "elderly"—
Muscle lines stacked ferociously, pectorals like stone tablets, arms thick as rock pillars. As his veins bulged, pitch-black Armament Haki slowly crawled over his hands, thick as rolling ink.
"I knew you'd say that, brat!"
"COME ON—!!!"
He raised his fists, staring at Luffy with boiling battle intent:
"Let me see with my own eyes just how much of the 'Iron Fist' legacy you learned from that old man Garp!!!"
The atmosphere heated up instantly!
Luffy didn't hesitate. He ripped the jacket off his shoulders and threw it into the air with a whoosh! (Like his brother, he prefers wearing just the Marine coat~)
THUD—!
He stomped heavily, his physique taut as a bow, momentum like a rainbow!
This year, his height had neared 175 cm. The childishness of his boyhood had faded, replaced by a sturdy body full of explosive power—
Muscles proportionate, lines clean. The diagonal old scar on his chest seemed to tell the story of the memories left by his clashes with Garp.
He spread his arms, grinning widely: "Grandpa's Iron Fist? I learned plenty!!!"
The cadets and officers watching from the surroundings widened their eyes in shock, holding their breath.
That "Monkey Luffy" who used to be a slacker, only knowing how to eat meat and cause trouble, now stood before them with an aura that didn't lose to Zephyr at all!
Nami had intended to persuade him further, but when she turned her head and saw that confident, high-spirited Luffy, looking almost reborn, she froze involuntarily.
That upright back, those certain eyes, that smile shining golden in the sunlight...
"That guy... when did he... get so tall?"
She whispered softly, her cheeks flushing slightly red.
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